Are men bike snobs?

[BikeHN]

Ok. Maybe I'm being hyper-sensitive, but there is something that I'm noticing in the cycling community around where I live. Men don't acknowledge women riders! I'm talking about while passing on the roads, men don't even give a nod, a wave, or even a glance. I've just gotten into cycling but I've been a fairly serious runner all my life, we runners male or female (even when suffering) usually give a nod at least. Women cyclists around here always give a friendly smile and nod...but nope, not the men.
I'm wondering if I"m being overly sensitive since recently I heard a woman in our riding group say about a couple of guys that passed us on a climb, "Oh, those guys were nice & even encouraging for a change."

Am I over-analyzing this or is it legitimate?

[zoom-zoom]

I've seen it. Even before I started riding, myself. I can count on 1 hand all the times in 4.5 years (and thousands of miles on the roads) of running that a male cyclist acknowledged me while running. They seem to reciprocate waves and hellos more when we are both on bikes, but there definitely does appear to be some weird superiority complex that many guys on bikes take on (at least around here).

But it's not just the spandex-clad "elites." It's guys on casual cruisers and mountain bikes, too. The only ones who break this trend are the 'bent guys. I love those dudes on recumbents. They are always happy to exchange greetings.

[KnottedYet]

I find older guys to be more friendly. And definitely the 'bent riders.

Guys significantly younger tend to be in their own little world, and don't respond to much. (except to pour it on and re-pass me once they realize they've been passed by a chick)

[Blue_Fedora]

Not my experience at all where we live. Cyclists of both genders are equally friendly... and equally aloof

[BikeHN]

Actually zoom, I'm not talking about when I'm running and the men are on bikes...I'm talking about when were BOTH on the bikes. I don't care that cyclists don't acknowledge me when I'm running. I just thought you know, runners have a kind of comaraderie with other runners they pass, and I would think the same would be true of two cyclists passing. I'm glad I'm not the only one that notices this. I totally agree with you, its NOT just the 'spandex-clad "elites".'

[trista]

I don't see many other cyclists at all when I'm out, so I can't comment on actual riders, but I have learned that at the LBS it's best for me to ask for a female to assist me when I need something. The first time I went shopping for a road bike, a man "helped" me. He told me that a novice like me shouldn't be considering a road bike, that it's not normal to go from a hybrid to a road bike, and that I was foolish to consider that the increased hand positions of a road bike was going to offer me any relief from my wrist hurting on the flat handlebars of the hybrid. I left there without having tested ANY bikes, feeling dejected and amateurish. I was so mad!!!! No woman at the LBS has treated me that way.

[Catrin]

When I am riding in the country most of the other cyclists I see wave or say something to me when we pass. In the park where I go to practice intervals, it has taken all summer for many of them to start acknowledging my presence - but most of them do now.

Apparently the fact that I ride a Surly gets attention and most of the roadies want to know where I got it. Guess it has a reputation around here of being hard to get - and of being a great all-day bike (which it is).

Sadly that snobbery is just one of the not so nice part of human nature - but it is also true that I've noticed far more of it over the years from men. Not saying that there aren't female snobs - but I think it tends to come out differently. Or not.

[maillotpois]

there are so many cyclists on the roads here I would never consider waving to everyone. it would be a parade instead of a bike ride. if someone's stopped with a mechanical, I am going to ask if they need anything and will stop and help if they do. but I am not waving at everyone, sorry. I dont think that makes me a bike snob.

[buffybike]

All the cyclists in my area are pretty friendly (I DO live in the South, though). The older men are the nicest and most encouraging. The worst treatment I ever got was actually from another female cyclist.

The younger racing crowd tend to keep to themselves, but that's fine with me--I'm not trying to keep up with them.

[Owlie]

Where I'm currently living, we road cyclists are such a novelty that most of us wave or nod to each other. Back home, most nod or wave, except for the MUST-GO-INSANELY-FAST-type guys, who are in their own little bubble of awesome, apparently.
And let's not talk about the guy with the Pinarello who seemed to think it was his job to be a tool...

[shootingstar]

BikeHN, there are enough cyclists in our area at times, that usually everyone is doing their own thing.

What seems noticeable is more in isolated areas where there are far less cyclists, and I'm cycling solo in opposite direction, then occasionally there may acknowledgement from a passing male or female cyclist. But more often, I think some guy- cyclists (usually 1 or 2 of them) if they bother to look at me, it's to figure out if they might know me.

Usually it's a guy older than his 20's, if he nods or looks.

Many cycling gals in our area are indifferent. Or just concentrating on the traffic or hill ahead of them. Just like I tend to do.

Don't take it personally. Love your bike rides instead.

[Veronica]

Why do you think they have to give you a smile, a wave or a nod? When you're grocery shopping do you acknowledge everyone you see?

Veronica

[Eden]

Why do you think they have to give you a smile, a wave or a nod? When you're grocery shopping do you acknowledge everyone you see?

Veronica

+1 - I've never understood this he/she didn't wave at me so he/she must be a snob thing..... you don't wave at all other drivers or all other folks walking on the same sidewalk as you? Well at least we don't around here.

[Catrin]

I suspect that most of those riding in the country in my area acknowledge each other because days can pass without seeing another cyclist. We are obviously out there to ride our bikes, first and foremost.

While bike snobbery does indeed exist and it manifests itself in different ways - simply not waving or acknowledging someone else is not automatically snobbery. I think my original reply implied that but it was not my intention.

[BikeHN]

I am only making an observation & wanted to know if others made the same. If NOONE acknowledged me out there then fine, but again, it's mainly just the men who act like they don't see you. Haven't you ever noticed how motorcycle riders wave to each other? 'Around here' the runners usually nod to each other and I guess as a runner and now a new rider I thought it would be similar on the bike. Silly me. Oh well, I'll still ride like hell & have fun doing it whether I get a wave, nod, or the finger.