Wow, roadies are a-holes...who knew?

[mary9761]

short thread hijack
velocilex, are you planning to ride the Hilly in a couple weeks? I'm planning on being there myself. This will be my second and I hope to ride both days this year.
End Hijack

[velocilex]

short thread hijack
velocilex, are you planning to ride the Hilly in a couple weeks? I'm planning on being there myself. This will be my second and I hope to ride both days this year.
End Hijack

Actually, to respond and make it not-so-much of a jack, my Special Cycling Buddy and I ride the Hilly Routes just about every week (especially the Sunday route), and will probably ride the Sunday route on Saturday this year on our own. We did the Hilly proper last year and will never do it again because there were so many people out there who had no idea what they were doing it was frightening (not to mention the fried chicken lunch on Saturday and the "Gosh, we ran out of food" lunch on Sunday). Talk about snobs on bikes. Every weekend for the past month we've been accosted by guys on Litespeeds and Orbeas and Kleins who have come down here to take over the roads while they "practice" for the Hilly Hundred. They're rude and disrespectful and make it difficult for the rest of us to maintain friendly relationships with the locals who live along the route-- people we have to encounter every week as neighbors. But I hope you have a great time, Mary! There's something profoundly rewarding about completing the ride-- and the Sunday ride is beautiful-- well worth getting out of bed for!

[mary9761]

Actually, to respond and make it not-so-much of a jack, my Special Cycling Buddy and I ride the Hilly Routes just about every week (especially the Sunday route), and will probably ride the Sunday route on Saturday this year on our own. We did the Hilly proper last year and will never do it again because there were so many people out there who had no idea what they were doing it was frightening (not to mention the fried chicken lunch on Saturday and the "Gosh, we ran out of food" lunch on Sunday). Talk about snobs on bikes. Every weekend for the past month we've been accosted by guys on Litespeeds and Orbeas and Kleins who have come down here to take over the roads while they "practice" for the Hilly Hundred. They're rude and disrespectful and make it difficult for the rest of us to maintain friendly relationships with the locals who live along the route-- people we have to encounter every week as neighbors. But I hope you have a great time, Mary! There's something profoundly rewarding about completing the ride-- and the Sunday ride is beautiful-- well worth getting out of bed for!

I worked the Saturday Chicken lunch last year and I was in AWE of the numbers of people participating. If you saw a silly woman dancing behind the chicken line making a fool of herself, that was me. I was having a BLAST. I agree the running out of food on Sunday was awful, that was the day I got to ride and all they had left was as we called them 'GRASS SANDWICHES'. At the same stop, we had to ask where the water was, they were actually taking the tents down when we got there LONG before they were supposed to be closed.
I must agree the Sunday route is absolutely gorgeous! I only did the 40 mile route as it was my first Hilly and I'd only been riding a few months, but I'm really hoping to do much better this year. We don't have hills like those down there in Indy here, but I'm getting better at the larger ones I've encountered here, so I'm hoping to ride more than I walk this year.

[silver]

Hi there! I'm riding the Hilly this year! Let's try to meet!!! I was out there riding last Thursday and didn't meet another "roadie" at until I rode back into Bloomington.

And to tie in with the thread he was in full Bacardi kit and I followed him for a few blocks and he never acknowledged me. And I was in "real" cycling clothes and on a Trek bike (admittedly an entry level 1000)

[Kitsune06]

I've found anyone in full lycra has a 50/50 chance of being a total jerk. I tend to ride in regular cargo shorts and dri-fit top because I'm going to the gym (most days) or on a spin 'round the country roads, and people look at my clothes and snort "You're not a *real* biker."

...I'm on a *bike* carrying *cargo* wearing full *protective gear* and *blinky lights*... I tend to think that because I'm actively avoiding using a car to do my errands, I *am* a *real* biker, thankyouverymuch. I feel like saying "'kay, boys, let's go out to the park and we can bounce our 'real' bikes down the rock gardens, and we'll see who seems to be the 'real' biker, and who's the freddish poser."

*sigh*

[7rider]

I think the puzzlement here over waving to cyclists vs. waving in cars or as pedestrians, is that pedestrians are so....well, pedestrian. Are cars are just all over the place. There is nothing "special" about them. But cyclists are a much smaller community. Hence, it's more akin to that small country road someone mentioned where folks wave. That is why many folks expect (hope?) that a wave will be responded to in kind.
Sure, many folks zone out on bikes. They're concentrating on their own thing, they're dodging obstacles, checking their speed, watching for traffic. A million things that take away their attention for another cyclist coming at them on the other side of the street. The brain may register them for a nanosecond and say "Not a car. Not a threat." and go on dodging glass. It's not a snub.
But when a cyclist who you have seen before, who does acknowledge you when you catch eye contact, then disses you when making similar eye contact because (perhaps) of the type of bike you have, that is a snub.
All things being equal on the rides, you can almost hear the snub. What is the line from that movie "A Knight's Tale"? - "You have been weighed, measured, and found lacking"?? Is that a fair or paranoid interpretation? Who knows? I don't want to crawl inside the minds of those guys.
Just a little respect, a little courtesy for all riders, is all that we can ask for. Because some day it will be you on the side of the road with a flat and no spare in your saddle bag, thankful for someone who stops and says "Got everything you need? You okay?"

[KSH]

A) Unsafe passing - you know, they go by you like you are standing still and give you all of maybe 3 inches with absolutely no warning, nothing. So much as slight move by me in one direction or another, maybe to avoid glass or something on the road, and crash thanks to this type nonsense by others.

WOW! This pisses me off and scares me! I hate when they do this. Especially when you aren't expecting some pelaton to be cruising down the road you are on.

B) Not helpful at all - you have a mechanical or whatever and dozens of riders go by w/o so much as even glancing at you, much less asking if you need help. So much for a sense of community.

Well, all the men I ride with... are kind and a few of them have helped me out when I needed it. But, I ride with groups and they see me weekly.

C) Bike clubs and group rides - Despite having lived in several states, countries and places, I've yet to see a bike club make any real effort to encourage newer riders. All they do is parrot the same old tunes....you'll get dropped, dropped, dropped, if you can't go 728 mph, ride a roadbike, and keep up.

The club I belong to has many different rides. There are rides where yea, you will get dropped. And then there are the no drop rides... where no man gets left behind. Even if the sweeper (who knows the way home) and the lone rider has to pull themselves in.

My club is great... I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful one in my area... cause it sounds like other clubs suck.

[yogabear]

I'm a roadie, but really more of a mtn. biker at heart

My DH is a cat 2 road racer He's a sweet, respectful guy, especially towards women...He says we are smarter, better looking, and tougher than guys...What a sweetie, huh?

I'm super friendly to everyone, so that is what I usually get in return. I've had a few roadie guys help me this year with mechanicals on the side of the road...they did it just to be nice. I also ran into some pretty rude people on the road...some were male, some were females, some were dogs, and some were cars I notice if I don't look for the rude behavior, I don't notice it LOL.

For me though, it's how the guys act off the bike. I know that road racing and training are very difficult endeavors firsthandedly. I myself can't always muster a smile when my HR is 180+ But, I telepathically will send love or kind energies to others and notice that it is returned...Hmmm, I am starting to wonder about this quantum physics stuff...It works!

I personally have an issue with guys who put racing and training above their families, for instance. This is off the bike of course. I also realize that it is judgmental for me to look at this since it's not my life.

My DH off the bike is a very caring and loving. Some of his biking friends actually had the audacity to razz him about taking my bike out of his truck for me at races or putting it on the trainer for me, etc. (I have upper body injuries and such and am short LOL). The biking friends don't see how I help at home...fix water bottles, make healthy food, do bike laundry...Last time I checked marriage is a teamwork sport LOL...But, then again, none of them have wives who race!!! I almost told these people to kiss me in a special place, but oh well, I'm human and I judge too

I hear ya though

[Eden]

Some of his biking friends actually had the audacity to razz him about taking my bike out of his truck for me at races or putting it on the trainer for me, etc. (I have upper body injuries and such and am short LOL). The biking friends don't see how I help at home...fix water bottles, make healthy food, do bike laundry...Last time I checked marriage is a teamwork sport LOL...But, then again, none of them have wives who race!!! I almost told these people to kiss me in a special place, but oh well, I'm human and I judge too

Wow - most of the guys are jealous that my husband has a wife that races too. I doubt any of them would razz him about doing things for me - they only wish that their wife/girlfriend/SO shared their interests. The only down side for him is that I've been doing better than he has so he gets to be known as Oh - your Eden's husband

[yogabear]

Eden, you just cracked me up You go, girl!

I was telling my hubby about this thread last night on our mtn. bike ride. He said that he is too nice...that is part of his problem. I told him to save the niceness for off the bike and be intense while racing

It cracks me up though here where I live...So many guys are all intense while road racing. I mean, I know it's all about balance, but still, riding off after a race in their SUV's or mini vans, listening to Bare Naked Ladies...that is what they do Hee hee! I know this is really mean to say and judgmental, but it still makes me giggle. Just as I am sure people make fun of me for my pre-race warm-up music...Johnny Cash LOL

I like the sticker that says, 'If it has tires or testicles, you know it's gonna mean trouble' ROTFLMAO...

Okay, I've been mean for the day

[pkq]

He's a sweet, respectful guy, especially towards women...He says we are smarter, better looking, and tougher than guys...What a sweetie, huh?

I'd say smart and a keeper, too.

[deedolce]

Interesting read! Is it regional? Cultural? Perception?

Personally, my bike handling skills suck, especially when I'm tired, and so my hands stay on the handlebars! But I have a good nod.

Older male roadies hereabouts, I've found very friendly as a breed. Nice smiles and hellos. Those that are grumpy; well, I bet they're grumpy everywhere. Our young racing team boys are well raised younguns, and may even nod (they also are well supported by our local bike club) The snootiest seem to be the college boy racers.

When I see another female rider, especially solo, it's a big rush of happy for me and feeling a part of a secrest sisterhood or something. lol. They all, in my selective memory, seem to smile and say 'hello'.

Maybe I have a 'happy aura' from being out on the road, riding. I do love to ride.

[CyclChyk]

... and people look at my clothes and snort "You're not a *real* biker."

*sigh*

Ok so yesterday was the VERY first day I went out withOUT overshorts hiding my bike shorts. After having lost 40lbs I finally feel a lil more confident and DH said "Woah...... looking good" (GREAT confidence booster)

Do I count as a real biker?? Oh wait, I had on an Old Navy Sweatshirt..... damn I was so close to being a real biker.........

And FWIW, I never WAVE to anyone. My balance isn't good enough yet and I am usually going too fast (haha.... had to laugh at myself for that one). But I do nod and say "hi" as I whip by. Some respond, some don't, but I never think negatively based on the hello or lack thereof.

[Velobambina]

Amanda - I recall hearing of a recent study that concluded that people are becoming more isolated. A surprising percentage of folks have no close friends. Sorry, can't remember the details. But you are right: I've noticed the same trend toward rudeness and a growing pervasiveness of the "it's all about me" attitude. I just try to do unto others and hope the decent manners my parents taught me might rub off on those whom I encounter.

[Crankin]

I have noticed the same results about waving and friendliness as reported here. More roadies nod or wave to me since I got my Kuota; for God's sake i had a Trek 5200 before, so what's the deal with that? I'm always wearing cycling clothes, too. I see the same people a lot on my after work rides. Now I know which ones to nod to and which ones wave. The commuters never wave...
People on hybrids or recreational riders seem shocked when I say hi. A funny story relating to this is for years we saw a guy running on the streets in our old neighborhood as we rode. We called him the "mean" guy. He never smiled or waved, said hi when you said hi to him. My son made it a "thing" to get this guy to talk back to him as he rode by. Finally, he got some response back, after like 2 years. About 2 years after that we found out it was Bill Rodgers, the 5 time winner of the Boston Marathon! He lived about half a mile from us. He got nicer when he had some injury and was walking instead of running...