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

[littlegrasshopp]

To wave or not to wave doesn't bother me so much. I take it as they are in training mindset and don't want to be brought out of it. Some of you guys ride pretty close to each other's wheels!! BUT I do get offended when I'm showing up for my first beginner, no drop ride and no one welcomes me, talks to me AFTER I'VE said hello, bothered to listen when I say my name, and they LEAVE me on the first hill of a NO DROP ride. We have a lot of LBS that play host to group rides here and it is VERY hard to get people to let you into their inner circle...even the beginner rides. I never felt like I was in a friendly group showing up for these rides. I felt like it was a big competition to see who we could all drop first.

Having said that - I now have many friends that are roadies and don't participate in the LBS rides and are wonderful, no matter what bike they are on. I assumed it was part of group riding culture. I hope I'm wrong...

[KnottedYet]

BUT I do get offended when I'm showing up for my first beginner, no drop ride and no one welcomes me, talks to me AFTER I'VE said hello, bothered to listen when I say my name, and they LEAVE me on the first hill of a NO DROP ride. We have a lot of LBS that play host to group rides here and it is VERY hard to get people to let you into their inner circle...even the beginner rides. I never felt like I was in a friendly group showing up for these rides. I felt like it was a big competition to see who we could all drop first.

What about starting a TE ride where you are? Now that you know how the road-riding works, you could organize a few fun rides for the TE'ers in your area.

[Bad JuJu]

Littlegrasshopp, that's a great idea that Knotted suggested. And even if you can't find any or many TE'ers in your area, you could start your own little group.

In my area, there's a sort of branch of the local club, called the "Sweet Sixteens" because they're a no-drop group who try never to exceed a max no-hill, no-wind speed of 16mph. You could try organizing such a group yourself, by posting flyers at LBSs, gyms, even grocery stores. You could make the max speed anything you want; the idea is to appeal to people who would otherwise hesitate out of fear of being treated as you have been. So you can all enjoy your rides and even work on improving together.

Gee, I sound like such an expert, with my grand total of 4 club rides. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

[pyxichick]

I find that I got more waves when I was riding early season, before a ton of people were out, and whenever I ride in inclement weather.

On a warm summer day, with the trails and roads clogged with cyclists of all sorts, I think it just becomes tedious for people to try to acknowledge everyone.

I just smile at everyone and if they say hi then I say hi back.

[pkq]

I've had people from both genders say and so ugly things to me. Of the two, women have been the most unkind to me. That's one reason I am wary of women. For some reason, they just don't like me very much, which is OK. We are all human and trying to get through life without receiving or causing too much damage.