Good ride w/short rant!

[smilingcat]

My querry is something like "how's everything?" I hope this is more neutral than asking "are you okay?" The latter assumes you are in trouble.

Might help others to rephrase the question a bit. And to biker hen, would a comment of how's everything be more pallatable? I'm asking because I don't want to be a downer on your good day of riding. And its really wonderful that you could climb the hills and have enough air to talk. best revenge is to start talking back until they run out of breath. .

How's the climb?
Don't you think its a lovely day out and oh look over there. A squirrel. How cute...
Wow this hill is really long. How much longer do we have to climb?...
Hill seems to be getting steeper or is it just me?
Oh good you are slowing down too I thought I have to ride by myself to the top.
It's getting really hot. I hope I don't run out of my water. How are you doing with your water...

I've been known to pull stunt like this to an unfriendly Fred & Barnys on a long climb. Sometimes, they realize I'm in better shape. If they get unfriendly, I'll drop them and say a parting word, "Its nice riding with you boys but gotta go" and take off. If the hill isn't too bad I'll shift gears into my 53 chainring and make enough of a racket doing so and take off.

BTW, I've learned not to help the guys out with their flats and other bike problem. A woman helping is just too much for the macho guys... Shheeesh, I've been riding bike way before some of these boys were even born...

meow meow
Smilingcat

[SadieKate]

BTW, I've learned not to help the guys out with their flats and other bike problem. A woman helping is just too much for the macho guys... Shheeesh, I've been riding bike way before some of these boys were even born...

meow meow
Smilingcat

Oh heck, why not? It's a great way to tweak the testosterone-laden twits. If they don't want to accept my help, it's no skin off my nose which is looking down at them later as they ride by in the SAG.

[Deanna]

I have to agree with the others that it's a perception about gender and was going to pose a similar question to the group after an experience I had this weekend.

I was doing a fairly tough loop this weekend (79 miles, 7000+ climbing). I did it solo because most of the group rides that take the hillier routes in my area are faster paced than I can keep up with. Anyway, just before the climbing starts, I had stopped at a little store to top off my water bottles and have a snack. As I'm about to leave, a group of 11 guys pull in on their bikes and it turns out their going over the same loop. I leave and about 15 minutes later, the first of them passes me, and asked how I was doing, it didn't bug me this time. I pass them later while their waiting for their slower riders (the ones who didn't pass me). They pass me again, about 30 miles later and make the comment "Good for you doing this ride". This is the one that bugged me. I was wondering if they thought it was deserving of a comment because I'm a woman or because I was solo?

[RoadRaven]

BikerHen, I understand how frustrating this can be, being not an elite cyclists physique and still dreadfully slow on hills compared to many. But I have come to accept the concerned questions and well-meaning encouragement - though at times I must admit to being peeved that anyone has talked to me!

However, if its any consolation, I ask every solo cyclist who is stopped if they are all right... even if they are obviously repairing a tube and seemingly obviously in control of the situation.

I do this for two reasons;

1. They may not have the right tools, or maybe would rather use my cell than repair and head home, or maybe they are out of food and on the verge of bonking and thats why they ran into rough ground and got a flat... etc... etc... just because you look "in control" doesn't mean you are.

2. They may have crashed, have slight concussion and only appear to be having a break. I learned this a month or so back during a race. I came to the first corner and there was this guy leaning on the fence with his bike beside him, looking like he'd had enough or maybe his tyre had blown and was waiting for the sag wagon. So I called out to him "You right?" and his reply didn't sound right so I dropped off the back of my grade and went back to him. Turns out Fred had slid on the corner, and although someone in his grade had phoned the starters to come get him, I noticed his helmet was all smashed down one side. His grade hadn't noticed that and as I waited with him he became more and more disoriented and was taken to hospital for concussion.

So I call out to everyone who is stopped, even if they have just blown their nose...
And everyone I pass (usually on the flat) I say hi to, and - if a stranger - try to guage how they are coping on their ride.

One thing I have learned is to never assume and appearances can be deceptive (like you and me, BH .... you might be big and female, but you ride 50miles - I have only managed that once! - ... and I may be big and female, but I can cane some guys who look fitter than me in a TT).

[Veronica]

They pass me again, about 30 miles later and make the comment "Good for you doing this ride". This is the one that bugged me. I was wondering if they thought it was deserving of a comment because I'm a woman or because I was solo?

Probably both. Think about it, how many women do you see doing really hard rides ALONE? I think we had less than 10 women on DMD this weekend and three of them were on tandems.

I bet it was intended as a compliment, but they were too brain fried to phrase it like one.

V.

[Deanna]

Like RoadRaven, I too will ask solo riders who are pulled over if they need assistance, usually by asking if they need anything. One time, I asked somebody "Do you need some help?" Turns out he was homeless and he responded that it was a loaded question and where should he start? So, I don't use that phrase anymore.

[IFjane]

Sometimes as you're riding by, you're not exactly sure what the person is doing. I once asked a guy taking a nature break if he needed help.

V.

Veronica - I can't believe I am the only one who wants to know this - what did they guy say?? and did you help!

[margo49]

... Shheeesh, I've been riding bike way before some of these boys were even born...
meow meow
Smilingcat

Yeah, I feel like that too.
Some pathetic college student a few years ago asked me why I was wearing a helmet and gloves. So I said "I don't want to end up a vegetable". Then he started to assume I was some kind of wimp. So I let him have it; My entire international, touring, messengering and general riding history!

I usually say "Everything alright?" and then if so follow up with some vague conversation about it being a "great day for it". Met some nice people with that one.

[Veronica]

He didn't say anything. Just kind of looked at me funny. My husband said, "Nature break Veronica."

I do wish guys would be more discreet about it.

V.

[IFjane]

Me too.....but on the other hand, I wish we ladies had some way to relieve ourselves a bit easier than we do.

Yesterday at the final stage of the Tour of Virginia, the guys had to go behind the dumpsters to relieve themselves before the start. There were NO BATHROOMS available for either gender. Poor planning.....

[Fredwina]

I'll agree with everyone else here - it's hard to draw a line between encouragement and condescension.
I'm also on the plus side of size. I remember doing Crusin The Conejo last year and coming up a hill - I noticed several people were walking their bikes. I made it on the bike and several people said "good job". I guess why it's stuck with me was that it was an "easy" hill compared to what we had just done. I think most of the walkers were doing a metric route.
I always ask stopped biker "Do you need anything?" wound up rescueing some folks as well as being rescued myself.
Deanna, I get a lot of the "good for you" as well. not a lot of women are will to do solo long distance rides - Did I mention I was the Female on a single bike at my last two brevets?

[bcipam]

Hey Biker... I'm sortof with you on the passing thing... I started this hilltraining class Tuesday nights. I ride with two buddies. We are the slowest in class (and the oldest and heaviest - especially me!). We start 15 minutes earlier than anyone and eventualy the crew catches up with us on a long, steep climb and passes all saying things like "Looking good" [no I don't My cheeks are bright red, I'm a sweat ball and I look like hell warmed over!], "Just alittle further to the top!" [like i need to know - sides' been up this road before - I know you are lying!], "Great job" [yeah for an old, fat lady I guess], "Way to hang in there!" [like you are surprised I didnt quit on the last hill]. And nothing worse than I'm counting the tire rotation just hoping to reach the top someday... and two people come flying by carrying on a conversation. A conversation! I'm just having trouble taking in a breathe much less talking. Or the nice person who comes by and starts to engage you in conversation... all I can do is grunt in response. Yeah that's attractive!

Anyway it used to bother me but know I figure hey it's my ride, I'm enjoying it, and I figure they all mean well so OK "Thank's for the encouragment. now move along and let me suffer in peace..."

BTW I always ask anyone stopped along the road if they need anything (not are you OK, or need help). I figure that's just polite. If they do need help they can say so, if not, I did good by asking. And I have stopped and helped out men as much as I helped out women. I do have one good skill - I can change a flat in less than 5 minutes. Had lots of practice!

[li10up]

I was told by some experienced riders that you are supposed to say something as you go by someone so they don't think you are showing off or trying to "one-up" them. It still irks me a bit but now I look at it is as them trying to offer encouragement or be polite. Still, if it's a tour or big organized ride everyone should expect to pass and be passed so I don't think anything needs to be said unless you think the person needs help.

[Eden]

They may have crashed, have slight concussion and only appear to be having a break. I learned this a month or so back during a race. I came to the first corner and there was this guy leaning on the fence with his bike beside him, looking like he'd had enough or maybe his tyre had blown and was waiting for the sag wagon. So I called out to him "You right?" and his reply didn't sound right so I dropped off the back of my grade and went back to him. Turns out Fred had slid on the corner, and although someone in his grade had phoned the starters to come get him, I noticed his helmet was all smashed down one side. His grade hadn't noticed that and as I waited with him he became more and more disoriented and was taken to hospital for concussion.

+1 I generally ask people who are stopped if they need anything unless they are very obviously doing something like eating, talking on a phone etc. Once I saw a guy stopped a little ways off the trail sitting next to his bike. Something just didn't seem right even though he looked to just be sitting taking a break. Turns out he had just had a crash and was pretty sure he'd broken his wrist and was in quite a bit of pain. He'd already called for a ride so there wasn't anything I could really do for him - I offered to go see if I could get some ice, but he didn't want it. Still if I were in that situation I'd be glad someone noticed and took the time to stop.

[northstar]

I always appreciate it when riders check in if I am pulled over (usually to snap a few pictures!). Whenever we ride alone we run the risk of being "stuck" out there alone, so I appreciate it when people ask "Everything ok?" as I usually ride alone.

Some of the other comments (good for you for doing this) are asenine. Sorry to all who have had to endure that junk.