New Biker, Was recently shunned!

[teigyr]

It's too bad you couldn't have had some fun with them. I'm the type to say something to interject into their conversation ... like "oh RIBBONS! That would've been SO CUTE! Oh wow, I wish I would have thought of that. Thanks for the idea, I will definitely do that next time!" And at the rate I've coordinated things to my bike (the Bianchi, not the gaudy Orbea), I have even done things like match nail polish.

I know what it's like to be athletic but new at something. I would have felt bad too - swimming is new to me and if someone made fun of me or made me feel inferior, I'd be upset.

When I was first riding, I was doing a century on my mountain bike. I had equipped it with city tires but the bike was not geared for road riding. I was riding about 6,000 miles a year on it though and was proud that I could keep up with roadies on occasion. On a century once a guy said in this totally patronizing bike "oh wow, look at you go! That is SUCH a heavy bike!". It wasn't said in admiration, I felt like he was talking to a child. I ended up passing him on a hill. I really wanted to say something but I didn't.

Life is too short not to have fun. Nothing wrong with pink bikes or streamers or ribbons. Go see an Aids Ride sometime if you want to see festive

[mimitabby]

you did 6000 road miles in one year on an MTB! you rock girl!

[redrhodie]

Pink bikes are cool! Those chicks were just jealous!

Good luck with the clipless pedals! You'll love them in no time, I promise.

[Zen]

I'm not a pink person but I'd NEVER say something like that and I don't know anyone who would. Everyone I've met so far has been nothing but welcoming and helpful. I'm sure they're out there but those nasty women are definitely a minority.
You don't even want to be associated with people like that. You'll meet so many more nice people you might even start to feel bad for that group.

[Deanna]

What a bunch of BEE-ITCHES. Everytime I hear of people making mean comments about pink bikes, or stereotyping them as girlie, I think of a good friend of my husbands. Though he doesn't compete he is one of the strongest riders we know and for years he rode a pink Ritchie and bike shorts with lace up the side. The first century my husband an I did on a tandem, his wife and him did it on a tandem as well. At about mile 40, he cut off back to the start to drop his wife off. Once there, he hopped on his pink bike, went back to the course where he turned off, then proceeded to catch and pass us at about mile 70.

[teigyr]

you did 6000 road miles in one year on an MTB! you rock girl!

That was before I knew better. I had more fun on that bike!!! Even toyed with the idea of putting aerobars on it. I loved the fact it (or I) didn't look fast but I could average 18-20 mph on 50 mile rides. Somehow can't seem to do that on the "fast" road bike. Go figure. I think I liked the challenge of surprising people.

[Zen]

I could average 18-20 mph on 50 mile rides. Somehow can't seem to do that on the "fast" road bike.

If I could do that I'd keep riding that bike!

[Pyannyplayer]

PINK ROCKS! Don't let those snobs get to you! Geez! I didn't know Trek had a pink bike until AFTER I bought my blue one last year, soooooo......guess where my baby is going on Monday? To Trek to be painted PINK!!! Oh yeah! I want people to KNOW it's a girl passing them - PINK ROCKS! It's how all my friends know that I'm riding - all in pink from my helmet to my socks (even the accents on my bike shoes) and soon my bike!

I feel bad that these people said these things to you; all the cyclists I know are just so darn nice! My mom always said (and I'm sure ALL our moms said this) "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". It's my rule to live by.

Kudos for ignoring them; just grin and wave when you pass them

Lorie

[Pyannyplayer]

I should mention that my favorite biking buddy, my DH, wears bright orange down to his shoes! We make quite the pair, but it's what we like. Sometimes someone might say something about my pink and his orange (we do clash a bit ), but we just tell them it's what we like. I don't like blue, but a gal that rides with me does......cool! I would never "bad mouth" her blue bike or her matching blue jersey (her tri outfit even matches her bike which I think is so neat!). Another friend likes bright yellow while another always rides a bike that's red; again, cool! Whatever makes a person happy. Just don't "bad mouth" someone else's choices!

BTW "Pinkzilla" is not only dang pretty, she has the NIFTIEST NAME!

Lorie

[elk]

I'm with Liza and Tyeger... WTF is wrong with ribbons anyway?????????
Do they think that the only way to be legit is to dress like men???

Phooey.

I started wearing lipstick when I was 20. It was becasue of this great scene in Hitchcock's Lifeboat. This cruise ship goes down . Next scene: Tallulah Bankhead is sitting in a lifeboat out in the middle of the ocean, all by herself and the first thing we see her do is put her lipstick on....

Now THAT is cool...

[KnottedYet]

Does anyone remember, 20 years ago or so, the Ladies Mountain Biking and Tea Society? One of the first bunches of women to really get out and ride with the men, and they always wore pearls and lace gloves and "girly" stuff so the guys knew they were being passed by women.

Folks who make rude comments about your pink bike (and hoping you'll hear it) are insecure and trying to make themselves feel better by putting you down.

I'm not a pink bike kind of gal, but I have a pink helmet and lavender bar tape and usually ride in a skort.

Ride on!

[Trek420]

Does anyone remember, 20 years ago or so, the Ladies Mountain Biking and Tea Society? One of the first bunches of women to really get out and ride with the men, and they always wore pearls and lace gloves and "girly" stuff so the guys knew they were being passed by women.

Wasn't that W.O.M.B.A.T.S?

Womens Mountain Bike and Tea Society? Think they still ride around here.

Cyclists are generally some of the friendliest folk around, these gals the exception to the rule. Don't let the idiots get you down. Ride on.

BTW; what were they riding? I bet your bike has nothing to be envious of.

[Velobambina]

Were those girls still in High School? Obviously, they haven't evolved since that time in their lives. Sounds like you handled the situation well by not reacting to their comments. Dignity always wins out over meanness.

I think your bike is pretty. I have two pink Lunas, by the way.

[OakLeaf]

Good grief.

Ya know, in my kid days I had a snobby attitude myself, but I NEVER would have made a comment like that out loud.

You know what happened to my snobby attitude? FloJo.

I suppose the people who dissed you are too young to remember her. But watching FloJo tear up the Olympics on TV pretty much drilled into my head that having perfect hair and makeup and long fingernails does NOT mean you're not an athlete!!!! And if someone feels it's worth it to take the time with their apearance (self or gear) before drenching it with sweat and grime, well, fine. Good. I wish I had their energy. (Not that she had to put a helmet on over that perfect hair )

You rock. As for the ones who dissed you, I hope for their sake that they get over themselves, but if they don't, it's their loss.

[Trek420]

I ended up passing him on a hill. I really wanted to say something but I didn't.

Life is too short not to have fun. Nothing wrong with pink bikes or streamers or ribbons. Go see an Aids Ride sometime if you want to see festive

A simple "on your left" would do at that point

His buddies will take care of the rest "dude, you got passed by a gal, on a mountain bike, with knobbies...on a hill...."

Trek-3 time California AIDS rider proud of my metalic pink bike-420

Good luck with the clipless pedals! You'll love them in no time, I promise.

And....you'll pass those gals in no time. Give them a cheery and very girly wave!!