Twinges- freda cycling inferiority

[rij73]

My first bike (which I got just a year ago) was a flat-bar road bike. I got cycling gear right away because I was doing fitness rides in the park. I did look a little out of place, but I didn't care. I was having great fun, and I loved the lycra shorts and wicking jerseys.

Now, though, I have a gorgeous road bike, and to be honest, I do feel a bit embarrassed out there. Not because of how I'm dressed, but because the bike is simply too nice for me! I get passed in the park by almost every roadie there no matter what they are riding, and it does make me feel like a poser to be so slow on my beautiful carbon bike.

Don't get me wrong... I adore my bike and look at it lovingly all day. I just feel a bit sheepish out there when guys on fixed-gear old-school bikes pass me on the hill.

[Andrea]

This reminds me of something I've been contemplating on my morning commutes lately ...
Roadie guys (ok, women too, but there aren't very many, so I'm generalizing) around town know me as a racer, etc. They see my team kit and often know who I am and usually wave to me or greet me when we pass going opposite directions.
Since I started commuting on my Mule bike (a home made hybrid- photos in the commuter forum), I'll pass the same guys I occasionally train with on the weekends. There's an early morning ride from a bike shop in midtown that a lot of them go to. Since I'm on a goofy looking bike (not calling hybrids goofy at all- just my hybrid) and not in a team kit, when I wave at them, the most reaction I ever get is a chuckle and occasionally a slight wave back (if they'll even make eye contact).

What gives? How about being nice to everyone instead of just the people you think are "worthy" of your greetings??

[Jolt]

Hey, nothing wrong with being a utility cyclist, riding a hybrid and wearing regular clothes while doing so--we don't all have to be racers. Plus, think of how much we save on gas by riding our bikes around town instead of driving! I can relate to sometimes feeling like a dork though--having a big plastic crate on the back of the bike (see avatar) and wearing the "screaming yellow zonker" vest for visibility can do that! However, I think I'd feel sillier wearing roadie gear while riding around town doing errands on a hybrid--just doesn't go together so well, does it?

[Andrea]

I wear an orange & reflective yellow safety vest

[F8th637]

I wear regular clothes even on my road bike if I'm going to run errands or something on it or going for a ride that is less than 10 miles or so. I will still wear a bright shirt so I can be seen but I'll leave the lycra at home.

I'm with zen (Ms. Mo) on this. I want to ride for the experience and to see things not to chase after people. Becoming faster will come in time, I've even noticed that I've gotten faster in the past couple of months which is always a welcome surprise. I figure if I'm going to beat myself up for doing something I love and enjoy. . I probably better stop.

And when I DID have my hybrid (who now lives with zen) I wore the whole get-up because it made sense to me to wear it. I'm going for miles on the bike even if it is a hybrid so I better dress for comfort lycra-style!

[bounceswoosh]

I wear regular clothes even on my road bike if I'm going to run errands or something on it or going for a ride that is less than 10 miles or so. I will still wear a bright shirt so I can be seen but I'll leave the lycra at home.

I'm with zen (Ms. Mo) on this. I want to ride for the experience and to see things not to chase after people. Becoming faster will come in time, I've even noticed that I've gotten faster in the past couple of months which is always a welcome surprise. I figure if I'm going to beat myself up for doing something I love and enjoy. . I probably better stop.

And when I DID have my hybrid (who now lives with zen) I wore the whole get-up because it made sense to me to wear it. I'm going for miles on the bike even if it is a hybrid so I better dress for comfort lycra-style!

Lycra is comfortable ... jerseys wick ... bike socks are so comfy I like to wear them even when I'm nowhere near a bike ... why *not* wear technical gear whenever you're on a bike?

I guess it would be weird going into a grocery store or something in Lycra. I have a great skirt from Title 9 that I could wear over spandex to feel a little less exposed.

[F8th637]

Lycra is comfortable ... jerseys wick ... bike socks are so comfy I like to wear them even when I'm nowhere near a bike ... why *not* wear technical gear whenever you're on a bike?

Exactly! After switching to bike gear, I have officially stopped working out in anything with cotton. All those white cotton socks I had?! Now unused! I wear lycra and other synthetic dry-wick materials exclusively right down to my socks now. I'll never go back!

[Eden]

This reminds me of something I've been contemplating on my morning commutes lately ...
Roadie guys (ok, women too, but there aren't very many, so I'm generalizing) around town know me as a racer, etc. They see my team kit and often know who I am and usually wave to me or greet me when we pass going opposite directions.
Since I started commuting on my Mule bike (a home made hybrid- photos in the commuter forum), I'll pass the same guys I occasionally train with on the weekends. There's an early morning ride from a bike shop in midtown that a lot of them go to. Since I'm on a goofy looking bike (not calling hybrids goofy at all- just my hybrid) and not in a team kit, when I wave at them, the most reaction I ever get is a chuckle and occasionally a slight wave back (if they'll even make eye contact). I don't however wave to every other cyclist - I'd wouldn't have my hands on the handlebars enough....

What gives? How about being nice to everyone instead of just the people you think are "worthy" of your greetings??

I've experienced the same thing - usually when I'm commuting and wearing a rain coat over my team kit - the racers I would usually wave at, sometimes give me a confused look if I still wave.

Out here I think there is reason, I'll let you decide if you like it or not.... we have *a lot* of cyclists, from all different worlds, racers, hipsters, rec riders, randonneurs, commuters etc. If you waved to every other cyclist on the road, it would be like waving to every other driver out there... overwhelming, so you usually see people greeting those in their clique. I usually give an unprompted greeting to other racers - more often than not I know them in some way anyway. If I'm waved at by another cyclist, I will certainly return the greeting if feasible. Happy to have a chat with anyone who rides with me or stops at the same light.

For the most part I wear techincal gear - one thing, I'm on a team and like it or not it is adverstising. They give us money to wear that kit, so we basically agree to wear it when we go out on the bike. Truthfully for any ride longer than a few miles its just more comfortable too.

I do however own a hybrid bike - I'm kind of opposite of most people, I always had road bikes, but the hubby and I decided we wanted something that could take on dirt roads and gravelly trails without going the full mt bike route. I take that one out sometimes to run errands, shopping etc. as its the only bike that I have that I can really carry stuff on and I wear street clothes when I ride it. It can be a refreshing change. Everyone leaves you alone, no "competitive commuters", macho guys aren't trying to prove themselves by passing the racer chickie by or rude comments by folks I pass while doing hill repeats (yes twice now I've had a person comment as I've gone by - sorry my zone 5 hill repeats have NOTHING to do with you, yes I'm working hard and yes I'm going by you, but its not personal).... oddly enough though, I think drivers are worse - they give me more space when I'm kitted out on the road bike.

[katluvr]

I get passed in the park by almost every roadie there no matter what they are riding, and it does make me feel like a poser to be so slow on my beautiful carbon bike.

Don't get me wrong... I adore my bike and look at it lovingly all day. I just feel a bit sheepish out there when guys on fixed-gear old-school bikes pass me on the hill.

After 5 years of road biking, multiple charity rides, bike vacations, centuries...you name it...I remain "slow and steady". Yet to build the speed. Still see "newbies" start out and be faster than me. Yet at the recent "MS Bike Tour" I jsut completed....I see the same folks pass me over and over cuz they ride fast/hard, then rest even longer at the stops....I just keep moving steadiliy a long. I did 95 miles on day one and 83 on the second day. I may be slow...but I am pretty happy w/ my performance. Besides, if all the training makes me dislike being on my bike....then I wouldn't enjoy it.

But I am glad to hear/see I am not alone in feeling like I'll never be a buff, fast, cool biker chic. Yes, my bike shorts dig into my thighs and I get some of those unsightly bulges from having a some not so lean legs!


K

[tulip]

I had a great time this afternoon running all my errands on my city bike, in jeans. Of course, I still had my helmet and my cycling shoes (Shimano mountain bike shoes so they're relatively easy to walk in). I just cannot pedal without being clipped in!

All the drivers were polite.

Downtown Richmond has NO bike racks!!