Need Interpretation of Male Cyclists' Body Language

[OakLeaf]

Restless leg syndrome? My husband doesn't ride, so I can't directly compare, but he's always bouncing or twitching some body part? I have to restrain him at the movies so he doesn't disturb other watchers - he is completely unaware of it. He will literally kick me out of bed at night. Maybe it's something like that.

[Crankin]

This is weird.
And, I can't think of any rational explanation. I ride with lots of guys in this demographic and I have never seen it. My DH sometimes dismounts by swinging his leg over the bar, but there's no twitching or head shaking involved.
Maybe they like you so much, it's making them shake .

[lph]

Well, I'd behave like that if someone stopped to chat with me right before a race or some other event I was physically very prepared for and focussed on. It's not so much being nervous as feeling raring to go, but then feeling "delayed" or thwarted in some way. I don't think someone else being calm would help, rather the opposite, that someone who mirrored my behaviour would smooth it out a bit.

I have no idea of why they would behave like that around you in that situation, though. No particular reason it should be "male" behaviour. I guess you're the only one who would know if there's a reason for them to be nervous or worked up. It could be positive tension, too.

[shootingstar]

I guess one could read into this. But yes, some cyclists have habits if they are excited in an anticipatory way for the bike ride itself --then everyone else around them is a little secondary.

[DarcyInOregon]

Both males ride slower than I do, if this information helps. I have to stay out of my big chain ring and ride only in my small chain ring. I take the lead a lot and pull. The first guy, my first ride with him was a group ride that he joined, a ride I had put together, and he was able to get up to 19 mph by sticking in the paceline, back in position 6, couldn't sustain it for more than a few miles, but he has been trying to bike with me regularly ever since. His second ride with me was three of us, and I pulled for a 5-mile stretch where he achieved 23 mph in position three and he tells everyone how it was the best bike ride of his life every chance he gets.

I was married for 35 years and know nothing about single males. I've only been widowed for 16 months and I only recently came out of my deep grieving period. I got to thinking maybe the nervous body language has something to do with the bike dudes being single and a decade or more out from being with a female. Otherwise I don't have a clue.

[OakLeaf]

Darcy ... I just put your time frame together with the date of your last post before this thread.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband - but I'm glad you're starting to find some happiness again - welcome back to TE.

[Catrin]

Oh Darcy, I didn't know about your loss, I am very sorry. I've no idea what the body language meant from the two men but wanted to give you my sympathies.