be a considerate rider; off and on road

[luna*Kentucky]

Hello girls,

I find that most roadies are jerks. I joined a local club w/ my man and felt most of the members were stuck on themselves. We decided to continue riding just w/ eachother. Now on the other hand, I love to trail rides and I find that mtbikers are definately laid back and most* have consideration for others.

Not sure why people are the way they are?

I'll be just starting my adventure back on the road tomorrow; Excited! Kentucky is beautiful and the weather is finally getting warmer.

Have a great ride girls....

[melissam]

luna*Kentucky,

Welcome to the board! I see that you're pretty new here (at least posting-wise), but think you'll find that most of the people here are very friendly and love to talk cycling.

I'm sorry that you've run into a lot of jerky road riders. But, but, but ... I'm a roadie. I must admit that I was a little taken aback to see your post accusing me and my ilk of being jerks. Last I checked, there are many, many nice roadies that contribute to these forums.

OK, truce! Can we admit to some middle ground? I ride a little road, a little mountain, and I find that most riders (of either type) are genuinely nice people who like to get out and ride, and will share their knowledge with others. There's bad apples in either bunch -- some might be having a bad day, some might be shy/standoffish by nature, some might truly be jerks. Dunno which type you met.

But I do agree -- we should be considerate no matter if we're on the road or on the trail. Also, when we're driving, we should be extra considerate to our fellow bike riders.

Enjoy the weather! I hear Kentucky is beautiful!

-- Melissa (please don't hate me 'cause I'm a roadie! )

[pedalfaster]

I started off as a mountain biker and now ride mostly road (logistics). I also date a road racer( who dabbles in dirt).

I agree that there is some truth to the "mountain bikers are more laid back" stereotype. My thought is that road riding has more history and more tradition and can be off-putting to newcomers. So many "unwritten rules".

And here's a personal observation (your experience may vary). Many many cyclists I have met over the years have been scientists and engineers in "real life". I'm not sure why, but the sport seem to attract those types (is it the gear? the physics?). As long as we are talking stereotypes here, I think there is *some* truth to the one that says that people in those fields have uhm...less than stellar social skills. So what may seem "snobby" to the observer may actually be shyness or awkwardness.

Ok and now for a true story:

Early in my road-riding career I rode up to a group ride. My first time with this particular group. I was chatting away, introducing myself, smiling, making small talk...and a woman roadie pulls up next to me and says "You MUST be a mountain biker!".

It turned out ok. She later attended some of our women's mountain bike clinics and became a friend.

[fultzie]

In my short experience, I'd agree that there is some truth to the mtn bikers being more laid back thing. in racing especially, there are some really... intense female roadies, even in women's B (collegiate class... A has longer and faster races). in mtn biking, people were pretty supportive of each other, even if they were on competing teams.

i remember at my second mtn race, my back wheel fell off my stiff hybrid bike (the bike was my first problem) and i lost my skewer. i was hauling my frame and wheel over the trail, since i was about 1/2 thru when it happened and couldn't turn back, and this guy from Southern Illinois U was pre-riding and stopped and gave me his skewer. he had a race in 20 min, and I had 4 miles left, so there was no guarantee that he'd even get the skewer back in time to race, by the time his teammates found him after i finished. i was so surprised at how nice he had been! i doubt anything like that would happen in road racing... maybe i'm wrong, though.

and it's also true about the sport attracting science-people.... i'd say about 3/4 of our team is either pre-med or in engineering! i always feel like the dummy... art, literature, and foreign language

but i wonder if the "lack of social skills" thing is due to the science-part or just the type of person the sport attracts in general... ie: i'm not exactly a social butterfly, and many people mistake my being awkward/quirky for my being a b*tch (although i don't mean to come off that way). i think it goes back to the nature of the sport... certain people are attracted to the, well, pain of endurance cycling or racing. i think it could tie-in to the depression and cycling link... cycling as a kind of therapy for "social outcasts" too? i'm sorry if that came out wrong... like i said, awkward and quirky, not trying to be a b*tch!

[Irulan]

It's so easy to generalize and point fingers, but I think we need to be careful not to, no matter what we ride, as there are good/bad apples, friendly or not friendly, in every bunch.

I have my share of tales that I could tell but in the light of being positive and sharing the trail/road, I think I'll keep them to myself.



Irulan

[pedalfaster]

So while luna was having her first road ride in quite some time, I finally got off-road today.

I'm not even sure of the date of my last mountain bike ride (really really lonnnnng time ago...).

The trail was awesome and many people where out, including a few motos. The motos where all verrrry polite and shared the trail very well...the whole thing just make me smile.

It was one of those days, where on the drive back into town I thought "Now why don't I go out and do that more often?"

[ChainsOflove]

hmmmmm
this off road thing sounds fun. OH GOD NOT ANOTHER BIKE!!!

[SadieKate]

Any excuse for another bike! I ride any surface I can -- its all cycling.

But, I agree there are bad apples in every bunch. Yes, on the road you see some pretty intense efforts to ignore you, but, on the other side, I've never been knocked off the trail by a roadie. I've been blocked on road rides but folks who insist on riding 2 and 3 abreast in heavy traffic and had a guy tell me to get out of the way because "this is a race course" even though it was a multi-purpose trail with children and horses present. So, yes, mtbikers can be very intense also.

But, on both road and dirt, I've met some fabulous people who have become friends for life. People who won't ride by a stopped rider until they've seen for themselves that everything is cool. Its not unusual at the country store for a roadie stranger to give you the remains of the gallon of water they were just using to refill with.

Though, I will tell you that my hubby and I have a measurement for roadie friendliness though -- the effort to ignore you on the road seems to be directly linked to the number of indecipherable logos on the jersey and that we're guessing these people have no idea what they're advertising and would probably be embarrased if they did! Wannabes! Oh well, we just smile and say hello and ride into the sunset.

[snapdragen]

Kind of the same yardstick I use! Full kit, matching bike, feel the need to blow you off the road. Geez guy, I'm riding a Terry Classic with mtn bars, not exactly built for speed! Who ARE you trying to impress?

I try to make a point of smiling or saying hi to every cyclist I see - most smile back - there there are a few in the above category. Pbbbt, who needs 'em!

Originally posted by SadieKate
Though, I will tell you that my hubby and I have a measurement for roadie friendliness though -- the effort to ignore you on the road seems to be directly linked to the number of indecipherable logos on the jersey and that we're guessing these people have no idea what they're advertising and would probably be embarrased if they did! Wannabes! Oh well, we just smile and say hello and ride into the sunset.

[cyclingnewbie]

I agree with the comment about the riders covered in logowear. They are usually too far above my level to even acknowledge that I exist. My pet peeve about my local club is that 95% of them are on road bikes and when I arrive at a club ride with my hybrid, I swear they look me (and my bike) over and sneer. Maybe I'm just paranoid because I stick out (not only do I ride a hybrid, but I'm not a thin, sleek cyclist, if you get my meaning). And finally, I think many people are attracted to biking because it is something you can do by yourself and don't need anyone else to do it with you. Those same people maybe don't like to interact with large groups of people and then come across as unpleasant.

[Irulan]

there are three different clubs here - a road racing club, a road recreational club, and women's club that is primarily roadies with a smattering of mtn bikers. It helps to find the right club to be in.

Irulan

[luna*Kentucky]

that's good to know...

I'm mtn biker 1st and roadie 2nd, but I love downhill...

Kate*

[amhilde]

Interesting point about the scientists! Ive noticed that before- i think its the technical aspect.

Here in northern Nevada there are LOADS of ppl on the trails and sometimes I feel put out for being a roadie and not on the mountain bike. But we also have a ton of roadies out every weekend on various rides and some are nice and some are not. I find going to the bike shop to be MUCH more intimidating- i still cant figure out bar tape ( thing to do next weekend!) and some shops you take the bike in and are scared to ask a question. But the technical issues with cycling and learning all about the various components and how to train and where to train and this and that, it can be very intimidating to any beginner.

We do have a "wave" system here though- almost every roadie, no matter how much logo wear or rec bike- waves to one they are passing on the other side of the road, or says a few words if they are passing you. Makes everyone feel connected though!