Any idea how LOUD cyclists talk?

[GLC1968]

So, we've been cyclists for about 4 years now. My H and I often ride country roads together, and we often have conversations. We know that our voices are usually raised in order to be heard above the sound of the wind in our ears.

Three months ago, we moved to a house that is about 100 feet off a main cycling route in our area. We are definitely in the country where there are no side walks, no stop lights and very little traffic.

The first time I was working in our garden (back behind the house) and I heard clear voices, I was startled. Who was that talking? Are they in my driveway? Why are they yelling? Then I saw the group of cyclists go by.

Yesterday, we were outside ALL day while painting our house. There was a sizeable organized ride that had two of the three routes passing by our house. All day long, there were cyclists riding by...and all day long we could clearly hear their conversations. "She's 65 and built like a house, could barely make it up the path" "Yep, that's why you need to wear sunglasses even when cloudy to protect your eyes from bugs and debris" "One time I made the mistake of turning left here and saw signs warning of an 18% grade!" "Keep up the pace, there's a hill up ahead"...and so on...

So, just as a friendly reminder from a cyclist that now lives on a cycling route - if you have a conversation while cycling, keep in mind that EVERYONE around you that is not on a bike can clearly hear every word you are saying - even the bad ones!

[shootingstar]

Yea, you're right not every negative situation deserves a foul word aloud.

Today we were cycling on relatively quiet residential roads to get to a winery. It's Canadian Thxgiving today. Did I talk to my partner?...maybe I might have yelled at him once or used my bell just to signal I was around or caught up.

Even in a group ride, I don't talk much..it's after the ride when stopping to eat/drink. Am a bit of a hermit, with when cycling with sweetie. WE find it useless most of the time to carry a conversation of some length and be heard. In a 45 kms. typical ride at home, we might exchange 2-3 sentences with one another during the whole ride while on bike.

[Jiffer]

I had no idea. I'll certainly keep it in mind in the future, though. Thanks for the warning.

[RolliePollie]

I discovered the loud talking thing one day when I was riding with a friend on the bike trail. The trail was practically deserted, but it seemed like every time we came upon someone, they were blocking the trail, riding five abreast, doing something weird like teaching their dog to "sit" in the middle of the trail, etc. So as we were rounding a curve, I LOUDLY said, "Wow, there sure are a lot of oblivious people out here today!" and right then, we came up behind two ladies walking on the wrong side of the trail. I hadn't seen them before I made my comment so it wasn't directed at them at all. They stopped dead in their tracks, spun around, and yelled "Oh we ARE, ARE WE?" and "What's YOUR problem?!?!" It took me a few seconds to realize they thought I was yelling at them for being oblivious! I had no idea they'd heard me! Then I felt horrible...like I was giving all cyclists a bad name. I almost went back to apologize, but honestly, I was too scared since they seemed so furious.

This is my tale of learning how loud I talk while on the bike.

[xeney]

Heh. I learned this lesson the hard way the other day. I was coming up a small hill on the bike trail, pulling the trailer. To my right there was a man walking two dogs and taking part of the trail. To my left there was a group of people not quite off the path, standing and talking. Ahead there was a man on a hybrid coming down the hill, coasting and riding his brake.

I really wanted to pass the man with the dogs, but needed to wait for the man coming downhill before I could take his lane. I was feeling a little impatient at losing my momentum while he coasted and rode his brake downhill, so I muttered to myself, "Pedal, damn it," kind of under my breath.

But a bike is not a car and he heard me, and as he passed me, he flipped me off. Which I completely deserved.

[RoadRaven]

LOL

Or sing...

When I do repetitions on the road outside our place - about 1km down the road, turn, go about 800m past our place, turn and repeat - I almost always wear my MP3 and sing.

Some days I sing so loud he can hear me nearly a km away (I don't think hearing me sing is a good thing )

Last week our neighbour was using the woolshed and was waving to me each time I zoomed by, but once he was bent over and didn't know I was approaching as I "belted" out Melissa's

"I like the way you look and I know you like me"

He wasn't really sure what THAT was about