Lycra Rant

[Goggs]

I don't know if this is a roadie thing or a French thing but when I'm out & about I never get any acknowledgement from roadie types. When I pass commuters, utility cyclists, shoppers & tourists we all say bonjour to each other, a cheery smile or a wave too usually. But roadies? Not once have they even nodded at my existence. I can understand those who are on a mission, totally focused on going as fast as possible, but many are not really racers. They have road bikes & they're kitted out in full-on team lycra but they're clearly not super-fit athletes trying to scrape tenths off here & there. They just seem to have an awful lot of money to spend on gear that's not really suitable for them. It really is quite depressing to see.

Sorry, rant over.

 

[winjim]

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

@ianrauk I hear the jingling from here

 

[Cuchilo]

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I never greet cyclists who don't wear lycra and aren't focused and in the zone. I treat them as roadkill and pass as close as possible spraying sweat as I pass.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

It really is quite depressing to see.

Sorry, rant over.

Depressing to see people spending money they have earned and enjoying themselves cycling?

 

[Sharky]

I was walking down Oxford Street the other day and not one person said Hello!

 

[ianrauk]

Hooray.....another poor needy soul.

Cycle Chat bingo. Here you go.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

My goodness, I never realised I was stirring up so much ire by daring to ride a road bike while not actually being in, or indeed training for a real race. AND for having the audacity to wear cycling clothing optimised for being on a bike saddle! My apologies sir.

I wave at, and say hello to everyone by the way, even peasants in stripey jerseys and berets riding onion seller's bikes.

 

[steve50]

I don't know if this is a roadie thing or a French thing but when I'm out & about I never get any acknowledgement from roadie types. When I pass commuters, utility cyclists, shoppers & tourists we all say bonjour to each other, a cheery smile or a wave too usually. But roadies? Not once have they even nodded at my existence. I can understand those who are on a mission, totally focused on going as fast as possible, but many are not really racers. They have road bikes & they're kitted out in full-on team lycra but they're clearly not super-fit athletes trying to scrape tenths off here & there. They just seem to have an awful lot of money to spend on gear that's not really suitable for them. It really is quite depressing to see.

Sorry, rant over.

Making a lot of assumptions there aren't you?

 

[davidphilips]

what i find if i am on a bike with straight bars and i am wearing jeans very few cyclists wave yet if i am on a road bike and cycling gear on most wave, if i pass road cyclists and i am on a road bike with cycling clothing on most say hi and away i go but if i pass guys in road bikes when wearing jeans and on anything but a racing bike its a bit like waving a red flag at a bull they go into race mode all great fun.
i like to see other cyclists even if its someone on an old bike not worth a pound or a group of cyclists that have spent thousands on the latest gear, only thing i find a bit depressing is when i see so many cars with only the driver in them, they could be cycling saving fuel having exercise and having fun, plenty of time at lifes end to be in a box.

 

[ayceejay]

put these in you Gaulloise and smoke it

 

[snorri]

It really is quite depressing to see.

If such things annoy you, just be thankful you are in France where you will not see as many cyclists as you would in the Netherlands.
You'd be a basket case within the hour in NL.

 

[Crackle]

Have you tried wearing a beret and a string of onions?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I was walking down Oxford Street the other day and not one person said Hello!

What do you expect? You are down south, get up north if you want friendly folk.