Cycling Snobs

[slowmotion]

The question I would ask is where has this snobbery come from? I am old enough and have ridden long enough to remember when there was no snobbery, we were all just cyclists. For some reason it seems to have crept in over the last few years.

When owning a bike became some kind of "Life-style Statement"?

When a pair of pants became a "base layer"?

When a glass of water became a "hydration system"?

 

[StuAff]

Yes I remember the days before mountain bikes, The Sunday club run often included rough stuff, and great fun it was to. But I don't remember ever pointing and laughing at someone else's bike, if it's different to mine I tend to be just curious about it.

Whatever bike I'm riding, I'll smile or nod at fellow cyclists, and acknowledge their hellos, whatever they're riding. I can't help finding people trying to use BMXs as a form of transport, or spinning madly at 5 mph, or bouncing along perfectly smooth roads because they're on a BSO 'suspension' bike, rather amusing....but at least they're on bikes and not in cars, and I certainly wouldn't ridicule them. I get regular 'wisecracks' from people when I'm out in cycling kit, but it says more about them than me (usually they're outside, or going to, a pub, and clearly not in decent physical shape).

 

[Deleted member 1258]

When owning a bike became some kind of "Life-style Statement"?

When a pair of pants became a "base layer"?

When a glass of water became a "hydration system"?

Sounds like the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

 

[Fab Foodie]

dave r, a taste of the good old days...

http://www.tudorsports.co.uk/

We didn't need no stinkin' lycra, hydration systems or gel bars...

 

[totallyfixed]

The standard of the rider I find is inversely proportional to the amount of bling lycra they are wearing.
Sportives tend to be good for spotting the full pro team lycra look-a-like.

 

[MacB]

Out in the real world I couldn't give a stuff, a bike gets me from A to B or takes me on pleasant social rides, that's all that matters.

On the internet it's different entirely, especially when you're starting out. The snobbery and prejudices are a pain in the butt when you're trying to get advice/opinion. It takes a while to understand all of this and learn to avoid advice from numpties with no knowledge but a lot of ideas about how you should ride Thankfully there are some great sites around that give a lot of good info and explode some of the myths.

 

[Jezston]

dave r, a taste of the good old days...

http://www.tudorsports.co.uk/

Ooh need to get me one of those tops! Nice!

 

[Jezston]

Conversely, I'm finding myself experiencing another form of cycling snobbery.

I commute daily on a hybrid - but thats not the issue. Me wearing my shiny reflective top, hi-vis bag cover, goretex trousers - I'm considered 'uncool' by the skinny jeans hooded top wearing fixed gear retro-bike trendies around nottingham. Hell - saw a facebook group some of my friends have joined and they even look down on using BRAKES!

I can understand the appeal of fixies commuting in a reasonably flat area, and some of those trendy fixies are seriously pretty - but nottingham is a pretty lumpy city, fixed gear really isn't practical round here.

 

[eldudino]

I think we're all forgetting something.... is utdrd a SERIOUS cyclist?


If only there was someone here who could answer that question.

 

[g00se]

Conversely, I'm finding myself experiencing another form of cycling snobbery.

I commute daily on a hybrid - but thats not the issue. Me wearing my shiny reflective top, hi-vis bag cover, goretex trousers - I'm considered 'uncool' by the skinny jeans hooded top wearing fixed gear retro-bike trendies around nottingham. Hell - saw a facebook group some of my friends have joined and they even look down on using BRAKES!

I can understand the appeal of fixies commuting in a reasonably flat area, and some of those trendy fixies are seriously pretty - but nottingham is a pretty lumpy city, fixed gear really isn't practical round here.

Don't worry - those 'fakengers' are the butt of the jokes and distain from the bike messengers.

 

[hackbike 666]

The question I would ask is where has this snobbery come from? I am old enough and have ridden long enough to remember when there was no snobbery, we were all just cyclists. For some reason it seems to have crept in over the last few years.

Just the last few years and peoples attitudes.I used to go out of my way to speak to people...now I don't bother...although if people say something to me I try and be friendly.

I have been blanked too many times.

 

[marinyork]

Just the last few years and peoples attitudes.I used to go out of my way to speak to people...now I don't bother...although if people say something to me I try and be friendly.

I have been blanked too many times.

I thought you'd been cycling 40 or 50 years, what sort of time period does the last few mean?

 

[manalog]

Just the last few years and peoples attitudes.I used to go out of my way to speak to people...now I don't bother...although if people say something to me I try and be friendly.

I have been blanked too many times.

I too found this to be the case. As a beginner I was very friendly and was unaware of this snoberry and try to acknowledge other Cyclists. Funny enough I normally get blanked by people on MTBs and Hybrids! Yes I do ride a full carbon bike and only say hello/nod if they initiate it. If you see me all Lycrad out riding a Focus Cayo well I am not a snob other Cyclist made me look like I am if you know what I mean. just wave/nod and I won't blank you,honest

 

[Browser]

And you can take your baggy shorts and your silly helmet peak ram them into your suspension. Have you not heard of Rapha - for god's sake.

Errr, no, I haven't

 

[BentMikey]

Rapha? For the most part that's what wannabes wear.