Little wheels = abuse!

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gpx001

Über Member
Location
Leicestershire
Why is it I can cycle mile upon mile on my trusty Dawes hybrid or my roadie, with never a murmur or grumble from people I pass. But, nip out on my folder and I get verbally abused by yoofs, builders and other boneheads! "Get yourself a proper bike" or "Look at him on that girls bike" are a couple of the more repeatable comments. Surely the 20" wheels aren't that offensive?

Anyone else had the same?
 

Dormouse

New Member
You need to be ready with abuse to hurl back. I suggest for male yobs: "Come back when your b*lls drop" and for yobettes "Fat slags" will do.

Make sure you can escape them just in case they turn nasty.

I haven't had any abuse for ages but then I don't have a folder either.
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
Just call out "have a salad". :blush:

I wouldn't be bothered. I also have 20" wheels on my recumbent, though it doesn't tend to get called a girls bike either.
 
I've pretty well stopped commuting on the folder and gone back to the full-sized hack. I felt that drivers especially didn't give me space on the folder in the way that they do a big bike. I had a very nasty left hook that brushed my handlebars and shoulder on the folder, literally within millimetres of injuring me badly.

Certainly had a few bits of verbal abuse but try to just hurl it back.
 
OP
OP
G

gpx001

Über Member
Location
Leicestershire
Twenty Inch said:
I've pretty well stopped commuting on the folder and gone back to the full-sized hack. I felt that drivers especially didn't give me space on the folder in the way that they do a big bike. I had a very nasty left hook that brushed my handlebars and shoulder on the folder, literally within millimetres of injuring me badly.

Certainly had a few bits of verbal abuse but try to just hurl it back.

Yeah, I've noticed the same thing - the folder doesn't have the same road presence. It is a useful little bugger though and is convenient.

Maybe I'll buy some ear-plugs!
 

Membrane

New Member
I think that this is the result of people's or society's general tendency to reject things that are out of the ordinary.

I regularly encounter the inventor of the "sideways bike" out on that bike on my rides. On occasions I myself have noticed a slight tendency to call out to him "get a normal/proper bike like everyone else" as I fly past him. Part in a joking manner, but not entirely.

On a point of anthropology, perhaps it could be argued that this tendency helps to create the glue that binds us together. The paradox is that it uses rejection as a method to achieve the bonding.
 

Joe24

More serious cyclist than Bonj
Location
Nottingham
Ment to reply to this before.
I ride my folder everyday, and i love it when someone on a mountainbike trys to keep up, some do some keep up for so long then drop off.
I've had some abuse from kids, and i love to shout abuse back like "grow some Boll@cks and come back say that."
However, some people dont say anything. And i've had people ask if it folds and when i say yes, they normally say cool.
I get some strange looks from some people, and some kids laugh. My brothers thought my folder was stupid, then they had a go on it and really liked it.
The best come back, is "these wheels are the same size as my penis." cant do anything but laugh at that.
 
Joe24 said:
Ment to reply to this before.
I ride my folder everyday, and i love it when someone on a mountainbike trys to keep up, some do some keep up for so long then drop off.
I've had some abuse from kids, and i love to shout abuse back like "grow some Boll@cks and come back say that."
However, some people dont say anything. And i've had people ask if it folds and when i say yes, they normally say cool.
I get some strange looks from some people, and some kids laugh. My brothers thought my folder was stupid, then they had a go on it and really liked it.
The best come back, is "these wheels are the same size as my penis." cant do anything but laugh at that.

*Zooming past on a 700c roadbike*

"Pretty small compared to mine then, wahey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Lol, sorry, it had to be done. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 

Joe24

More serious cyclist than Bonj
Location
Nottingham
Jacomus-rides-Gen said:
*Zooming past on a 700c roadbike*

"Pretty small compared to mine then, wahey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Lol, sorry, it had to be done. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:


:biggrin:
I;ve got a Penny Farthing, you sure you wont to try and compete?
:biggrin: :sad:
 
It's NOT the size of the wheels, it's what you do with them ;)

While cycling my ice cream bike a young lad asked "Don't you feel like a right c**t riding that?" I looked him straight in the eyes and said firmly "NO!" and laughed, then he laughed.
 

Trillian

New Member
Jacomus-rides-Gen said:
*Zooming past on a 700c roadbike*

"Pretty small compared to mine then, wahey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Lol, sorry, it had to be done. :ohmy::biggrin::biggrin:

zooms past on 27 1 1/4 wheeled road bike

:thumbsup:

i win?
 
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