on the road
Über Member
Maybe they saw you as a nutter on his three wheeler 
Moody cyclists
- Thread starter Chonker
- Start date
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threefingerjoe
Über Member
- Location
- St. Louis, MO, USA
I experienced the same thing one day last week. Heading into work, on my normal commuting route, and passed 3 "serious" cyclists...(kitted out, down on the drops) going the opposite direction. Middle-aged guys...not going all that fast. I tend to greet everyone on my commute. These blokes wouldn't even acknowledge me! A fella on a HYBRID...with MUDGUARDS and LIGHTS!!! and a LUNCHBOX bungied on! What kind of cyclist is he? ;-)
Saw a workmate, later, who also passed by them, and noticed the same thing that I did. "What was with those guys?" They sure didn't look like they were having any fun.
I guess you'll get a lot of that in the "cycling season" when the REAL cyclists come out.
Saw a workmate, later, who also passed by them, and noticed the same thing that I did. "What was with those guys?" They sure didn't look like they were having any fun.
I guess you'll get a lot of that in the "cycling season" when the REAL cyclists come out.
beanzontoast
Guru
- Location
- South of The Peaks
luplowe said:
More like - some of them think if you haven't spent a grand on your bike and aren't decked up to the nines in colour-coordinated kit matching the bike, you can't be a serious cyclist, perchance?
Back to the OP - could be a lot of factors. Sometimes folk are just 'in the zone' when cycling. They are concentrating on the traffic.
Or maybe they'd like to wave back, but are scared they'd fall off if they tried!
beanzontoast
Guru
- Location
- South of The Peaks
threefingerjoe said:
Practical! At least he won't go hungry or get lost when it goes dark!
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
I wave (or nod at the least) to everyone, pretty much.
I ride a road bike & sport lycra togs, but am also a frivolous cyclist, which could explain it.
I ride a road bike & sport lycra togs, but am also a frivolous cyclist, which could explain it.
red_tom
New Member
- Location
- East London
Be one of the ones that bucks the trend. I always give a smile, a nod of the head or a small wave of the fingers off the brake hoods. Costs you nothing.
If they want to be a miserable old scroat then let that be on their conscience.
If they want to be a miserable old scroat then let that be on their conscience.
OP
OP
Chonker
Veteran
- Location
- Buckingham
Radius said:Ride fixed, then anyone else who is too will definitely give you a nod
Heh, don't think I'm quite up to a fixed recumbent yet
beanzontoast said:
I like to think this is the reason and people that love the same activity as me are not all miserable elitist sods!
I have only passed one 'serious cyclist' recently he was around 45 and decked out in orange lycra, helmet, glasses and a black and orange bike. He just stared at me and it was a quiet country lane, I had to stop and make sure my nuts werent popping out a hole in my lycra or something!
Joe24
More serious cyclist than Bonj
- Location
- Nottingham
Fixed is sort of rare around here, so when i do see someone on fixed, you normally do get a big smile
arallsopp
Post of The Year 2009 winner
- Location
- Bromley, Kent
Chonker said:...perhaps riding a recumbent makes me a cycling leper to be shunned!
I always try to acknowledge other cyclists, and am normally first in with a nod or a wave. I'm recumbent too, and find reactions vary on a few factors:
If I'm on the big orange beastie (an SMGTe rigged for touring) I normally earn a wave back, but the other rider rarely initiates contact. They'll pull alongside at lights and pretend I'm invisible, but as soon as I speak they're eager to respond with lots of questions. My wife says this is because the bent gives the appearance of 'special needs' and they don't want to offend, be unable to understand me, etc.
If I'm on the Furai, fixies and bike enthusiasts are full of questions and interest. Older riders smile and w(e)ave, younger riders race me. There are lots of stop lights on my commute, and the Furai has a different speed profile from the standard DF. From 0-10mph, they'll get me every time, and from 10 - 20 I'll be out of sight somewhere behind. At 25+ I'll sail past, changing up to the big ring as I go, and generally basking in the lack of wind resistance.
At the next set of lights, they'll be all questions again.
badkitty
A Fiddler of ill repute
Chonker said:perhaps riding a recumbent makes me a cycling leper to be shunned!
Yep - in a nutshell....
OP
OP
Chonker
Veteran
- Location
- Buckingham
'CASE' more like!
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
threefingerjoe said:
Sounds like me on my way to work!
Roadies are definitely a LOT more miserable. Proper MTBers are very friendly, there will always be a nod, but if stopped then there will invariably be not just a nod but a smile and a few seconds admiring each other's bikes.
Only 1 in 10 the case with roadies, the other 90% will often deliberately look straight ahead and deliberately avoid catching eye contact. Miserable as sin.
The trick is to do the type of nod that isn't a nod towards them in their direction, but a quick flick of the head away from them and back into line, which takes practice, and is usually seen to be done by 'stalwart' cyclists.
Only 1 in 10 the case with roadies, the other 90% will often deliberately look straight ahead and deliberately avoid catching eye contact. Miserable as sin.
The trick is to do the type of nod that isn't a nod towards them in their direction, but a quick flick of the head away from them and back into line, which takes practice, and is usually seen to be done by 'stalwart' cyclists.
