Snobishness in Cycling. Does it exist?

[400bhp]

I actually don't think the snobbishness manifests itself in the cost of machinery of clothing, but here is a certain elitist attitude with some cyclists. Whether that is the same or similar I'm not sure.

I've seen this in a cycling club, I've seen it on a sportive and I've seen it when out on a ride. I think I witnessed this today when I was overtook by someone this morning at 8:30am. Completely ignored me, even though both of us were doing upwards of 18+mph and he was the first cyclist I had seen that morning having been out for an hour.

Cycling exhibits characteristics we see in everyday life.

 

[i hate hills]

Personally i dont give a toss what others think.When i'm in the car i'm a motorist. When i'm walking i'm a pedestrian . And when i'm out on my bike i'm a cyclist.We are all cyclists no matter what bike we are on. Anyone thinking they are better by ignoring people or dishing out the smart catty comments need to remove their head from their arse pronto before they have an accident . Breathe rant over

 

[PaulSecteur]

Turning this round a bit... How about anti-snobbery?

Im a bit of a maintenance freak, so it REALLY grinds my gears (pun) when I see a nice bike, with a good groupset thats poorly adjusted, dirty and obvously not cared for. No respect there.

But conversly when on a sportive and me and a mate are honking up a hill on some decent bikes and having trouble keeping lungs internal, some bloke on a no-nome (possibly viking) comes passed us, one handed and yapping on a mobile. That get respect (for the physical effort and easy that they accomplish the task, not the yapping on a mobile - thats silly).

*Just my opinions and prejudices, in no way are they presented as facts.

 

[David Haworth]

I've seen the "all the gear, no idea" snobbery in multiple sports and I think it's just a wrap around jealousy. It's just envy that others have/can afford better kit even if they're not that good.

But so what? I think that many high end manufacturers in many sports survive off newbies who who buy the best. And life isn't like a video game where you have to "earn" better equipment with your mad skillz.

I don't care if someone takes up cycling and a month later decides to drop £5k on some all carbon/di2 mega machine even though he can barely get up a hill. Good for him. It's nice to have quality kit no matter how good you are.

I'm not a good enough cyclist to really warrant my bike but I could afford it and wanted it. Could I have made do with the bottom of the range model? Undoubtedly but what is it they say? "The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten".

David

 

[400bhp]

I

I'm not a good enough cyclist to really warrant my bike but I could afford it and wanted it. Could I have made do with the bottom of the range model? Undoubtedly but what is it they say? "The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten".

David

I suspect you've bought into the BS of what you perceive to be a "bottom of the range model"

Which is what people sometimes perceive as inverse snobbery, when it is actually because people buy stuff they have no clue about. People often perceive peeps with expensive bikes who aren't particularly quick to be somewhat gullible.

I don't really know how much this gullibility goes on with bikes and how it compares to other leisure activities. It was rife in motor racing though when I used to dabble in that.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Nobody's a bike snob here, how can you check out other riders when mostly it's dark, the rain lashing out, the wind blowing dust in your eyes?

 

[Jon2]

Turning this round a bit... How about anti-snobbery?

So what happens if someone overtakes you while chatting on their mobile riding a bike with buckled wheels, rusty chain really dirty etc...? I haven't decided if this question should have the person on what was an expensive bike or not.

And by the way, are you implying that fitness is a reason to be snobby?

Not sure how that came across, it's not meant to be serious at all!

 

[Cycleops]

I don't care if someone takes up cycling and a month later decides to drop £5k on some all carbon/di2 mega machine even though he can barely get up a hill. Good for him. It's nice to have quality kit no matter how good you are.

I'm not a good enough cyclist to really warrant my bike but I could afford it and wanted it. Could I have made do with the bottom of the range model? Undoubtedly but what is it they say? "The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten".

David

The guy that goes out and buys a 5k or even a 2k bike straight off is likely to be a 'cheque book cyclist'. He likes to create an impression and loves to be seen and admired. In twelve months time he is unlikely to be cycling having moved on to some other passtime or got bored.

Some like to identified by their expensive machines like a particular member on here who chose his pricey mount as his forum name. I notice that he no longer frequents these columns.

I buy into the price/quality thing but if you only have £300 to spend you only have that ammount. In cycling lack of money doesn't preclude you from enjoyment. You can get just as much pleasure on a budget machine as you can on carbon dream machine. Ask any Triban 3 owners and there are plenty on here.

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

I've got a Carrera and I still get the hellos and good mornings from roadies. I don't have fancy kit but I'm pleased with what I've got. I can still get out and do 30 miles.

 

[mickle]

I look down at recumbent riders.

 

[byegad]

There are some who ignore certain classes of riders. I look up to all DF riders, because my backside is only 8" off the ground!

 

[derrick]

Hold on... when you ride fixed you usually end up looking up at others do you not?

Fixie riders are the elite.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

The guy that goes out and buys a 5k or even a 2k bike straight off is likely to be a 'cheque book cyclist'. He likes to create an impression and loves to be seen and admired. In twelve months time he is unlikely to be cycling having moved on to some other passtime or got bored.

And a year later hopefully they'll sell their bike to us lot with lower budgets

 

[yello]

It's taught from a young age you know.

As a club passed me on Weds, I ventured a 'bonjour' and one young lad at the front went to respond.... until his older club mates silenced him. He resumed his steely forward stare.

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

I look down at recumbent riders.

I have no problem with recumbent riders, they're pretty laid back!