The Snooty Brigade

[Arch]

I don't expect people to acknowledge me, and I don't think I've ever been sneered at. (or maybe only behind my back, so I don't know).

Look, cyclists are people. Some are gregarious, some aren't. Some are nice, some aren't. Cope with it.

Out yesterday for a spin, I saw a couple of oncoming cyclists, and we exchanged nods - except the lady riding into Pocklington in a fur hooded anorak, but she'll have had a bugger of a head wind to deal with, and I got a friendly toot and wave from a 4x4 driver, so figure that out!

 

[Glow worm]

Around here, like everywhere I guess, some cyclists say hello, some don't. I tend to acknowledge others hereabouts as it's rural and you don't see that many fellow cyclists and it seems a bit daft just ignoring them when there's no-one else about. As I get nearer Cambridge on my commute it would get a bit silly though as there are so many bikes you'd spend the whole ride saying hello. I had a big group of roadies come past me on my way home yesterday evening near Bottisham, and nearly all of them gave me a cheery wave/nod. Seemed like a really decent bunch.

 

[hackbike 666]

What Arch said.

 

[skudupnorth]

You get that in all walks of life,some let on,some do not ! I see the same cyclists every day on my commute to work so we have a nice sort of "working" friendship even if it is only for a few seconds.One thing for sure.....motorists do not get any sort of communication !!!

 

[hackbike 666]

I had a beemer let me out tonight,get that.

 

[skudupnorth]

I had a beemer let me out tonight,get that.

Bloody hell,they don't even let fellow motorists out !

 

[hackbike 666]

Bloody hell,they don't even let fellow motorists out !

Same turning as last night at Midland Road Leyton... a car did the same last night but when I didn't accept he got the hump so tonight I thought F-It.

 

[al78]

To be fair...car drivers don't all wave and say morning to each other...even if i saw someone driving the same car I wouldn't (unless it was a specialist).

That is because car drivers tend to be doing utility journeys and are not driving out of choice but are just trying to get somewhere. Cyclists, on the other hand, even for utility journeys tend to cycle because they have some interest in cycling (with the possible exception of London where people will cycle because it is the quickest/easiest mode of transport, in this case the cyclists will behave like the car drivers). People tend to acknowledge others who have a shared interest. It is equivalent to pedestrians not saying hello to each other on the pavements but ramblers tend to exchange greetings on country paths.

 

[lukesdad]

The trouble is they ve got all the gear and they all think they re winners unfortunatley 99.9% are losers. The 0.01 will acknowledge you so I wouldnt worry about it.

They ve got a permanent complex about meeting someone better than themselves and it translates to the rest of their lives there are a few examples on CC.

 

[DJ]

When I go past other cyclists, I tend to nod, or say hi, or smile, or give them a friendly acknowledgement of some description!

Some ignore me (which doesn't bother me), some acknowledge back (which is nice, especially when they are female and attractive!).

But there is a third kind of response that really gets my goat! This is either a sneer or a mocking laugh or some other similarly downright rude reponse ... and it always seems to come from types on incredibly expensive road bikes (i.e. more expensive than both my bikes together), dressed from head to toe in "the kit" (if you know what I mean!). That's not to say that all people who fit that description are like that, but some are.

So they look at me on my road bike with flat handlebars (because I have a back problem and I can't ride with dropped bars) and my ASDA Smartprice shorts and t-shirt (because they'll do me just fine, thank you very much) and my MTB shoes (because I'm not going to get two sets of bloody expensive shoes) ... and they think they're better than me????!

I have two words for those people! "Inferiority" and "Complex". Why else would you sneer at someone giving a friendly hello, just because you're fitter/leaner/faster/more expensive or more fashionable than them? Good Christ, I am not in competition with these fashion victims! I couldn't care less how damn fit, lean, fast or stylish they are! I cycle for my health and recreation at a pace that I enjoy (which is not slow ... but not "up there" with the likes of Mr Armstrong either).

And why is it always road cyclists? I meet plenty of mountain bikers when I'm out on the trail, often we stop and chat about where the best bit of insanely steep bit of singletrack is!

So there you go, that's my little whinge done for the evening!

And yes, I do feel better

I think I will just ignore all cycling fashion victims from now on.

I thought you were going to say F*** and off

 

[skudupnorth]

Same turning as last night at Midland Road Leyton... a car did the same last night but when I didn't accept he got the hump so tonight I thought F-It.

LOL,You never know if it's a ploy to lead you into their path,i am always wary of kind gestures from motorists,but there are a few out there who have some sense..not a lot,but some !

 

[Bollo]

He is a troll, never take anything he says into consideration.

blazed is the Pound Shop bonj.

 

[hackbike 666]

Yeah but you can't say no to a Beemer

 

[MacB]

blazed is the Pound Shop bonj.

ah, I think Blazed is developing quite nicely after some rocky mis-starts. I get an underlying flavour of Bonj with the spice of an almost sober Arbitrary. Would be nice if he lives up to the early promise.

 

[Bollo]

ah, I think Blazed is developing quite nicely after some rocky mis-starts. I get an underlying flavour of Bonj with the spice of an almost sober Arbitrary. Would be nice if he lives up to the early promise.

I concur. He's the vinegar on my chips.