The Snooty Brigade

[XmisterIS]

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.

 

[Bollo]

I feel you Mr X. I wouldn't expect nods and waves from cyclists in any sort of town, but out on the country lanes here it's not unusual to exchange pleasantries with pedestrians as well as fellow cyclists.

Also, despite the stereotype, I've found roadies to be as friendly or otherwise as any other sort of cyclist. Doesn't seem to matter whether I'm on my road bike or my flat-bar commuter.

I posted a while back about a couple on matching hybrids who completely blanked my repeated 'hellos' while riding past them. But the worst was an encounter with a older gentleman on a decent-enough MTB while coming home from work. I say 'hi', he looks at me as though he's going to mace me and reach for a rape alarm.

 

[XmisterIS]

Yep, I live in the countyside too, so the nod and wave is an accepted form of greeting!

I'll agree with you that most roadies are pleasant enough ... but *some* (all of whom seem to fit the "fashion victim" stereotype) are complete ******!

 

[jimboalee]

There's a snooty crowd in Solihull. You know the type - only come out on fine days in all their 'kit' on £4000 roadbikes ( with legs like stick insects ).

They look into the kerb when I raise a hand to wave.

I just thought "Bollocks to you", and rode on.

 

[thomas]

I'm not a roadie, but will wave and say hello to near enough anyone on a bike. It's nice when people are going the same way and you can have a little chat at the lights.

 

[Bodhbh]

Some people don't bother acknowledging you, but can't say I've had someone sneer or be rude in response to a nod. Think rudest behavoir I've seen was some guy blanking me while overtaking, then slow down and go into a whole no-handed stretch routine directly in front. Some people take themselves too serious and only thing is to have a laugh at them, acknowledge em all the more will wind them up you consider see them as an equal.

 

[joch]

riding a bike does not make people more friendly than the rest. from a lot of people on expensive road bikes you can expect exactly the same behaviour as from blokes in sports cars. most of them aren't serious cyclist or commute but use their road bike as fashion accessories. it's always great to see them red faced and out of breath on the slightest climb.
but on the positive at least they aren't in a car..

 

[numbnuts]

nod or a wave if no response shout out "peanut"

 

[skwerl]

"a sneer or a mocking laugh or some other similarly downright rude reponse". Come on. Are you serious or embellishing a tad? Maybe they're trying to focus on their training or whatever their doing instead of waving to everyone

 

[blazed]

Well these people probably are better than you, fitter with more money and probably better looking. Whether they should jeer and laugh at you because of this is debateable. Personally i dont see the problem it should motivate you to work harder so you dont have to shop in asda.

 

[Archie_tect]

I always say hallo or wave to people as I pass them on a bike or pedestrians. Most people respond, even people on road bikes, but it's only a small percentage of expensively kitted out 'elitists' who ignore me whatever they're riding, whether in a group or not- but they'd probably be like that if you met them face to face anyway so it's their loss!

I found that [motor]bikers were the friendliest.

 

[XmisterIS]

"a sneer or a mocking laugh or some other similarly downright rude reponse". Come on. Are you serious or embellishing a tad? Maybe they're trying to focus on their training or whatever their doing instead of waving to everyone

No imbellishment! Seriously, some people are rude.

Well these people probably are better than you, fitter with more money and probably better looking. Whether they should jeer and laugh at you because of this is debateable. Personally i dont see the problem it should motivate you to work harder so you dont have to shop in asda.

I am perfectly happy as I am, thank you, and I like shopping in ASDA because it's cheap and convenient.

 

[Archie_tect]

Maybe they're trying to focus on their training or whatever their doing instead of waving to everyone

That's a good point skwerl, hadn't considered that - I'll be more understanding next time.

There are people who can 'focus' on one thing so intently that they can block everything out [bit dangerous to do that on public roads though!] but it must be a lonely path they tread through life.

 

[blazed]

No imbellishment! Seriously, some people are rude.



I am perfectly happy as I am, thank you, and I like shopping in ASDA because it's cheap and convenient.

Fair enough. I think skewrl has the right idea anyway, some people are serious cyclists and are not cycling because it saves them £10 fuel a day or its a good way to make new friends. Therefore they need concentration and saying hello and waving to every nobody on a bike is annoying (unless its a hottie).

 

[XmisterIS]

I don't mind the ones who ignore me (see my original post).

It's the arrogant ones I don't like!