What is it with some riders?

[xpc316e]

I am lucky enough to be able to manage my own time at work, so there I was this morning, at my desk, having ridden to work when I thought 'I am up to date with my tasks, so why not take a few hours time-off and go for a ride?' Off I went out into the gorgeous Suffolk countryside; some while later I was cycling along a deserted lane when a roadie comes towards me (I ride a recumbent trike). We looked at each other, I raised a hand in acknowledgement and said 'Morning' only to be totally ignored. I could understand if we had been part of a horde of cyclists in a town centre, but we were both miles from anywhere.

Some miles later, on a busier road, a rider on a Harley coming towards me gave me a cheery wave and I reciprocated. OK, he was a motorcyclist, and I ride a cycle, but there is some common ground between us and he recognised that (perhaps he too has a 'bent in his life?). Why are some folk so snotty when it comes to a nod, or a wave, to other riders?

I also had a great conversation with a couple of workers at a nature reserve where I had stopped for a drink, so my ride was still very much a positive experience. Normally riders do seem to give me a nod, except in France where the cyclo-sportifs reckon that it is beneath their dignity to acknowledge anything other than a clone of themselves. I hasten to add that I ride the machine I have because a conventional bike causes me immense pain & suffering; I do not ride it because I want to be weird - I just want the joy of cycling in my life, and this is the only way that I can do it.

 

[luplowe]

Basically a lot of roadies are w--k--ers, Hes probably just bought a new pair of gloves and now he thinks hes Lance Armstrong. A few days ago i was Lycra man on my racer, bloke came the other way on his racer , we both gave each other the nod.

Today I'm t shirt man on the mtb , helmet and spds but t shirt and shorts in between, same bloke passed me- i gave him the nod , he blanked me.

so you ain't got to worry about Berk's like that, also there probably not good enough riders to take there eyes of the road and look across, so you have to make allowances.

 

[Goffins]

I always nod to other riders, especially other roadies and I find it's usually the older fatter ones who tend to look at me with disdain.

I saw a guy yesterday on a Carbon Cannondale thing, probably about 3 times the value of my bike, yet his weight saving was nullified by his tremendous beer gut that hung over his lycra shorts.

Maybe he was just miffed that I was probably double his speed and I was was riding into the headwind, well I'll pretend that's why he just stared at me anyway.

 

[karen.488walker]

Am sure he was being rude but.. The number of times that people think I've blanked them and been really rude when honestly I haven't seen them at all! They are convinced I have seen them, I seem to sort of switch off sometimes.

 

[Aperitif]

You're unlucky in France then xpc - there's never been that attitude in my experience (although I don't ride a recumbent...) and I'm sure most regular roadies would be interested, not aloof.
Plenty of recumbents and trikes whizzing around down here - on the CC rides and such.
Happy riding - and if you're in Suffolk, it's only a short trip to Auntie Helen land, full of people lying down and eating cakes cycling!

 

[Renard]

This has to be one of the most posted about subjects on cycling forums. I don't think its anything to do with what type of rider the 'blanker' is. I am a lycra'd up roadie when I'm out and I say hello to everyone on a bike be they roadies, mountainbikers, tourers, kids or POB's and have been ignored by individuals in any one of those groups at some time. There are even a few occasions when I haven't said hello back to someone as I have been preoccupied with what I'm doing and haven't noticed them until its too late. One thing for sure is that its human nature to categorise people and probably more to do with an individual's own prejudices than anything else. That said some people are just plain rude or abnormally shy.

 

[Globalti]

Cycling is an introspective sport for some people and I'm sure many people ride along deep in thought.

 

[wafflycat]

Oh FFS, you get rude and ignorant folk in all walks of life, and as regards cycling, riding all sorts of machines. It's not a 'roadie' thing at all. If it were, perhaps the MTB rider who ignored me whilst I was sur recumbent the other day was no doubt a roadie in disguise, and the roadie who waved was undoubtedly a MTB'er in disguise

 

[PaulB]

For some strange reason, road bikers almost always acknowledge me. But then again I do drive round in a 4x4 stretch monsta-truck with massively raised suspension and big signs on the front and back declaring "This machine kills cyclists".







Not really, of course. Merely the power of suggestion.

 

[Joe24]

I'm getting really annoyed with roadies now as well. Who the hell do they think they are?!? Never mind that they might be out for a training ride and didn't ask for you to say hello to them - but it does not hurt for them to say hello to you.

I've had this now happen on my commute a few times now. The next roadie that does not give me the nod so help me I'm going to turn around and hunt them down like the dog they are. I'll be carrying with me a 2ft bit of round wood that is promptly going in their front wheel. That will teach them!!

Exactly how i feel!
Im a roadie aswell, in full club lycra, and not going slow, and the stupids c***s blank me.
Makes me want to turn around, ride next to them and ask them if they think they are so much better they cant wave, before riding off and leaving them behind.

Twats

 

[wafflycat]

Exactly how i feel!
Im a roadie aswell, in full club lycra, and not going slow, and the stupids c***ts blank me.
Makes me want to turn around, ride next to them and ask them if they think they are so much better they cant wave, before riding off and leaving them behind.

T**ts

[mother-mode]

Ahem, young man.. language.

[/mother mode]

 

[marinyork]

It's funny but now I have a road bike I rarely ever get anybody nod or say hello. When I'm a hybridist the majority do nod,wave, say hello. Not a problem really and you still get the occasional joy from cycling you might not from other activities, like when I was chatting to someone for 15 miles on the way back home on a very long ride and gave them directions.

 

[Joe24]

[mother-mode]

Ahem, young man.. language.

[/mother mode]

Woops, thought it edited that word out.
Ill put stars in now

 

[wafflycat]

[mother mode]

An improvement, young man, an improvement. Well done.

*pats Joe fondly on the top of his head*

[/mother mode]

 

[longers]

[mother mode]

An improvement, young man, an improvement. Well done.

*pats Joe fondly on the top of his head*

[/mother mode]

err . . Waffles, the offending word is still in your post