Mendip riding today , stopped at coffee shop in Shipham .The one outside table had 3 roadies sat at it and there was space for another person .So i pushed my bike over and was about to say room for a little 'un and all 3 blanked me ,didn't say a word and carried on talking amongst themselves .All the time i was there they totally ignored me which i thought was a bit off and rude .2 of them were wearing Bath cycle club riding gear , i wonder if it's the club's ethos to cultivate the them and us mentality ?After all it's all riding surely and each to their own ?I guess it's just typical of life in general and not everybody is as social as i am ?
ah but you'll be having a lot more fun when riding than they will 😉
oldfart - they are just rude people, whether they are roadies or MTB is irrelevant, being a cock transcends how thick your tyres are.
All my clubmates do both and would be horrified to hear someone in the club had been such a tosser. Unless you were shagging one of their missus etc?
I think the point here is that you said you were about to ask if you could sit with them. Maybe if you had asked the question they would have opened up and said yes.
I don't think it's a roadie V MTB thing, it's more about 3 mates sitting at a table and not really thinking about the people around them. I think it would have been nice if they had seen a fellow biker and offered you a seat.
If I am riding my MTB on the road in between off road riding I always say hi to any roadies I encounter, most say hi back. If they don't I would put it down to the person over the discipline.
Moonhead - yah
before I saw the light I always said hello to mtbers - 2 wheels good etc - admittedly the way roadies say hello to each other can be subtle - but they do say it
Even as a roadie I find plenty of other roadies who just can't be bothered to reply to a 'Hello' - there are just a lot of rude / unsociable people about....
Yep I nearly always get blanked when saying hello even when out on the road bike - perhaps it's because I'm fat and don't wear skinny lycra? I find it's normally the younger guys in matching "team" kit who are the rudest, the older guys on old steel retro looking road bikes are always alright!
Its funny, I was parking in a car park the other week and a guy with a car parked up next to me. I started chatting about his car, the car park and general banter, but he didn't seem interested and just walked away. Rudeness!
winterfold,
Before you saw what light? What does that mean?
I'm not saying they stopped and shook my hand or actually say hello verbally, I can recognize a discrete nod. Doesn't always happen though. I don't care what someone is riding, or if they are lycra clad or commuting...no harm in a bit of a nod.
the older guys on old steel retro looking road bikes are always alright!
that's me.
Young people are just a but rude though arent they? i try not to blame them for it, its just part of being young and insecure.. etc
Moonhead, I dont agree.
All, and I mean all of the MTB riders I meet at trail centers speak to each other. Even if its just a nod and hello. Whether its on the trail, in the car park or in the caf.
I agree that there seems to be an issue with Roadies.
2 separate roadies blanked me today (I was on roadbike too, but commuter with panniers) - i said a cheery 'hello!' they said f*** all.
Basic manners - or lack of.
I had started to believe the "us & them" take on things. I get really peeved when I nod to roadies & they blank me. Then, when I think about it, I've greeted so many fellow mountain bikers with a cheery "hi", to be totally blanked in return ... all said & done, it's a common courtesy thing that isn't governed by the size of the wheels & the terrain that we ride ... It is about whether you're a sociable person or a miserable git!
A few years back I used to road ride, time trial & do club runs (before mountain biking was even heard of & cylocross was the best thing that ever appeared on Grandstand) ... I trained hard & put the miles in ... the big thing I've sussed about the difference between road & MTB since those days? Smiles! ... I ask, who's having the most fun?
2 separate roadies
I think you'll find they are actually all part of the Borg.
you guys should try living in germany... then you'll know what being 'blanked' really means....
There was this psycho in a car park the other day...he just wouldn't shut up. I'd parked up to stretch my legs and he started stalking me round the car park waffling on.... I scarpered rapidly...
I swear at everyone I see on a bike, that way if they were going to ignore me I got a preemptive strike in and if not then my cunning disguise of wearing a big 'tache and a beret makes 'em think I'm monsieur tourette and I get away with it 😀
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it's the individual
plenty of rude and ignorant people on all types of bikes
All, and I mean all of the MTB riders I meet at trail centers speak to each other. Even if its just a nod and hello. Whether its on the trail, in the car park or in the caf.
doesn't sound like the Glentress I've been to, full spectrum of manners on view there
LOL @ Tazzy, Think I might adopt your approach.
ShiteKonastoner - MemberAll, and I mean all of the MTB riders I meet at trail centers speak to each other. Even if its just a nod and hello. Whether its on the trail, in the car park or in the caf.
I agree that there seems to be an issue with Roadies.
Jesus. I don't speak to every runner, pedestrian, motorist, road or mtb cyclist I come across in day to day activities, Not sure why I'd single out single out roadies though. Frankly I have better things to do than exchange pleasantries with some stranger. If I'm catching up with a couple of old mates over a beer I don't want some wierdo pusing in on the scene, don't see why your scenario is any different. Get over it.
Oldfart
I wouldn't want to condone general rudeness, but just because you also had a bicycle doesn't mean that three random blokes should make room for you on their table and be nice and chatty [i]really [/i]does it? I mean, if they all had [b]hats [/b]on, and you walked up with a [b]hat[/b], you wouldn't expect them to ask you to join them would you? 😉
To be honest there's a lot of threads on here that seem to perpetuate this strange myth of rude roadies, and seem to add fuel to this ongoing fire. I think it actually ends up being self-fulfilling prophecy for some people, ie they expect road cyclists to be rude, therefore they often find them that way etc.
Of course, they could well have been a trio of self important kn*bheads too. 😉
@djglover- typed like a man who hasn't had enough hugs in his life, maybe you should relax more, have you tried some nice breathing exercises
Konastoner - MemberAll, and I mean all of the MTB riders I meet at trail centers speak to each other. Even if its just a nod and hello. Whether its on the trail, in the car park or in the caf.
I agree that there seems to be an issue with Roadies.
Shite
Must be a Welsh thing then. 🙂
i wonder if it's the club's ethos to cultivate the them and us mentality ?
Ha ha! Interesting you should say that 🙂
Can't say too much here, suffice to say I'm a Bath CC member and now lead rides on the road but came to the club from a pure MTB background. Yes, it's fair to say the club is 'road orientated' (focussed on Sat and Sun club runs and TTs) and some in the club are amongst that minority of roadies who like you said for some daft reason don't count 'mountain biking' as cycling..
.. in fact I think I can even guess who they were? One on a flash orange and black carbon Storck.. in fact I can almost guarantee who they were.. I bumped into them this morning at 9am and they were off to Clevedon. In fact I was on my bestest road bike but wearing a mud splattered peaky lid and they did their best to ignore me 🙂
If I'd have been there I'd have moved over and insist you join us and asked you how the trails were. I've joined the Committee (or rather turned up and suggested they co-opt me) and even organised our recent Weds night 'Midsomer Madness' event 'in association' with Bath and all the other local clubs (Walcot, Somer Valley and the Black Canon Collective).
Don't lose any sleep over it Oldfart, it's them who missed out on your company not vicky versi 🙂
Must be a Welsh thing then.
even less credible?
pray tell the rest of us where these trail centre's of niceness are which people who ride road bikes never go to 😉
Perhaps they were actually not roadies, but triathletes? They can be proper rude.
I went past a whole stream of them, with their fancy carbon bikes, aero bars and space-age helmets on Sunday. I said hello, waved, all sorts.
Nothing.
Unpleasant lot. I was glad when it started to rain on them.
@djglover- typed like a man who hasn't had enough hugs in his life, maybe you should relax more, have you tried some nice breathing exercises
My house is hug central, two charming twin toddlers to provide that, time spent with mates though is rare and quite precious to me, random wierdos are not welcome!
😆random wierdos are not welcome!
it's all in the numbers. There were 3 roadies and you would have been a spare part in a spit roast 😀
Young people are just a but rude though arent they? i try not to blame them for it, its just part of being young and insecure.. etc
Dunno I'm only 22 and say hello to other riders when I'm out.. Most of those who seem about my age or a bit older don't though.
doesn't sound like the Glentress I've been to, full spectrum of manners on view there
Completely agree with this, with a big caveat; it's a very different place through the week, on night rides, through the winter or generally when it's quiet.
I think it's just because there are so many people there everyone just stops speaking to others. There definitely is a very different vibe on a busy weekend to the above mentioned times. May also be that a lot of the weekend riders are newbies and the regulars don't want to associate with them 😆
The roadie world can be very cliquey and although getting better, some clubs are still like this.
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Do you have a racing license? You need a racing license to sit at certain tables during some parts of the season. Also if your bike had disk brakes then sitting at their table would be in contravention of UCI road regulations.
People join clubs because they can't make friends and once they're in a club it saves them the embarassment of having to speak to other people. That's why they didn't speak to you
Best one I heard on this theme, a mate was out in the Dales on his road bike, he's a rotund gentleman of a difficult age, certainly no racing whippet. He slowly caught up a small group of similarly aged riders and asked them in a friendly way where they were heading, the reply was "what the f*** has it got to do with you?" Being a **** is seemingly no respector of age!
Perhaps they were actually not roadies, but triathletes? They can be proper rude
Bullshit. Triathlon is the most inclusive and welcoming sport I have had the good fortune to get involved in.
Triathlon is the most inclusive and welcoming sport I have had the good fortune to get involved in.
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I always find these threads a bit odd and just act as another wedge between roadies and mtbers. As we can see on the forum, that while we are all cyclists, we are not all amigos.
Why would you expect a fellow cyclist to acknowledge you? Some do, some don't. That's life.
People join clubs because they can't make friends and once they're in a club it saves them the embarassment of having to speak to other people.
Really? What a deluded world you live in. 🙄
Is that the same reason why you have joined STW?
[Is that the same reason why you have joined STW?]
Good lord no.
I joined STW to wind people up and post irelevant crap anonymously.
If that's what you want to believe!! 😉
I've recently bought a road bike. In light of this thread I shan't be having anything to do with you bunch of ****s any more
so Long losers!!!
Christ, you can't use the internet for a bit of harmless polarisation any more.
:\
Just the other week I was sat at an outside table with a couple of other lads and an oldish bloke on a tourer came and sat with us. Never said a word, just blanked us and sat there reading his map.
One night last winter I was cycling back from the Chase along a rural country lane when two of them caught me up and followed me back to civilisation because they hadn't got any lights. They turned off without a 'seeya' or 'cheersmate', nothing...
There does seem to be a certain type of ignorant roadie. Equally, I've seen people pull into the car park at Afan after a 3 hour drive, the gleaming cannondale atop the Audi estate, ride badly for an hour or so, and then slag off the locals in the pub later.
The only group of cyclists I've found to be invariably pleasant and polite is the CTC types - you know the sort - Dawes Galaxy, Carradice bag, ride seemingly glacially yet can cover huge distances.
Jeeze.. moaning thread debate..
Some folks say Hi, some don't. Some just can't be bothered when riding hard, some can, some want some peace and quiet, some don't, some are naturally inclusive, some aren't, some like thier own company, some don't, some will give you thier last water bottle, some won't.
All of that isn't exclusive to people you don't know either, just think of some of your mates, you'll find that lot in them too..
moan over yet??
The only group of cyclists I've found to be invariably pleasant and polite is the CTC types - you know the sort - Dawes Galaxy, Carradice bag, ride seemingly glacially yet can cover huge distances.
There's a nu skool CTC type club I sometimes ride with (think 50+, beards, carbon bikes, dura ace, campag, yellow waterproofs, cafe stops, etc.). They're a great bunch, everyone shakes hands with each other before the ride starts, I think it's a great tradition. Wouldn't work so well with my home club though, we get about 50 people turning up to a club run..
bikebouy, your post reminds me of this. 😀
Realman, In a club? Do you have any friends? 8)
Awww rubbish, what am I going to do now?
I ride my road bike in that London, I've joined a club and I say hello to people.
Best melt the MTB's down quick
Some people are grumpy. Some grumpy people ride bikes.
/
you guys should try living in germany... then you'll know what being 'blanked' really means
Lol, so it's not just me then! It's like a whole country full of miserable roadies 🙂
Having said that, many of the proper roadies and one or two of the old codgers do give me a nod and a smile.
I'm with djglover on this one 😆
djglover - Member
Jesus. I don't speak to every runner, pedestrian, motorist, road or mtb cyclist I come across in day to day activities, Not sure why I'd single out single out roadies though. Frankly I have better things to do than exchange pleasantries with some stranger. If I'm catching up with a couple of old mates over a beer I don't want some wierdo pusing in on the scene, don't see why your scenario is any different. Get over it
I agree with this to a large extent. I also think it depends more on the person rather than just a simple separation between roadies and mtb'ers.
[b][u]I will say from riding the road bike a lot[/u][/b], that sometimes after a long ride, you are pretty knackered and in your own daze of just trying to keep the pedals moving. If some one waves or says hi, saying hi back is sometimes the last thing on my mind, also a lot of the time i don't notice it until they've nearly passed.
Other times I might be trying to concentrate on staying in a high power zone and hanging off the bars, so again waving or saying high won't really be on my mind.
Things to consider...
If a roadie smiled at me, I'd take that as a vague sexual threat. I don't mind if mtb'ers are friendly or not really. However if another vw camper driver didn't wave, I'd chase it home and torch it.
If it's any consolation I was up Cannock chase earlier and popped out of the end of a track to find a Lycra clad xc whippet type gent stood there. Nobody around just us two on a nice midweek morning and I said the normal chirpy hello and got blanked. Miserable c**t. He then set off up the fire road without so much as a nod. I wasn't expecting his life story but manners cost nowt.
I was up Cannock chase earlier and popped out of the end of a track to find a Lycra clad xc whippet type gent stood there. Nobody around just us two on a nice midweek morning
This sounds like a romantic novel. Was the sweat glistening on his recently shaved legs?...
This sounds like a romantic novel. Was the sweat glistening on his recently shaved legs?...
Was you there.? That's uncanny.!
why is everyone so obsessed with the big hello anyways?
do you depserately seek out aknowledgement that you are out on your bike?
do you say hello to everyone you walk past on the way to work?
IMO roadies don't say much most the time as they are normally actually trying hard. MTB riders sat all upright and comfy and riding at 9mph on the road have much more of a chance of being friendly - probably as a result of them comparitively just pottering along.
that doesant really work for the OP's original gripe, but then it seems that you never spoke to them either?
i've definitely noticed that the nod depends on what bike i'm on/what clothes i'm wearing, if it's a road bike and i'm in a relatively roadie outfit then most nod, if i'm wearing normal clothes/on fixed gear, a few might by mistake, if i'm on anything else, no way!
i don't know why there's the need to recognise other people doing similar things.. but tbh i couldn't give a shit whether i'm acknowledged or not! we're not even going in the same direction, i'll probably never see them again!
wearing normal clothes on a fixie?
like this?
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jeffcapeshop + 1. I notice a difference between going out on the road bike in baggies and if I go out all lycra'd up. I notice a similar difference in Mrs Atlaz too in that she can't stop laughing if I'm lycra'd up whereas she acts quite normal if I'm in baggies. Is this some sort of reverse roadie syndrome?
most roadies are **** ****s... normally about 40 getting fat and slow... or young and on go faster drugs... bunch of ****s in general 🙂
Roadies do generally acknowledge other cyclist, the movement is often so subtle that the average mtber won't have the ability to recognise it. Raised eyebrow from behind the shades at 50m anyone?
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I bet you can't even see the wink I put at the end up there, can you?
I ignore people all the time on my road bike. Nuts to the lot of you. And if i am in a rare nodding mood, you're still not getting one if you're a) fat b) old c) riding a crappy bike or d) wearing anything other than lycra.
finbar : you sound like a classic roadie to me (lol)....doesnt hurt you to nod once in a while 😉
i nod to most people when im out on the MTB and recently become a roadie myself too....... i nod to MTB'ers and Roadies.... admittingly some of the roadies out there have the snarly look on their faces..why is this ? if they arent happy (THEN WHY THE HELL ARE THEY RIDING IN THE FIRST PLACE) 😉 
i have to laugh at my hubby when we are both in the car (he always mimics riders as they ride past...its quite funny the expressions that are on my hubbys face... 😉
Rolly
Being a ex roadie I bet that the sight of you eating a full fry up 😀 put them off because roadies are alot er healthy as a breed 🙄
Andy not a fry up matey jacket spud cheese n beans , coffee n walnut sponge and a cup of coffee £4.10 !!!!!!!!!!!!
Analogue Andy spot on with the I.D.
Went past 4 MTB'ers on the other side of a country lane the other night whilst out on my Road Bike. I said all right lads as i passed them, guess what? not one of em said all right m8 back to me. I always try and say "Hi" to other cyclists regardless of if i am out on my MTB or Roadie, most reply some do not. I dont think MTB or roadie comes into, some folk are just unsocial or rude. Simples!!!!
Saying that a few miles down the road on a long steep climb i came across a few young lads walking down ( i would say 16-18yrs old)as i approached them towards the top of the climb, they were clapping and "saying nice one m8 well done and were basicly offering incouragement" So age or bike alliance does not come into. Some folk are nice and polite others or just C@#KS.
As to the OP, i would not have expected to sit down with a group i did not know. I would have however just said "allright lads", and tryed to start up a conversation asking things like where have they been and where are they going, how far etc. Then who knows they may have said pull up a chair m8, Allternatly they may not.
I always get smiled at on my road bike. You lads want to get your waps out a bit more, I reckon.
Andy not a fry up matey jacket spud cheese n beans , coffee n walnut sponge and a cup of coffee
😯 bloody hell healthy eating what next
oldfart - MemberAnalogue Andy spot on with the I.D.
Thought so 8)
Don't worry oldfart, some of us would have chatted away so much you'd want to escape.
I was out on the road bike last week and got caught up by a chain gang of about seven riders. I stupidly accelerated and hauled them all up a mile long hill, then at the top they formed up into a line and started doing through and off. I managed one turn on the front before my legs gave out after the effort of the hill and they disappeared into the distance. During the entire three miles I was with them, not one of them spoke one word except for one who gasped the name of the club, they were all concentrating so hard on not being dropped.
Later I emailed the club secretary who told me that was the club's elite group out training for racing and time trials. No wonder they had no breath for conversation.
I got use to them not saying hello, however I am so not use to them riding along some narrow and twisty mountain road and annoying everyone, when they have a perfectly safe and usable cycling lane.
That in my mind needs some clarification.
Stopped at a pub in Eggleston having ridden over the moors from Hamsterley for a bite to eat.
Two separate roadies shouted hello so enthusiastically as they passed by that I almost fell off my seat. Not all roadies are the same.
winterfold - Member
oldfart - they are just rude people, whether they are roadies or MTB is irrelevant, being a cock transcends how thick your tyres are.All my clubmates do both and would be horrified to hear someone in the club had been such a tosser. Unless you were shagging one of their missus etc?
AND
# Moonhead - Member
I think the point here is that you said you were about to ask if you could sit with them. Maybe if you had asked the question they would have opened up and said yes.I don't think it's a roadie V MTB thing, it's more about 3 mates sitting at a table and not really thinking about the people around them. I think it would have been nice if they had seen a fellow biker and offered you a seat.
If I am riding my MTB on the road in between off road riding I always say hi to any roadies I encounter, most say hi back. If they don't I would put it down to the person over the discipline.
I am going to have to disagree with you two on this......strongly! I have never come accross any cyclist who has not said hello back with the exception of roadies. A very large proportoin are ingnorant snobs WHY no idea. I go to a particular pub and the Alford wheelers are often doing some kind of speed trail rarely do they answer when you say hello. I see a huge amount of roadies (mainly in the summer which says a lot about them)I am afraid about 50% of roadies are ignorant snobs who will give you look, if you say hello to them, of why should I lower myself to say hello to the likes of you. Furthermore I occasionaly get a "get out of the way shouts as they come up to overtake" Now I do stress not all but far to many for winterfold and Moonhead not to know this (I am assuming they are roadies??). So if winterfold and Moonhead are roadies there lieing!
I did one of the Wiggle Sportives in The New Forest recently - made a point of giving a cheery hello to all the MTBers doing their event too when our paths cross - a few of them got a bit of a fright 😀
So a stranger expects to be cheerily welcomed with open arms when he plonks himself uninvited at someones table? How would you like it if out for a meal with the missus and someone just sat at your table without being asked?
An unofficial survey today - hand up and "hi" got no responses, nod of head got 75%. Conclusion, some roadies are miserable