I think I’ve actually bin to the pub/had drinks with with nearly as many STWers as I’ve actually ridden with, and that’s a lot, getting near wunundred I’d say!
Over the years, I reckon I’ve ridden with, and probably ended up in a pu with at least for a bit, probably as many as you elf… Never once has conversation turned to gear ratios, what tyre, mortgages, getting a baby to sleep, or any of the other countless recurring topics on this forum…
Usually what happens is not wholly dissimilar to any ordinary folk meeting, just we’ve all had a shares specialist interest.. You get lots of observational based humour, my insane appetite for food gets questioned, then when everybody’s broken down the barriers and got to know each other a little bit, talk turns to possible future rides and where to have them. Common interests are a great leveller, it’s amazing how in person people will put aside their often quite significant differences just cos they share one common interest.
Of course, you do get the odd keyboard warrior that in real life wouldn’t say boo to a goose, but they’re easy enough to spot anyway… Usually they’re still wearing entirely cycling branded clothing still whilst in the pub!