Clinton1 Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 (edited) A controversial title no doubt. Possibly a gross generalisation. But is there any truth in it? I usually ride at irregular times and most of the time off road on single track. As a result I very rarely come in contact with other riders while out there. This morning was different to the norm. I hit the road at 5am for a ride. I tend to be very cheery when I am out riding or running and greet everyone I see or pass. This morning I passed pedestrians, some out strolling, some on their way to work. I passed a number of joggers. And I passed a number of cyclists. Without fail the joggers returned my greeting with a cheerful smile. A number of them getting their greeting in first before I had a chance to get mine in. This did not surprise me as over many years of jogging I have always found fellow joggers to be cheerful. A very large number of pedestrians returned my greeting. Those that did not would at least glance in my direction or give me a smile. Not one single cyclist returned my greeting! The majority not even acknowledging my existence. Actually, I lie, the one chap seemingly reluctantly did so as we briefly stopped at the same robot together. So I need to ask, is this normal behaviour for cyclists? And if so, why? Does the relative expense of the equipment needed to cycle mean that most cyclists are snobs who feel they are above being friendly to strangers? Or is there some other reason? Perhaps the faster speed than the others means some need to concentrate real hard on what they are doing. Edited December 23, 2012 by Clint_ZA
Joe Low Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 A controversial title no doubt. Possibly a gross generalisation. But is there any truth in it? **** off Clint Happy Xmas mrbaker, Nancy Drew, Solvit and 6 others 9
BMXER Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 Only roadies are culturally against greeting....Mtb return a greeting, roadies seem unable. Greg29 and Lexx 2
Clinton1 Posted December 23, 2012 Author Posted December 23, 2012 Only roadies are culturally against greeting....Mtb return a greeting, roadies seem unable. Ah, so there may be something to it and I wasn't just imagining it? **** off Clint Happy Xmas **** off, and a merry Christmas to you too!
petatodd Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 As the smartest man on the hub I'm surprised you need to ask this question. Jan Wyn and Green Bean 2
Clinton1 Posted December 23, 2012 Author Posted December 23, 2012 As the smartest man on the hub I'm surprised you need to ask this question. Wow, thank you so much for bestowing the honour of that title on me. I must have missed the nominations and voting but am stoked about it none the less. I would like to thank my Mom and Dad obviously as it was clearly genetics that lead to this title.....
HappyMartin Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 Did a road ride this morning. Greeted lots of people and was greeted back. Chatted to a few guys on MTB and they were also friendly. Gave me the normal story of how much more fun they were about to have than I could have on a road bike that is just MTB defensiveness. Usually, but not always, noobs that are so excited about what they are doing that they cannot imagine anyone else having fun doing anything else. It's understandable. Jan Wyn 1
Dr Snuggles Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 Did a road ride this morning. Greeted lots of people and was greeted back. Chatted to a few guys on MTB and they were also friendly. Gave me the normal story of how much more fun they were about to have than I could have on a road bike that is just MTB defensiveness. Usually, but not always, noobs that are so excited about what they are doing that they cannot imagine anyone else having fun doing anything else. It's understandable. funnily enough, I've had a higher percentage of hand waves and smiles from roadies really getting their burn on during a climb than those just casually rolling down the decline. Only earns them more respect for showing they are Not so single minded as to be douches. But takes all kinds to make a world, so greet/dont greet be awesome/be a douche. your choice really.
ccc2 Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 mtb, roadies, trackies never had a problem with greetin or being greeted and i've been on the road for 23 years. this subject is so a*al its unbelievable. our group of about 50 passed a mtb'er the other day (like he was lookin for parking) and as i greeted him he said 'the only one to greet' !!! did he expect all of us to greet him and would he have greeted us all back?
EZRider Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 funnily enough, I've had a higher percentage of hand waves and smiles from roadies really getting their burn on during a climb than those just casually rolling down the decline. Only earns them more respect for showing they are Not so single minded as to be douches. But takes all kinds to make a world, so greet/dont greet be awesome/be a douche. your choice really. Roadies here in Hermanus have greeted me on my MTB. Almost without fail. MTBers? Only half so far.
RockCoach Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 (edited) Only roadies are culturally against greeting....Mtb return a greeting, roadies seem unable. The growth of the sport over the last 15 or so years has brought with it the rude cyclist (mtb and road) who doesn't ride for the love of the sport. Rather they most likely ride because it is now the new golf. Before then, when only about 200 of us would pitch at any major race we didn't take life too seriously. Lots o joking and conversations in the main bunch. When you encountered a fellow rider while out training, it was a rare event and you made the most of it with a decent "hello". Anyway, at least everyone on my ride on The Spruit this morning greeted cheerfully. But it doesn't really bother me if they don't. Edited December 23, 2012 by slick DR ◣◢ 1
mellowjohnnyjz Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 you have a point Clint was out there this morn too.......not many returned greetings by roadies Joe dont be an @ss
MTB_Roadie Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 do you greet all motorist when driving on the road? Do you greet all people you walk past in the mall?? TheCuban 1
pastapouch Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 Only roadies are culturally against greeting....Mtb return a greeting, roadies seem unable.BullSHYTE....its all over. some MTBs don't greet, some raodies don't. And to the OP, if they don't greet, ****THEM!!
Danger Dassie Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 Seriously who cares. Joe has a point, in a very tongue in cheek way. But we love to generalise and polarise each other into stereotypes, x didn't greet me, y didn't greet me back, I don't greet every single person ... So what? Cycling is as much about being in your own space as it is flapping hands in cheery greetings. Then it's bitching because of someone they don't return a greeting the same way or just nod their head. Christ but some folk are incredibly self serving and sensitive. Why not just be grateful for the fact that most of us are physically able and get to enjoy the outdoors. Paul Ruinaard and HappyMartin 2
mellowjohnnyjz Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 The Dassie has spoken....he he.....good point too , self serving and sensitive
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now