Monday, July 04, 2005

Cycle snobs and snotters

Ah, how we all know of the 'rude cyclist'. It's not something rarely found but really rather common amongst those who dwell upon the saddle. They are the people who cause you to fall by doing something stupid, then cycle away without stopping to apologise and/or make sure you're okay. They're the people who refuse to acknowledge you when you pass them, look them right in the eyes, wave and say 'Hello'.

The reason I'm writing about this is because one such cyclist, upon meeting me for the first time and as an 'ice-breaker', the first words out of this ignorant type's mouth were 'That'll do you as an old hack bike for the winter'. Now, I know my dear little Peugeot is not a 'dream bicycle' for many people but it has served me well and I think it is more than a little rude to open a conversation with me by saying it's 'an old hack bike which will do me for the winter'. For starters, why on Earth did this person even care what bicycle I was riding? I've got this attitude a few times when I've been on my little Peugeot. Whilst out with clubs, I've had people tell me why I shouldn't have it, why I should have another bike etc. whilst I've been cycling along at the same pace as this cycle snob the entire time and have already expressed no interest in racing whatsoever (even in time-trials).

Can anyone explain why other people do care about what someone else is riding on? If they're enjoying it and it's not a dangerous bike, why does it matter?

There seems to be a lot of division in general within cycling; Cyclists into cycling of one particular type not liking cyclists who enjoy a different form of cycling. Why can't people just enjoy the cycling for themselves, not give a damn what form of cycling someone else does and be happy to have more people out doing something they enjoy and getting healthier doing so? I find it all rather baffling.

The readiness people have to pigeonhole themselves as a 'racer' or a 'tourer' or a 'mountain biker' etc. and cut themselves off from other types of cycling doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It's only right for people to do what they want and not do what they don't enjoy but a lot of people seem to use the differences in the activity they enjoy most as an excuse to look down upon what others do. It seems rather daft to me.

1 comment:

Kirby Girl said...

I think that many cycling types, who often criticise the "evil motorists," tend to in fact be very similar to the stereotypical car obsessive, in that they have to have the best, most expensive bike and accessories and look down upon us plebs tootling along on what they see to be the cycling equivalent of a clapped out old banger. Just because I'm too much of a wuss to do "BMX-ing" or ker-azy mountain biking doesn't mean they are any less legitimate forms of cycling.