Why are cyclists so hated?

MrCreosote

Speaking about road cyclists here. I'm sick of it- tell someone you cycle to work and you get the whole "road tax" and "use the cyclelanes" crap. Men unsure of their sexuality rant about the lycra. Even the bike shop, which should be a safe haven, is a place for the sales people to treat you like sh*t and show how much more than you they know.

Commuters try to pass us out at lights.
Bus drivers try to kill us.
Mountain Bikers think we're unfriendly poseurs.
And on and on.

It's a serious image problem, not sure what can be done really. Seems to be getting worse recently too.

(I generally tell people I do triathlons, with a sort of apolgetic laugh. It's amazing the different response. People are interested, get chatting to you about it. The club boys give a little extra room on the weekend spins, and just love it when you crank it out in the aerobars at the front of the bunch! Even the shop guys get friendlier, probably because they know they can now try selling the same crap for 50% more.)

Lumen

MrCreosote wrote: »

I generally tell people I do triathlons

A better approach is to never discuss cycling with non-cyclists.

If cornered, start a monologue on the history of bottom bracket standards and keep talking until they go away.

Morrisseeee

Are cyclists any more hated than slow-drivers, Sunday-drivers, farmers, boy-racers etc etc..................don't think so !

MrCreosote

They start the conversations not me! People see the bike, or whatever...

MrCreosote

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Are cyclists any more hated than slow-drivers, Sunday-drivers, farmers, boy-recers etc etc..................don't think so !

You get more hate to your face when off the bike. Nobody goes around saying "I'm a slow-driver and love to hog the fastlane on the M1", and you wouldn't know they were to look at them. But people might know you're a cyclist when they see the bike or the tanlines or whatever.

ednwireland

haters gonna hate

Stark

I just get "nice way to start the morning...". Must be your pink lycra that's setting them off.

Rewind

MrCreosote wrote: »

Commuters try to pass us out at lights.
Bus drivers try to kill us.
Mountain Bikers think we're unfriendly poseurs.
And on and on.

I guess this is one of the reasons why people might have a problem with "cyclists". You yourself don't consider commuters or mountain bikers the same as you i.e. someone who cycles a bicycle i.e. the same. People will always feel more entitled than others.

ThisRegard

Well, if I just happened to stumble into this thread I'd say it's because you're whingy little bitches.

Tenzor07

MrCreosote wrote: »

Mountain Bikers think we're unfriendly poseurs.

MTB'ers are cyclists also?

ThisRegard

P.S. Is this the 'row' that someone was looking for last week ?

Harrybelafonte

Tenzor07 wrote: »

MTB'ers are cyclists also?

I don't think so, they push bikes uphill, then just stand on the pedals on the way down, no turning pedals, no sitting on saddles, not sure what they need them for at all, at all.

manwithaplan

Lumen wrote: »

A better approach is to never discuss cycling with non-cyclists.

I'm with Lumen on this. They will start to ask you how far you cycle and how much stuff costs and you will have to lie in order to appear halfway sane.

In extremis, use stock replies such as:

Q. Do you shave your legs?
A. Yes, I just light a few candles, put the hair up in a towel and have a little me time (usually gets a laugh)

Q. How much did your bike cost?
A. I just buy bits and pieces now and again and put them together myself.

Q. Is it not dangerous?
A. You have to be careful alright - some cyclists are a disgrace.

Q. Do you ever win anything?
A. Oh look, a sand martin

charliesheens

because they think there in such a great tough rewarding sport ...

when in reality the physique they gain from it is very poor

better off hitting the weights

king of aesthetics

Harrybelafonte

charliesheens wrote: »

because they think there in such a great tough rewarding sport ...

when in reality the physique they gain from it is very poor

better off hitting the weights

king of aesthetics

I do both? Where does that leave me?

Dr Turk Turkelton

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Are cyclists any more hated than slow-drivers, Sunday-drivers, farmers, boy-racers etc etc..................don't think so !

Can't agree here at all.In my opinion cyclists are at the top of the food chain when it comes to hate.

I see a lot of medium and large towns now building cycle lanes for yous and they are perfectly adequate yet not used as they read on forums not to use them.
I'm not talking about the crap ones on the edge of narrow roads in cities here either.

Also the we are in a race mentality of 25/30 eejits out on a weekend holding up traffic for miles.

Then you have the two abreast cyclists where one of them is almost on the opposite side of the white line trying to prove their entitlement.

Thats just a few reasons why yous are the most universally hated group of road users.
There are far too many reasons to get into them all I have just given a small sample.

charliesheens

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I do both? Where does that leave me?

leaves you in the state of not being the most aesthetic stronger and jacked women slaying version of yourself..

drop the cycling

thank me later

Lumen

charliesheens wrote: »

leaves you in the state of not being the most aesthetic stronger and jacked women slaying version of yourself..

What is a "jacked woman"? Is that a woman you accost in the jacks?

Lusk Doyle

Lumen wrote: »

What is a "jacked woman"? Is that a woman you accost in the jacks?

No. It's when you shove a bit of metal under her and wind it in such a way as to make it easier for you to "work" on her and not risk hurting your back...

Lusk Doyle

charliesheens wrote: »

because they think there in such a great tough rewarding sport ...

when in reality the physique they gain from it is very poor

better off hitting the weights

king of aesthetics

Did you ever take part in a spelling bee by any chance?

Lusk Doyle

Cuchulainn1. wrote: »

Can't agree here at all.In my opinion cyclists are at the top of the food chain when it comes to hate.

I see a lot of medium and large towns now building cycle lanes for yous and they are perfectly adequate yet not used as they read on forums not to use them.
I'm not talking about the crap ones on the edge of narrow roads in cities here either.

Also the we are in a race mentality of 25/30 eejits out on a weekend holding up traffic for miles.

Then you have the two abreast cyclists where one of them is almost on the opposite side of the white line trying to prove their entitlement.

Thats just a few reasons why yous are the most universally hated group of road users.
There are far too many reasons to get into them all I have just given a small sample.

Go on then. How often has this happened to you?

dave_o_brien

charliesheens wrote: »

leaves you in the state of not being the most aesthetic stronger and jacked women slaying version of yourself..

drop the cycling

thank me later

Yeah, damn right. Better to have an aesthetic that gets you many women, only to prove yourself a massive dissapointment due to total lack of aerobic stamina. Just hit the creatine and accept that being all that you can be means bulging biceps and suppressed homoerotic fantasies.


What do you mean the lycra could be said to be homoerotic enough?

spyderski

Ignore the troll.......:mad:

charliesheens

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Did you ever take part in a spelling bee by any chance?

ha my spelling isn't that bad is it?

charliesheens

spyderski wrote: »

Ignore the troll.......:mad:

not trolling its just my opinion

seamus

charliesheens wrote: »

better off hitting the weights

Because weightlifters are so attractive?
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/10/15/article-0-157CF107000005DC-140_634x693.jpg

Cuchulainn1. wrote: »

There are far too many reasons to get into them all I have just given a small sample.

Not really. You really gave one reason phrased in a few different ways - "Because cyclists use the road".

spyderski

charliesheens wrote: »

not trolling its just my opinion

Not you charliesheens !

Lusk Doyle

charliesheens wrote: »

ha my spelling isn't that bad is it?

I don't know but maybe take a look over "there" and see some nice cyclists on "their" bikes?

charliesheens

dave_o_brien wrote: »

Yeah, damn right. Better to have an aesthetic that gets you many women, only to prove yourself a massive dissapointment due to total lack of aerobic stamina. Just hit the creatine and accept that being all that you can be means bulging biceps and suppressed homoerotic fantasies.


What do you mean the lycra could be said to be homoerotic enough?

who said I don't do cardio

Just because people lift weights doesn't mean they forget to do cardio

oh yeah skip the weights start cycling

then possibly be smaller than every woman you pull

good thinking there

Captain Havoc

NO good can come from this thread, locked.

Lusk Doyle

charliesheens wrote: »

who said I don't do cardio

Just because people lift weights doesn't mean they forget to do cardio

oh yeah skip the weights start cycling

then possibly be smaller than every woman you pull

good thinking there

What exactly is the problem with that? Do the women you get with have penises?

Chips Lovell

@Cuchulainn1. Any more trolling like that and it'll be more than a yellow card next time.

Chips Lovell

And charliesheens is banned for being a re-reg of a sitebanned troll.