Does anyone not mind fast road bikes?

I'm pretty new to Chainlink and the biking community in general. Despite having obsessively ridden for the last few years, I've always been pretty spartan about it and was never terribly interested in diving into the culture. Anyway, maybe I'm crazy but there's a pretty noticeable dislike for road bikers around here (multiply it by 1,000 if they're going fast) and I'm just wondering what's the deal with that?

I have a few bikes and I dont fit into any one particular category of biker. Cross for commuting and getting around. An old mountain bike for hooking the tagalong up so I can ride with (ie tow) one of my kids. And yes, I have a road bike for the weekend. It's carbon. I wear lycra. I ride fast. I love it. Point is, I think I can pretty much appreciate most types of riders since I'm all over the map.

The few other road bike folks I've ridden with are practically militant about being safe and courteous. I try to be the same. I commute along the LFP during the week so I encounter issues almost daily, and honestly, they're almost never with road bikes, even fast ones. All of my experiences with these people have been pretty good. 

So what's with the seemingly universal disdain for people traveling fast on road bikes? Obviously I'm sure there are instances of ill-advised passes or some other unsafe move, but every strata is guilty of doing stupid stuff, yet it seems like there's a special kind of dislike reserved for road bikes around here.

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 29, 2013 at 8:39am

As long as cyclists are conscious and can read the situation, I really don't care which demographic is theirs.  When riders think the road is theirs, when they feel entitled, when they forget that they are not alone on a country road, they are idiots regardless of whether they wear lycra or tweed.  When a cyclist pays attention, alters course and speed to make seamless the passage of other riders, he or she is a Rider and not an idiot.  This is regardless of the use of a dumpster mountain bike, a cargo behemoth, or a carbon fiber machine that weighs less than my shoe. The only thing I will say about a fast moving rider on a carbon fiber bike and a full kit of lycra is that there are less opportunities to get his/her machine up to speed in the urban milieu.  He/she has to be aware of that limitation.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on August 29, 2013 at 8:59am

Divviots;

no-handed riders slowly weaving all over the street/path with no concern who's in front or behind;

skate boarders who think it's okay for their board to shoot out from under them wherever it may go;

pedestrians wandering aimlessly in bike lanes/path apparently clueless they are sharing the path.

These, I have a beef with.

If you ride fast and control your business; I got no beef.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 29, 2013 at 9:23am

+1

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Now, that's well said, indeed!

David Barish said:

As long as cyclists are conscious and can read the situation, I really don't care which demographic is theirs.  When riders think the road is theirs, when they feel entitled, when they forget that they are not alone on a country road, they are idiots regardless of whether they wear lycra or tweed.  When a cyclist pays attention, alters course and speed to make seamless the passage of other riders, he or she is a Rider and not an idiot.  This is regardless of the use of a dumpster mountain bike, a cargo behemoth, or a carbon fiber machine that weighs less than my shoe. The only thing I will say about a fast moving rider on a carbon fiber bike and a full kit of lycra is that there are less opportunities to get his/her machine up to speed in the urban milieu.  He/she has to be aware of that limitation.

Permalink Reply by Josh.E on August 29, 2013 at 9:49am

My biggest beef and dislike is of lycra/spandex fabric. That fabric just doesn't look good on ANYBODY. Also its with weight weenies that saved weight by not having (insert important accessories here)on your bike.....you know what else saves weight...having a massive bowel movement.  But regardless if you go to the roadie/fixie/MB forums they are disliking everyone else that is not them. Its not always rainbow farting unicorns running in a field of kittens and puppies it is what it is.  

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on August 29, 2013 at 10:41am

I like everybody...

unless your action(s) brings me harm.

Permalink Reply by Len Krietz on August 29, 2013 at 11:21am

I beg to differ.  There are some very nice women (various ages) who look FINE in lyca/ spandex.  Probably some fine dudes also (different perspective).  While I probably fit in your description of not looking good,  I don't give a shit.  Helps the "boys" stay happy during  a long ride and hell maybe someone (female I hope) has a skewed sense of "appreciation.

Josh.E said:

My biggest beef and dislike is of lycra/spandex fabric. That fabric just doesn't look good on ANYBODY. Also its with weight weenies that saved weight by not having (insert  and hell maybe some accessories here)on your bike.....you know what else saves weight...having a massive bowel movement.  But regardless if you go to the roadie/fixie/MB forums they are disliking everyone else that is not them. Its not always rainbow farting unicorns running in a field of kittens and puppies it is what it is.  

Permalink Reply by Dean Bekken on August 30, 2013 at 1:14am
Is it the Lycra? The overexhuberant "on your left?" Matching jerseys? Sorry, I just don't get it, and I like soccer! But I don't call it "football." Does that help?
Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on August 30, 2013 at 2:29am
Yes! This is excellent. Amen.

Jennifer on the lake said:

I have decided that I'm no different from the women who run errands in their yoga outfits.

Permalink Reply by Bill Nedza on August 30, 2013 at 2:50am

I love to read the first and then the most recent posts on these forum threads -- it goes from "is there a disdain against roadies?" to "lycra shouldn't come in some sizes"....

Permalink Reply by Josh.E on August 30, 2013 at 3:18am

While this is true the huge huge difference is that yoga pants look fantastic while the biking shorts look great till you get the the loaded diaper part then its just bad unless you're into kinky stuff like diapers then more power to you.  

Jennifer on the lake said:

I have decided that I'm no different from the women who run errands in their yoga outfits.

Permalink Reply by Todd Allen on August 30, 2013 at 3:33am

My problem with people trying to ride fast on road bikes is that they are aerodynamically inefficient and inherently slow.  Every time I see one it brings to mind the wisdom of Mr. T, "I pity the fool!"

Permalink Reply by Colin Murphy on August 30, 2013 at 3:47am

Seems to me that the near-universal disdain is for lycra or spandex, whatever the difference is. 

Or maybe that noting their wearing of spandex is a reliably emasculating thing to say about somebody on a bike who you don't like (whether you're a biker yourself or an anti-everything populist dumbass columnist). I will admit to being guilty of this myself, although I prefer to focus on the expensive lightweight materials in the bikes of people I don't like. 

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