Touring Cyclists = No Love from Roadies (why?)

[rkalams]

Normally I wouldn't start a thread about something that has been discussed ad nausem all over the internet (roadie elitism) but I've experienced this on several occasions and it's beyond bizarre. Here's my experience:

I'm a mountain biker by preference but since moving up north and away from the trailhead I've started road riding again, mainly for conditioning for bikepacking (backcountry cycle touring on mountain bike) and road touring. Typically I take out my CX bike for road duty, wearing helmet, full kit, etc. and do 40-60 mile rides. Everytime I'm "roadie"-ed out I get nods and waves from other road cyclists. I always exchange a few words of "hello" "great weather" or the like when passing other riders and the courtesy is always returned.

Now here is the bizzarre part. About 1 in 3 rides I will load up my bike with full soft bags (pretty much this), put on my touring clothing (baggie shorts, hi vis tank top or tee) and head out and do the exact same rides, at nearly the exact same pace, just to keep my legs use to the extra weight. I'd say 1 in 4 people, maybe even less, wave/nod or say hello (usually it's the more experienced [older] crowd), the rest don't even acknowledge when I say hello when passing. This happened today in "touring mode": I pulled over to adjust one of my bags, while doing so another rider passes me. I get back on my bike and start riding again. He's moving at a pretty solid pace and I don't really want to ride any quicker so I give him like 25 yards space and basically end up matching his speed all the way back into town. I pull up next to him at the light, say hello and he just looks at me, shakes his head a little, doesn't say a word and rides off. This guy did an excellent job at perpetuating the "roadie elistism" stereotype but to what purpose?

Are "touring cyclists" not considered "hardcore enough" riders to warrant the roadie's respect? (I think of motorcyclist waving to eachother on the road but ignoring scooters who try and elicit a thumbs up or wave) Do some of these guys have too big of egos and get upset when being passed by a "touring cyclist" at a fast clip? I don't get it but it happens every time I change setups and it's impossible to ignore.

[Steve in SLO]

I live along a relatively busy stretch of road for tourists, and alghough I am a 'roadie', I always wave and chat with them to find out where they're from and what's up in general.
I do admit that in my racing days during college, I would have rather died than strap a big bag on my bike. I considered the whole thing inferior to my style of riding. I don't have a good explanation for my feeling of superiority to this day, but it sure was there.
Perhaps some of the cool feelings you are experiencing stem from the assumption by roadies that all roadies are locals and 'like us', whereas all tourists are from elsewhere and 'not like us'...the old xenophobe thing.

[Ken Robb]

Another angle to these observations: I get much nicer attitudes from drivers of cars and trucks when dressed as a tourist or a fred than when I'm in Lycra/Spandex and all of my outfits are plain mostly solid colors with no race kit appearance.

Riding in regular-looking clothing=poor guy and we are both trying to get somewhere. Riding in race kit= you are playing in the street and getting in my way while I am trying to get somewhere. That's how we look to most drivers.

[majorpat]

Some folks are just tools. My theory is that the longer you've been riding, the more often you tend to wave at other bikers.

[azrider]

I'm a roadie and from the amount of unreciprocated waves I've recived over the years I've deduced that roadies hate me too.

So don't worry........"they" don't discriminate.

[bobswire]

Nice set up on your bike, looks like you could do the Continental Divide.
I really don't give much mind to stuck up riders, they is too cool to be cool.
I get razzed about my seat bag being so BIG since I like to take along a snack, for some even using a water bottle is considered Fred.

[jr59]

omg!

Don't let William see that pic!

[fuzzalow]

Don't fret. Be it known there are miscreants from the inner sanctum of the cyclist schmuck society that don't like anybody other than schmucks such as themselves. They treat you differently because you are not one of them. And for being that, you can count your blessings.

[Viper]

See here:

http://www.amazon.com/And-Play-Golf-.../dp/0684867338

And if you ride a unicycle, same-same.

I enjoy and respect any bike and bike rider who wears a helmet and pedals a bike. Even those who wear Rapha.

Touring, roadie, MTB, smurfy climbers, Clydesdale sprinters, Tri-geeks...we're all doing the same thing.

[dan682]

I'm impressed how much luggage you have on that bike without having any racks! What type of rear bag is that?

[Earl Gray]

Other to to just say that it is complete ignorance, I can't say I understand it.

I used to lead a C pace evening ride and I tried to hold the pace in the 15 mph range.

Most riders were not what you would consider your racer boy Arrogant Roadie Bastard. For the most part they were older, slow, ignorant, arrogant bastards.

If I showed up in full kit on my road bike or even on my touring bike (sans bags) no one looked at me strange. However, if I was riding my SS MTB with baggies they look at me with doubt that they should leave the parking lot with me.

The funny thing, is that I always rode faster on the MTB than I would on my road bike(s). Not because it was faster but just because I could not gear down.

Many people could never accept me on my MTB but were fine if they saw me on any bike with drop bars.

[Bob Loblaw]

I was like that when I was a junior. Then I got clobbered a few times by guys on old bikes with cut off shorts and beards. That humbled me. Now I go out on my full fendered steel single speed and pass the lesson of humility on to others.

BL

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . and say hello. Just got back from 20, mostly on the local MUT. Plenty of people out, plenty of different styles. Everybody friendly.

What Majorpat said . . . some people are just major tools and let 'em go.

BBD

[tannhauser]

That guy was a prick disguised as a roadie. Don't worry - he's a prick in real life too.

OTOH I've come across many happy tourers, but also a scary minority: the earthball guys and gals with the 1000 mile stare, unwilling to acknowledge anyone that interferes with their singular (so they think) spiritual journey. No one for miles around, I come up to them, smile, say hi...not even a grimace, a glimmer of recognition, no simpatico nod, not even a smirk.

People are weird.

[pinkshogun]

i subconsciously chuckle at the Freds and Fredas of the world even though i always ride in baggy knickers, white cotton socks and a cotton t-shirt during summer.