Hahaha... I guess you can't please everyone. Most people can't picture me 80+lbs heavier. If my words of encouragement piss you off, chase me down.
I've noticed this too, but I've also noticed there is a notable lack of common decency in denser cities, and it gets more pronounced the closer you get to the equator, no matter what side of the line (& of the world) you're on. Without the threat of a hard winter or natural predators, people have less need for social grace, which is then amplified from parents to children. If you smile, nod, or say hi, I'll certainly return it, if I don't beat you to it. But I can also sympathize, I don't really need a trail cheerleader clapping and shouting at me either. I know if I can make it or not and how close I am, there's really no need to cause a ruckus about it. Also, I've never understood how people can stop on the trail and rest and chat and smoke or whatever. It's at least 10x harder to get going again once your legs stop moving and fill with lactic acid. & if I can still talk, I'm not working hard enough. So one vote for smile & nod, chat back at the trailhead.
I have had my bike for about 8 years now. I have invested in a new front shock (that leaks) & wheels (that blow the inner tube) so I would rather get a new bike than invest more money in my old frame. The funny thing is I still get complements even offers to buy when I ride my bike around town. When I take my bike to one of the off road trails I get funny looks a few comments but not to often. The comments are either "time for a upgrade" or "That thing needs a paint job", followed by a big laugh between him and myself, only my laugh is not genuine. When someone makes a comment I just take it as a complement that I can still enjoy the trail as much as anyone else with my old GT. Also you never worrie about scratching your bike after a few years of riding it. I love my bike it has thousands of miles on it. I ride it extremely well because I am familiar with way it feels on the trail. I have been saving for a upgrade for a few years now and soon I will be able to purchase my first new bike in 12 years. Until then catch me on the trail...if you can
I don't know if I would go that far but I do understand what you are talking about. I used to ride with a guy that always seemed to be struggling on the climbs. I would try to encourage him with a, "you're doing great" or a "we're almost there" but he always seemed grumpy. Then one day someone had said it to me. For some reason it felt very condescending. I know he didn't mean that way, but it did. I thought to myself, "FU, I got 45lbs on you. I'm 200lbs to your 155 and I'm riding a 34lb AM bike with 2.4s" At that point I realized why that guy was always so grumpy. He didn't need my encourgement. He knows how he's doing. Now the only time that I give a "that a boy" is when someone does some thing worth noting like clearing a rock garden or a super steep climb.
Is there a lot less problems telling someone they're sucking?? I'll try that next time. No wonder people don't say anything, jeez!!
For some people it's like doing intervals. When the HR recovers it's time to move again. No, everyone is fast but some are faster than others. :lol:
I told someone that the other day... I mean this guy was Effins low... pushing his bike up the hill, huffin and puffin, dip in his lower lip,spitting on the trail, riding stuff that was over his head...... Man I thought this guy was gonna get himself killed. I felt impelled to tell him..." You know, you really need to see you suck, your gonna get yourself hurt, and you have no business riding whatsoever, get the **** off my trail before I remove you you dangerous peice of shit....."""" Shitty part, the asshole wouldnt even respond, not apologize, anything, just looked at me like... WHats your problem asshole, So I told him ain.... Your s shitty rider, go to a clinic or two, buy a better bike and stop putting people in danger with your shitty ass riding....." Still ignored me, giving me an absolute attitude look to boot..... I was just about ready to litterally slap this fuker into submission and take his bike....... I realized I was talking to the Mirror..... [snicker]
I never thought that encouraging people or being encouraged could be insulting. I didn't know people felt put off by that. :?: When I encourage, they usually say thanks. :-k I guess next time I can ask first. "Do you mind terribly if I encourage you and tell you that you're doing great?" Maybe it's different with women. Dang it! Now I'm conflicted!
You should have told the A-hole that a $4,000 bike doesn't mean squat if you can ride; further, a $4,000 bike with a "bad" engine will go just as fast or slow as a $300 bike with a "bad" engine. Just enjoy the fact you are in a position to ride and that you love to ride. Maybe I'll see you one day on the trail and comment on how nice your Hardrock looks. :beer:
Here here for the engine. When I used to work in a shop people (myself included) would drool over the multi-thousand dollar dream machines. Many would ask, "How fast is it?" My response was always the same -- "Only as fast as you pedal it." The rider makes the bike, regardless of cost. (but some bikes do handicap the rider).
The snob atitude is in everyplace. Here in Argentina is pretty uncommon, but you can always find people like that in your way... I cannot understand it, what is better for you and everyone that to share experience, knowledge, to interact with your pairs and make friends, in this sport that always eases all this aspects? I am in the club of "expensive bikes - poor riding skills" I have the theory, but not much practice, I rode already for 20 years in mtb, for 10 years the same hardtail, and then saving money and with the planets aligned, I could go for my dream bikes. But the most enjoyable part of riding, is to know new people, younger people and talk about riding and tecnique, how to choose the correct path in trails, to skip the worst stones, and where take the gaps from. And see their progress... It is also worth to have everybody's word for your bike, as most people dream bike too, so if this is so grateful, why can be for other people better to be snobs and derogatory? For me, just sadism.
Specialized S-works Stump Jumper……………..$7,700 S-works mountain bike shoes………………….....$350 SixSixOne Evolution Carbon FF Helmet………..$290 Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Versa Shorts………………....$125 Getting passed by a guy who you just teased for riding a Huffy……......................Priceless!!!
To the OP-- sounds like roadies masquerading as dirt riders! :lol: In all seriousness, who cares what you ride? My ride group in the OC all ride top drawer stuff and I would say all our skillz are pretty competent. My riding buddies up in LA include two newbies who ride a bargain basement Kona with Schrader valves and an old Hardrock with toe clips. What both these groups both have in common is STOKE... a love for getting on a bike, gutting it out and having a great time. I could care less what anyone rides--as long as I see a **it eating grin on their face while they are riding.
This is ridiculous. Some of the arrogant, egotistical and downright immature responses to this post make me absolutely sick. Especially the self-righteous "well-its-the-walmart-ones-i'm-referring-to" type comments. Quite frankly I don't give a shit about you DB's out there who have to tote around on your 3,4 or 7k rigs to prove a damn point. Even more so, it pisses me off that you'll come here and condescendingly say things degrading about people who don't have, or aren't privileged to having the kind of money you do to spend on bike equipment...and then when someone calls you on it....try to cover your ass by adding some validating post-comment like "well I just say those things because they are riding bikes that are unsafe." First of all many people have budgets. Yeti, Specialized, Turner, Huffy, Schwinn, Walmart, whatever.....everyone has the right to ride without hearing crap. Secondly of all people that are out there trying to enjoy themselves on the trails because they love to ride deserve respect, regardless of what they are riding. Third, those same people certainly don't need comments from you a-holes who have appointed yourself commissioners on what is, or is not brand-appropriate to ride. Chances are most people not riding more expensively equipped bikes, are well-aware that they could use upgrades, or that they need to be careful. They also are certainly aware of the fact that if they could, they probably would upgrade. They certainly don't need you boneheads and your "Lord of the Flies" philosophy pointing it out or making them feel less welcome. You act like this is some gd country-club. These are public trails and this sport is an all-welcome environment. I will be the first one laughing my ass off when I see you walking down the trail toting your precious look-at-my-$7k-super-cool-spent-a-year-building-and-paying-for-but-now-is-useless-because-i'm-sub-par-rider-who-wanted-to-look-cool-but-ended-up-looking-like-a-douche-cuz-I-ate-shit-while-the-Huffys-of-the-world-handed-me-my-lunch- bike that you find such a necessity to ride. Seriously. Get the hell over yourselves. PBR
