Does cycling attract more arrogant folk than other sports?

Taken mine in to a pub, I did ask first though. Uni a few times, shops and what not. I don't think people have much of a problem with it! I have noticed the amount of arses on the road recently, seems like nobody wants to say hi! I think in winter the purists are out to play, they know your a true cyclist rather than the fair weather folk.

Hmmm. Lots to say. I have taken my bike into Sainsbury's on one occasion. But for a quick dash inside (noting queue length, length of time to be served etc) I might leave my bike outside.

Perhaps noting that you had chosen to bring you bike in when the R3 rider had trusted his for the sake of other cafe users was deemed rude in its own way. I think there are cases to be made both ways. I just wouldn't get upset about it. On an emotional level I would state rule no. 5.

I don't think arrogance is the preserve of cyclists by any means. Ego, bravado etc. are all evident in any sport I've been involved in. But cycling does have in-built snobbery written large. For some people this is an appeal, for others it perhaps proves their own sense of inequality in the world. Many of the responses have been as quick to judge the individual on his bike alone, rather than the fact that the poster may have caused an offence to the R3 rider.

I would say that your pedals should do the talking, and that if you feel inferior figure out why that is. Your bike may slow you down, but that doesn't make you an inferior cyclist, because lb for lb you maybe better. But if you are jealous of another mans ride you should not be. You do not know the road he has travelled to get it and if it bothers you think about what you need to do to buy it, is THAT worth it to you. All this angst about another rider is so very un-zen.

Refer him to Rule #75. Anyway, the point here is not object or not object to wheeling the bike inside, but the knobs snobby attitude to his and your bike models etc, that and the race number, tosser. He probably keeps his ski lift pass from Les Arcs on his jacket all year long too.

I think you are in some way correct regarding the arrogance of certain cyclists...the elitist...always one to boast of his latest acquisition etc...
I never visit cafes with my bike, preferring to solo cycle in around 99% of my endeavours, never felt the need to stop off for cake/coffee.
It does pee me off quite regularly when ignored by said type of cyclist, like I'm some piece of scum, in his £400 r0ph@ socks....giving the 1000 yard stare as you acknowledge him in passing....
Each to his own, I don't waste too much time thinking about it. I just keep riding, knowing I'm all the better for it and most likely a better feeling of inner well being trumps his elitist attitude...

Not many people here have answered your question but I think the answer is yes. It's partly down to the fact it's often a solitary pursuit for which communication skills aren't often required. Secondly, because like golf, everything you ride or wear can be quickly assessed by the trained eye and calculated in £s, it can attract a certain amount of folk you wouldn't necessarily share a couple of pints with. Thirdly, I think lack of acknowledgment of a fellow cyclist can be (and sometimes is) arrogant, it's sometimes a shock to see someone if you've been out in the country on your own for a few hours and lack of a wave is purely down to shock.

R3 man is a dick though, and you get them everywhere. There's probably a knitting website/forum somewhere with the same thread! Arrogant knitters

I was riding my Dutch roadster complete with 80 litres of shopping in the panniers (yes they are huge) along the shared NCN route 4 in Llanelli when some bright spark shot past shouting "I hope you don't drive like you cycle". Quite what his point was bearing in mind that this is a shared path used by little kids, walkers etc. I'll never know but obviously the idea that I was riding a slow heavy bike fully laden after a visit to Lidls freaked him out. He needn't have worried, I don't drive!

A Colnago CLX3 isn't exactly a shabby bike, good thing you weren't on mine!

Depends on how busy and time I suspect.
I took my bike into HSBC bank in Notting hill, as just needed to pay a cheque in, if it had been busy I wouldn't have bothered.

Staff even held door open for me..

Possible answer: 'They'd get them both, I chained mine to yours'

In my experience recently, there are a lot of Road cyclists that appear ill mannered, arrogant or miserable at best (I say recently because all the riders who I've met in the winter months mostly seem quite jolly and sociable - which doesn't really make sense).

Agreed if all cyclist took their bikes in while ordering it just would not work.

He has a more expensive bike and is smug about it. Why should that bother you? Unless you felt a pang of jealousy or something like that. And felt the need to post about it?

On the cafe aspect, I never take a bike in. Its bad enough having to deal with a smelly sweaty person in the queue, then you have to avoid his/her dirty bike too? Much nicer to the other users to leave the bike outside.

Meh, I wouldn't let it get you down. It was probably just a bit of a thoughtless remark rather than an attempt to one-up you.

The sun's out, have a recovery beer-or-wine-or-gin and smile about things.

Yep, he sounds an arse. I'm only half an hour away from Ambergate, I may pop down next Sunday, I quite fancy swapping my knackered old commuter for an upgrade

You should've gone outside, leaned your bike up and rode home on his while he was getting served

What on earth were you riding? Lol

Ignore him, the guy was being an idiot, he probably wanted lots of 'wow' and 'ooh' over his bike!

'Hat' for being pragmatic and not telling the spangle to go do one. Just think common sense is the order of the day afterall the owner, initially, said nothing and the shop was not packed.

Ignore him, it's none of his business, you get idiots everywhere it seems.

I can see both sides of the debate, but regardless, he does sound like a weapon.

Stopped at a cafe whilst touring in Scotland (sorry can't remember where) a few years ago and was invited to bring the bike inside by the owner/manager.

different strokes for different folks

Anyone visiting StP will witness me and many other cyclists on occasion, pushing a cycle into the one or other of the shops to get stuff before we board the train. Done it in Glasgow too without a problem.

Bloke seems a bit of a tool.

If you are actually in the cafe *now*, post a picture of him so we can all have a good laugh.

However, it is somewhat unorthodox to bring a bike into the cafe