[No Reply]

Here’s a thing. I have increasingly noticed when out riding how ignorant the majority of sportive riders seem to be. Before anyone attacks me, this is my opinion, based on my experience.

I’ve been a cyclist since 1982, when I left school. I’ve cycled hundreds of thousands of miles, commuting, racing, touring, and for pleasure. I ride between 150-200 miles a week, both commuting and Sunday ride too. I am old school. I always say hello to any cyclist, horse rider, pedestrian when I’m out.

But I have noticed a trend. For example, last weekend I did a 60 mile loop through the Trough of Bowland. Once I got to Dunsop Bridge, lots of small groups of cyclists passed me riding in the opposite direction, lots of solo riders too, all with their number tie wrapped to their bars. I would say that approximately 85-90% completely ignored me when I called out a greeting. Not a wave, grunt, nothing. Not even eye contact. I have also noticed another sinister trend which goes hand in hand with sportive routes. Littering the lane were lots of discarded energy gel wrappers. Are they aware that there’s nobody following them to pick up their crap? 

So why be so miserable and rude? And why be a litter lout? Is it a growing trend? Or is this the sort of people who are attracted to sportive rides?

Topic

[bobrayner]

Sportives are a halfway point

Sportives are a halfway point; casual riders have something to train towards, push themselves a bit harder, maybe go a bit further, amongst other people rather than alone. They can even put on numbers and get a finish-line photo.

Most casual riders will never actually sign up for a race because they’re worried about facing attitudes like yours. So they’ll keep on being casual riders and you’ll always have an outgroup to mock.

[Dingaling]

With that attitude it would

With that attitude it would be nice if you fucked off and found a different forum for the tripe you write.

[Steve K]

May be it’s just me, but if I

May be it’s just me, but if I was considering racing (I’m not) I’d be rather put off if I thought a newbie would be treated with the kind of attitude you are showing to other cyclists.

[S13SFC]

Road racing isn’t

Road racing isn’t inaccessible, anyone can race TLI but most wobblers are content with being an absolute menace on the roads on a sportive whilst thinking they look pro as fuck.

Anyone who has done any of the big European events will know it’s true when you compare them to the UK ones.

[Miller]

S13SFC wrote:

Sportives on open roads are the domain of the wobblers, huffing and puffing whilst thinking how pro they look who lack the minerals to pin a race number on.

 

Well… that’s nonsense and also the kind of snotty attitude that helps no-one. If by pinning a number on you mean road racing, that’s a fairly inaccessible form of cycle sport. Unless you’re already skinny and fit you’re almost certain to be dumped out the back of the pack in short order. Add to that a decent chance of a painful crash.

Sportives encourage people to take on a longer and harder ride than they normally would, show them some roads they might not know about, and provide a sense of occasion. If that means they attract unstylish novice cyclists, so be it.

 

[S13SFC]

Sportives on open roads are

Sportives on open roads are the domain of the wobblers, huffing and puffing whilst thinking how pro they look who lack the minerals to pin a race number on.

I mean, seriously, the mindset of anyone who spends ££ riding a route that they could ride for free anytime.

I appreciate closed roads have a whole different appeal.

[bobrayner]

I’ve definitely noticed

I’ve definitely noticed litter after sportives go past. Similar problem with runs; maybe not your local running club out for half an hour, but when a thousand people descend on a big city to run 10K, it seems like half of them will drop gel wrappers and water bottles in random places.

It seems to be almost sanctioned around feed zones – there’s usually somebody to pick up litter – but you really shouldn’t be dropping sweet wrappers in the gutter on a random stretch of road.

Can’t speak for other sports, though. Do rowers leave a trail of empty yoghurt pots down the Thames? 

[Oldfatgit]

The action of one lazy

The action of one lazy motorist *should* reflect on all … but it doesn’t as more people are able to identy with being a motorist and not a cyclist.

People that just drive cars tend to see us as one group; we know that that is bollocks because we regularily increase our brain power by exercising out in the fresh air.

It matters not what we know; it’s what the *others* think … and if they see one cyclist dropping a gel, then we are all tarred with the same brush — RLJ but for litter.

[wycombewheeler]

stuartdbuchanan wrote:

For a 160km Sportive that probably means a crew of 10.  Presumably Councils license  the running of Sportives, particularly if they require road closures.  IMO this should just form part of the license requirements.

more I should think. I don’t think 10 people each walking alone for 10 miles is a valid approach. so prbably 16 crews of 2 each walking 10km together.

[wycombewheeler]

brooksby wrote:

But whatabout (yes, I know) the bags of McDonald’s wrappers left along the side of roads (pretty sure by motorists, not be cyclists)? What about the little piles of cigarette butts left in lay-bys.  What about the wheel trims left on verges or footpaths.

McDs definitely not left by cyclists since their [policy is that it is not safe to serve cyclists in the drive through (motorbikes are ok though???/)

But in fairness I doubt anyone decides to leave their wheel trim behind, they are entirely unaware it has detached from the vehicle.

[brooksby]

But whatabout (yes, I know)

But whatabout (yes, I know) the bags of McDonald’s wrappers left along the side of roads (pretty sure by motorists, not be cyclists)? What about the little piles of cigarette butts left in lay-bys.  What about the wheel trims left on verges or footpaths.

I trust that the actions of one selfish and lazy motorist reflects upon all other motorists?

[Mr Grumpy]

It doesn’t have to be a

It doesn’t have to be a sportive to see the litter left by cyclists; inner tube here, gel wrapper there. We are maligned enough as it is without drawing attention to ouselves by riders who are too lazy and selfish to discard their litter properly.

Many years ago I was on a sportive and I saw a rider discard a gel wrapper into the hedge – I shouted his rider number at him and threatened to report him if he didn’t stop and pick it up which he duly did.

[Ride On]

They are probably too busy
They are probably too busy trying to get their money’s worth … very difficult when you are charged £70 go for bike ride

[Rendel Harris]

HoarseMann wrote:

…more focused on doing a good time than having a good time.

Great phrase, pinching to puff out at the young ‘uns as they whistle past!

[HoarseMann]

Coming from mountain biking,

Coming from mountain biking, which is generally a very friendly and collaborative scene, I noticed some road cyclists could be quite frosty, serious and extremely competitive! I think they are still the minority, but I suspect now greater in number, more likely to be drawn to sportives and more focused on doing a good time than having a good time.

[Author]

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