Narked

So I just popped out on my bike for a quick errand at lunch time.  Pulled up at some lights on King William road.  Cyclist in his mid 30's pulls up along side me on an ageing Peugot - wearing older faded lycra and trainers.  He looked at my bike with disdain and said "Ha ha flat bar".  The lights changed, I just smiled and left him for dead.

I chose a flat bar as I ruined my back a number of years ago and the flat bar riding position is better than riding a dropped bar bike.  Effectively, my bike is the same as a Roubaix - just that the bars are flat.

Is there a general disdain for flat bar roadies ? I'm guessing from his gear that he was one of those 'once a year in January' cyclists.  I'm putting him in the 'random twat' category.

Views: 840

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duncan Fowler on January 12, 2012 at 11:50

My disdain for flat bar roadies is only exceeded by my disdain for people that wear trainers on a road bike! Haha!

Permalink Reply by Dale (rouleur) Riggs on January 12, 2012 at 11:54

Yes it would be very interesting to know exactly what he meant by his remark but actions speak louder than words and you had the last laugh. I don't have any particular feeling toward flat bar bikes (nearly bought one once) but I have had the same sort of reaction out on my TT bike, one example was during last years TDU Challenge ride when two young bucks (18 - 19 yo) passed me, one pointed at the bike and the other one remarked that "his knees won't last the distance". I'm not sure whether at other times it's the bike or the fact I'm shy of 5' 10" and over 90 kgs that gives the wrong impression of ability.

There is an old saying about books and their covers.

Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on January 12, 2012 at 12:02

You should have suggested he upgrades to a faster flat bar as you shot off into the distance!!

Permalink Reply by Matt Jones on January 12, 2012 at 12:02

Try riding a steel frame roadie with no stickers.......

Permalink Reply by Dstone on January 12, 2012 at 13:59

I do, but have stickers, and yes i do get raised eyebrows. All but one of my bikes are steel at the moment. Copped some epic stinkeye from one guy when I leant my muddy surly 1x1 next  to his bling road machine at cibo once. MTB, steel, muddy and one gear was probably an epic fail through his eyes.

I even had a customer come in to look at road bikes. Asked me what I road and then spent 10 minutes ripping into me about my bikes telling me im not serious because I dont have the latest and greatest road bike. That im not a serious hills rider because of my equipment choice.hmmmm

Love your bike and let other people worry about theirs.

Permalink Reply by Kara T on January 12, 2012 at 12:10

Jase I think I have seen you on the road or someone with a bike like yours who is very tall, and yes you left me for dead too. I ride with a couple of guys on flat bars and they ride exactly the same speed as me, so obviously that roadie is just a tool if he doesn't realise that.

Permalink Reply by Jase "Flatty" C on January 12, 2012 at 12:15

I'm great around town but tend to slow down a lot on hills :)

Permalink Reply by Straps on January 12, 2012 at 12:31

Sadly I got similar attitude a couple of times when riding a flat bar last summer. And interestingly when I was researching to buy my own bike (the flat bar belonged to my partner and she reclaimed it...!!), some of my riding mates and LBS would definitely try and steer me away with comments that implied that flat bars were not really 'real' bikes...

I loved the riding on the bike and having only just made the purchase of a new bike (drop bar), I do miss some of the riding position and access to gears and brakes etc that I had with the flat bar... I will get used to it and I know horses for courses, but was definitely intrigued by the various 'attitudes' encountered out there about flat bars....

 

Cheers

Shane

Permalink Reply by Rob W on January 12, 2012 at 12:46

I'm not fussed what people ride, as long as it's the legs making it go, not a chainsaw engine. Anyone got a flat, I carry a pump that swings both ways. I toyed once at converting my flattie to a drop bar, and now I have a spare groupset that I could do it, perhaps for a CX bike.

Permalink Reply by Peter Hill on January 12, 2012 at 12:52

I've been to the east

I've been to the west

and everywhere I go

Flat bars are best.

Permalink Reply by Peter Hill on January 12, 2012 at 12:53

Oh, forgot to add, three rings on the front are freaking the best idea too.

Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on January 13, 2012 at 9:29

Only if you're climbing a brick wall.

RSS

Support our Sponsors

© 2013   Created by Gus K.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service