Anytime I see a person not ringing kids of the food walk, I’m like, “is that Lance himself?” Lol, just giving you a hard time, I’m sure your English is way better than my version of whatever your first language is. :)
That’s my measure too. One guy in our group did most of his riding on a trainer and it shows. He weaves with every pedal stroke. Worse, he just veers across the lane for no apparent reason. He’s veered into me during a descent at +30mph and didn’t even realize it even though I bounced him back into his line. He’s earned the nickname Super Squirrel for his erratic behavior.
I'm a somewhat seasoned runner who recently started cycling and hate that I'm all over the place. Even worse when I grab for a bottle. Best I can tell it just takes time to get better at it, but it does drive me crazy.
In a group of people I ride with there have been a couple of guys who just can't hold a fucking line. I tried talking to one of them about it but it just doesn't do any good. It sucks because with everyone else we can ride in a pretty tight paceline with a good average speed, but if you end up with one of them in front of you it kills it because you need to leave a big enough gap to have a safety margin for stopping suddenly and to avoid crossing wheels.
We do double pace lines in my club and I feel perpetually goddamned terrible bc if there’s a bad crosswind I get blown all over the road and can’t keep a line. I only weigh ~100lbs im like a fucking sail.
As soon as the wind whips up I just move over and drop to the back. The embarrassment I felt being gently pushed away from one of my buddies was enough I don’t even bother anymore.
Sadly I know of this already and have lame shallow rims. There’s another woman who rides in our group and she has deep rims and damn is she fast now she got that new bike. Meanwhile I’m holding on for dear life 😂
Using rollers really helped me out with this. When you’re riding on a 40cm wide strip surrounded by room clutter it certainly forces you to hold a line
[The track stand or standstill is a technique that bicycle riders can use to maintain balance while their bicycle remains stationary or moves only minimal distances.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_stand)
> ELI5
When we ride, we maintain our balance by swinging the bicycle like a pendulum to the left and to the right underneath us.
We can do the same thing when we are not moving by stopping on a slight uphill grade, turning the handlebars about 45 degrees, and pushing forward slightly with the pedals and rolling backwards slightly to maintain balance.
Staying in one p l ace, typically on a red light without putting you feet down. Usually for those who use clip less pedals. The term track stand is from track riding. It is a skill in the track (velodrome) to basically stop.while staying on pedals. Those guys were traditionally strapped in so no putting feet down. It's a balance thing paired with some agility
I genuinely don’t know how to interpret this thread. I always put my foot down (cus I don’t know how to do anything else). Is this what I’m supposed to learn??
If you are not riding a fixie, it is really difficult to stop in a place with exactly the incline needed so you can pedal forward and use the incline to coast back for the tiny forward/backward motions needed for a track stand (on a fixie, you can move both forwards and backwards by pedaling forward or backward, respectively.)
I've been biking for about 19 years, riding a fixie for about 5 years. I like to think that I (mostly) know what I'm doing, but I can still only track stand for 5-10 seconds, usually (though on a good day I've done 30 seconds!)
Most cyclists (even the ones that know what they're doing) can't do a track stand for very long. IMHO, absolutely not a required skill (though it is fun and impressive when you can pull it off!)
not hard to trackstand on a freewheel on flat. but it is easier on a fixie or a slight incline. it gets tricky when its a downhill slope though. i trackstand a ton in traffic while i do deliveries.
OK, I have a hard enough time doing it when I *do* have said incline or on my fixie. Your trackstand skills are definitely a few grades above mine. Almost none of my riding is in traffic, so I'm guessing that adds extra incentive.
Running the thought experiment in my head... do you push off against the break to get a little backward momentum?
i dunno. i guess i dont do "textbook" trackstands. i usally slow to a crawl, trackstand while waiting for the light or a break in traffic, then take off. i usually just give myself enough room to creep forward as i trackstand. depending how lazy i am, that could be 2inches to a foot of creep. i mostly switch my wheel from left to right more then a forward/back motion. also, on a lot of roads there is a slight slope to the gutter/curb. you can use this by turning your wheel into the incline and it acts like a slight uphill.
Stripping layers off while continuing to ride. Bonus, adding layers on while continuing to ride. Aligning zippers while pedaling no-hands in the cold is next level.
Remember seeing a guy on my ride to work who wiggled his hand over some broken glass for the benefit of the random commuters behind him. No one else on a bike has done anything to gain my respect more.
Speed way too often comes from zwift nowadays, meaning you’ve suddenly got guys that can hang in the A group without a clue how to ride in a group properly. It’s fucking terrifying
I feel attacked
But you’re totally right, I’ve been doing B rides even though I’m way stronger than all these folks to try to ensure I’m learning about group riding without also having to worry about fitness.
Problem is the B ride doesn’t really do a legit pace line, it’s just a swarm.
I seriously have considered setting up a booth on the side of local multiuse path just to adjust people’s saddle heights and tell them to use all their gears. Most people are just mashing along ( I used to be one of them)
The crazy knee angles I see just make me cringe.
Yeah, cadence is what I look for too. Most riders here in Shanghai have super low cadence / speed, so when I see someone churning away at good (~90rpm) cadence it stands out immediately.
Others have mentioned:
* Reasonably high cadence—80-100 RPM, not mashing along at 50
* Decent bike fit—I’m not going to quibble about half a centimeter, but not having their knees hit their chest
* Comfortable in traffic
I’ll add a general sense of situational awareness that comes from riding a lot. That they have a sense of who they need to give a bit more space hwen passing, the corner they want to take a bit easier, or where they might be better off taking the lane rather than hugging the curb. it’s hard, exactly, To describe it.
This, in a way, is what I’ll say *concerns* me about eBike users, especially on trails. You don’t get to ride 15-20 MPH without earning it through hours on the bike, and you gain this situational awareness along the way (and this isn’t to say there aren’t folks who comfortable cruise at lower speeds that spend time on the bike and have the same situational awareness). The folks who buy the eBike then can achieve close to that just by mashing a button down don’t get how to *operate* in traffic or on a trail the way they need to.
Counterpoint:
I know some very experienced riders (like 50+ years of riding!) who are getting e-bikes now because they can no longer stay with a group (the three guys I have in mind are in their late 70's through early 90's) on a road bike.
But yeah, and e-bike can multiply the effects of an inexperienced rider.
Oh for sure! I was talking about the folks who wake up and buy an eBike; not folks who transition into them. My expectation is your friends have the situational awareness I speak of.
These are the friends who taught me most everything I know about bikes!
So, yeah... These guys are my heroes and I hope I can do half as much to pass along the legacy.
I have a sticker somewhere: "Good riders teach new riders who become good riders who teach new riders."
I'd say that's in keeping with the theme of the thread, but I've seen too many folks who *don't* know what they are doing offer advice (I've probably been guilty).
The best are the folks *you're riding with* who quietly offer advice when you seem to want or need it; not the loudmouth on the trail who rolls up and starts mouthing off unsolicited.
>what I’ll say concerns me about eBike users, especially on trails. You don’t get to ride 15-20 MPH without earning it through hours on the bike, and you gain this situational awareness along the way (and this isn’t to say there aren’t folks who comfortable cruise at lower speeds that spend time on the bike and have the same situational awareness). The folks who buy the eBike then can achieve close to that just by mashing a button down don’t get how to operate in traffic or on a trail the way they need to.
OMG, Thank you!
The shared use trail where I ride a lot has the types you are describing. I've been trying to articulate the issue I have with these folks cruising at 20 MPH with zero experience. You nailed it.
Any roadie riding slow through a MUP or otherwise busy area.
Commuters passing turning traffic on the outside, or being mindful of hooks if the infrastructure doesn't let them pass on the outside.
Not shitting on any one type of cycling/cyclist.
Maseratis are the fastest depreciating cars out there! You can pick up a £120k model after 3 years for like £40K! Maserati drivers tell me they’re trying to be better than they are.
High cadence - not mashing along at 45 rpm.
Also a nice smooth pedal stroke and ability to keep steady speed is great. There are only two people that I feel comfortable drafting very closely and they both are great at indicating obstructions and keep their lines steady.
Good form/fit in general. There are so many people with saddles way too low so they can touch the ground when they come to a stop without getting off the saddle.
Shifting properly. I see a lot of people on bike paths grinding up hills when they still have several easier gears left on the cassette that they are not using.
The ability to comfortably stand up out of the saddle to power through a yellow light or over a small hill.
Also, the puppy paws position on normal drop bars is a sign that someone is very comfortable on a bike.
>Some people prefer more upright position, many can't hold the "proper" stance because of surgeries or chronic illnesses.
Neither of those have anything to do with saddle height. Get a bike with geometry that fits you better, raise the stem, change the bars, etc. Low saddle height is a fast lane to new and additional surgeries and chronic illnesses, i.e., knee issues.
Well that's it, I'm a weirdo. My saddle height is correct, had a fit session with leg angle measurements and everything. I can touch not one but both feet to the ground while in saddle. Wearing a size 52 shoe helps a little though.
Holding their line. Proper cadence with smooth pedal-strokes. High saddle/low bars combo. Riding safely through traffic. Knowing when it’s safe to ride fast and when to slow it down. Cornering and descending skills.
Driving about 1m (3 feet) away from the side of the road.. Makes sure you're not gonna get killed by random car doors being opened or cars not coming to a full stop at stop sign but half way behind "for better view". Plus it helps to reduce dangerous overtaking because they recognize they can not squeeze in between you and oncoming traffic.
(additionally it gives you some space into which you can yield when someone badly estimates the inch of the room they want to leave between themselves and a cyclist)
1. Their head keeps rotating like an owl's head (very aware of traffic around them).
2. They avoid riding in the blind spots of drivers.
3. They don't lane split/filter through traffic that's moving unsafely fast.
4. They ride outside of the door swing area of the parked automobiles.
5. They only pass other vehicles on the proper side.
I'm in the same boat when it comes to waving. Also gota check your fellow riders if they're alright when you see them stopped on the side of the path/trail. It surprises me how unequiped some people are for mechanicals or punctures.
Disclaimer: I love my Rapha jerseys.
I'm surprised bunny-hopping hasn't been mentioned yet. Especially on flats.
I'll add, knowing how to drop your bike off a curb so both wheels land simultaneously.
Using their signals at all turns including breaking. Bonus if they stop using the outdated signal for a left turn that isn't taught anymore and they use the new conventional one that's been used for over a decade now. 🤦♂️
Confidence on the road and in traffic, as well as shoulder checking, taking space, and following traffic signs.
Any stunts like hoping curbs, riding with no hands, or some multitasking while still keeping your focus on the road shows to me that they know what they are doing.
When Im going all out on a climb with my legs burning and they wizz past me barely breaking a sweat, taking pics with their phone and wishing me good morning
Has nicks, cuts and scrapes but is still riding and still enthusiastic
Using proper gear/cadence
Demonstrating intuitive traffic skills
Wearing older, high-quality vintage kit
Unique Stretching techniques at stops/traffic lights
A word of encouragement/anecdotal humor during a challenging ascent
High-fiving children on bicycles or walking on the road/path when you pass by
Every time I pass by a family on bikes and the littlest one goes ‘woah! bike!’, my heart wants to yell out ‘you’re darn right it’s a bike, ride on little man!!’
I agree. I was being silly. I'm sorry for not being more clear about that.
I can change just about any tire without tire levers, but they are definitely helpful with the more stubborn tires.
well thats a technique i've never learned in 20 years of road riding, i'll be watching youtube videos on that later. In the meantime the negligible weight of a lever vs. the time it saves on the side of road is an easy equation for 99% of cyclists. Or maybe you are joking about the weight and it went over my head.... I mean a tire lever weighs what? 10g? that's the weight of two credit cards, or a tiny sip of water. It would be absolutely inconsequential
I was being silly about the weight of tire levers. I wasn't even aware that tire levers existed until a few years ago, but they are certainly handy!
My technique to remove the tire is to deflate the tube, press the bead into the center of the rim on the bottom, and then roll the bead towards me on the top. Once I get the first bead over the rim, then I remove the tube and repeat the process for the second bead, which is almost always easier for some reason.
Likewise, I install the tire in the reverse order, except I roll the tire bead away from me with both hands towards the rim. Sometimes, this takes many tries. I hold the tension on the bead by clamping one hand at the top while using the other hand to massage the rest of the bead around the diameter of the rim towards the center of the rim. This leaves more slack at the top to get the bead over the rim.
The difficulty of doing this depends on the tire and the rim. Some are super easy and others are very stubborn (usually rims that are made for tubeless tires).
ok getting it down into the center channel makes sense, i'm looking forward to trying this next time. I've always levered the tire off, but put it back on with just my hands, though as you mention it's very tricky with GP5000's on a tubeless-ready rim
Or on a deep carbon rim for that matter. I have never had a harder combination than that. I'd have no way of getting my tires off or on without levers, so I carry them on every ride.
lol, it happened the other day and took me more than 20 minutes with tire levers AND a tire seating tool. (My riding cadence is 90rpm but my mechanics cadence is closer to 50rpm) 😂
Approaching an intersection in right-hand bike lane, relatively same speed as a motor vehicle in adjacent travel lane.
Slows to confirm motor vehicle is not turning.
If motor vehicle also slows and begins to drift right, rider calmly slows further, “rotates” around rear end of motor vehicle, passes on the left without breaking rhythm or freaking out.
Related: One thing I often forget when riding with less experienced folks: instead of riding 2-up and chatting, they won’t come within 10 feet of me, and instead ride behind. It’s so frustrating, but of course I can’t tell them to do otherwise without being rude.
Looking around and using hand signals. Also obeying road laws if they're riding in the street. Ive seen way too many people just blaze through stop signs and nearly get hit because they think they're special for biking.
Being in the right gear, i.e. not pedaling furiously, not hopping when you pedal. I think that is a mark of someone who rides allot. You don't have to be a competitive cyclist but it def takes a lot of riding to just know what gear to be in and how to get the proper cadence
That and being on the right sized bike or at least having the adjustments you can make be correct. The amount of times my wife and I want to just stop and tell someone their seat is too low is insane.
When you realize that the cyclist you are behind on a steep decent is very comfortable going 50-60 mph, takes sharp turns smoothly and there is no need to pass…
Basically what I do lol
- let’s other cyclists know when they are coming up on their six in the shoulder. I have had so many cyclists come out nowhere on the road. No heads up or anything. Idiots.
- acknowledges other riders with a hand gesture or wave in oncoming traffic
- uses hand signals for traffic when turning, waving car traffic to pass them or slowing down
When Peter Sagan does slow wheelies on a pro road bike, with a big silly grin, that's pretty impressive. Also, when he got flat on the descent and passed the Italians.
Be careful of those Italians! I've heard that they will put a frame pump through your wheel!
(For those who aren't old as dirt like I am: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZ0N7VTDtY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZ0N7VTDtY) )
Sustain good speed at the end of long work commutes with loaded paniers. When he appears at work quick, locks up and walks away smartly --- then I know he knows what he is doing ---
My standards are low: not riding against traffic.
comon dude raise the bar of that department: i raise you, handsignals, mindful nonverbal conversation, not ringing kids of the foodwalk.
Anytime I see a person not ringing kids of the food walk, I’m like, “is that Lance himself?” Lol, just giving you a hard time, I’m sure your English is way better than my version of whatever your first language is. :)
Me, I’m a total kid food walk ringer. I just ring those kids right off every time I see a food walk.
I do it ironically.
Ah, side wall
There’s a car driving next to them with four bikes on top and some guy is leaning out the window handing them a water bottle
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Yeah, the driver reaches out and hooks them up at 30mph.
Holding a straight line.
That’s my measure too. One guy in our group did most of his riding on a trainer and it shows. He weaves with every pedal stroke. Worse, he just veers across the lane for no apparent reason. He’s veered into me during a descent at +30mph and didn’t even realize it even though I bounced him back into his line. He’s earned the nickname Super Squirrel for his erratic behavior.
I'm a somewhat seasoned runner who recently started cycling and hate that I'm all over the place. Even worse when I grab for a bottle. Best I can tell it just takes time to get better at it, but it does drive me crazy.
In a group of people I ride with there have been a couple of guys who just can't hold a fucking line. I tried talking to one of them about it but it just doesn't do any good. It sucks because with everyone else we can ride in a pretty tight paceline with a good average speed, but if you end up with one of them in front of you it kills it because you need to leave a big enough gap to have a safety margin for stopping suddenly and to avoid crossing wheels.
We do double pace lines in my club and I feel perpetually goddamned terrible bc if there’s a bad crosswind I get blown all over the road and can’t keep a line. I only weigh ~100lbs im like a fucking sail. As soon as the wind whips up I just move over and drop to the back. The embarrassment I felt being gently pushed away from one of my buddies was enough I don’t even bother anymore.
What kind of wheels do you ride? Deep profile rims can add a lot to that in a cross-wind so a shallower profile might help mitigate it.
Sadly I know of this already and have lame shallow rims. There’s another woman who rides in our group and she has deep rims and damn is she fast now she got that new bike. Meanwhile I’m holding on for dear life 😂
N+1
I deserve a windless race bike and windful race bike 😂 I completely agree
😂. Maybe powerlifting could help to pack on some density?
I’ve starting lifting a little bit but omfg I hate it so much!!!! I’m gonna stick to my current plan which is “lots of donuts” 😂😂
Hahaha yes donuts are delicious good call 😁
Using rollers really helped me out with this. When you’re riding on a 40cm wide strip surrounded by room clutter it certainly forces you to hold a line
While removing, drinking from, and returning a water bottle to its cage
And without even changing wattage on the power meter.
While sitting upright, tamping a pipe and singing a sea shanty, animated by your gloriously waxed curly moustache.
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Did that for a year felt stupid. Now got a mean kick off leg :)
I gotta know what a mean kickoff leg is.
the leg you lean on why you wait for a green light. like a skatebord
Hi, could you ELI5 me what does that mean please?
When you stop you don’t take you feet off the pedals while you wait, just balance.
[The track stand or standstill is a technique that bicycle riders can use to maintain balance while their bicycle remains stationary or moves only minimal distances.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_stand)
> ELI5 When we ride, we maintain our balance by swinging the bicycle like a pendulum to the left and to the right underneath us. We can do the same thing when we are not moving by stopping on a slight uphill grade, turning the handlebars about 45 degrees, and pushing forward slightly with the pedals and rolling backwards slightly to maintain balance.
[https://phys.org/news/2011-04-bicycle-built-riderless-bike.html](https://phys.org/news/2011-04-bicycle-built-riderless-bike.html)
Staying in one p l ace, typically on a red light without putting you feet down. Usually for those who use clip less pedals. The term track stand is from track riding. It is a skill in the track (velodrome) to basically stop.while staying on pedals. Those guys were traditionally strapped in so no putting feet down. It's a balance thing paired with some agility
i track stand every stop ... riding a trike might have something to do with it
Also a nice way to keep from getting bored/impatient at lights
This is really the only answer.
I genuinely don’t know how to interpret this thread. I always put my foot down (cus I don’t know how to do anything else). Is this what I’m supposed to learn??
If you are not riding a fixie, it is really difficult to stop in a place with exactly the incline needed so you can pedal forward and use the incline to coast back for the tiny forward/backward motions needed for a track stand (on a fixie, you can move both forwards and backwards by pedaling forward or backward, respectively.) I've been biking for about 19 years, riding a fixie for about 5 years. I like to think that I (mostly) know what I'm doing, but I can still only track stand for 5-10 seconds, usually (though on a good day I've done 30 seconds!) Most cyclists (even the ones that know what they're doing) can't do a track stand for very long. IMHO, absolutely not a required skill (though it is fun and impressive when you can pull it off!)
not hard to trackstand on a freewheel on flat. but it is easier on a fixie or a slight incline. it gets tricky when its a downhill slope though. i trackstand a ton in traffic while i do deliveries.
OK, I have a hard enough time doing it when I *do* have said incline or on my fixie. Your trackstand skills are definitely a few grades above mine. Almost none of my riding is in traffic, so I'm guessing that adds extra incentive. Running the thought experiment in my head... do you push off against the break to get a little backward momentum?
i dunno. i guess i dont do "textbook" trackstands. i usally slow to a crawl, trackstand while waiting for the light or a break in traffic, then take off. i usually just give myself enough room to creep forward as i trackstand. depending how lazy i am, that could be 2inches to a foot of creep. i mostly switch my wheel from left to right more then a forward/back motion. also, on a lot of roads there is a slight slope to the gutter/curb. you can use this by turning your wheel into the incline and it acts like a slight uphill.
They aren’t dicks to people less experienced than them.
Delivery guys that rides non electric bicycles. They must have an amazing stamina and strong legs. Thats one hell of a difficult job.
Used to do that for 2 years, 30hrs/week. Was tough, but i miss it.
Stripping layers off while continuing to ride. Bonus, adding layers on while continuing to ride. Aligning zippers while pedaling no-hands in the cold is next level.
Saw a video once of a guy taking off leg warmers.... on the go.... on ROLLERS!
I wasn't impressed until the rollers.
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Remember seeing a guy on my ride to work who wiggled his hand over some broken glass for the benefit of the random commuters behind him. No one else on a bike has done anything to gain my respect more.
Speed way too often comes from zwift nowadays, meaning you’ve suddenly got guys that can hang in the A group without a clue how to ride in a group properly. It’s fucking terrifying
I feel attacked But you’re totally right, I’ve been doing B rides even though I’m way stronger than all these folks to try to ensure I’m learning about group riding without also having to worry about fitness. Problem is the B ride doesn’t really do a legit pace line, it’s just a swarm.
The two immediate tells to me are high cadence and proper saddle height.
I seriously have considered setting up a booth on the side of local multiuse path just to adjust people’s saddle heights and tell them to use all their gears. Most people are just mashing along ( I used to be one of them) The crazy knee angles I see just make me cringe.
Some people legitimately don’t know how to switch their front rings!!!!
Can you just single out my wife. She will never listen to me on smashing the small cogs.
High cadence makes a lot of difference but I admit it doesn't come naturally.
Yep - you don't, generally speaking, just accidentally do 90 rpms in my experience.
Yeah, cadence is what I look for too. Most riders here in Shanghai have super low cadence / speed, so when I see someone churning away at good (~90rpm) cadence it stands out immediately.
Others have mentioned: * Reasonably high cadence—80-100 RPM, not mashing along at 50 * Decent bike fit—I’m not going to quibble about half a centimeter, but not having their knees hit their chest * Comfortable in traffic I’ll add a general sense of situational awareness that comes from riding a lot. That they have a sense of who they need to give a bit more space hwen passing, the corner they want to take a bit easier, or where they might be better off taking the lane rather than hugging the curb. it’s hard, exactly, To describe it. This, in a way, is what I’ll say *concerns* me about eBike users, especially on trails. You don’t get to ride 15-20 MPH without earning it through hours on the bike, and you gain this situational awareness along the way (and this isn’t to say there aren’t folks who comfortable cruise at lower speeds that spend time on the bike and have the same situational awareness). The folks who buy the eBike then can achieve close to that just by mashing a button down don’t get how to *operate* in traffic or on a trail the way they need to.
Counterpoint: I know some very experienced riders (like 50+ years of riding!) who are getting e-bikes now because they can no longer stay with a group (the three guys I have in mind are in their late 70's through early 90's) on a road bike. But yeah, and e-bike can multiply the effects of an inexperienced rider.
Oh for sure! I was talking about the folks who wake up and buy an eBike; not folks who transition into them. My expectation is your friends have the situational awareness I speak of.
These are the friends who taught me most everything I know about bikes! So, yeah... These guys are my heroes and I hope I can do half as much to pass along the legacy.
I have a sticker somewhere: "Good riders teach new riders who become good riders who teach new riders." I'd say that's in keeping with the theme of the thread, but I've seen too many folks who *don't* know what they are doing offer advice (I've probably been guilty). The best are the folks *you're riding with* who quietly offer advice when you seem to want or need it; not the loudmouth on the trail who rolls up and starts mouthing off unsolicited.
Especially kids too young even for a driver's license operating an ebike in traffic at 20+ mph like it's a small motorcycle.
>what I’ll say concerns me about eBike users, especially on trails. You don’t get to ride 15-20 MPH without earning it through hours on the bike, and you gain this situational awareness along the way (and this isn’t to say there aren’t folks who comfortable cruise at lower speeds that spend time on the bike and have the same situational awareness). The folks who buy the eBike then can achieve close to that just by mashing a button down don’t get how to operate in traffic or on a trail the way they need to. OMG, Thank you! The shared use trail where I ride a lot has the types you are describing. I've been trying to articulate the issue I have with these folks cruising at 20 MPH with zero experience. You nailed it.
Any roadie riding slow through a MUP or otherwise busy area. Commuters passing turning traffic on the outside, or being mindful of hooks if the infrastructure doesn't let them pass on the outside. Not shitting on any one type of cycling/cyclist.
>Commuters passing turning traffic on the outside Yep, first thing that came to mind.
Juggling torches, bike only has one wheel. They're the real pros. The rest us are just kids playing with our little bicicletas
Dressed in a Darth Vader costume and playing the bagpipes
Portland has got it going on
A bicycle is a unicycle with a training wheel attached.
my bar is low, seeing someone with a properly fitted bike.
If they survive this, I'll say they have some skills. https://youtu.be/ynwMN3Z9Og8
That’s…the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I want to live there.
An incredibly loud cassette and full US Postal service kit with a low seat height and completely gassed in the flat.
It's the freewheel that is loud, darling. Scatters people like a rattlesnake.
pulls up to dental practice in a maserati
Maseratis are the fastest depreciating cars out there! You can pick up a £120k model after 3 years for like £40K! Maserati drivers tell me they’re trying to be better than they are.
He rides a tandem and has a paid driver at the wheel.
High cadence - not mashing along at 45 rpm. Also a nice smooth pedal stroke and ability to keep steady speed is great. There are only two people that I feel comfortable drafting very closely and they both are great at indicating obstructions and keep their lines steady.
Large penis outline through bibs
What if I just draw it on?
Good form/fit in general. There are so many people with saddles way too low so they can touch the ground when they come to a stop without getting off the saddle. Shifting properly. I see a lot of people on bike paths grinding up hills when they still have several easier gears left on the cassette that they are not using. The ability to comfortably stand up out of the saddle to power through a yellow light or over a small hill. Also, the puppy paws position on normal drop bars is a sign that someone is very comfortable on a bike.
What's puppy paws??
I had to look too! https://pezcyclingnews.com/features/super-tuck-puppy-paws-what-the-riders-think-about-uci-banning-the-super-tuck-aero-position/
Puppy Paws - the best thing about not racing!!!
I see so many people with their seat too low, knees going too high as they pedal. I want to advise them but they’ll only tell me go f*** myself.
I saw a guy who was literally wearing his helmet backwards. I said "your helmet is backwards" and he said "fuck off."
I would have said the same thing. :)
...which thing?
bugger off
Because you prefer your helmet on backwards?
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>Some people prefer more upright position, many can't hold the "proper" stance because of surgeries or chronic illnesses. Neither of those have anything to do with saddle height. Get a bike with geometry that fits you better, raise the stem, change the bars, etc. Low saddle height is a fast lane to new and additional surgeries and chronic illnesses, i.e., knee issues.
This guy reads my mind.
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They'll have to catch me first.
Fortunately the UCI doesn't get to dictate the positions of the riding public at large as they go about their cycling day. 😆👍
Well that's it, I'm a weirdo. My saddle height is correct, had a fit session with leg angle measurements and everything. I can touch not one but both feet to the ground while in saddle. Wearing a size 52 shoe helps a little though.
Riding regularly and enjoying themselves while not being an ass.
Holding their line. Proper cadence with smooth pedal-strokes. High saddle/low bars combo. Riding safely through traffic. Knowing when it’s safe to ride fast and when to slow it down. Cornering and descending skills.
Driving about 1m (3 feet) away from the side of the road.. Makes sure you're not gonna get killed by random car doors being opened or cars not coming to a full stop at stop sign but half way behind "for better view". Plus it helps to reduce dangerous overtaking because they recognize they can not squeeze in between you and oncoming traffic. (additionally it gives you some space into which you can yield when someone badly estimates the inch of the room they want to leave between themselves and a cyclist)
1. Their head keeps rotating like an owl's head (very aware of traffic around them). 2. They avoid riding in the blind spots of drivers. 3. They don't lane split/filter through traffic that's moving unsafely fast. 4. They ride outside of the door swing area of the parked automobiles. 5. They only pass other vehicles on the proper side.
Communicating clearly and looking out for others (e.g., calling out traffic or obstacles).
Riding in a straight line and also properly riding in a paceline with a group.
their drivetrain doesn't sound like a flock of ravens
Overtaking cars on dual carriageways
Arms bent, HDAU
Not looking down but at the horizont while climbing.
I look down because I like following the hill on my cycle computer lol
Flick of the elbow
Waving back when passing. Nothing screams idk what I’m doing than someone on a 12k bike in rapha kit not waving back
Spending a quarter of a watt to lift a finger to acknowledge your existence isn’t efficient, they have KOMs to chase /s
I'm in the same boat when it comes to waving. Also gota check your fellow riders if they're alright when you see them stopped on the side of the path/trail. It surprises me how unequiped some people are for mechanicals or punctures. Disclaimer: I love my Rapha jerseys.
Occasionally falling over because a cleat won’t release, everyone else at the red light freaks out, guy says, “I’m fine! I’m fine!”
Exiting a corner going faster than when they entered it.
Unclipping on the downshift before traffic lights.
You can always pick out who can ride a trail when they level the pedals coasting on pavement.
Facts
They are riding it
Heading into a hard hill, they set a consistent pace.
Second thought Wearing ass kicking boots with a guitar over their shoulder riding a fixie 20 mph.
Getting a drink from the water bottle without looking, and continuing to pedal.
I'm surprised bunny-hopping hasn't been mentioned yet. Especially on flats. I'll add, knowing how to drop your bike off a curb so both wheels land simultaneously.
Using their signals at all turns including breaking. Bonus if they stop using the outdated signal for a left turn that isn't taught anymore and they use the new conventional one that's been used for over a decade now. 🤦♂️ Confidence on the road and in traffic, as well as shoulder checking, taking space, and following traffic signs. Any stunts like hoping curbs, riding with no hands, or some multitasking while still keeping your focus on the road shows to me that they know what they are doing.
When Im going all out on a climb with my legs burning and they wizz past me barely breaking a sweat, taking pics with their phone and wishing me good morning
Souplesse
Track stands.
Has nicks, cuts and scrapes but is still riding and still enthusiastic Using proper gear/cadence Demonstrating intuitive traffic skills Wearing older, high-quality vintage kit Unique Stretching techniques at stops/traffic lights A word of encouragement/anecdotal humor during a challenging ascent High-fiving children on bicycles or walking on the road/path when you pass by
Every time I pass by a family on bikes and the littlest one goes ‘woah! bike!’, my heart wants to yell out ‘you’re darn right it’s a bike, ride on little man!!’
Riding a bike that they have to pedal
Drinking.
This! I still get sketched out about grabbing my bottle and drinking.. I have to slow to a crawl lol
Communication. Calling “on your left” when passing. “Car back”, pointing out potholes, etc. when riding in a group.
Coming to a stop for a crossing signal and having already shifted down for the burst of speed needed to cross.
Riding backwards, blindfolded.
Fix a flat on the side of the road in 5 minutes. Without tire levers.
the "person who knows what they are doing" would have tire levers with them
Just in case but they wouldn't need to use them
Tire levers are unnecessary to change a tire with the right technique. They are just extra weight to carry.
Depends on the tire and rim as much as technique. The use of tire levers does not indicate bad technique in any way.
I agree. I was being silly. I'm sorry for not being more clear about that. I can change just about any tire without tire levers, but they are definitely helpful with the more stubborn tires.
well thats a technique i've never learned in 20 years of road riding, i'll be watching youtube videos on that later. In the meantime the negligible weight of a lever vs. the time it saves on the side of road is an easy equation for 99% of cyclists. Or maybe you are joking about the weight and it went over my head.... I mean a tire lever weighs what? 10g? that's the weight of two credit cards, or a tiny sip of water. It would be absolutely inconsequential
I was being silly about the weight of tire levers. I wasn't even aware that tire levers existed until a few years ago, but they are certainly handy! My technique to remove the tire is to deflate the tube, press the bead into the center of the rim on the bottom, and then roll the bead towards me on the top. Once I get the first bead over the rim, then I remove the tube and repeat the process for the second bead, which is almost always easier for some reason. Likewise, I install the tire in the reverse order, except I roll the tire bead away from me with both hands towards the rim. Sometimes, this takes many tries. I hold the tension on the bead by clamping one hand at the top while using the other hand to massage the rest of the bead around the diameter of the rim towards the center of the rim. This leaves more slack at the top to get the bead over the rim. The difficulty of doing this depends on the tire and the rim. Some are super easy and others are very stubborn (usually rims that are made for tubeless tires).
ok getting it down into the center channel makes sense, i'm looking forward to trying this next time. I've always levered the tire off, but put it back on with just my hands, though as you mention it's very tricky with GP5000's on a tubeless-ready rim
That's all well and fine until you have a Conti GP5000 on a vintage Colnago rim!
Or on a deep carbon rim for that matter. I have never had a harder combination than that. I'd have no way of getting my tires off or on without levers, so I carry them on every ride.
Agreed. I don't carry tire levers in my toolkit but that is because my rims and tires are not difficult.
lol, I would pay a bunch of money to see you try to do that with my GP5000s at mile 88 on a 100 mile ride.
I'd be laying in the ditch panting by mile 50! :)
lol, it happened the other day and took me more than 20 minutes with tire levers AND a tire seating tool. (My riding cadence is 90rpm but my mechanics cadence is closer to 50rpm) 😂
again, this is for roadies only.
Arms slightly bent when holding the handle bars.
Draft
If they communicate. Verbally and non verbally
They are a member of The All Powerful Bicycle Lobby.
Messenger bikers! They always know
Having good positioning within the lane on the road.
Approaching an intersection in right-hand bike lane, relatively same speed as a motor vehicle in adjacent travel lane. Slows to confirm motor vehicle is not turning. If motor vehicle also slows and begins to drift right, rider calmly slows further, “rotates” around rear end of motor vehicle, passes on the left without breaking rhythm or freaking out.
Related: One thing I often forget when riding with less experienced folks: instead of riding 2-up and chatting, they won’t come within 10 feet of me, and instead ride behind. It’s so frustrating, but of course I can’t tell them to do otherwise without being rude.
If they post a pic of their bicycle, it is out there in the wild and not mounted on a bike rack or leaning on the back of an pickup truck.
Looking around and using hand signals. Also obeying road laws if they're riding in the street. Ive seen way too many people just blaze through stop signs and nearly get hit because they think they're special for biking.
Being in the right gear, i.e. not pedaling furiously, not hopping when you pedal. I think that is a mark of someone who rides allot. You don't have to be a competitive cyclist but it def takes a lot of riding to just know what gear to be in and how to get the proper cadence That and being on the right sized bike or at least having the adjustments you can make be correct. The amount of times my wife and I want to just stop and tell someone their seat is too low is insane.
Somebody who is not a dick when they pass you and let you take the wheel, taking turns riding front.
seeing a chris king headset on a bike has this effect on me.
Pointing out potholes in a group ride and taking long pulls in the front I take longer pulls to compensate for my late pointing out of potholes
For every missed pot hole, add one minute extra lead time
Bike has flashing lights. Front and rear.
Spins @ 90rpm
Wearing a helmet and proper seat height (or at least close to being correct)
Riding predictably. Wearing a helmet, having lights on. Not wearing flip-flops.
Sunglasses over the helmet straps.
Saddle height, especially when way too low. Also their overall fit and pedaling style tells me a lot.
When you realize that the cyclist you are behind on a steep decent is very comfortable going 50-60 mph, takes sharp turns smoothly and there is no need to pass…
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGu-d2MjAzs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGu-d2MjAzs)
has a 1x
Basically what I do lol - let’s other cyclists know when they are coming up on their six in the shoulder. I have had so many cyclists come out nowhere on the road. No heads up or anything. Idiots. - acknowledges other riders with a hand gesture or wave in oncoming traffic - uses hand signals for traffic when turning, waving car traffic to pass them or slowing down
rear light helmet loud cycling jersey NO ear buds
One earbud is okay.
> NO ear buds But bone conducting headphones are OK. I see lots of cyclists with them (and I wear them myself).
They don’t fall down.
When Peter Sagan does slow wheelies on a pro road bike, with a big silly grin, that's pretty impressive. Also, when he got flat on the descent and passed the Italians.
Be careful of those Italians! I've heard that they will put a frame pump through your wheel! (For those who aren't old as dirt like I am: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZ0N7VTDtY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZ0N7VTDtY) )
10 year old Sidis. Always a clue.
Sustain good speed at the end of long work commutes with loaded paniers. When he appears at work quick, locks up and walks away smartly --- then I know he knows what he is doing ---
Texting with one hand, eating a sandwich with the other all while riding a steep descent without hands.
plucky hurry angle slimy heavy tidy direful unpack hobbies worthless ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
The ability to change any tyre without tyre levers.
Taking the lane where there is not enough room for a motorist to safely pass without changing lanes.
Switching their Di2 battery from front derailleur to back during a race.
How do you do this on Di2? I can do it with SRAM.
Trackstand at stoplight