CliftonGK1

Look around and see if there's another club. If not, start one. I'm not a big fan of 3 local clubs around here, but then I found the Seattle Randonneurs and fit in just fine; even now that I'm only doing "short" rides per the club's standards, everyone is still cool about it.
Then there's my racing team, which was basically formed around the idea of wanting to race but not wanting to be on any other local teams because we might actually have to put real effort into it.

RandoneeRider

I just spent 5 minutes reading this thread,
the stories, the "asshats", the accomplishments, designer gear, fancy shoes, expensive bikes, all the quotes, comments, and retorts.....

Now I've been made to feel that I'm am not even worthy.....

-- Without taking the time (or money) to $pecial-order bike $horts, I've settled on 3 pair of cheaply made XXL's that were on clearance.... and they're STILL a bit too small for me.

-- My "jerseys" are old sweat, dirt, & blood stained UNDER ARMOUR shirts that I wore under my stick-proof vest at work in prison during 16 hour 120* shifts.

-- The best shoes I have for biking are clunky looking New Balance sneakers that my cats have chewed on.

-- I can't afford a bike helmet, so I wear my old biker beanie/"skull cap" for protection instead.

-- I don't have the heart to cut the fingers off my lite-weight perforated leather motorcycle gloves, but they're paid for.

At the very least, having ridden my new bicycle as often as I can, my forearms & legs are no longer fish-belly white....
and I can pump my 5' 1" bowling ball shape for 20 miles in an hour and 40 minutes.

Hey, it's a start. Some day I'll be able to tell the same stories of accomplishment and skinny snobbery as spoken of in this thread.

Mithrandir

I like to think that if I can't figure out who it is, it's because I passed them and they're long behind me!

CraigB

Want to start a league?

CraigB

That's it right there. You've started. You're out there having fun and being active. That's all that counts.

Homeyba

I've always felt it you have a $5 head, wear a $5 beanie/skull cap. Seems to me a thrifty guy can pick up a really cheap helmet at a garage sale or something....just thinkin...

RandoneeRider

Homeyba....., got one.

A Specialized; told the gentleman I was going to REI to take advantage of a sale and buy some stuff...., he said "Okay, give ya 20% off this one. I wouldn't put anything that costs less on my head, these are very good (for the money)."

Now..... these dirty white & well worn Under Armour shirts really should be replaced with something more 'bike appropriate'.

mtalinm

thanks for telling me what I was thinking. this guy was very condescending. and he went on for several minutes about his gear, his international rides, etc. you can trust me on this, I was there

drbarney1

It can happen from the opposite direction too. If you don't want to go out for beer and pizza to cultivate a dad bod or you are genuinely interested in a subject too academic instead of sports or you in any other way don't want to come down to a level of any group you find yourself in, be it at work, or a neighborhood where you have to live, they often say, "What makes you so special?" or "I mean, you know, I'm like literally, why can't you talk like the rest of us?" the ability to say you are an educated person, something you should never have to do, will defend your right to make your own choices in the culture through which you define yourself. This demand to come down to a level is just as vicious as treating someone as inferior for not having a title you have earned.

aplcr0331

Skinny people aren't the ones who have problems with opening their mouths too much (Looks in the mirror). Maybe he has ADHD and is not good with social cues but really could have used a friend to talk about bikes with (Looks in the mirror again) and didn't realize he was coming off as an asshat?

Or he could have been a total doosh and you should have punched him like someone else mentioned.

Did he really mention Cervelo? That seems....convenient. Or intentional...I mean just about everyone who cycles is in on the "Cervelo" meme/joke. Was he messing about?

indyfabz

I’m hoping that, after more than 9 years, the OP has put the event in the past.

Milton Keynes

The way I see it, any yearly mileage is better than sitting on the couch. I haven't gotten in nearly as many miles as I wanted this year, but what I have ridden was much better for me than not riding.

*edit* Sorry, I didn't realize this was a necro thread. I really wish the forums would put a notice on these threads when an old one is revived. I rarely look at the date on the original post.