Originally Posted by
Tom Stormcrowe
Road Cyclists are in general highly competitive athletes, and can be a bit rough in their humor. Sarcasm and insults can and do occur, so you're going to need a bit of a thick skin in here. They aren't meant in malice (generally). It's just their aggressive, cutting humor, often with a razors edge. Think of them as an athletic versions of George Carlin, Billy Connolly, or Chris Rock. Just like riding with a new group of cyclists, it may be a good idea to sit in the back, to get a feel for the group, before you jump into the thick of things.
I just read this for the first time.
I think this is flat out wrong.
I have been riding and racing for close to 40 years and I have friends who have been doing so for as long or longer.
Neither I nor any of my friends, or for that matter, most of the people I come across in this sport are rude, to the extent of many of the people that post in this forum.
The paragraph above, I think, merely excuses, in advance much of the terrible, bullying behaviour that seems to pass for acceptable on this sub-forum.
It is simply not what should be expected of adults.