Originally Posted by
smashndash
The issue is that for us experienced cyclists, if someone says something like “your fit is totally off” or “wear your helmet right” or “you need to get yourself a real bike”, we’re confident enough in ourselves to brush that person off with a laugh.
For a new cyclist, they may see that person as an authority figure and take it to heart. Even minor things.
If I see someone who I think needs some "instruction" I usually do it in the form of a question. As in...Have you ever thought about raising your seat height a bit? I did that and I got some extra power from my pedal stroke. In my experience most veteran cyclists are not dicks. They just try to help.