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This type of thinking can be quite helpful in some cases. Like, when you've bought a new bike or television and then a newer or better model comes out the week after. That way you can convince yourself that you had made the better purchase anyway. We humans have all sorts of self protective mechanisms.

Quote: Zadam

Quote: mikey

I saw a dude this morning dresses in "Giant" gear. I didn't think he was a try hard because he had the appearance/physique/co-ordination of a semi-pro type rider.

If you look like a gumby and dress like a pro you get ridicule from those how suspect you aren't what you proport to be by your dress choises??

If 'ol mate shows up in his soccoroo gear and plays like a soccoroo he gets my admiration...but if he's is a dud then its payout time on the w#nker

Gotta agree with you there. It's not just about the gear, it's about if the gear matches the persons ability. If I saw a guy riding on a 10k carbon road bike with full matching kit and an aero helmet, but looked like the picture of the mayor of the town and was riding along at 15km/h puffing and wheezing then yes he would be a w#nker. If I see a guy hammering along at 35-45km/h on a decent bike wearing cycling kit with an athletic physique that's a completely different story, I'm not going to instantly assume he is a w#nker just because he is wearing cycling gear.

.

I've ignored the hypocrisy contradiction in the above post for a while but seeing it's been resurrected and blokes like me have got "confirmation bias" I'm going to step back into the fray.

Apparently because I said I'm prejudiced againsts blokes in lycra kits it's says more about me than the rider. Zadam, as well as others, put up a particularly vociferous defence on riders, or whoever, being able to wear whatever they want and how you shouldn't be judgemental. Fair enough, that's your opinion.

Howvever a few posts down this.

Quote: but looked like the picture of the mayor of the town and was riding along at 15km/h puffing and wheezing then yes he would be a w#nker

.

Sooooo by that logic, you agree with me then. (Seeing there's a 99.9% chance most blokes in full kit aren't pro riders they're likely to be "try hard wannabe's" or put another way "w#nkers".) Why is that fat b#astard not entitled to wear what he wants?

First there was this mad defence of blokes being entitled to wear whatever they want without mentally challenged blokes like me being able to have an opinion of them BUT only (according to the quoted post) their ability matches their bike and kit.

Well, which one is it?

As I said in my initial post I'm only saying as bike riders trying to share the road with other users sometimes we don't do ourselves any favours. Tone the gear down a bit and maybe there'd be a bit more respect.

Yes I know that says more about me than the rider. Thanks for the pyschoanalysis.

Quote: Munrubenmuz

Well, which one is it?

As I said in my initial post I'm only saying as bike riders trying to share the road with other users sometimes we don't do ourselves any favours. Tone the gear down a bit and maybe there'd be a bit more respect.

It is an interesting point that you highlight, in that is it more about what the person does , rather than what they are wearing when they did it? What someone is wearing when being a d 1 ck might help strengthen the confirmed bias affect, which I guess is part of your point.

if ur going to hate roadies, could you at least be funny

http://youtu.be/kcjoWL6hJg8

Driver Education.... (and cyclists too).

Well - looks like the VIC govt is starting down the right path...

http://theage.drive.com.au/on-yer-bike-minister-suggests-drivers-get-a-taste-of-life-in-the-cycle-lane-20120206-1r1th.html

On yer bike: minister suggests drivers get a taste of life in the cycle lane Adam Carey

February 7, 2012

MELBOURNE'S roads are a shared space and drivers ought to ride a bike to better understand what it feels like to be a cyclist, Transport Minister Terry Mulder says.

The Baillieu government yesterday launched a campaign to tone down the aggravation between motorists and cyclists, in the wake of VicRoads research that confirms that as cycling has gained speed in Melbourne, so too has hostility and misunderstanding about cyclists' rights on the roads.

''It wouldn't hurt [motorists] to get on a bike from time to time and have a ride to get a better understanding of what cyclists face - most cyclists have a car licence, but not a lot of people who drive actually ride a bike,'' said Mr Mulder, who confessed to not being a cyclist.

Advertisement: Story continues below A VicRoads survey of more than 1000 drivers and cyclists found 88 per cent believe there is a lack of respect between drivers and cyclists. Most cyclists are of the view that drivers resent their presence on the roads, or simply fail to look out for them, while a majority of drivers believe too many cyclists flout the road rules.

In an attempt to find common ground, a Facebook forum called Road User or Abuser has just been launched to debate how the roads should be shared. Cycling lobbyists praised the move.

''Bike riders have been waiting for the government to show an interest in their plight and this initiative will make them feel a lot more comfortable on the road,'' Bicycle Victoria Network's Garry Brennan said.

Increased cycling in Melbourne has created anxiety among some drivers, who have ''reacted in the wrong way''.

''With the huge increase in bike riders, obviously the roads are a very different environment, and this change has been challenging to some motorists,'' Mr Brennan said.

According to VicRoads, 30 per cent of bike accidents in Victoria are caused by drivers crossing the path of an oncoming rider and 20 per cent by riders being hit from behind or the side. In inner Melbourne, 30 per cent of bike accidents are caused by a driver opening a car door in a cyclist's path.

The research also uncovered widespread ignorance about the road rules as they relate to bikes. More than 40 per cent of people did not know it is legal for cyclists to ride two abreast, 9 per cent said it was OK for cars to occupy bike lanes, and 8 per cent said it was OK for cyclists to ride through red lights.

Mr Brennan said a minority of bike riders persisted in doing the wrong thing at intersections.

''Research shows intersection collisions are a major cause of injuries for bike riders,'' he said.

Calls by some, including cricketer Shane Warne, to have bicycles registered were rejected, with Mr Mulder ruling out such a scheme as overly costly and impractical.

''I'd rather spend money on cyclists' infrastructure and safety improvements,'' he said.