Like many aspects of being a female cyclist there are certain things you become aware might happen to you. Things you hear about through group rides or Facebook groups for women cyclists. There are some things you just get used to. Like the fact I get noticeably fewer nods and hellos from male cyclists when I am out riding my winter bike. I’ve had her two years and initially though I was imagining it so I’ll confess I’ve been paying extra attention this over the last few months. It’s definitely the case. I say hello to everyone because the endorphins hit differently in the cold and I get an excited sense of camaraderie with anyone else on two wheels out in those conditions. It bothers me about as much as people in cars who don’t raise their hand to say thank you when you let them out at a junction. So for a few seconds in the moment before I get on with my ride.
But I had not actually been subject to an unsolicited bike tip until very recently.
Usually when I’m riding two things are usually happening:
1 -All the other riders I see seem to be heading in the opposite direction to me which often leaves me thinking if they know something I don’t as inevitably in Sussex I usually have some hills to tackle whichever way I leave the house.
2- All the other riders are over taking me. It’s a fact, I can count on one hand the amount of people I have overtaken but this doesn’t bother me. If it did, I would have hung up my cleats a long time ago. I ride for myself more than anything else, if someone rides faster than me, great for them. We know nothing about each other its useless to start drawing comparison.
So, this ride was interesting because I could see a rider ahead of me and I noticed I was slowly closing the gap. Now this has never happened on the winter bike. I’m not in anywhere near my usual shape and have no real expectations to overtake anybody. But here I am gaining on this gentleman. He’s not in full roadie gear so I don’t think much of it and it’s the first truly sunny day we’ve had what feels like months so I’m on a high enjoying being out. I make sure I overtake on a clear stretch of road so I can get right over to the white line and I call ahead to let him know I’m passing.
Now I think its polite to say hello as you pass someone. And as it takes me a little while to pass, I turn to comment on the glorious late afternoon sunshine…and I’m met with complete disdain. It took me by surprise. His harsh words about not getting too close to him (I was as far away as was safe) the way he looked at me like I’d just personally insulted him.
But I rode on, maybe he was having a bad day. But something nagged at me… would he have reacted that way if I was a bloke overtaking him?
Several miles later I made my usual stop to have a quick drink, stretch my back and turn to head home (I am the queen of out-and-back routes). All of a sudden, I hear “Your saddle is far too low, sort it out” shouted at me. I turn to see the gentleman I passed cycling away up the road.
So there it was, my first unsolicited bike tip.
And it annoyed me for a couple of reasons. My winter bike is from Decathlon. She’s brilliant but far from made to measure. My seat post is actually at its maximum height and in order to get a longer one I would need to order it from France. I don’t know about you but have you tried buying something from France recently? Forget recently but bought a specific bike part from a French website? Attempts have been made but no success has been had. My summer bike was fitted to me and the saddle is at a much better height for my leg length. But I do ok on the Triban, it feels harder to be lower and the fact the bike is nearly three times heavier than the Langma doesn’t do much for my speed. But she was a gift and as much as I mentally bitch about her I love having a winter bike to thrash about on. Then there’s the fact that I actually overtook and stayed well away from this rider on said bike at said saddle height. Then there’s the fact that I was polite as I passed…
But none of that really matters.
Because he doesn’t know any of that.
Maybe he’s the type of person to shout comments to any riders he feels he should. Maybe his bad day meant he really needed to shout at someone. Maybe he thought I was such a novice I needed advice from a non-road cyclist. Maybe he is a road cyclist who was cycling not in their full kit. Maybe he’s a massive spoilsport who likes to grumble at people. Maybe I upset him by overtaking and made him feel vulnerable to covid.
He didn’t know me.
He didn’t know if it was my first-time riding in cleats (I insisted on quite a low saddle position when I first learnt to ride clipped in.)
He didn’t know if I need to ride in that position due to my back or hips or shoulders.
He doesn’t know anything about me or my bike.
He did know I was a woman though.
Take from that what you will.
writesandbikes.com 
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