Positive bike article on BBC?

Aww, I love your moniker Boatsie.. give us a hug...no tongues !

I love your photo peted76.
My work mate a keen cyclist; light weight composite bike, duro ace, etc and we were chatting.
I get dumber often, I ride an unrestricted Kwaka (top speed >320kmph) and tire wear on edge. He was saying he leans into the corners.
Huh, ain't bicycles ridden vertical?
Took a while... I like your photo.

I read this article the other day and all I could think was, "all of these things have happened to me and I'm a man."

It's either self-promotion or clickbait.

To be truthful, I think men have a harder time than women when riding. Society is much quicker to aggress on men than women. Look at the example of the female triathlete who was pulled from her bike. The assailant's first words were, "sorry, I thought you was a bloke."

Some people are too touchy.

There is never anything wrong with a cheery good morning/afternoon/evening.

Unless you are at work and someone arrives a tad late, then a hello can never be taken as sarcasm.

Hmm, an interesting one that certainly had me thinking.  I wonder if I, without thinking would give encouragement slightly differently to a man or a woman that I was passing?  I can see that I might, and while it clearly is not the end of the world, is the kind of everday sexism that can be pretty wearing I'm sure.

No need to stop speaking to people on this basis (plenty of other reasons to not speak to people though, I'm quite happy with that), just a reminder to not inadvertently patronise or belittle

Tosh, any endurance sport of hobby suffers from the same dichotomy.... 

I do however wonder if it's a particualry British thing to feel awkward dishing out encouragement whilst worrying about sounding patronising. I can imagine our North American brothers and sisters, feeling very satisfied with themselves by dishing out or recieving words of 'help' whilst struggling up a long mountain climb or similar... 

There's a comedy sketch somewhere, on the side of the road, using ironic encouragment on people...  you can do it, if you really pedal hard you can catch that other slow kid.. 

I've often said that, or the like as I've passed (or been passed by) other competitors in sportives and challenges. It's simply part of the mutual support offered around in these events, especially in the latter parts when some people are struggling. However, we weren't there on this occasion and can't really know the circumstances, but contrary to what she said, it has been said to male competitors countless times.

some ladies on horseback said it to me the other weekend so certainly not exclusive to female riders!

It's encouragement regardless of gender. Sometimes when passing someone you kind of feel awkward and want to say something as if to suggest you're struggling too...

I took exception to this bit. As far as I can see it’s looking for offence in anything. It’s just what ANY cyclist would say to another

Quote:

"I've even had 'keep pedalling, nearly there' - from a male cyclist. They wouldn't have said it to another man, it's so patronising and uncalled for.

otherwise fair enough