Woman's blog about Box Hill heckling attracts hundreds of supportive comments

It's difficult to comment on this story for the reasons you've identified; I'm uncomfortable suggesting that it might not be true even though that's the feeling I get.

I don't want to be thought of as dismissing it, I do appreciate the different experiences of women compared to men and I have no direct experience of that.

There is a niggling thought when I look at the reported exchange; the language used just doesn't ring true for me, it's too full on, too harsh to allow me to believe it took place like that.

I could be wrong, I often am and as I said it's a dreadful thing to have occurred.

If I heard someone say that to someone else I would be on their case. Appalling. Probably Cycgolfers in their new gear acting like tossers.

We don't need these idiots in our sport.

A lot of comments saying 'unlikely' or 'did it actually happen'. Well we don't know, for once its not some vigilante with a bloody go pro so we'll have to rely on the fact someone reported it, just like we used to in the good old days.

I have met some arseholes who happen to ride bikes and based on their character of course there are people out there who would do this. thankfully a minority.

I couldn't give two f@*ks about those losers, the only important point here is Elz, if you are reading this, DON'T give up. If you do, they win.

Who are roadies (in their lingerie like attire) to give anyone abuse??? Road cycling isn't exactly the most hardcore form of the sport either, pricks.

Not some 8 stone rat wearing castelli lingerie, that's for sure.

On a separate note my wife is Her Imperious Majesty the Queen of Sheeba.

There, I've typed it out and published it on the internet so it must be true. No further proof is needed.

It's possible its made up attention seeking - there are mentally disordered people out in the world who do weird things - there's plenty of documented cases of people building twitter followings based on made up illnesses etc. Still, i'd say its 99.9% likely that it isn't. There's a whole lot more arrogant, selfish twats out there - on a ride the other day someone said to me that there were a lot of new riders bringing exactly the same attitude they had as aggressive-wanker-drivers to riding a bike. I think that's probably true. The worse the driving environment they are used to , the worse the attitude they will bring. Hence people talking about the worse behaviour in the SE and London.

Anyway, enough hand wringing and virtual hugs, shall we have a whip round and send her a packet of biscuits?

2 points.

1 - You get bellends in every walk of life, this really isn't a big deal.

2 - If a fat guy had been abused, very few people would bat an eyelid.

HalfWheeler wrote:

Sorry, this is going to sound really mean spirited but are we believing this?

Because a lot of women I know (other than the elderly ones) seem to have fresh stories of something like this having happened almost every time I meet them.

(True, in those cases neither my friends nor their harrassers are on bikes, but I don't see any reason to believe obnoxious people magically stop being obnoxious soon as they get on a bicycle)

It seems perfectly plausible to me. There are some aggressive arseholes out there. The only slight news to me is that it wasn't here in London.

Apparently there are oiks outside the M25 as well! I thought the thing out there in the country was everyone being disturbingly cheery and randomly saying good morning to strangers and other such unnerving behaviour.

The correct retort in these in incidents is the time honoured
"I'm only fat because every time I sleep with your wife she gives me a biscuit".

There's an awful lot of generalising here. I'm not getting the bad cyclist/golfer comparisons. Nor how wearing Castelli makes one some kind of wanker. Or how by not being a club rider makes you a tosser of a loner. Or having a carbon bike but not being able to keep up with a grey haired superman on a steel bike makes you a lesser mortal.

I'm a golfer, I have a castelli jacket. I'm not a member of a club (though I was back in '65), I just prefer doing my own thing. I have a carbon bike. I can't ride fast anymore. I have rheumatoid arthritis. On a good day I can manage an average 15 mph - 10 mph at other times.

I've been a cyclist for over 50 years. Got my first road bike, a Raleigh Blue Streak with a 10-speed Benelux derailleur back in '62. Jeez, I loved that bike. After 50 odd years of riding barely above entry level bikes I bought my first carbon bike this year. I wanted a quality bike while I was still able to get about. It didn't cost thousands. I bought what I could afford.

My point is that what people do for a hobby, what they wear, who they ride with or what kind of bike they own does not make them a prat, a twat or an arsehole. I always acknowledge other cyclists with a wave or a nod and most of them return in kind. If I see one having a mechanical I always stop to see if they need help. I've learned from experience that most cyclists are, on the whole, courteous and civil. It's not that long ago my wife and me were shouted at to get out of their way by a group of cyclists half our age. I've been sneered at outside a cafe by cycling snobs for riding an ancient bike. A few bad experiences in a cycling lifetime longer than the dickheads have been alive does not bother me.

Elz Lloyd was just unlucky to have met similar arseholes, but I doubt if their hobbies, their attire, the quality of their bikes or that they were not club members had anything to do with their complete feckin ignorance. Put it down to their poor upbringing and lack of social skills, Elz. Every once in a while we meet people who leave a bad taste but the vast majority of cyclists are respectful, polite, well mannered and, most of all, helpful if you're in trouble.

Interesting- have some people now moved into the realms of "If it isn't captured on a Go Pro then it didn't happen" ? If someone posts about bad driving, accidents, close misses etc on here no one claims that because there is no video footage then it didn't happen.

It looks like some contributors are going down the route that they can't believe other cyclists would do this because they are cyclists- but as has been pointed out above, you get arsewipes in all walks of life. I have seriously thought about leaving my club due to the attitudes of a small number of individuals especially when you hear the stuff they come out with when we pass females, so I can fully believe that the incidents did happen to Elz. There is only so often you can challenge this behaviour which is inevitably met with a response along the "only joking" or "don't take things so seriously" which I see in a few comments above. However, as in most things in life, it is the idiots who are the most vocal and therefore noticeable and I have to remember the vast majority of my club mates aren't gabshites.

So yes I do believe this happened- the language used by some posters saying she might have made it up or that she is an attention seeker is never used when fellas on here post about people shouting at them or throwing things from vehicles so, to turn some of the thinking on the head- if we believe them, why don't you believe her?

Meh.

If this happened to my wife or my daughter or my friend I would sympathise and support them, then say 'Would you like a biscuit?'.

Why? Because using humour is a way of defusing the situation, a way of saying 'It's ok, it's a shitty thing to experience but in the Grand Scheme of things it doesn't matter that much, lets have a laugh about it'. This approach seems to be alien to those desperate to be offended, desperate to appear so right on and PC. The more important you make it, the more seriously you take it, the more power you give to those who do it.

Anyone spotted the irony present in calling me a piece of shit on a thread about someone being insulted?

Whatever, carry on frothing.

I think you need a slice of cake.

"PC", or as normal people call it, "not being a f*cking asshole".

Yes, I called you a piece of shit in response to your conduct. You think that's the same as shouting "you fat bitch" unprompted at someone as you cycle by?

God help your wife, daughter, and friends.

Dear Elz.
It makes me feel terribly sad and angry to read about the insults you received.
I have been a member to a Surrey based cycling club for 2.5 years in which time a group for ladies has been included in the monthly calendar. I lead this group and it would make me very happy if you came along. Please contact me on club [at] pearsoncycles.co.uk if you are interested.
Kind regards
Allyson

Would you like a biscuit?

Quote:

It's not unreasonable or bigoted to be a cynic.

Exactly.

If Elz wants to come and ride where I live I would be happy to take her riding and show her that cyclists here are friendly.

I reserve the right to have a sense of humour and to apply it how I see fit.