How come some cyclists dont respect BMX riders?

Boricua BMX · 01-19-2008, 06:07 PM

The other day i was riding street(as usual) and when i did a feeble grind some "cyclist"(to me cycling and bmx are 2 different things honestly..) was talking out his mouth! He kept saying "its because of you guys that we have a bad name" and he kept going on and on so i threw my bike at his. Mine had no damage(fortunately) yet his chain popped lol. Now he wants me to pay for it(yeah right) but anyway i want to know why can people who like to ride MTB and road bikes respect us BMX riders? I mean we get hurt a whole lot more we deserve it.
Well honestly i might be young but im the type who keeps to myself and if i see road cyclists and all that i pay no mind to them. Its like i act like they dont exist in a way.

silverbullet · 01-19-2008, 06:08 PM

I don't consider cycling and BMX the same thing either, so to each his own.

However, you ought to consider why the other rider might have commented. When you are operating a bicycle of any kind on a public road you are obliged to follow the same regulations as motor vehicles and other cyclists. Were you perhaps weaving in and out of traffic or ignoring stop signs? Perhaps riding on the wrong side of the street?

You also ought to consider that your response could be considered assault, and you could have been arrested. Paying for his chain would be the right thing to do.

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Doing your jumps, grinds, or whatever is fine, but a public road isn't the best place. Find an empty parking lot or someplace where your fun won't endanger others.

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Good point mirage. BMX is indeed a 'racing' discipline. Forgot about that. I don't even know what the other stuff is, and apparently neither does the questioner.

mirageguitarworks · 01-19-2008, 06:08 PM

Getting hurt has no bearing on whether you deserve respect.

I was one of the first BMX racers, then turned to road racing I think that those who call themselves BMXers when what they do is flatland and freestyle is part of the problem. Your mention of grinding says that you are a stunter, not a BMXer.

If you are BMX, you race and you don't damage peoples property by grinding and other destructive things. You race in the dirt. Those that don't ride bikes look at you guys and think that ALL of us do what you do. If you want to stunt, do it at a skatepark or someplace that is made to be abused.

I think that it takes a very skilled person to do flatlanding and freestyle on a bike, but doing it and damaging others property is stupid. Yes, I think you SHOULD pay for the other persons repairs.. maybe it'll give you an attitude adjustment.

McG · 01-19-2008, 06:08 PM

For the very same reason some BMX riders give roadies in their Lycra a bad time as they ride past.

Some of the people in street BMX are younger and inclined to have "attitudes" that the older road riders don't like. The "serious" attitudes of the roadie rub the BMXer in the wrong way.

Two very separate cultures. Two wheels under them both.

Edit: Your additional details are how most riders behave. They tend to keep to themselves, being friendly when in close proximity.