10 types of cyclists we know - Changzhou Faucet Inc.

From the one who always punctures to the one who always get lost, we can all recognise these rider stereotypes

Junior Tech Writer

We cyclists love a lot of similar things: we love shiny new bikes and sunny days on quiet roads. We also love a good café stop and a chat about previous adventures. But don't let that lure you into a sense that we are all the same!

Here we have a far from exhaustive list of the types of cyclists that we’ve all come across. This is purely tongue-in-cheek and a laugh at the types of riders we can all be from time to time - I know I’ve been every rider on this list at some point.

There is always someone that can't help but get a puncture

We have all come across this rider, the one that appears to be a magnet to any sort of road debris that comes vaguely close to them. If anyone is going to puncture on a ride, look no further than this person. You would think that after this many punctures, they might start to avoid the potholes and ride right in the gutter but it wouldn’t appear so.

If you’ve been out with your local group chances are you might have seen this dynamic duo. The talker, typically an incredibly passionate and vocal rider who wants to discuss anything cycling-related, from the latest racing to the new tubeless valves they have fitted.

On the flip side of this double act is the quiet one, typically listening to everything the talker is saying and offering some faint mumbles or acknowledging sounds to accompany the spiel from the talker.

This is pretty self-explanatory - if you have ever ridden with this rider you have probably had your patience tested along with your sanity. The poor navigator very seldom accepts that they are anything other than a modern-day Christopher Columbus, often leading to many extra kilometres and riding back the way you came multiple times.

If you spot a poor navigator early into a ride, try to get someone else to call the shots, you’ll thank me for this one later.

Even though they will adamantly deny it, the secret trainer puts in more kilometres than anyone else

Have you ever come across a rider who always says that they never get time to ride, and yet on every group ride as soon as the hammer drops they are the ones dropping everyone? This is the MO of the secret trainer. Don’t be surprised if they go as far as putting their Strava rides to private to keep everyone in the dark about the sheer volume of training kilometres they are putting in.

We have probably all been guilty of being this rider, although if you are from the UK it is unlikely that you get the choice to be a fair-weather rider all that much. Even the best-formed plans are at the discretion of looking out of the window before heading out, and an in-depth check of the forecast. These riders think no ride is worth getting wet or cold for - cycling is to be enjoyed in summer kit and nothing else.

If you get to ride for a big portion of the year in summer kit, working on the perfect tan and never needing to carry a jacket or a pair of overshoes, just know that you are unpopular with most of the cycling population in the UK.

It's best to give the crasher a wide birth if you are riding with them

Bike handling is a skill that takes some time to develop - here are six drills if you need to improve - but we all know someone who can’t stay off the ground. They might call themselves unlucky, and who are we to say different, but don’t be shy to give this rider a bit more space.

Not only will it make them more comfortable but will save your skin in the event of a takedown. You have to hand it to the crasher if nothing else, they are the most resilient riders out there.

Love them or hate them, the bar bag does have its uses

Love them or hate them, the humble bar bag is here to stay and to be honest, you cannot knock them for their functionality. Often seen as a fashion accessory to the bike, a bar bagger will typically drop a sales pitch if you give the chance. They have seen the light and want to get as many riders to join them in their bar-mounted luggage club as possible.

In a group ride you are bound to find the rider who regardless of when the last stop was or how soon the café is, they always need to stop for the toilet. This rider deserves kudos just for the ability to stay that hydrated throughout a ride.

You can spot this rider as they will often circulate a group asking if anyone needs a toilet stop before announcing that they do. The group might be kind enough to stop for them the first few times but don’t be surprised if you have to chase on after your fifth stop of the ride.

We all like to know our stats - how far we have gone, average speed and elevation - and for most of us, it stops there. Not for this rider, they live for the numbers, they can tell you about the average gradient of every climb in the area and the maximum power they have ridden them at.

They know their stuff but also want to share it with anyone and everyone in earshot. Be careful, if two data scientists get talking the nerdery can rip a hole in the space-time continuum.

No town sign is safe from the warrior

Who says that every ride shouldn’t be a race? For the warrior that is what they ride for: full gas, flat-out or there is no point in leaving the house. No town sign is safe, no climb is to be easy, rumours have it the warrior hasn’t heard of zone 2 and thinks a recovery ride is for the weak. If you want to get some training in and go for an all-out smash-fest then the warrior is the rider to call.

No group ride is safe from this rider, sometimes their work is incredibly subtle, and other times it's barely disguised at all. As they roll to the front of the group they will position themselves just in front of the rider next to them, and no matter how hard the rider next to them tries to pull level, they will always keep their nose just in front.

This will continue until a flat-out effort begins, often with riders getting shelled from the group in the process. Keep an eye out for this rider and keep them off the front if they can’t contain their excitement, this is what a chain gang is for.

Are there any you think that we missed? Let us know in the comments what type of rider you think you and your mates are as well as any that you think should have made the cut.

Readdressing the power balance of the GCN crew

King of commitment, James (or 'Hank' as he's more affectionally known) is the ultimate team player on and off the bike