I see the same thing when I'm out cycling.  I live in an area with a relatively low population density.  I ride almost every day, and I run into the same people over and over again, usually heading in opposite directions (if you think about it, you're way more likely to pass someone heading towards you than when they are heading the same direction as you).  It's kinda like we all know each other (a lot of them actually are friends). Every once in a while, I'll see a fatty.  Once.  And then never again.  They spend all this money buying a brand new bike and a bunch of gear, and then they take it out maybe a few times at most and then they never use it again.  What a waste of money. The funniest part is when you see one trying to tackle a hill.  The kind of hills that if you just started cycling, even if you're not fat and even if you use your granny gears, you're still going to be out of breath going up.  We have some long, steep climbs here.  Most of us who ride regularly do them all the time.  To those passing in cars, it must look easy.  I love it when I have the opportunity to overtake them on a bike because you can just feel their hatred and despair.