In a secret mission, I went incognito and infiltrated a group of road bikers to find out if they were really the jerks so many car drivers believe them to be.

At the same time, in a similar assignment, a surprising discovery was made about several friendly fishing guides.

The end results of what I found might be surprising.

The first surprise was how happy all the road bikers are. A young woman, Gail from San Francisco, said it doesn’t take long on a bike and “the endorphins kick in,” and it makes you feel good, “so you want to just keep on going.

“Since you’re sharing the ride with others, everybody is connected, having the same experience and feeling good, and you have automatic friendships.”

Jim Cross, a retired gentleman who looks more like a senator or a judge than a malcontent, developed amazing fitness after taking up riding. The week before the fires started, he rode a 200-miler, including from Vacaville to Lake Berryessa and back, that took 16 hours.

“Everybody looks out for everybody else,” he said, and in the process, you become bonded with all who take part.

“The rides are not competitions,” said Brent Jacinto, but rather tours in pretty areas where “everybody goes at their own pace.”

Despite all attempts, I did not find one jerk among those who took part in organized road rides.

The opposite occurred on some fishing trips; the one time I hire fishing guides is on rivers with pros who have boats and know every rock. Many have great personalities until another guide appears within eye range, then the muttering often starts. “What a jerk.” And “That guy thinks he knows so much but he doesn’t know anything.” And on and on.

Same with gold miners, hunting guides, at times, mountain bikers, and any sport in which there is a sense of competition for space and results.

The opposite occurs with hikers, bird watchers, RV campers, and even what are perceived as outlaw bikers who invariably will help a stranded motorist in remote areas where there is no cell service.

In this small world with plenty of good people, road bikers, it turns out, are right in there. And they are not alone.

Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicle’s outdoor writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom