Commuting - Spirit of the Year-Round Commuter

I love this picture of big George Hincapie, covered in muck and bouncing over the cobbles, on his way to Roubaix. Wind and rain don't stop him. Potholes and mud don't stop him. He hammers on, just like the hardcore year-round commuters on this forum.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/hincapiecobbles.jpg

As if I didn't feel guilty enough for not riding today (I sprained my back again yesterday and heeded my wife's advice), I have to see this picture???

Oi, the guilt! ;)

Nice pic. I often imagine a similar scenario when I'm soaked and cranky.

I hope big George can finally pull out a win at Roubaix this year.

As if I didn't feel guilty enough for not riding today (I sprained my back again yesterday and heeded my wife's advice), I have to see this picture???

Oi, the guilt! ;)

No guilt allowed! It's to inspire all of us to ride Monday, if we're able.

I can understand, but most don't like messy mountain biking and most will not have a positive association with that photo.

You are REALLY trying to flatter us with that picture. :) My boss and co-workers do sometimes make comments to the effect that I must be some kind of superhero, when I ride to work in the cold/rain, which is kind of flattering. They don't seem to realize you can wear mittens or a poncho!

Mountain bike? It's actually a road race. See http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/apr05/roubaix05/

I know it's a road race, but where are cobblestone streets in middle america? First glance, and it looks like a typical mtn biker racing photo. It's only on second look you realize it's a junky public road.

He'd be smiliing if he had fenders :)

Although thats about how I imagine myself looking some dark rainy winter mornings

Great photo, thanks for posting it. With the team colors totally obscured he could pass as a keen commuter :)

I've shown up at work looking not unlike that a number of times..... the looks on colleagues faces is priceless. One time I looked almost that dirty plus I had blood streming out of my left knee from a nice bit of road rash I picked up on the way in, now they think I'm Rambo :p :roflmao:

Pfft He's not hardcore. Where's his rack, fenders, headlight, blinkies, safety vest, messenger bag/backpack?

Pfft He's not hardcore. Where's his rack, fenders, headlight, blinkies, safety vest, messenger bag/backpack?
If he had fenders he wouldn't look like such a mess. If I got that filthy cycling to work I'd give it up in a heartbeat. I agree with HoYo that this is no image to promote everyday cycling by normal people. IMO, only hardcore competition enthusiasts or masochists (redundent, eh?) would get pleasure from such a scene.

Who said anything about promoting everyday cycling by normal people?

I have finally ordered fenders because I don't want to look like that - I've been commuting for 6 years through winters. Recently I've started increasing speed or something because the last three rains I've ridden through have left me with wet pants. Normally it would just hit my backpack/jacket which can dry - but I have to work in my pants!

I think the pic of the commuter looking back at the car upside down in the snow is a better pic - but I haven't seen any large ones of that.

Inspirational. Thanks.

If he had fenders he wouldn't look like such a mess. If I got that filthy cycling to work I'd give it up in a heartbeat. I agree with HoYo that this is no image to promote everyday cycling by normal people. IMO, only hardcore competition enthusiasts or masochists (redundent, eh?) would get pleasure from such a scene.

Translation - "I'm a grumpy old man....... grumble grumble..... he should be riding a full fendered 60lb prehistoric steel monster sitting bolt upright, at no more than 10mph while wearing a tweed jacket and spoking a pipe....... grumble grumble.... I'm still a grumpy old man and if I want you opinion i'll give it to you... grumble, grumble"


:p

As if I didn't feel guilty enough for not riding today (I sprained my back again yesterday and heeded my wife's advice), I have to see this picture???

Oi, the guilt! ;)

Hey, better to a few days off than to REALLY injure yourself! Since its your wife's advice, let her drive you to work!

Thanks Caloso, for the compliment of comparing the sometimes mundane task of year round commuting to the accomplishments of the athletes in that race. I often will create those kind of little fantasies to keep me going on the long cold miles of winter. Especially in the freezing rain, the Paris Roubaix is s great inspiration.

He doesn't look like a "Year-Round Commuter"

Looks to me as if it is some sort of Race.

He doesn't look like a "Year-Round Commuter"

Looks to me as if it is some sort of Race.
Yup. And it is obvious that some of our "commuting" posters don't know the difference; hence the OP naming this thread as he did.

I love this picture of big George Hincapie, covered in muck and bouncing over the cobbles, on his way to Roubaix. Wind and rain don't stop him. Potholes and mud don't stop him. He hammers on, just like the hardcore year-round commuters on this forum.
Pffft. He only does this a couple times a year, while we do it every day! Let's see him pull that off while dodging cars, buses, and peds in rush hour while trying to ignore the oversized hardcover book digging into his spine through his pack, hoping that his lunch isn't getting squished by his 2 kg lock and work shoes. ;)

Can you imagine getting a pull from big George on your ride to work? That would be sweet. I'm sure I'd make record time too!

Pffft. He only does this a couple times a year, while we do it every day! Let's see him pull that off while dodging cars, buses, and peds in rush hour while trying to ignore the oversized hardcover book digging into his spine through his pack, hoping that his lunch isn't getting squished by his 2 kg lock and work shoes. ;)

Yeah!... plus I don't see the rabid german sheperd trying to tear his leg off.

See, that's why they have the roadie's forum.... it's for the soft riders that can't handle commuting.


:D

... but where are cobblestone streets in middle america?

Cobbles? We got cobbles!

He doesn't look like a "Year-Round Commuter"

Looks to me as if it is some sort of Race.

Looks to me like he's going to work.

Looks to me like he's going to work.

Looks to me like hes already at work

And 5 bucks says he took a car to work that morning :)

IMO, only hardcore competition enthusiasts or masochists would get pleasure from such a scene.
This comment smacks of age discrimination! Show this pic to six year-olds, and they'd think it was a pin-up.

Pigpen would be jealous. It reminds me of bad days mountain biking, when you do stupid stuff, like fall in a bog.

Who said anything about promoting everyday cycling by normal people?This is the Commuting forum, right? Or do you prefer normal cycling by everyday people?
http://www.nndb.com/people/579/000024507/slystone01.jpg

This comment smacks of age discrimination! Show this pic to six year-olds, and they'd think it was a pin-up.

Yeah but see, the thing is that every generation thinks they're smarter than the previous and wiser than the next :rolleyes:

This is the Commuting forum, right? Or do you prefer normal cycling by everyday people?
Apparantly the OP does not. Apparantly he and a few other Real Serious Cyclists™ believe that only Freds, Geezers, Fuddy Duddies, and other assorted low lifes don't share the "approved" Spirit of the Year-Round Commuter.

This comment smacks of age discrimination! Show this pic to six year-olds, and they'd think it was a pin-up.
You are correct. There are lots of people who love "The Spirit of Mud in Your Face". See below.

IMO few of them enjoy it concurrently with their cycle commuting

Hincapie's got that look of "Maybe nobody noticed I fell in the mud puddle..."

You're dang right I don't think this is for normal people. Give yourself some credit: a person who rides a bike to work is abnormal in this society. "Normal" people don't like to sweat in the summer nor be cold in the winter. "Normal" people choose their transportation based on the number of cupholders. "Normal" people like to complain about the price of gasoline. We don't do that. We're not normal!

Bike commuters are champions in my eyes, as much as the guy who gets to kiss the cobblestone trophy in Roubaix. Roll on, my brothers!

maybe it's cause i came to commuting through mountain biking but i freakin love that picture.

thank you.

if he had fenders he would still look that way,to be cleaner everyone would have to have fenders,you can not belive the large amounts of crap thrown up by those small tires

I thought of Hincapie's look of determination on the way to Roubaix as I rode 11 miles of gravel on my road bike full out yesterday as part of my ride. I couldn't find any mud puddles to fall into.

It had nothing whatsover to do with commuting, but fun!

Don't ya hate when think of a great response after?

I looked at the picture again today and thought, "Maybe now 'bicycle racer' will get a segment on the show 'Dirty Jobs'."

Although....Mike Rowe in spandex would be a pretty scary sight. And I think he'd need hedge trimmers to shave his legs.

He also gets paid more than you'll ever make for it... I don't.

Wet cobbles from today's 'commute'...couldn't find any mud puddles to fall into, but did screw around on some muddy, grassy hillsides doing about 20 on my road bike, swooping in and scaring the joggers on the paths by the lake......I wanted to see how sidehilling wet grassy hillsides with slicks would work....got to keep the speed up!

Hincapie's one lucky bashtahrd to get paid to get all muddy!

Here is another group of intrepid all-weather commuters. Since they taking the narrow lane, I'll bet the driver of the car behind them is honking his horn and waving his middle finger, and the motorcycle rider is probably going to push past them on the right.

http://www.wooljersey.com/albums/album17/BobetBartaliBrule.sized.jpg

I would like to see someone photoshop the OP's picture so that it looks like there is a bus on George's wheel. That image might replace the above as my screen saver.

Are those fenders on the leader's front wheel?

Are those fenders on the leader's front wheel?

I have been trying to make that out. It looks like a shortie fender that keeps crud off the brake and maybe cow poop off the the water bottles (that's a reference to another current thread)...

Thanks alot. I'd almost gotten that E.coli thing out of my head.

Squirt the water into your mouth, dont suck on the bottle :)

I know it's a road race, but where are cobblestone streets in middle america? First glance, and it looks like a typical mtn biker racing photo. It's only on second look you realize it's a junky public road.

I don't know about middle America, but we've got plenty of them here in New York City. They'll shake the fillings out of your teeth.

maybe it's cause i came to commuting through mountain biking but i freakin love that picture.
+1

I've never looked as bad as George in that pic :beer: but it's amazing how dirty you can get from road muck when it rains.

I've never looked as bad as George in that pic :beer: but it's amazing how dirty you can get from road muck when it rains.

Not to mention he's probably averaging 25-30mph. So the spray from the tires are much worse.

Love the pic posted by Sluggo #41. The longer I look at it the more I'm inspired. Where's it from? Does anyone know the history of the riders? It's pretty dated judging from the cottered hubs and non-aero brakes. Acorn nuts on the caliper's. Looks like it could be from the 60's or the 30's from the googles and the following car. Not to mention toe-clips! Either way it's inspiring. Thanks for posting it.