Road Cycling - Philosophy

Are all the roadies where you live aspiring racers? Or even posers who pretend to want to be racers?

I'm 37, been cycling only four months, and feeling pretty good that I've gone from a 280 lb. eating machine to a sub 200 lb. cyclist during the past year. I like seeing the world from my bike. I care about my mileage and my speed, keeping track of both of them obsessively, but competing only against myself.

My riding buddies constantly talk about racing, although they only compete once or twice a year. Instead of riding we are "training". They remark over and over how much our "training" will make us stronger than those who've given up cycling for the winter.

Is this common? Am I big loser for not daydreaming about leaving other cyclists in my dust?

or... Since I only ride 140 miles a week, and have only completed two centuries, should I buckle down and pedal harder?


Lou

No, you should do what makes you happy.

why will you want to stop now, when you have started a very great sport and beside it will make you very healthy

Originally posted by Puckloki
No, you should do what makes you happy.

Well said! For some reason the marketing of cycling equipment and indeed cycling in general totally fails to take this into account. This is, of course, not helped by lightweight cycling magazines, but that's another rant. Heck the number of posers I see in the coastal areas around here I wonder whether any of them actually enjoy riding at all or whether they are just there to show off their spanky new equipment.

As far as I am concerned, nobody's aspirations (whatever they might be) makes them a loser. You are most certainly not a loser if you refuse to go with the hype and dream about what people tell you to dream about. I say, if you just want to ride, go for it.

Do what makes you happy. If that means "training" so you can out sprint some one to a stop sign, fine. It sounds as though you have outgrown that phase, though. :) Unless we are making a living riding bikes, we are simply recreational riders.

Some folks think that a 40 mph sprint, "training seriously," a body fat % below 12, or a resting heart rate below 40 makes them better people, but I have my doubts.

Originally posted by amerpie
Since I only ride 140 miles a week, and have only completed two centuries, should I buckle down and pedal harder?


Lou


Why have you used the word "only?" 140 miles a week is great! Two centuries, great! Having fun, even better! If you exclude the cyclists who commute and rack up significant miles that way, I wonder what percent of the rest ride as much as you do. Keep doing what you want to do. If your riding buddies want to call it training, ok. You can call it having fun.

Originally posted by amerpie
Are all the roadies where you live aspiring racers? Or even posers who pretend to want to be racers?

Is this common? Am I big loser for not daydreaming about leaving other cyclists in my dust?

or... Since I only ride 140 miles a week, and have only completed two centuries, should I buckle down and pedal harder?


Lou

I tried the racing scene and was not good and hated it. The only race that I enjoyed was the time trial since I was out alone and did not have to worry about the pack. I just ride to ride. Mostly on the road. In winter on the MTB and in summer on the touring or recumbent. I like looking at things while I ride. I like to watch the seasons and the wildlife. First thing my wife asks is did I see anything on the ride. Do I ride fast, no. Do I have the latest equipment, no. I have 5 speed cluster with 27 inch tires on the touring bike, 7 speed cluster on my sons old racing bike, 8 speed on the recumbent and the MTBs. Are there some rides that are killers yes. But mostly I ride for the miles of smiles.

My goal is to ride every day this month. We have had a few days with the temperature above 32 but mostly I have ridden in the 20's all month. Usually do an 11 mile loop on the road or a 7 mile loop on gravel road on the MTB.

Find what works for you and to heck with the rest.

Originally posted by amerpie
I'm 37, been cycling only four months, and feeling pretty good that I've gone from a 280 lb. eating machine to a sub 200 lb.

That, in itself, is quite an accomplishment. Good for you, Lou! :)

great work Lou. Keep it up and dont worry about it. In my honest opinion, cycling is a bit of a wank sport but i really enjoy riding my bike. I think you shouldn't worry about others and ride so you can enjoy it. Below is what a mate and i have come accross which sounds like this guy is not doing it because he likes it. i think he may be doing it because he looks pretty flash in all the gear.

a mate and i ride just over 200km per week (125miles)and riding to work (22km - 14miles) our average speed is around 30km (18.5 miles)per hour. i would say that we are fairly fit and definately dont show off, but we enjoy riding. we pass other riders in the morning, we give a wave and a hello and some dont even acknowledge, but most of them do. why is it that people are like that.

One of the guys we pass on not very regular occasions has never said hello or even a wave but looks very flash with all the gear and no idea. the other day, he was coming in our direction behind us so we bumped up the speed to about 37km per hour on this 4 and a half km straight. we left him way behind, mainly because he was a wanker in the past. when the lights turned red, my mate and i stopped and he finally caught up. when he pulls up next to us, we still said hi but here he goes again. didn't even acknowledge us. i couldn't beleive it.

Tricker

It sounds as though you have outgrown that phase, though. Unless we are making a living riding bikes, we are simply recreational riders.

Well said

Slick1;)

Originally posted by slick1
In my honest opinion, cycling is a bit of a wank sport but i really enjoy it.

You may wish to consider rephrasing that. :D

I say as long as you are having fun does it matter? I spent quite a bit on my bike, not for racing but I truly enjoyed building it and riding it! My rides vary from about 8 miles on up to about 40 is my longest so far.. I ride almost every day, then get a cup of coffee. I get asked few times if I race, I have not and not sure if I really want to. I enjoy trying to build up my speed and length of my rides but dont' push myself to any extreme, I get out just to enjoy the ride..

thanks for that chris:D :D :D :D :D

the post has been edited.

thanks again.

P.S. have you copped any smoke from the canberra fires in QLD? we are copping it here in sydney.

slick1:)

Originally posted by slick1
P.S. have you copped any smoke from the canberra fires in QLD? we are copping it here in sydney.


Not from the Canberra fires, but there are some burning near the Sunshine Coast, so we've copped a bit of that with the northerlies :cry: . Mind you, we've had our fair share of fires up here already this year.

HAHA, how about a Singaporean dreaming to one day compete in the Tour de France? That's my dream and I really hope it comes true. Personally, I know that many people don't really see eye to eye with me on this issue back here. However, I know and I am confident of what I am doing. If I can really make it big, then I'll be a national hero. If not, my health is definitely greatly increased and I'll live a longer life to catch more Tour de Frances.

Nothing is too big or too small to dream about, never!

Originally posted by detrieux


I just ride to ride. Mostly on the road. I like looking at things while I ride. I like to watch the seasons and the wildlife. First thing my wife asks is did I see anything on the ride. Do I ride fast, no. Do I have the latest equipment, no. I have 5 speed cluster with 27 inch tires on the touring bike, 7 speed cluster on my sons old racing bike, 8 speed on the recumbent and the MTBs. Are there some rides that are killers yes. But mostly I ride for the miles of smiles.


That's exactly why I do it. I love to use the bike to get somewhere (which is why a fully loaded tourer covered in road grime is the sexiest bike in my eyes) and to enjoy the sights and sounds on the way.

What does it matter why somebody is out riding? If somebody get's their motivation to ride and get in shape by racing 1-2 times a year then that's what they need to get on the bike. That's a lot better than most people in the world who don't do anything. My motivation to get back into cycling after 10 years is to get into better shape and to get back to being in above average health, but I'll push myself a little harder because I want to start time trialing again and maybe even race one day down the road. Where is the problem in that? I didn't know every cyclist has to live according to some pre-set rule somewhere. I think Slick1 was onto something before he edited his post.

Andrew

Originally posted by Ajay213
What does it matter why somebody is out riding? ... I didn't know every cyclist has to live according to some pre-set rule somewhere.

Andrew

Whatever motivates one to ride is great since the alternative is not riding. My riding buddies will be my riding buddies regardless of their racing aspirations or lack thereof.

What frustrates me at times is their lack of interest in going to a new location to ride. Their explanation - "I can train on the same terrian around here." As I mentioned, I like seeing the world from my bike. I like riding on new roads, getting chased by new dogs, and finding unexpected surprises, like the baby goats I saw yesterday.

The other thing that grates at times is the tendency to judge other cyclists by how fast they can ride. I like the sense of comradeship I get from hanging out with others who share my interest in cycling. Competitiveness is OK but constant competitiveness is bothersome.

Yeah, I wear a heart rate monitor and yeah, I track miles and time and that's probably too serious for some folks. There aren't many one-size-fits all rules in life in general and in cycling specifically. I didn't mean to come across that way.

I got my road bike in July for something to do to get in shape. The more I ride, the more I love it. Here, there's a 10mile loop around a windy lake, so you have riders going in both directions, and you can tell who's "fast" and who's not. Most people out there are there to have a good time, and a few are serious. Rarely will I see a team.

Anyway, no aspirations to race, but I aspire to be as fast as possible and to do my first century by the end of this summer. Riding reminds me a lot of snow skiing . . the speed and just being out there in your own little zone. I love it.

I love riding my bikes. I love commuting because it gives me an opportunity to ride twice a day, 9 miles in, 13-25 home. I think about racing, just because it looks fun. But I am old and slow. I get to taste a bit of speed when I ride with my buds on weekends. I'm thinking that may be enough. Who knows? I have another month or so before I have to start "training" if that is what I decide to do. For now, I just love riding my bikes.

AJAY213. i changed my thread

From

cycling is a bit of a wank sport but i enjoy it

to

cycling is a bit of a wank sport but i enjoy riding my bike

:D :D :D :D :D

slick1:beer: :beer:

That's a bit better I think. I didn't really mean to jump on Amerpie so much, but I see these threads all of the time, where some other cyclist doesn't meet some level of expectation that somebody else has, etc then they are labeled as poser's or idiot's, etc.

Andrew

Arrrgh!! slick1, Ajay213...what the hell is a "wank"?!! :confused:

Umm...finally got some feedback from Google on that "wank" thing...never mind.:rolleyes:

Well, I don't know how Slick1 was really meaning to put that, but in his sentance substitute the word Poser for wank, at least that's how I read it. Technically the definition is probably what you found on Google, but it's slang and doesn't really mean that, but none the less it's not a complimentary term.

Andrew

hahahah. pretty close.
in australia, if you call somebody a wanker, it is translated to sort of an idiot/think you are better than what you are/dickhead etc.

I like seeing the world from my bike. I like riding on new roads, getting chased by new dogs, and finding unexpected surprises, like the baby goats I saw yesterday...I like the sense of comradeship I get from hanging out with others who share my interest in cycling.

Amerpie, that sounds like cycletouring to me. I define "touring" as any bike ride taken for fun. It doesn't matter whether you are riding around the block or around the world- it is still a tour. That is my favorite kind of riding.

Ditto what Prosody said....I'm very impressed. Your story sounds similar to mine in many ways. I have the endurance to ride with the serious dudes but it's really just about the ride for me. Kudos on improving your health. This is one reason why I love cycling so much. I'm able to get my cardiovascular workout doing something I absolutely love. Nothing compares to sight seeing from the saddle.

Follow your own heart and desire. Congrads again!

Im 36 and I have stopped racing. I went from road racing into mt bike racing and then back into road racing. I was thinking of going into velo but had an epiphany of sorts. Like some of you believe, biking is more of a way of life and sometimes life should be lived without any hassles. This is more or less of a reason why I stopped competing. I love riding but recently I really truly fell in love with it. I use my truck maybe once and rarely twice a week. I commute to work on bike. I enjoy weekend early morning rides down by the waterfront...ride ride ride. Plus I get a different perspective from the saddle than from a vehicle. And the added benefit of being healthy doesnt hurt either. Sure I love to do fly down a heart pounding decent and I still can do it without being in competition.

Some of my friends still race and thats cool. Like I say, whatever floats your boat but do it because you love it, not because you have to...then it feels like a job.

dont beat about the bush: wanker: someone who masterbates a lot ::beer:

Do what makes you happy.

It's nice to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Some of my best rides have been early morning rides on county roads in Indiana farm country. An early summer morning when the fog hangs over you and the corn field. You see and hear deer running around in the fields. And my favorite was coming up on buck standing in the road. If I had decided to "train" on that morning I would have missed all of that and more than likely run into the buck. LOL

Enjoy it for your own reasons.