Recreational & Family - Who Is A Recreational Cyclist?

Okay, someone asked for a poll on what percent of the forum would classify yourself as a "recreational cyclist."

So, I am going to start a poll on that subject.

HINT: IF YOU WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO DO ONE, WHICH WOULD IT BE?

My definitions:

1. Recreational Cyclist - one whose primary interest is bicycling for fun; one who takes a relaxed approach to cycling; one who cherishes family cycling, if there is a family involved; one who might see the value of good bike paths and enjoy them; one who might like to brag about a 10 mile ride!

one who probably is not proficient at fixing, building and repairing his bike; one who is not into intense training mostly for the training; ; one who is not, primarily: a commuter, a tourer, a BMX'er; a cyclocross'er; a single/fixed speeder. one who is not into a serious racing, competitive type of mtn biking.

So, choose the categories which BEST describes you. (More than one category allowed)

Heh....the problem with this poll us that, to a degree, many of us would probably fit in more than one category. The bulk of my cycling, for instance, is commuting. But the recreational rides are definitely an important part of my cycling lifestyle, too. Similarly, I'm sure many MTB'ers, tourers, mechanics, and just non-hardcore-race-training people would fit into the recreational cyclisyts category.

Originally posted by Inkwolf
Heh....the problem with this poll us that, to a degree, many of us would probably fit in more than one category. The bulk of my cycling, for instance, is commuting. But the recreational rides are definitely an important part of my cycling lifestyle, too. Similarly, I'm sure many MTB'ers, tourers, mechanics, and just non-hardcore-race-training people would fit into the recreational cyclisyts category.

Since I allowed for two or more choices, I fail to understand the problem. Please explain.

Thanks.

Oh, didn't realize that....

Let's see, I'm a touring, sometimes commuting, training, non-competitive, amateur mechanic, mountain biking, roadie, single-speeding, recreational cyclist.

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Let's see, I'm a touring, sometimes commuting, training, non-competitive, amateur mechanic, mountain biking, roadie, single-speeding, recreational cyclist.

Surely, ONE of those is more important to you than the others??

If you could only do one - which would it be?

Hi Denver,

I think of 'tourist' and 'recreational cyclist' as the same thing. To me, a tour is any bike ride taken for fun. It doesn't matter whether I am going across town or across the country- it is still a tour. I never say, "I'm going out for a 2 hour ride", instead I say, "I'm going out for a two hour tour."

Originally posted by cycletourist
Hi Denver,

I think of 'tourist' and 'recreational cyclist' as the same thing. To me, a tour is any bike ride taken for fun. It doesn't matter whether I am going across town or across the country- it is still a tour. I never say, "I'm going out for a 2 hour ride", instead I say, "I'm going out for a two hour tour."

Bob - A rose by any other name is STILL a rose. :D

Touring means going on a multi-day trip. That's how I see it. You could say that tourers are cyclists taking the recreationnal part seriously! :)

I do it for fun, commute in the summer but even though it is not what I do most (not enough time), what I like most is loading the bike and go for a few days.

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Let's see, I'm a touring, sometimes commuting, training, non-competitive, amateur mechanic, mountain biking, roadie, single-speeding, recreational cyclist.

I agree with Regular guy, I do a lot but voted as training since I like to ride to keep in shape most of all.

Originally posted by DnvrFox
Surely, ONE of those is more important to you than the others??

If you could only do one - which would it be?

No. No. This is like Sophie's choice! Don't make me do it!

Originally posted by SamDaBikinMan
I agree with Regular guy, I do a lot but voted as training since I like to ride to keep in shape most of all.

Thats what i voted. I own a race level road bike, but dint race. I love taking long rides, short rides, fast rides and slow rides. However, 75% of my rides are "training" intensity rides.

I've noticed that when I ride with my wife and am simply rolling along rather than pedalling for time or destination (as in commuting), I tend to enjoy the excursion a bit more. I voted 'recreational' because of this. Make no mistake, I value any time on the saddle, regardless of purpose.

My wife recently purchased a cyclocomputer and she offered it to me for my machine. I declined with thanks. She's interested in logging her progress and I couldn't care less, being a stalwart 'B' personality.

-Rob

Originally posted by RegularGuy
No. No. This is like Sophie's choice! Don't make me do it!

You mean I can make you do something??

Hey, guy, I need about $10,000. Give it to me.

There!!

Originally posted by DnvrFox
You mean I can make you do something??

Hey, guy, I need about $10,000. Give it to me.

There!!

Hmmm.

I guess you can't make me do anything after all.

I'll be....

Originally posted by RegularGuy
Hmmm.

I guess you can't make me do anything after all.

I'll be....

Darn :(

Foiled again!! ;)

I voted for a few different options above. As for which one I'd choose if forced to choose only one? Well, it would depend how I was feeling at that particular time.

If "training" is synonymous with "fitness' then that's me. I also chose Recreational, since cycling is what i do for fun. I sure ain't gertting paid for it.:)

i chose commuting because thats what got me started again. but I like to go out at night after the kids are asleep and kill an hour on the bike usually around 11 pm or so

I enjoy bicycling in its own right too much to let it turn into a race.... which would most definitely take a huge chunk of the fun factor out.

I didnt tick competitive, even though whenever I see a a cyclist in front of me I always try to pass them. The trouble is, as the years go by there are more and more people passing me, but that doesnt stop my enjoyment.

I clicked commuting, training, and recreational. I ride to work nearly everyday and I incorporate that into my triathlon training (Tri For Real Oly this summer). If it's 40 miles of hammering and I end up at the office, I count it as commuting miles and training miles.

And definitely recreational since no one's showed up to offer me a job riding my bike. (Which I'd quickly accept. :))

Interesting!!

45 total votes, many of them in more then one category, so probably about 30 folks voting of 329 views. :confused:

Originally posted by DnvrFox
so probably about 30 folks voting of 329 views. :confused:

Don't forget there are people like myself who have viewed the thread more than once.

Well I selected Recreational and Training cyclist. During the week I mostly ride by myself for training purposes. The "Doc" likes that I am riding and says I can increase my distances during the week. But on the weekend the bicycles come out of the garage and the family goes for a ride to the park for a picnic and playground time. I keep selecting a park a little further away. ;)

Its all good. My oldest son is wanting to ride with me on my training rides, but it is too dark when I go. When daylight savings time comes he'll go.