General Cycling Discussion - Some people...

I stopped by the LBS on Saturday to find a rack for the Doncycle, as the current bike will be relegated to the status of a commuter in six months; this is when I plan on moving to within ten miles of work, and buying a nice road bike for the weekends. I also popped by to get an appropriate spoke wrench, as I needed to true the rear wheel after running into a really nasty series of potholes.

While I was waiting for the counter guy to get back from the shop at the rear with my spoke wrench, a family walked in to look at bicycles; a well-dressed husband-and-wife, and their were two kids (both around eight or so), one of whom immediately ran to my bike and said, "Wow, cool, I want this one!"

I told him he couldn't have it ( Mine! :D ), and then chatted with him for a bit -- he was a bright kid, and wanted to know why I, a twenty-year-old guy, was riding my bike around town instead of driving; I started telling him about all the benefits of biking places (like biking to school), and I was hoping his parents (who were both very obese) would walk over so I could do a bit of cycling-promotion.

This fantasy lasted about thirty seconds. The other boy was almost visibly drooling over one of the Trek kids bikes, and was pleading with his mother to take it out for a spin. She was about to agree, looked at the price tag (about $200), and proceeded to go apes***; she dragged her husband and kids out of the shop, loudly complaining about how she was going to spend $70 on a bike, not $700.

They climbed into a fscking Lincoln Navigator and drove off.

Why can a couple spend $50,000 on a gas-guzzlind SUV, even more on expensive clothing, but can't be bothered to buy decent bikes for their kids?

Originally posted by Matadon

Why can a couple spend $50,000 on a gas-guzzlind SUV, even more on expensive clothing, but can't be bothered to buy decent bikes for their kids?

It's the 'User Pays' mentality. Or to use the old fashioned term - selfishness.

Originally posted by Matadon
Why can a couple spend $50,000 on a gas-guzzlind SUV, even more on expensive clothing, but can't be bothered to buy decent bikes for their kids?

Sounding more and more like F.R.C. to me.

Originally posted by Chris L


Sounding more and more like F.R.C. to me.


"F.R.C." ???

They need the Lincoln Navigator to cart their fat bodies' weight around. Man I hate those Navigators and Excursions!!

And in a couple of years the kids will look just like them.

Originally posted by DnvrFox

"F.R.C." ???



Fat Rich (anyone with $US50,000 is rich compared to me) and I won't repeat the other word in a family-oriented forum such as this one.

Sadly, the children's bicycle today is nothing more than a toy. It is not a vehicle or form of transportation.

Children are not allowed to GO anywhere now. They can ride their bikes only as far as the parents can see them from the windows of their houses. Parents aren't concerned about getting a bicycle that will be reliable enough to get their children home for dinner.

With that in mind, even $70.00 is lot of money for a toy.

Originally posted by DnvrFox










"F.R.C." ???





They need the Lincoln Navigator to cart their fat bodies' weight around. Man I hate those Navigators and Excursions!!


You, me, and the rest of the thinking world. I've never really understood the SUV craze, and I can't stand the fact that most people drive their suburban assault vehicles as if they had the same impact on other motorists as Geo Metros.

That being said, I'm probably going to end up getting an old 4Runner SUV or Mazda pickup, but I'll be getting it so I can drive up to the mountains and go hiking. :D


And in a couple of years the kids will look just like them.

That's the sad part of things.

--


Originally posted by mike
With that in mind, even $70.00 is lot of money for a toy.

Not anymore it's not; look at what most video game consoles (and the accessories to go with them) cost, and compare that to some decent sporting goods.

The video-game thing hits really close to home; my brother (who is quite a bit older than I) has three kids, and although he will buy video games for them galore, he scoffs at purchasing anything involving outdoor physical activities. Grrr.

Originally posted by Matadon

($70.00 is a lot of money for a toy) Not anymore it's not; look at what most video game consoles (and the accessories to go with them) cost, and compare that to some decent sporting goods.

The video-game thing hits really close to home; my brother (who is quite a bit older than I) has three kids, and although he will buy video games for them galore, he scoffs at purchasing anything involving outdoor physical activities. Grrr.

Good point. When I found out my kids were spending up to $50.00 for video game software, I put the kabosh on that.

My boys ride good bikes, but they DO ride them. Whenever they go anywhere with Pappy (me), they know they are going via bicycle. Naturally, they complain about it, but it does justify the bikes they own... go figure.

Originally posted by Matadon

That being said, I'm probably going to end up getting an old 4Runner SUV or Mazda pickup, but I'll be getting it so I can drive up to the mountains and go hiking. :D

Why not ride up to the mountains and go hiking. I did this on Sunday. :p A 100km ride, a 20km walk, what else could one want. Just bring something for those leeches :eek:


Originally posted by Matadon

Not anymore it's not; look at what most video game consoles (and the accessories to go with them) cost, and compare that to some decent sporting goods.


Quite agree. I don't know why people spend so much money on sitting on their backside. It's not that much fun.

Originally posted by Matadon
she dragged her husband and kids out of the shop, loudly complaining about how she was going to spend $70 on a bike, not $700.

Next stop... MegaLoMart to buy a couple of dual suspended Murray "Mountain Bikes." Even if the kids are strong enough to ride one of those 60(? it feels like it) pound monsters out of the driveway and back into it, they'll never want to ride again.

They'd be better off with a single speed "cruiser"... like the ones I lived on as a child. Not light, but at least form followed function.
:irritated

Sounding like my dad,
Roadbuzz

Some people......SUV's for most people are outrageous. I can understand a farmer needing a truck, I can understand a 4-5 kids fam needing a mini-van or conservative size SUV. But fatties in stuff like a navigator? Those(navigator) serve no purpose, I'd like to see you take one of them suckers off-road!!!

Originally posted by fubar5
Those(navigator) serve no purpose, I'd like to see you take one of them suckers off-road!!!

What! Are you crazy? They might get it dirty! Ahhhhhhhhh! They might even...Gasp...Have to read the owners manual to figure out their FWD sytem! OMG! Offroad? You are ******* nuts Fubar :D Why would anybody want to take their SUV off road?

Originally posted by *WildHare*


What! Are you crazy? They might get it dirty! Ahhhhhhhhh! They might even...Gasp...Have to read the owners manual to figure out their FWD sytem! OMG! Offroad? You are ******* nuts Fubar :D Why would anybody want to take their SUV off road?

Well,:( thats why its called a Sports Utility Vehicle isn't it?:(
Or maybe that is Stupid Useless Vehicle.

Originally posted by fubar5
Stupid Useless Vehicle.

That sounds about right ;) I have to admit I had a pathfinder back in 91'. It went off road a total of two times in the year that I owned it. What a waste. Not much need for a FWD in California except up in the mountains like Big Bear. Was worthless at towing my boat. Big fat mistake that one was :p

Stop it you guys. This thread is getting too funny :D

Originally posted by *WildHare*


That sounds about right ;) I have to admit I had a pathfinder back in 91'. It went off road a total of two times in the year that I owned it. What a waste. Not much need for a FWD in California except up in the mountains like Big Bear. Was worthless at towing my boat. Big fat mistake that one was :p

That'll teach you! sonny:D we had a subarban with four wheel drive, we needed it in MT though. The road would ice over....shivers. We finally got rid that that thing when it was 12 yrs old and had over 200,00 miles on it. But it broke down so much, I say the only good chevy is the chevy you didn't buy.

Originally posted by Chris L
Stop it you guys. This thread is getting too funny :D

What? no funny posts? Aussies........:D

A bicycle can serve the function of sport and utility, and it is a vehicle. The typical bicycle deserves the title of "Sports Utility Vehicle", whereas most vehicles that are currently referred to as SUV's don't deserve the title.

Of course, as a bicyclist who hates SUV's, it would create a dilemma if I started referring to my bicycle as an SUV.

A bicycle can serve the function of sport and utility, and it is a vehicle. The typical bicycle deserves the title of "Sports Utility Vehicle", whereas most vehicles that are currently referred to as SUV's don't deserve the title.


And just like most SUV's Mountain Bikes frequently never go off-road .... Ah well I've yet to think of anywhere you could drive an SUV that my bike couldn't go (except Motorway's and then it's only a question of illegality ;) (and if you tried plain stupidity :()but I can think of plenty of places I can go and SUV's can't :D albeit slowly :D

Richard

Originally posted by roadbuzz
Next stop... MegaLoMart to buy a couple of dual suspended Murray "Mountain Bikes." Even if the kids are strong enough to ride one of those 60(? it feels like it) pound monsters out of the driveway and back into it, they'll never want to ride again.

Why guess the weight when you can know for sure?

http://www.rainpoint.com (click on any of their moutain bikes and have a look at the weight of at the very bottom).

The Jeep(tm) Mountain Bike. The best of both worlds! LOL.

Originally posted by bikerider




Why guess the weight when you can know for sure?



http://www.rainpoint.com (click on any of their moutain bikes and have a look at the weight of at the very bottom).



The Jeep(tm) Mountain Bike. The best of both worlds! LOL.

SEVENTY-EIGHT POUNDS? :eek:

I thought those monsterous gas and road hogs were called SAVs...Suburban Assault Vehicles. I can't remember where I read that name, but I think it applies very well.

Originally posted by A F Baker
I thought those monsterous gas and road hogs were called SAVs...Suburban Assault Vehicles. I can't remember where I read that name, but I think it applies very well.

I like the SAVs too. I think I first heard that one used on the old cyber cyclery site. It's pretty appropriate.