50+'rs - It's been too long since we had a poll, and too long since I gave you the opportunity to snipe at me.

So, here goes:

WHAT WOULD YOU PRIMARILY CLASSIFY YOURSELF AS - I.E., WHERE DO YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME RIDING, OR DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?

Kudos for making a distinction between roadies and racers.

Kudos for making a distinction between roadies and racers.

Wow - a compliment on a Fox poll, and from Chip, no less.

I can hardly stand it!

We never snipe at you. We meet you at the airport with flowers. And Louis read a poem.

I am definitely a mix between roadie (could not include recumbent ;)) and Mtn biker. I also consider myself a recreational/casual rider. I did not consider myself a racer even during my brief foray into Mtn bike racing last year. But I am confused about the inclusion of those two choices. Seems like racing vs. recreational/casual is a separate question from the others which deal with the type of bike you ride.

I am definitely a mix between roadie (could not include recumbent ;)) and Mtn biker. I also consider myself a recreational/casual rider. I did not consider myself a racer even during my brief foray into Mtn bike racing last year. But I am confused about the inclusion of those two choices. Seems like racing vs. recreational/casual is a separate question from the others which deal with the type of bike you ride.

Now I am feeling better.

Whew, I was afraid for a moment there!

Now I am feeling better.

Whew, I was afraid for a moment there!

Anything to make you feel better, Fox. :p

I am neither a racer nor a specialty rider, but I fit most of the other categories. I ride for transportation, for exercise, for camaraderie, and for fun.

Both my bikes are road bikes, so I guess that makes me a roadie. Most of my rides are commuting, errands, or shopping, but I prefer my road bikes to the upright ones usually associated with utility riding.

And I'll ride a road bike in jeans and business shirt if I want. I've also been known to waltz right into the grocery store in full roadie regalia to do my weekly shopping.

Conflicted?

I'd have to say 'mixed'. I purchased a hybrid because I wanted it to be adaptable. I ride on roads and tracks. I commute around town on it. I ride it for recreation, thoroughly enjoying slower rides with friends, grandchildren or other family. I'm slowly but surely moving toward doing some light touring on it.

Mixed bag, definitely :)

I started riding just to control my blood sugar. I now do it for the fun as well. My riding is on roads and a significant percentage of time is spent commuting.

If we had a multiple choice option I would pick Roadie, Commuter, and Recreational.

Everything I do is mixed!

Roadie. I love to ride long distances (50 - 120 miles) alone. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow with the occasional detour to a bike trail when I'm on my fendered up Jamis Nova.

I chose "other" because I consider myself a touring cyclist. Sure, I spend more time doing day rides, either on roads or bike paths, but I live to tour. There is nothing like the challenge of living out of panniers and discovering other provinces, states or countries. My hero is jibi, cycling for months in Australia and Asia.

I chose "other" because I consider myself a touring cyclist. Sure, I spend more time doing day rides, either on roads or bike paths, but I live to tour. There is nothing like the challenge of living out of panniers and discovering other provinces, states or countries. My hero is jibi, cycling for months in Australia and Asia.

And I left touring out. It was in my mind, but I had a mind f*** between thinking about it and writing it down. I meant to include it - sorry.

And I left touring out. It was in my mind, but I had a mind f*** between thinking about it and writing it down. I meant to include it - sorry.

You would be banished from 50+ if your memory wasn't fried, like the rest of us. ;)

There's a difference between what I do most of the time (commuting) and what I like doing most (road riding). So I put road, which is not the same thing as recumbent riding. But I also ride for recreation, and I'm a wannabe tourer, and I definitely don't race. Is all that clear?

Conflicted?

Flexible.

And I left touring out. It was in my mind, but I had a mind f*** between thinking about it and writing it down. I meant to include it - sorry.


Doesn't matter. You gave us two "pie" entries - mixed and other - so both the absent minded and the confused amongst us are catered to!


:lol:

'Bent rider, but recreational rather than roadie.

While it may be a toss-up with commuting as to where I spend the most time riding, Randonneuring is what defines my cycling. Have been a USCF racer (old-fart cat 3 for MANY years) and avid mtb'er, but got the racing bug out of my system 15+ years ago, and haven't even ridden the mtb in over a year. And I don't mind not doing either of those: rando has become, for the foreseeable future, my cycling "thing". And incidentally, my current rando "weapon of choice" a recumbent (RANS Force 5 high-racer w/ 26" wheels, fenders, lights and reflective tape galore).

Scott P
Bend, OR

(yes, I know, it's anathema to live here and not ride my mtb...)

Another Other here

I don't know how to describe what I do. maybe tourer, maybe expedition cyclist, or simply a traveler on a bicycle.

I am a cyclist

george

Definately mixed...commuter, mountain, fixed, urban/social

with an ultimate goal of adventure cycling/touring in mind.

I definitely fit the Roadie (could include recumbent) category.

I would have voted Road Only- As I think I can say that the mountain bike is not going to get a great deal more Aggressive use but I forgot about one bike.

It is completely different- requires a lot of technique to ride properly and is the biggest fun you can have off road.

So Voted for Mixed

Wow, this is tough... I've always been a roadie, and I have commuted over the years, lived car free for several years, and now I own an MTB.

I think I am a cyclist.

Mixed here. Certainly recreational, though a good bit of that is on the road, and occasionally I commute.

mixed- and a little bit of everything, geared, SS & fixed, from 5 mile fun rides to double centuries, and everything in-between, except racing.

I've also been known to waltz right into the grocery store in full roadie regalia to do my weekly shopping.


A couple of weekends ago, I went to two local gun stores in my roadie regalia. Not only that, I took the bike Ol' Fuj) in with me. Once the proprietors realized that I knew what I was doing and what I wanted, some of the strange stares subsided

All my bikes are road bikes except one which is a mountain bike converted to (guess what) a road bike.

I tried mountain biking briefly in 1993 and found out it just wasn't my bag.

I'm a roadie, or in my case, a road toad.:cry:

I ride to work every day, so I'm a commuter. But, I ride with a race team on the weekends, and race once or twice a month, so I'm also a racer. I also own an MTB and sometimes ride/race on that.

BTW - Roadie and Recumbent should definitely not be in the same category.

This poll would have been better if multiple responses were allowed.

I ride to work every day, so I'm a commuter. But, I ride with a race team on the weekends, and race once or twice a month, so I'm also a racer. I also own an MTB and sometimes ride/race on that.

BTW - Roadie and Recumbent should definitely not be in the same category.

This poll would have been better if multiple responses were allowed.

or maybe you could just choose mixed? Why do you hate mutts?

Recreation/casual here. If I move back to an area similar to my old riding haunts (around southeastern Pa), then it would be mtn.biking. Trails here tend to be technical, not so many close by, and I prefer flowing trails with good long rides similar to those I used to ride. Probably move back there, or to an area similar when I retire. Lots of fond memories of some great trails systems (and lots of rail-trails with great scenery if you just wanted to ride and enjoy an easy afternoon).

Nope! I won't do it.

I HATE classifications like this. The problem is that everybody has their own vision of what each of the classifications means. Then, as soon as you fit yourself into one of those boxes, they make all kinds of wrong assumptions about you based on their own definition of the classification.

My race classification is "human".
My bicycling classification is "rider".

Nope! I won't do it.

I HATE classifications like this. The problem is that everybody has their own vision of what each of the classifications means. Then, as soon as you fit yourself into one of those boxes, they make all kinds of wrong assumptions about you based on their own definition of the classification.

My race classification is "human".
My bicycling classification is "rider".

Err!

Is that why your are called Retro GROUCH? :D

I would have voted Road Only- As I think I can say that the mountain bike is not going to get a great deal more Aggressive use but I forgot about one bike.

It is completely different- requires a lot of technique to ride properly and is the biggest fun you can have off road.

So Voted for Mixed

You're fooling yourself if you think you won't once again succumb to the call of the dirt. Three years ago I was sure that my mountain biking days were far behind me, and look at me now. :o
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/2404867226_30f194c416.jpg

Err!

Is that why your are called Retro GROUCH? :D

:) :) :) :) :)

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

This is why we cyclists will never have any power in this world: Balkanization.

If freds, commuters, racers and single-speed hipsters and mt bikers ban together with stingray and moto kids, track racers and downhillers and work with steel, ti and carbon fans we can overcome the man and rule this country in a way that's free for all, each and every one. Then, and only then, can we really stick it to those 'bent riders.

I ride hard. Actually, I hope they come out with this in carbon soon. It's a bit rough! The roads are not as smooth as you think they are.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee21/f_thomas_2007/3c05442v.jpg

^

You need an Australian holiday, methinks. Evandale, in Tasmania, hosts the World Championships for riding those things. If you don't want to do the Century ride there's a 30km road race to choose, or even lesser events :)

^

You need an Australian holiday, methinks. Evandale, in Tasmania, hosts the World Championships for riding those things. If you don't want to do the Century ride there's a 30km road race to choose, or even lesser events :)

Good on you Mate! Life is fair dinkum. Not bad for a Sappo! eh!

Other: Tandemista!

I voted for road but (and there's always a but, isn't there) I race, ride centuries and a tandem. Yet they're all on the road, thus my rationalization.

Thanks, DF, I needed those mental gymnastics to keep my brain from atrophying. ;)