Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Clyde/Athena Group Hug Time

I am not a consistent poster, but for over a year, I have been a consistent lurker;)

Recently I posted a couple of subjects. Nothing heavy, just things that involve me and cycling. I am writing this post as a reaction to most everything I read here.

This forum is in my mind, an anomaly. I participate on about 8 other forums (Good thing I don't have a real job, I would not have time :-), and, like an abused child, I am always a little weird'ed out by how supportive and nice most all of you are on this forum. My other forums are spread out between Whitewater Paddling, General Kayak & Canoe, Internet Marketing, & HVAC Forums. I swear, all but maybe one are just down right BRUTAL! :mad:

I know this sounds nuts, but this is in part a really positive support group as well. I mean, I don't think any of us really want to be overweight, but I gotta tell you, it feels good to hang with folks who are like minded and, more important, "Like Hearted". I will take a little extra weight and as crazy as this sounds, a little (I want to stress LITTLE) shorter time on this ball if I get to hang out with really good people.

So to recap: This is a really great group of super nice chubby folks who I am glad to be associated with.

and....................... Screw the nasty attitude skinny people :P

In closing.......... GROUP HUG :hug:

(I gotta get a grip. I am usually much more cynical then this???)

I am not a consistent poster, but for over a year, I have been a consistent lurker;)

Recently I posted a couple of subjects. Nothing heavy, just things that involve me and cycling. I am writing this post as a reaction to most everything I read here.

This forum is in my mind, an anomaly. I participate on about 8 other forums (Good thing I don't have a real job, I would not have time :-), and, like an abused child, I am always a little weird'ed out by how supportive and nice most all of you are on this forum. My other forums are spread out between Whitewater Paddling, General Kayak & Canoe, Internet Marketing, & HVAC Forums. I swear, all but maybe one are just down right BRUTAL! :mad:

I know this sounds nuts, but this is in part a really positive support group as well. I mean, I don't think any of us really want to be overweight, but I gotta tell you, it feels good to hang with folks who are like minded and, more important, "Like Hearted". I will take a little extra weight and as crazy as this sounds, a little (I want to stress LITTLE) shorter time on this ball if I get to hang out with really good people.

So to recap: This is a really great group of super nice chubby folks who I am glad to be associated with.

and....................... Screw the nasty attitude skinny people :P

In closing.......... GROUP HUG :hug:

(I gotta get a grip. I am usually much more cynical then this???)

Isn't that nice? I'm blushing. :)

Personally, I like to think of myself as grains of sand in the chamois of the Clyde forum. It's annoying but darn hard to get rid of. :)

This is pretty much the only section of BF I bother with. I find a bit too much attitude on the other sections, I think everyone hear is like minded and riding for the same reason for the most part.

I have nothing to prove and little to offer, I come for inspiration.

This is pretty much the only section of BF I bother with. I find a bit too much attitude on the other sections, I think everyone here is like minded and riding for the same reason for the most part.

I have nothing to prove and little to offer, I come for inspiration.

I agree about other parts of Bike Forums. I gave up on Car-free since all they want to talk about is cars - how evil they are, how backward 'cagers' are, and how perfect the world will be when the oil runs out. The Touring forum has a few mouths that think they represent 'the touring community', and they lay down rules that you must follow to be a bike tourist. Many other forums here are likewise dominated by a few mouths.

Many other forums here are likewise dominated by a few mouths.

But I love C & V and Introductions! Please don't make me stop :o ...

East Hill

For fun and excitement you should post a picture of a full suspension NEXT in the mountain bike forum and ask for advice on downhilling with it. It's almost an artform how they go ballistic.

You don't know what you are talking about, your bike is ugly, and I'm a faster/better rider than you'll ever be...

Oops... Sorry, I thougt I was in the single speed/fixed gear forum.

The clyde forum is an oasis of nice folks.

Yeah, this is a prety friendly place. I spend time all over BF, but tend to spend the most time in commuting, touring, folding bikes, and here. Oh, and Foo is fun to lurk in.

I'll hang out in a couple of the other forums for only one reason.......... I'm a soon to be recumbent rider and I'm getting toughened up for the snide comments I'm gonna get on the road!!!!!!

But I call this forum home, because this is where the family is. Unconditional.

Tractorbynet, if you know, I consider my home forum - aside from some Czech boards - but you are right, people C&A are nice, except myself:D

It is nice here - I have not been around too long, but I get angry when I read too much in some other forums. C/A has plenty of positive, inspiring people, and every new face has the potential to be one more success story!

So I a fairly new too - Since June and just love it here too as well. For me - biking is awesome...and losing weight is really where I need to be - I am happiest at a lower weight - so by hanging out here - I am helping to reach my goal. So I am here to stay...and as boring as my ride reports are getting ya'll just keep letting me post them. The only bad comments I ever get is a commment on my lack of pictures... and that is by far the worst of it! So YAY I love our lil forum room. Come one come all...and ya know - not alll of us are fat/chubby..ok well I am :) but there's others that just are tall guys or maybe even women at 150 (thin to me!) ... so we welcome them all!

Well if ya ever get tired of all the warm fuzziness we call clyde/athena, just go to the roadie forum:)

My forums? Clyde and Politics and Reglion. How's that for "ying and yang". I go to P & R, post and am promptly abused and then come here for comfort and security (and to lick my wounds - right now one of the threads is an argument over the price of chicken - I kid you not).

Why is it we can all get along and the other groups can't? Is there something to be said about being a "jolly fat person"? :o

Yeah, this sub is full of decent kind hearted people who want to genuinely help and encourage their fellow Clydes and Athenas. You guys are so great!

That's as mushy as I get.

I also hang out it in Living Car Free, Women's forum, Commuting, Foo and look into P&R (price of chickens, eh? I HAVE to check that out.).

Yea, there was a small uprising/civil war in the Roadie forum a couple days ago. Our esteemed leader/admin/mod/all around good guy has been conducting an intervention.

One of the primary topics of discussion was the different cultures of the forums/communities. At some point, C&A came up and the statement was along the lines of the folks in C&A are very supportive and sincere, but they are trying to make positive changes in their quality of life. For the rest of it, it's just the "interwebs".

There may be something to be said for that when comparing us to the rest of BF. I do spend a fair amount of time in the C&V, Touring, and the Roadie forum. This where I come for information, camaraderie, and inspiration. C&V is near and dear to me because I like rehabbing and appreciate classic steel. Touring has information on something I want to do, and the Roadie forum is just down right humorous, if you don't take it to seriously, and there is some good info to be had as well as a lot of Newbies who drop in.

We have a unique community here, and I'm so very appreciative to have found it and been welcomed in.

So to recap: This is a really great group of super nice chubby folks who I am glad to be associated with.

and....................... Screw the nasty attitude skinny people :P

In closing.......... GROUP HUG :hug:

(I gotta get a grip. I am usually much more cynical then this???)

I resent the term "chubby". I am not chebby. I am thick, big-boned, wide bodied, husky, I'll even take hefty. But I am not, I repeat not chubby!

Thank you, continue on please.

The 50+ group is pretty good too---since I qualify!

I resent the term "chubby". I am not chebby. I am thick, big-boned, wide bodied, husky, I'll even take hefty. But I am not, I repeat not chubby!

Thank you, continue on please.

Hense, the "Delusional", but I won't invade anyones psychosis without being invited. Just like I don't like mine invaded without an invitation.

So, with that said, please pass me my meds and the Vodka and lets continue with the diskus....dikt...dissscis.....ahhh.....the talking. ZzzZZzzzz

Agreed, I've been derided in other forums here for what I perceive to be very minor mistakes. Folks here are very supportive and kind, it's very refreshing.

I will make one comment though. Not everyone here is overweight, some of us are just tall, and consequently weight more. I don't want to sound rude. I've got nothing against those that are, I think it's great they're into cycling and that it's a great way to get healthy. I myself lost around 40 pounds over the past 10 months, so I include myself in all of the above categories :-) I think that we all generally face similar obstacles to cycling regardless where the extra weight is stored. We need strong bikes and solutions tailored to us clydes/athenas.

But I love C & V and Introductions! Please don't make me stop :o ...

East Hill

Why would I want to stop someone who is so kind to newbies?

yea, there was a small uprising/civil war in the roadie forum a couple days ago. Our esteemed leader/admin/mod/all around good guy has been conducting an intervention.

One of the primary topics of discussion was the different cultures of the forums/communities. At some point, c&a came up and the statement was along the lines of the folks in c&a are very supportive and sincere, but they are trying to make positive changes in their quality of life. For the rest of it, it's just the "interwebs".

There may be something to be said for that when comparing us to the rest of bf. I do spend a fair amount of time in the c&v, touring, and the roadie forum. This where i come for information, camaraderie, and inspiration. C&v is near and dear to me because i like rehabbing and appreciate classic steel. Touring has information on something i want to do, and the roadie forum is just down right humorous, if you don't take it to seriously, and there is some good info to be had as well as a lot of newbies who drop in.

We have a unique community here, and i'm so very appreciative to have found it and been welcomed in.

+1.

Why would I want to stop someone who is so kind to newbies?Well, you did say something about some forums being dominated by a few mouths, and that does describe me to a T in Introductions :D .!

East Hill

Tractorbynet, if you know, I consider my home forum - aside from some Czech boards - but you are right, people C&A are nice, except myself:D

That's including yourself, even though you are far from Moravia's borders, Jenik. :)

Neil B, who has "Prodaná nevěsta" on his faux-pod.

:) I am not a bear, I am Vašek :)

Thank you, Neil B.

Prokop

:) I am not a bear, I am Vašek :)

Thank you, Neil B.

Prokop

I think your compatriot Antonin Dvorak would be a better comparison. You both came to the United States, and the US benefited for your being here. Just as we benefit from your posting to the Clydesdale/Athena forum.

i echo the same comments. there are threads i've started here that probably belonged elsewhere. however, i chose here for all the above reasons.

As a comparison to other groups, I just got broadsided on the C & O Canal Towpath Yahoo group with this gem:

" (PS -- This suggestion is not for Philadelphia area residents that don't know how to control their downhill speed -- and, we now have come to learn, have only been biking for about a year and yet still feel qualified to evaluate the road riding of other far more experienced riders.) "

I have no room in my personal space for SNOTS! Many take themselves way too serious.

Last week, I was on a forum when the topic of wine came up. Every self-important wine snob online hopped in. After reading the dribble for a while I chimed in about the Wine that comes in a Box, and the effect it has had on some of my female friends who have discovered the spigot :thumb: Just after this, they came out of the woodwork to crucify me and my low-brow, uneducated, attitude along with a post that indicated that my income level was part of my inability to understand the intricacies of Fine Wine.

On some of the other forums that I frequent, I am amazed at the level of self centered snobbery and sometimes, just down right hateful comments that some folks dish out. I often ask myself, why I keep going back.

Jay

I have no room in my personal space for SNOTS! Many take themselves way too serious.

Last week, I was on a forum when the topic of wine came up. Every self-important wine snob online hopped in. After reading the dribble for a while I chimed in about the Wine that comes in a Box, and the effect it has had on some of my female friends who have discovered the spigot :thumb: Just after this, they came out of the woodwork to crucify me and my low-brow, uneducated, attitude along with a post that indicated that my income level was part of my inability to understand the intricacies of Fine Wine.

On some of the other forums that I frequent, I am amazed at the level of self centered snobbery and sometimes, just down right hateful comments that some folks dish out. I often ask myself, why I keep going back.

Jay

Sounds like a good time to inject my new favorite sangria recipe

1 jug red wine $7 max
2 oranges
1 apple
2 lemons
1 lime
1/3 cup sugar

Squeeze lemons and oranges in with the rinds
dice apple
slice lime
add sugar

overnight and enjoy over ice

I like it here also... Great group of folks.. I lurk and occasionally post in other sections but this is the main area I hang out in!

As a comparison to other groups, I just got broadsided on the C & O Canal Towpath Yahoo group with this gem:

" (PS -- This suggestion is not for Philadelphia area residents that don't know how to control their downhill speed -- and, we now have come to learn, have only been biking for about a year and yet still feel qualified to evaluate the road riding of other far more experienced riders.) "

It seems the troll who flamed me on the C & O Towpath Yahoo Group, once the moderator spoke to him, in the manner of many trolls wrote hundreds of words describing how important he was and how he's going to take his wisdom elsewhere. Historian 1, Troll 0. :)

I've posted this information here since the troll obviously follows my 'adventures' here on Bike Forums.

Eh, life's too short and unpredictable to lend Trolls any credibility. Well, maybe humor Trolls are OK, but that's where I draw the line:D

Yeah - you guys rock! :D

Sounds like a good time to inject my new favorite sangria recipe

Awesome, but I can top it: red wine and Orangina, over ice. Float some fruit in it if you really want to call it sangria, but it's tasty and a bit fizzy. :lol:

I've noticed the general good attitude displayed here too. I've never seen anything like it on the web anywhere before. Some places are worse than others, but this one stands out. Even among the good ones. Maybee it's because so many of us here have had our fill of hurtful comments and rude jokes at our expense, and are a little more hesitant than most to dish it out. Or it could be that just having the guts to get up off our rear ends and do something hard to change our lives for the better, demonstrates a level of character not commonly found in people who annonimously hurl insults at strangers on the web? I don't know. I do know I keep checking back here every day after work and get lots of inspiration from you all. So.... keep up the good work everyone, and thanks for helping me out. I hope to return the favor.

Here's a Group Hug Story for you all. I was out at the Texas Time Trials this past weekend (volunteering, not riding). One of the events was a 20-mile sprint, once around the (hilly) course. There were a couple of people that seemed to be really good at it, some that were sort of good, and others that were just riding.

One of the guys that was just riding was fairly hefty. He didn't finish first, and didn't come close to it. But when he did come back around to the finish line, there were voices cheering "Go Daddy!" I didn't hear that with any of the other riders. I think that might have been worth more than winning.