Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Do you post differently here?

Historian's thread on head and heart got me thinking...

I've been watching the road forum more as I now have a full road bike, and have started to post some.

Here's the thing -- I kind of like the snarky side of that forum, and have started to get into it. But I wouldn't do it here. Feels like our job is to encourage people into this great sport and share our knowledge. Sort of kinder, less competitive.

Am I the only one?

Nope.

The Roadie forum is all about banter and ribbing. There are some who take it way too far, but for the most part it's not much different than guys just hanging out talking trash on a basketball court, softball field, or a pool table.

I very much appreciate and enjoy the amiable atmosphere here though. It'a like a refuge.

I'd talk more smack to Beanz if I could come close to backing it up though, lol.

As a total noob "i dont even know what noob means!) this is where I have been made to feel welcome.

Ha!

It's actually on of his posts that got me thinking.

(Roadie attitude on) I'd like to make it clear that I have a regular double, and ride it up the hills just fine. (attitude off) :notamused:

I also should tell you guys that I'm kinda worried about running out of legs going up hills...:(

I vary the posts based on the forums, and spend most of my time on the C & V forum. The C & V is all about educating and encouraging riders to buy, restore and ride vintage bikes. And the subforum on valuation is all about flippers sharing their opinions.

I occasionally visit the mechanics forum, looking for answers to problems I am having, and sharing opinions/answers with others.

I am a former clyde, and will pass through this forum sharing opinions on buying bikes (I will almost always recommend buying used, I am pretty predictable in that regard).

I avoid the road forum. Its not my thing.

C&V almost never gets confrontational. It does at times but mostly it's another shared interest community that helps each other.

It's my other regular hang out.

Historian's thread on head and heart got me thinking...

I've been watching the road forum more as I now have a full road bike, and have started to post some.

Here's the thing -- I kind of like the snarky side of that forum, and have started to get into it. But I wouldn't do it here. Feels like our job is to encourage people into this great sport and share our knowledge. Sort of kinder, less competitive.

Am I the only one?

I don't think I post differently in different forums, but I try to abide by the differing rules, both written and unwritten, in each group. The Road Forum seems to be less heavily 'moderated' than C/A, both from 'above' and by individuals posting there. Here the group of posters is, for whatever reason, polite, and so the moderators haven't had to enforce what could be called a "tea party" atmosphere. Thank goodness for that! Besides, online arguments frequently descend to name calling, and who wants to start calling folks "fat" in a Clydesdale forum? I recall some phrase about stones and glass houses.

The unwritten rules are as important as the written ones when posting. In the Road Forum, it's OK to talk smack. In the Touring Forum, you have to accept that many posters are highly left-wing, and centrist or right criticism will be censored - there's a reason it's called the People's Republic of Touring. Here, it's understood that many, if not most, riders are NOT racing, so the testosterone flows at a slower speed and we get into fewer arguments.

I'd talk more smack to Beanz if I could come close to backing it up though, lol.

Mr. Beanz is my better in cycling, and perhaps other ways as well, so I won't patronize him by talking smack. And since I don't know who I will meet who will prove my better, I try not to patronize anyone by talking smack. Save you, of course. :)

People Republic of Touring:roflmao2::lol::roflmao2::lol:

Well said.

I don't talk differently in the road forum, because i'm afraid to post. However i enjoy the road forum more than the clydes forum because it is so much more active. The smack talk is also hilarious as well.

I don't talk differently in the road forum, because i'm afraid to post. However i enjoy the road forum more than the clydes forum because it is so much more active. The smack talk is also hilarious as well.

In that case, look up the thread about the young man and his girlfriend breaking up because she objected to his wearing bike shorts that showed off his 'bulge.' It ran for a dozen or more pages, and it featured some of the funniest comments I've seen on Bike Forums. My favorite was the post comparing the angry couple's profanity-larded text messages to the correspondence of Elizabeth Barret and Robert Browning.

People Republic of Touring:roflmao2::lol::roflmao2::lol:

Well said.


Even further Left is the Car-free Forum, where most threads are discussions of oil prices and cars. I had to leave after someone explained his novel theory that a collapse of the US economy would be good for cycling because bikes would be cheaper. Nonsense is like toffee - a little goes a long way, there's no need to feast on it as each meal.

The closest Touring came to that nonsense, aside from the recent "B*k*ng f*r *b*m* puff-fest, was the claim that churches were public property.

What I like about the C&A forum, in a small part, at least, is that I rarely have to put on the Admin Hat in here, and if I do, it's usually just a matter of a gentle PM reminder, unlike some of the other forums, where I have to don 5 layers of nomex and body armor, just to do my job. ;)

Well you do a good job Tom!

I like the C/A forum since it's relatively nonconfrontational... plus you don't have the p---s waving that I've experienced on other forums. I think most people here realize that it's a struggle to lose weight... and as mentioned above, good luck to the person that runs in here calling people "fat". I'm sure it would awaken the sleeping giants of the forum and people you didn't hear from in a while would definitely respond.

V

Most of my posting is in C and A. I do post differently in here, but not how you would expect. In here, if I think of some smart#$$ response to someone, like say, oh I don't know, Mr. Beanz maybee... I go ahead and throw it out there. I do it because I know he has a good senese of humor and a little good natured ribbing only makes it more fun in here. People for the most part in C and A know that the jokes are in fun. The comments tend to be pretty mild here too. I enjoy some humor from time to time. I see in other forums people are attacked for everything from bad grammer, to accusations of racism that appear totaly baseless. Some people just like to pick fights on line with strangers for some reason. I'm glad they don't hang here much. The other thing I do differently here, is try to encourage people. I like to post a "good job" in a thread where someone is talking about starting to ride, or their weight loss. It helps that we cheer each other on in here. At least it helps me, so I try to pay it back.

Mr. Beanz is my better in cycling, and perhaps other ways as well, so I won't patronize him by talking smack. And since I don't know who I will meet who will prove my better, I try not to patronize anyone by talking smack. Save you, of course. :)

Yea, it's a fine line when and when not to talk trash. I feel I need to somehow "know" someone in order to do it, and even then it depends on the personality of the person.

Being that we're all there with no one else around except us most people would be horrified at the "culture" of my work place, lol. There are two "authority" figures there and the rest are hourly production folks. We have a great time without crossing too many barriers.

I'm pretty easy going and don't mind a bit of banter.

I like both forums with maybe a slight edge to the roadie side as it's a little more lively. The clyde section to me almost seems like a beginers corner of sorts. I'm all for beginers of coarse as I was there three years ago. About the only ones I don't look at are bike mechanics as I use to be a mechanic and hate working on things I just like to ride them I hate fixing them. And recumbent forum and this is were my roadie comes out I just plain hate those things. Oh and I would like to think I respond the same no matter were.

Mostly I post here, Commuting, SS/FG, Long-Distance and Foo.

I don't frequent the road cycling forum because I haven't got an ounce of racer in me. I'm a big, slow, long-distance rider. I stay out of the fixed-gear fashionista threads on ss/fg, and I don't post any differently on the other forums than I do here on C&A.

Even further Left is the Car-free Forum, where most threads are discussions of oil prices and cars. I had to leave after someone explained his novel theory that a collapse of the US economy would be good for cycling because bikes would be cheaper. Nonsense is like toffee - a little goes a long way, there's no need to feast on it as each meal.

The closest Touring came to that nonsense, aside from the recent "B*k*ng f*r *b*m* puff-fest, was the claim that churches were public property.

I couldn't get far reading the car free forum, even though I agree enough with the idea of being car free, that I am. They never seem to get to how to operate car free in a car oriented society. Not trying to dis another forum though.

You tend to post in a group in such a way as to the character of the group, a friendly and casual group, tends to get friendly and casual remarks. So yes, I do post differently in different groups.

I post in a number of different forums, but only if I have something that adds to the discussion or need to get info. This is my favorite because members tend to be more positive and about helping each other. I'm a clyde for life, even if I can get back down to 10% body fat. I'm down 15lbs and have 65 to go.
This is where I come to be inspired. Being a long time road racer and off and on touring cyclist, I also spend a lot of time in those forums, which are quite opposite, but only in the type of snarky, we know what you want and need kind of way. One is all about building the best, the other about building the cheapest, but niether is ever about what works for the poster. Not so here.

Well I hang out mainly in the "Classic & Vintage" forum because I have a passion for old bikes, specifically Italian road bikes. But I also like to hang out in this forum because I'm a 'clyde' too, and can relate to a lot of the problems my overweight brothers and sisters go through in their bike riding and training.

The "Road Forum" I pretty much stay out of, eventhough I'm a 'roadie' with two classic road bikes. That forum is loaded down with too many adolescents for my taste, and often find myself rather 'perplexed' because I cant follow their line of humor. (that is, when they're not bashing each other.) Personally, I dont like that, so I stay out of 'Romper Room'.

The other forums I dont have much of a problem with. :D



Oh yeah, To answer the OP's question; No, I'm the same Wino Ryder whever I go. Thanks

Mostly I post here, Commuting, SS/FG, Long-Distance and Foo.

I don't frequent the road cycling forum because I haven't got an ounce of racer in me. I'm a big, slow, long-distance rider. I stay out of the fixed-gear fashionista threads on ss/fg, and I don't post any differently on the other forums than I do here on C&A.

It seems the C/A forum, kind of like Fifty Plus, has more introspective posts than others.

Slightly off topic and I hope I'm not violating any rules here, how many forums do people read, presumably skimming the threads, and reading the interesting ones? Since I subscribed this July, I myself read: Introductions, Northeast and Great Lakes Regional, A&S, C/A, Commuting, Fifty plus, Living Car Free, Long Distance, Road Cycling, Touring, Training and Nutrition, Winter Cycling and General Cyling Discussion. I rarely look at some other Bike Forums, and Foo. I check BF about twice a day to keep up.

I'm looking for useful information and/or interesting discussions. Bicycling is so much a part of my lifestyle, that it is interesting to see so many posts that bring up things that prompt me to reply. I also enjoy posting to others in areas geographically familiar to me: Michigan, Boston and sites on my one cross country tour from LA to DC.

In response to the original question, "Do you post differently here?," my answer is no; I post the same to all forums.

50+ and C&A are definitely mellower forums, and I think there's not much variation in the way I post in the forums I read: General Cycling, Women's, 50+, C&A, and Southern California. Once in a while I'll poke around in Touring and R&F, but mostly as a time-killer.

I post in the 50+, C/A, General Cycling and Bicycle Mechanics. Don't really post differently. Feeling a bit guilty that I'm a blood-sucking newbie, but you gotta start somewhere. Road forum is interesting to browse. I had no idea that the TDF wanna-be subculture was so widespread. That's youth for you.

I don't post differently. My posts here and in the TX forum are "me"--that's to say, my personality. I read the commuting forum for tips and info but very rarely post there anymore because of the tone that some of the threads take.

50 and over, respectful cause I was taught to respect my elders!:D
Long distance forum, I can appreciate what they do!

SoCal forum, I know the people that ride and the trolls that like to start trash and have no problems throwing it back. I did take some trash form a youngster there. Not very wise kid as he postedhe rode the same trail I frequent. I saw him and his father on the side of the road. His jaw dropped when I stopped to introduce myself!:D..His father actually said, "I've heard he argues with some of the people on the forum and I have nothing to do with it!::eek:..That was fun! I introduced myself and Gina, then shot the breeze with his Dad for a bit. He was little nice ont eh forum after that day!:D

Clyde forum, some might think I'm Superman but I think we are all Superman. I know we can do things but some just don't have the confidence to try. Some might get irritated with me suggesting the climbs, but I just know we can! It's all in motivation and encouragement.

As far as the roadie forum, I know some that frequent and have lots of respect for them afteer having been on rides with them. But for the most part, I think most of them are big babbies. Bunch of guys that have an advantage in this sport but still whine and complain about sufficient equipment. I get sick of the liter wheel topics, Compact crank topics, for a little skinny dude? Gimme a break! I'm a big heavy and climb with standard gears. My respect goes to those that try sports where one knows he doesn't have the edge. A Clyde riding a bike, my hats off to you! A skinny dude trying to bench 300, my hat is off to you too! A 130 lb guy bragging about his heart rate on a climb, PFFFT! Gimme a break! I consider you a wuss till you try something against your odds! That's just my opinion though!

Like I said, we are all Supermen cause we chose to try something without an edge!

I'm not sure but I think my last comment in the roadie forum was in the compact crank thread. I posted something like "C'mon be a man!, I'm a big fat guy doing 12000 ft climbs with a standard double" No respect. I know some small hardcore roadies and they don't need compacts for the mountain rides. A clyde I can see but a 140 lb dude, gimme a break. Most the roadie guys are nothing but talk IMO! Very unentertaining!

But if any of you guys want to talk trash with me, I'm always up for a good exchange!:D...For all I know, some of you might spank my arse on a ride. But It's all entertainment!

My respect goes to those that try sports where one knows he doesn't have the edge. A Clyde riding a bike, my hats off to you! A skinny dude trying to bench 300, my hat is off to you too!

I agree Beanz. There's nothing courageous in doing what you already know you're already good at!

You know, this might be a separate thread or something, but I'll throw it here and regret it later.

Is it just me who feels like it's doing the cycling movement a grave disservice to consider it solely the domain of the left-wingers and that there are perfectly good reasons why people in much of the right-wing would chose to go so far as to cycletour, go car-light or car-free, or any other sort of thing.

You know, this might be a separate thread or something, but I'll throw it here and regret it later.

Is it just me who feels like it's doing the cycling movement a grave disservice to consider it solely the domain of the left-wingers and that there are perfectly good reasons why people in much of the right-wing would chose to go so far as to cycletour, go car-light or car-free, or any other sort of thing.

+1 Most common interest type groups would be well served to separate politics, religion, etc., from their movement. They could find that people of a wide spectrum of political beliefs share a lot of common interests.

I found the same true in my decades of motorcycling. Lots of different political viewpoints, but many shared values regardless.

I like the edgy tone in the roadie forum, I like the friendly and supportive feel this forum has, I can't stand the whiners and sissies on the 50+ forum. I love Machaka on the LD / Touring forums. There's something here for everyone.

The clyde section to me almost seems like a beginers corner of sorts.

I have to say that is why I am most comfortable here. I like the 50+ forum too.

Beanz -- given your ride photos, I would love to come and join you for a climb with my statdard gear set.

And when you win, I'll buy the first round. :)

You know, this might be a separate thread or something, but I'll throw it here and regret it later.

Is it just me who feels like it's doing the cycling movement a grave disservice to consider it solely the domain of the left-wingers and that there are perfectly good reasons why people in much of the right-wing would chose to go so far as to cycletour, go car-light or car-free, or any other sort of thing.

I agree with you. But Bike Forums is hardly a level playing field. In the past six months, I've been on a number of occasions been called a racist, "hall monitor" - this was in a discussion on cyclists respecting individual property rights, IIRC - and received an infraction point for criticizing someone who posts bigoted atheistic rants to the Touring Forum and his overhyped website. The rants were apparently OK.

I gave up reading the Car-Free Forum after a poster there sent me a PM and asked me to stop agreeing with the resident curmudgeon I_Like_To_Bike, because his views differed from the majority of the forum's posters. I felt a chill in the air, and heard the sound of jack-boots stomping on a human face - "for ever", and so I stopped reading the group.

Fortunately weight loss is rarely a political issue, so I'm safe here. :)

I'm pretty consistent no matter where I am.

I mostly post to the C&A and the commuting forums, and sometimes to the roadie, long distance forums as well. While I like to read the roadie forum, I find it hard to get as worked up as many people do on there.

The only forum where I post "differently" is the roadie forum. Mostly in the form of leaving stuff out, and paying more attention to how I write something. I'm more mindful, because a casual comment can segue into a couple of pages of derisive comments and banter that have NOTHING to do with the subject at hand. I...like my smack-talking to be done face-to-face (with a nod/wink/eye-twinkle). Online, people can get all bent out-of-shape and serious.

As for the political stuff? Meh. I'm a certified tree-hugger (work in the ecology field), and some of my very best friends in the world lean WAY far to the right. So? We're all in this life and world together, my friends, and how we treat each other, especially the people that disagree with us, is what holds society together.

Even though I'm a tree-hugger, I have to admit that I can't handle the Car Free forum either. Liberal bicycle nazis...;)

I have to say that I do post differently in different forums. Having studied Communicaitons for years, I tend to do a kind of "audience analysis" to see what writing style suits the community.

How I post- it sort of depends on the forum. Mainly that's because in the Roadie forum, I seldom post original threads, so what I post there is responses to other posts, and if that other post is pointless, my response may be as well.

Forums I don't really read- BMX, Cyclocross, Electric, Fifty Plus, Folding, Framebuilders, Mountain Biking, Tour de France, Track Cycling, Training & Nutrition, Triathlon, The Market Place forums, The Lounge forums. The rest of them, I'll skim through, and may read every post in some of them, or just what sounds interesting otherwise. Generally, technical posts on things I know nothing about, I don't bother reading.

"Is it just me who feels like it's doing the cycling movement a grave disservice to consider it solely the domain of the left-wingers and that there are perfectly good reasons why people in much of the right-wing would chose to go so far as to cycletour, go car-light or car-free, or any other sort of thing."

I notice on the Internet, there is a lot of anti-car sentiment in the bicycle forums. On the other hand, when I go to these charity rides, 99.9% of the people riding there drive to the ride. So it's not like car-drivers and bicyclists are two separate groups.

+1 Most common interest type groups would be well served to separate politics, religion, etc., from their movement. They could find that people of a wide spectrum of political beliefs share a lot of common interests.


+1. Unfortunately, passion easily trumps moderation and empathy.

I love the C&A forum, 50+, commuting and C&V. There are several more I peruse from time to time, but these are definitely my favorites. I feel I have come to know some of you from your posts and look forward to seeing what you are up to each day and what I can glean to further inspire me and affirm my desire to just get out and ride. I don't post too much but you can bet I'm on here every day since last June when I found this great place. I don't think I post differently in other forums, but I try to just go somewhere else if a poster is being (IMO) too antagonistic or just plain stupid.
Like my father(a very intelligent man) often said- It's better to be quiet and appear a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt. I haven't always taken his advice however(see sentence one)! :innocent:

+1. Unfortunately, passion easily trumps moderation and empathy.

I love the C&A forum, 50+, commuting and C&V. There are several more I peruse from time to time, but these are definitely my favorites. I feel I have come to know some of you from your posts and look forward to seeing what you are up to each day and what I can glean to further inspire me and affirm my desire to just get out and ride. I don't post too much but you can bet I'm on here every day since last June when I found this great place. I don't think I post differently in other forums, but I try to just go somewhere else if a poster is being (IMO) too antagonistic or just plain stupid.
Like my father(a very intelligent man) often said- It's better to be quiet and appear a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt. I haven't always taken his advice however(see sentence one)! :innocent:

I enjoyed reading your post and I agree your sentiments, in particular that you get to know people by seeing their posts, and they can inspire you to get out and ride. Don't think of me as a spoil-sport though, but I will probably not be the only one to note that the highlighted saying is by Abraham Lincoln. Nonetheless, your words are well said.

It seems the C/A forum, kind of like Fifty Plus, has more introspective posts than others.

.

1+

I am probably most active in the P & R forum - where ankle biting and snarky rule (I am obviously more "feisty" there than elsewhere). I just know when I am done fighting or riling up the troops, and keeping Tom S on his toes, I can come here to C/A or the 50+ forums and relax, kick back and enjoy all the lovely posts and encouragement.

I was commenting to a buddy the other day that the C/A fourm is incredibly cordial, friendly and supportive. We wondered if that's because as "fluffy" people we put up with enough crap from other parts of our life or if we just don't believe that's stuff is as important as the support. I would like everyone's take on why they believe C/A is so friendly.

+1 Most common interest type groups would be well served to separate politics, religion, etc., from their movement. They could find that people of a wide spectrum of political beliefs share a lot of common interests.

I found the same true in my decades of motorcycling. Lots of different political viewpoints, but many shared values regardless.

You should both try P & R and see if its to your liking.

I enjoyed reading your post and I agree your sentiments, in particular that you get to know people by seeing their posts, and they can inspire you to get out and ride. Don't think of me as a spoil-sport though, but I will probably not be the only one to note that the highlighted saying is by Abraham Lincoln. Nonetheless, your words are well said.

I do apologize if it seemed I thought my dad made that saying up. I didn't mean that at all. i didn't know the originator of the quote.

A recurring topic I find amusing that's not forum-specific: Those who post about wanting to be treated with respect just like any other vehicle on the road ("take the lane", etc), but don't want to come to a full and complete stop at stop signs and lonely red lights.

Another interesting note: When there's great spring/summer/fall weather all across the USA, ever notice how many posters are on the Roadie forum at mid-day? Makes me wonder how many of those dudes (or dudettes) actually ride a bike!

what i like about the c&a forum, in a small part, at least, is that i rarely have to put on the admin hat in here, and if i do, it's usually just a matter of a gentle pm reminder, unlike some of the other forums, where i have to don 5 layers of nomex and body armor, just to do my job. ;)

really?

I do apologize if it seemed I thought my dad made that saying up. I didn't mean that at all. i didn't know the originator of the quote.

Hi seenoeevil,

FYA, I had sent a PM to Pamestique re her post to this thread:



It seems the C/A forum, kind of like Fifty Plus, has more introspective posts than others.


1+
...I can come here to C/A or the 50+ forums and relax, kick back and enjoy all the lovely posts and encouragement. ...I would like everyone's take on why they believe C/A is so friendly.

Hi Pamestique,

I enjoyed your post to that thread and thanks for quoting me. I hope didn't flout the cordiality of the C/A Forum when I posted to seenoeevil subsequently on this thread, pointing out a quote by his father was really from Abraham Lincoln ;-)

Generally, I post the same here as I do anywhere else. I like to hang out in this thread, the general cycling thread, family/recreation, vintage, commuting, and touring threads. Occasionally the mechanic thread if I need info on how to fix something. I haven't been to the politics thread much. I should probably hang out there a little more. The roadie thread? Only when I feel like looking at pretty new bikes.

Hi seenoeevil,

FYA, I had sent a PM to Pamestique re her post to this thread:

Jim - no offense taken sir! Like I said, I wasn't clear in my post. You can bet it won't be the last time either! Onward through the fog! Um...I mean mental, not literal!:thumb:

I also should tell you guys that I'm kinda worried about running out of legs going up hills...:(

I'm the opposite. Legs can handle it, but I sometimes find it hard to catch my breath at the top.

I like the edgy tone in the roadie forum, I like the friendly and supportive feel this forum has, I can't stand the whiners and sissies on the 50+ forum. I love Machaka on the LD / Touring forums. There's something here for everyone.

I hope you were joking about "whiners and sissies" on the 50+ Forum. I've yet to find any.