Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Anyone besides me that can"t ever see thereself as a ROADIE

For a lot a reasons I have 95% chance of never owning or even riding a road bike . Not the least is my bad back but there are many more good reason for ME !

BUT I caught myself looking at them at the LBS . I HAVE GOT THE n + 1 FOR THIS YEAR A COMFORT BIKE ! I know there looked down on here and the brand I bought is looked down on also I bought a Schwinn 2009 World GS at my LBS its getting tricked out with lights and what have you right now .

I own a nice IMHO Torker Boardwalk 7 speed tricked out Fred cruiser that handled my oldself when I was 371lbs like a dream zero problems and do 25 to to 50 mile rides on her everyday in season :O)A Jamis Earth crusier I may trick out for winter ! And now The new Schwinn ! My LBS service is amazing befor and after the sell so Iam not concerned about any bike I own .Got the Schwinn because it rode so great on the POT HOLE streets here ! And I know a guy thats got a ton a miles on an 08 with no problems at all.
Iam way way to FRED to be a roadie its just not me am I alone ???:twitchy:

Well.... I wouldn't consider myself a roadie.. but I have a road bike... You are not alone hahaha

Different strokes for different folks. Just don't be a bike rider, but a cyclist.

I know own three bicycles for me. I have a comfort for riding with my wife, I have a mountain bike that I bought used and fixed up and I have my road bike, which was my first bike. I ride bicycles on the road, does that make me a roadie, and is there something wrong with that?????

Owning a road bike doesn't mean you are a "roadie" any more than owning a single speed makes you "hipster", or an MTB makes you "stoner". I would argue that I know people who race regularly and don't fit the classical definition of a "roadie".

The bike type doesn't matter, only enjoying riding the bike matters.

I have no qualms in saying I am a roadir, thru and thru. The one main exception and please don't tell anyone, is I respect everyone who rides a bike. I don't care what it is as long as you are riding, heck I'm one of those handwavers but I do love roadbikes.

Being the unfortunate owner of a very bad back, when I decided to start riding a bicycle a couple years ago I bought a comfort bike. That went away soon in favor of a hybrid which stuck around for about 6 months. Then came the first of three consecutive road bikes. Back comfort started with the first road bike. I do not know why, but my back hurts much less on the road bike. I have now added a LHT tour bike which is getting more and more use. That geometry and set up is similar to a road bike. Just more comfortable on the bad back, to me.

As far as being a "roadie", I guess I am when on the road bike. What am I called when on the LHT?

After three back surgeries and on going problems I find my road bikes more comfy too. I know other folks who have experienced the same thing.

I don't know if it's a placeo effect or not, but I'm not arguing with it, lol.

Being the unfortunate owner of a very bad back, when I decided to start riding a bicycle a couple years ago I bought a comfort bike. That went away soon in favor of a hybrid which stuck around for about 6 months. Then came the first of three consecutive road bikes. Back comfort started with the first road bike. I do not know why, but my back hurts much less on the road bike. I have now added a LHT tour bike which is getting more and more use. That geometry and set up is similar to a road bike. Just more comfortable on the bad back, to me.


I've read of this before. Some folks with scoliosis report they feel better on rides in a lower position. I do as well, although my position isn't very roadie like to begin with.

I can relate to the longing for a road bike. For many Americans, bikes are for racing, not for touring, or commuting, or utilitarian use. Who is America's bike hero? Who is the symbol of racing? Lance Armstrong. Greg Lemond. Who is the symbol of commuting in America? The title character of the film The 40 Year Old Virgin. Which would you rather be compared to?

A few months ago I went through one of my periodic "I wanna be a roadie" phases. I'm learning to accept the fact that I'll never be a roadie, but just a guy on a bike. Some things I want I'm not going to get. However, just what I DO accomplish on two wheels is entirely within my power.

Never! I don't even wear a jersey, T-shirt and shorts for me.

What am I called when on the LHT?

Smart.

Being the unfortunate owner of a very bad back, when I decided to start riding a bicycle a couple years ago I bought a comfort bike. That went away soon in favor of a hybrid which stuck around for about 6 months. Then came the first of three consecutive road bikes. Back comfort started with the first road bike. I do not know why, but my back hurts much less on the road bike. I have now added a LHT tour bike which is getting more and more use. That geometry and set up is similar to a road bike. Just more comfortable on the bad back, to me.

As far as being a "roadie", I guess I am when on the road bike. What am I called when on the LHT?

That pretty much sums my story up too. Except for the LHT part.

Two bad discs and scoliosis, I love the forward lean of a road bike.
So I ride a road bike.

Hmm I do some offroad and roadriding. I love the feel of getting into a high while humming down the road on the roadie. But also love the feel of climbing up a trail on the mtb. But I really don't consider myself a roadie. I don't consider myself a cyclist. I feel more comfy labeling myself as "a rider". Roadie and cyclist just sounds so........I dunno, I just like "a rider"!:thumb:

BTW, I have nothing against comfort bikes. Gina's roadbike is actually considered a comfort bike. Trek Pilot.

I was a roadie for Van Halen for the 1984 tour and I ride a road bike as well as a mountain bike.

I guess I'm confused.:twitchy:

You are definatley not alone. Not on this forum anyway! Just ride what makes you happy, don't worry about the labels that are applied to different cyclists. Personaly, when I think of "roadie" i think of all those guys who come out in july and august on their carbon bikes wearing matching jerseys, killing themselves trying to out macho each other riding down the street. When the wether gets a little cold, or wet, they all pretty much evaporate. Most of the hardcore cyclists around here who ride every day, year round, are not on high end road bikes. Just keep riding.:commute:

I've seen a few Schwinn Tours around and they are a nice bike! Hope you hae great rides on it.

I have to admit I ride a "road" style bike now. My Giant OCR2 is just amazing. I was torn between it and the FCR2 at the bike shop. Put about thrity minutes on both, and the FCR felt better. But then I had the LBS swap out the tires onthe OCR2 for some 32x, a better seat, and some wide platform pedals. Came back Monday, and rode the OCR again, and it was great.

Since then, I've ridden several rides in the last week in the drops and like it! Never thought I would or could, but I have five hour long, 23+ mile rides on it! Did I mention it was fast? It is in case you were wandering.

I will never be a roadie riding Hybrid hating elitist! But I do ride the road style bike now....along with the Hybrids.....

Jerry

I know own three bicycles for me. I have a comfort for riding with my wife, I have a mountain bike that I bought used and fixed up and I have my road bike...

That's me to a T. 3 different bikes for 3 different occasions. Comfort bike, which I call the "slow bike" for riding with the Baroness; MTB for winter, heavy rain, or rough terrain, and road bike for long rides, commuting or general performance related quests.

I'm a bike trail guy though. For me riding on the roads is not much fun: too many cars and boisterous dogs nipping at my rear wheel. Fortunately we here in Southwestern Ohio have hundreds of miles of paved bike path. I call it my own little bit of heaven.

.... Who is the symbol of commuting in America? The title character of the film The 40 Year Old Virgin. Which would you rather be compared to?

Sadly, I once worked with a bike commuter that was the spitting image of that character, let's call him Kim. It didn't deter me from becoming a commuter though. For the longest time I was called the anti-Kim. That kind of made it all worthwhile and fun. I know....I'm shallow that way.

I'm learning to accept the fact that I'll never be a roadie, but just a guy on a bike. .






Ultimately, really thats all we all are. Just guys (and gals) on a bike. All my life I've rode nothing (and I mean nothing) but road bikes and I've had a lot of 'em, but still dont consider myself a roadie. Back in the old days (mid 70's) they were simply called "10-speeds" and the term "roadie" wasnt even coined. I dont even like that name anyway. "Road bike" though, is a good term, especially this day and age with the many different kinds of bikes available.

I think being a 'roadie', or wanting to be a 'roadie' is just a "state of mind" anyway, because I certainly dont fit the classic definition of it. I dont wear "kits" or nothing like that, just regular shorts and a T-shirt, but I do wear cycling shoes and a helmet though. Maybe "road bike rider" is a good term for me. At any rate, it doesnt matter. Just ride what'cha got, and have fun doing it. :D

When I hear "roadie", I think PowerTap hubs and bikes that have less spokes than I have on one wheel... structured training, diet coaches, physical trainers, and lots of statistics.

Some people think that's fun. Heck, I even know some randonneurs who think that's fun, but I'm not one of them. I think it's interesting, but I don't need to have 10000 statistical points from a century ride to tell me how fast I'm not going. :)

"thereself"?

Who is America's bike hero? Who is the symbol of racing? Lance Armstrong. Greg Lemond. Who is the symbol of commuting in America? The title character of the film The 40 Year Old Virgin. Which would you rather be compared to?


I'd rather be compared to Lance or Greg. :thumb:

I also don't consider myself a commuter, even though that is what I am. I race the clock on my way to work and my way home. So I consider myself a racer! :p

The only times I am not racing the clock is when I am doing a route for the first time or am having technical difficulties and am just trying to get home safely. For instance, I did a ride today thinking it would take me at least 90 minutes but I did ~19K in less than 53 minutes and that was up some pretty steep grades, well steep compared to what I have done in the past. So I ended up racing the clock anyways when I did a time check after getting over the hills.

I can relate to the longing for a road bike. For many Americans, bikes are for racing, not for touring, or commuting, or utilitarian use. Who is America's bike hero? Who is the symbol of racing? Lance Armstrong. Greg Lemond. Who is the symbol of commuting in America? The title character of the film The 40 Year Old Virgin. Which would you rather be compared to?.


The guy from the 40 year old virgin, gee and I thought the symbol of commuting in America was Yehuda Moon (http://www.yehudamoon.com)

You are definatley not alone. Not on this forum anyway! Just ride what makes you happy, don't worry about the labels that are applied to different cyclists. Personaly, when I think of "roadie" i think of all those guys who come out in july and august on their carbon bikes wearing matching jerseys, killing themselves trying to out macho each other riding down the street. When the wether gets a little cold, or wet, they all pretty much evaporate. Most of the hardcore cyclists around here who ride every day, year round, are not on high end road bikes. Just keep riding.:commute:

whew thought you were talking about me there for a second, but i go year round in my matching kits and my sweet bike :)

seriously though I believe your description defines what the roadies call a "poser" ;). most of the people that ride year round here ride nice bikes, but have a different bike to commute with (like me).

Well, I prefer road biking, but am definitely not a "roadie". I embrace my Fredness. I am an uber-Fred. Reflective tape everywhere, carry extra repair gear when I ride, bright lights for commuting, etc.

I always laugh when people bring up things like how they portray bicyclists in movies like "The 40 Year-Old Virgin". Like my bike is a "toy". That some people really care about what other people think about how cool and/or responsible their car is EVERY DAY THAT THEY ARE SEEN GOING TO WORK...makes not sense to me. Besides, I'm a certified tree-hugger. One of the reasons that I ride, is because I feel like driving everyday really is stealing valuable resources from future generations. Meh.

To me, commuting is a blast. I like being able to push it to the point of almost puking on the way home after a bad day at work, to work off some of that bad energy before I walk in the door. I like how much mental attention it takes to get to work and back home everyday without getting frost-bite, hit by a car, trashing the bike, etc. There is so much to do and think about when I commute, that I usually don't have time to become frustrated or bored like I do when I drive to work.

I also HATE sitting at red lights, and putting up with traffic when I drive an automobile. Sitting there, being trapped in a tin-can, unable to move or do anything else but go-with-the-flow like a damn herd-animal jumping off a damn cliff...of boredom and frustration. :twitchy:

I also HATE sitting at red lights, and putting up with traffic when I drive an automobile. Sitting there, being trapped in a tin-can, unable to move or do anything else but go-with-the-flow like a damn herd-animal jumping off a damn cliff...of boredom and frustration. :twitchy:



That happens to me on my bike commute too...inform me as to how you avoid this.

After three back surgeries and on going problems I find my road bikes more comfy too. I know other folks who have experienced the same thing.

I don't know if it's a placeo effect or not, but I'm not arguing with it, lol.

+3...

*No mountain bike, so I can't be that.
*Comfort bike is comfy only for shorter rides, I can't be that.
*No SS bike, I can't be that.
*Road bike: I can ride far and fairly fast... and less back pain=that must be me???

That happens to me on my bike commute too...inform me as to how you avoid this.

I don't have the boredom problem when I commute. I only have it when I drive in the car. When I'm on my bike, I have more choices. I can do stuff like jump the curb and ride behind strip malls, through apartment complexes, through sections of city parks, etc., instead of being stuck on a 4-6 lane road that is locked into a traffic jam.

Commuting takes a lot more of my attention to do in general as well. Handling the bike while riding, avoiding cars and pedestrians, and stuff like that gives my brain something to do while I go to and from work. One of the reasons that I get frustrated in traffic in a car, is because I JUST SIT THERE, then crawl 1-2 blocks to stop at the next red light, repeat, repeat, repeat. I can't DO anything about it but sit there and be patient. I don't do patient in traffic that well.

Besides, I only live about 4 miles from work. I actually get to my desk faster when I commute, than I do when I drive. When I drive the car, I have to take the main roads around a college campus, which adds about 2 miles, and a total of about 15-20 minutes to make it through all of the traffic to get to work. I also work for an organization that is housed on a college campus, and because we are not faculty or officially part of the institution, our parking lot is located a little over 1/4 mile away from my office building. So it takes me a few more minutes to walk across the faculty/staff parking lot, across a set of railroad tracks, etc.

When I ride, I can take the neighborhood roads directly onto campus, ride right past the concrete barricades that they put up to protect us from terrorists that may want to destroy state agricultural colleges, and park right outside the door. I'm locking my bike to the bike rack right below my office after only 10-12 minutes after leaving my driveway. Can't beat it. Oh, and it costs $450 per year to park on campus, but it is free to park my bicycle. I'm cheap too.