Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Help! I Am A Snobbish Prick!

Ok, someone had to say it ;)

Seriously though, I bicycle commute every day, regardless of the weather/temperature. I am frequently accused of being insane, and deep down I probably am to some extent.

When walking back to the office from a conference room today our group spotted a cyclist. A few pointed out how he looked just like me, only thinner. Well, he was a lot thinner, but the thought that went through my mind was something akin to, "I don't look like that dork!"

But, I really do look a lot like that dork, only he is thinner than me.

Fine but the word could be edited.

Fine but the word could be edited.

DORK??? Besides....maybe he is.....I know I am:innocent:

You can't be a snob. Your post count is too high....

well the first step is admitting it

You can't be a snob. Your post count is too high....

We have a winner!

Why do you think cyclists look like dorks? Was this cyclist you saw wearing full kit? Or street clothes? Was it the helmet, or lack of, that bothered you? Lie on the sofa and tell us your feelings......

We have a guy that shows up to our group rides with his helmet already on. In his car, before he takes his bike down off the top.

I may look like a fat dork in my bike clothes, bt I take pride in the fact that I'll never be that guy...

I left the house this morning with 2 reflecty ankle bands, my reflecty Amphib harness, reflecty taped helmet, 2 headlights, 1 steady taillight and 2 blinkie taillights all a-blazin'.

I make a concerted effort to be "that dork".

(knickers and striped knee-socks help a lot!)

I think it's pretty hard not to look dorky while wearing spandex and a styrofoam hat.:p

I think it's pretty hard not to look dorky while wearing spandex and a styrofoam hat.:p

No truer words have ever been spoken. :-)

I think it's pretty hard not to look dorky while wearing spandex and a styrofoam hat.:p

No truer words have been spoken. Read the sig ↓

I think it's pretty hard not to look dorky while wearing spandex and a styrofoam hat.:p

For winter or night time riding add to that some hi-vis clothing such as my ANSI rated vest... yes I AM a dork, but hopefully I'll outlive all the cagers that have a problem with me looking like a dork... then I'll have the last laugh.

Happy riding,
André

You just have to embrace the dorkiness.

(It gets easier once you realize just how amazingly effective helmet mirrors are.)

You can always solace yourself with the fact that you're not on a recumbent. Yet.

We have a guy that shows up to our group rides with his helmet already on. In his car, before he takes his bike down off the top.

I may look like a fat dork in my bike clothes, bt I take pride in the fact that I'll never be that guy...

Yeah, I'll never be that guy, either. What a disgrace, driving to the group ride. C'mon, man!

We have a guy that shows up to our group rides with his helmet already on. In his car, before he takes his bike down off the top.

This is so his cellphone won't hit his head and kill him.

We're celebrating dorkdom? I'll play. The basket on my handlebars has yellow reflective ankle bands hooked through the wire in 6 different places. My summer helmet has stickers of cats on it (ok. mostly Roman Dirge's cats cut in half collection. But still, they're cat stickers). Dorky can be fun!

Yeah, I'll never be that guy, either. What a disgrace, driving to the group ride. C'mon, man!

So you ride in the same area all the time? We do some rides where guys stop on their way home from work to do the tire. Sometimes we drive 40 or 50 miles to get in 5000 ft of climbing or a 70 mile ride. You telling me you don't drive to go ride anywhere other than out your front door?

So you ride in the same area all the time? We do some rides where guys stop on their way home from work to do the tire. Sometimes we drive 40 or 50 miles to get in 5000 ft of climbing or a 70 mile ride. You telling me you don't drive to go ride anywhere other than out your front door?

I can't believe you took me so seriously.

Although... I do ride to the group ride (@7miles), and I commute most days, and train out the door more often than not. But, I drive to brevets and centuries and such when it makes sense, of course.

I can't believe you took me so seriously.

Although... I do ride to the group ride (@7miles), and I commute most days, and train out the door more often than not. But, I drive to brevets and centuries and such when it makes sense, of course.

I can't believe you took me so seriously, I was kidding too!

Yaaaa Sure you were Mr. Breanz. Your reputation precedes you. Not a kidding bone in your body. I remember how far ahead you were on the last ride. Sheeeeeeeet. LOL

OK, the guy who wears his helmet to drive to the ride would be definition 1 under 'dork'.

At my job, we have definition about, I'd say, 4.

We are REQUIRED to wear hi-viz vests when operating the electric 'cherry picker' on the sales floor at work -- as if the bright yellow machine the size of a Goodwill donation station box that BEEPS as it moves in ANY direction would be hard to spot, and that the vests will make the difference in that equation.

We call 'em 'dork vests'. And no, they don't help. Idiots couldn't possible be more self-absorbed....

Yaaaa Sure you were Mr. Breanz. Your reputation precedes you. Not a kidding bone in your body. I remember how far ahead you were on the last ride. Sheeeeeeeet. LOL

I was just trying to get ahead of you for a good shot with the camera!:p

I think it's pretty hard not to look dorky while wearing spandex and a styrofoam hat.:p

Thanks. I needed a good laugh to help me get started today, and that did the trick.

:)

I will go out on a limb and suggest that most cyclists are snobs to some degree. The non-riding public doesn't know the terms "Fred or Poser" or how they apply to our sport. That is something we cyclists have created to delineate those we think less of.

Yeah, I'll never be that guy, either. What a disgrace, driving to the group ride. C'mon, man!

Well, I drive to the group ride. But I go straight from work, and it's about 15-20 minutes drive (at interstate speeds). If I rode I wouldn't make it there in time...

That is something we cyclists have created to delineate those we think less of. Which is usually those not in the "club" you ride with or "your" closed circle of friends that never gets any bigger. I think "Snobbish Pricks" hits the nail on the head.
I would like to think I am above all that (which of course I am not), but it is harder to be a SNOB when, while riding up in the mountains, I am getting passed by everyone. LOL So I smile inward to myself, and keep riding. I am up there for myself, and no one else. And I love every minute of it.
Jdon, I think you are right, and we are all guilty of it.

For the record, I'd never consider myself a snob, On or off the bike. I'm just too darn loveable!:love:

Confession time!
I have to fight an urge to snobbishness whenever I see a roadie in full kit.
I have never worn spandex and if I ever do I hope that my family and friends will recognize it a clear evidence that my last brain cell has died and it's time to put me out of my misery.
[Duck and Cover]

With my good nature I tend to love everyone. I don't care what anyone wears or does while they are riding their bikes. It's ok with me.

You want to wear the latest Team Radio Shack kit and pedal 2 miles to the coffee shop? Here's a kit and a Trek, have at it.
You want to ride with your sweetheart on your handlebars? Have a beach crusier and enjoy your night.
You want to be the bike ninja? Go for it!
You want to wear day-glo clothing covered in strobe lights? Rock on!
You want to make love to a watermelon during those last ten miles home? Ok, I guess I draw the line there.

With my good nature I tend to love everyone. I don't care what anyone wears or does while they are riding their bikes. It's ok with me.

You want to wear the latest Team Radio Shack kit and pedal 2 miles to the coffee shop? Here's a kit and a Trek, have at it.
You want to ride with your sweetheart on your handlebars? Have a beach crusier and enjoy your night.
You want to be the bike ninja? Go for it!
You want to wear day-glo clothing covered in strobe lights? Rock on!
You want to make love to a watermelon during those last ten miles home? Ok, I guess I draw the line there.

I agree except for the bike ninja part. On my MUP, they're a threat not only to themselves, but to me. Same is true of ninja runners as well.

Confession time!
I have to fight an urge to snobbishness whenever I see a roadie in full kit.
I have never worn spandex and if I ever do I hope that my family and friends will recognize it a clear evidence that my last brain cell has died and it's time to put me out of my misery.
[Duck and Cover]

I swore that I'd never wear spandex. Nope. No way you could ever get me into something like that, much less have me go out in public wearing it.

Then I tried it and realized why it's the best material for riding in. Now it's all I wear (even mountain biking) and I honestly don't care what anyone else thinks of me.

I swore that I'd never wear spandex. Nope. No way you could ever get me into something like that, much less have me go out in public wearing it.

Then I tried it and realized why it's the best material for riding in. Now it's all I wear (even mountain biking) and I honestly don't care what anyone else thinks of me.

I have added my emphasis where I believe you failed Cosmo. I don't blame you any more than I would blame the hapless monk who wandered into Las Vegas thinking he might be able to bring some piety into the den of iniquity. You met temptation and it conquered you. For myself I must keep my thoughts pure and focused on natural fibers even if it means I remain the last holdout on an otherwise lost continent.

:D

I ride year round, does that make me a dork? If so i'm in denial about it. Although I don't wear spandex, I will snicker at those who do.

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I swore that I'd never wear spandex. Nope. No way you could ever get me into something like that, much less have me go out in public wearing it.

Then I tried it and realized why it's the best material for riding in. Now it's all I wear (even mountain biking) and I honestly don't care what anyone else thinks of me.

+1

You want to make love to a watermelon during those last ten miles home? Ok, I guess I draw the line there.

Ben, we have to talk.....

Just for the record, cyclists do not wear Spandex. They wear Lycra.

Lyrca:
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Spandex:
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Just for the record, cyclists do not wear Spandex. They wear Lycra.

Lyrca:
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Spandex:
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Sadly, I look more like the second one these days. Wonder if I can find leopard print in my size?

Sadly, I look more like the second one these days. Wonder if I can find leopard print in my size?

Every cloud has a silver lining. Years spent being overweight has built a very solid musculature. Hiding underneath the fat is an inordinately strong physique. A lot of skinny people are skinny but flimsy and weak, when a Clyde or Athena sheds the pounds, the result is much better than the average thin person. Sagging skin generally will correct itself in a year or two without surgery.

This might be a good time to mention the Ruby TV show is coming back on the Style network Feb 14.
Ruby has gone from 700 pounds to 300 pounds and is an inspiration.

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