General Cycling Discussion - 5 Reasons Riding a Bike Is the Most Humiliating Exercise

When I mentioned to him that I was bike shopping, my career cynic of a brother--after telling me what a terrible investment it would be--emailed me this article (http://www.cracked.com/article_19063_5-reasons-riding-bike-most-humiliating-exercise.html). (I dare not mention the word "triathlon" in his presence.)

What do you guys think? Do you regularly encounter people who share the sentiment expressed in the article? Do you share the sentiment expressed in the article?

Not, really, get some really negative attitudes from my wife on a lot of topics, but not the particular ones in the article.

That article is rubbish! Entertaining though.

Anything from cracked.com is meant to be comic entertainment not to be taken seriously. Just take a look the other content on their site. The only part of the article that holds any semblance of validity is the potential for impotence in men. The "package" photo is quite disturbing.

I did chuckle a few times, I admit.

As a beginner, I reacted the same way to the prospect of "locking" my feet onto the pedals. I'm still not entirely convinced, though I'm warming up to to the idea of trying it on the stationary bikes in spin class.

The chamois butter was new to me. I have yet to encounter that one and am uncertain I ever will.

I was just curious to see whether biking was widely considered a "fringe activity" in the experience of regular cyclists.

*Yawn*

The article is written by someone who doesn't have a clue what he/she is talking about ...


"You're actually supposed to be able to fully extend your leg when the pedal is all the way down" -- WRONG!! That's the way to develop knee problems. And it goes downhill from there. I didn't get to the second page because the article is that stupid and misinformed.

When I mentioned to him that I was bike shopping, my career cynic of a brother--after telling me what a terrible investment it would be--emailed me this article (http://www.cracked.com/article_19063_5-reasons-riding-bike-most-humiliating-exercise.html). (I dare not mention the word "triathlon" in his presence.)

What do you guys think? Do you regularly encounter people who share the sentiment expressed in the article? Do you share the sentiment expressed in the article?

I think your brother needs to find more informative sources of information other than Cracked magazine.

I think you need to find a new brother.

Waste of time...

It is satire folks...

It is satire folks...

Yes, but the OP and his brother think it might be reality ... and I don't like it when satire spouts blatant misinformation as truth, especially as potentially damaging misinformation.

Hey guys. At the end of the article, on the second page of it, the Cracked.com writer writes the following...


Actually, one of the reasons I'm riding is to raise money to fight cancer. I've already raised quite a bit thanks to amazingly generous Cracked readers. Click here to find out more or donate.

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_19063_5-reasons-riding-bike-most-humiliating-exercise_p2.html#ixzz1GTF2Ni7O

So I think even HE knows that he is full of __it. :)

Sounds like he himself rides, and that makes the probability of him being a decent human being pretty good. :)

- Brad

Hey guys. At the end of the article, on the second page of it, the Cracked.com writer writes the following...



So I think even HE knows that he is full of __it. :)

Sounds like he himself rides, and that makes the probability of him being a decent human being pretty good. :)

- Brad

Maybe so ... but I couldn't wade through all that drivel long enough to get to the second page.

I don't blame you at all.

It is satire folks...

Just not very good satire.

You didn't mention if it was an older brother or a younger brother.

If it was an older brother I'm thinking he used to beat you up a lot as kids. He's still doing it.
If it was a younger brother you probably beat him up and now he's trying to get even.

LOL, he's my (only) younger brother...you may be on to something there...

And nah, we both knew it was (supposed to be) satire; he was just ribbing me for "getting into" what he deems a stupid activity. Though I'm sure he couldn't be bothered with differentiating between types of cycling and assumes all "serious cyclists" do everything in this list.

I thought it was funny.

I don't get any flack from anybody for riding, never really have... but people at work are still amazed that I ride 9 whole miles to and from work. they think I'm crazy :lol:

nubiennze, The article didn't bother me, just a poke that should be taken with good humor...I make fun of GOLFERS. ;)

Brad

Some of you folks need to grow thicker skin. PSSST. It's a joke.

The article is written by someone who doesn't have a clue what he/she is talking about ...

Just consider the source. It's cracked.com. Cracked used to be the #2 behind Mad Magazine. This can only be taken as an attempt at humor.

In the words of the great Sgt. Hulka: Lighten up, Francis.

Still my favorite Cracked Article.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18683_7-scientific-reasons-zombie-outbreak-would-fail-quickly.html

Some people need to remember that Cracked was supposed to be more irreverent than MAD Magazine...

Yes, but the OP and his brother think it might be reality ... and I don't like it when satire spouts blatant misinformation as truth, especially as potentially damaging misinformation.

It's a little creative license. It isnt meant to be an article on how to fit your bike. Writing that you need to have a 20-30 degree bend in your knee while on the pedal kinda takes away from the humor.

I for one found that article really funny. Those of you who've got yours in a bunch need to lighten up.

When I mentioned to him that I was bike shopping, my career cynic of a brother--after telling me what a terrible investment it would be--emailed me this piece of humor from Cracked magazine (http://www.cracked.com/article_19063_5-reasons-riding-bike-most-humiliating-exercise.html). (I dare not mention the word "triathlon" in his presence.)

What do you guys think? Do you regularly encounter people who share the satirical humor expressed in the joke story? Do you share the comedy expressed in the article?

There. That's a better opening post. :thumb:

I think a lot of you missed the conclusion
I'm still going to avoid most of those things but you can't spend your life avoiding everything you're afraid of. I like going outside, getting in shape, seeing beautiful scenery, and if I'm going to let the thought of falling off the bike and being dragged down an asphalt road at 40 miles per hour stop me from enjoying the things I- oh man. I feel kind of faint, I think I need to go lie down.
Actually, one of the reasons I'm riding is to raise money to fight cancer. I've already raised quite a bit thanks to amazingly generous Cracked readers.


Like others have said, lighten up.

Right now I'm wondering where people find articles like these. Any regular Cracked reader would get the jokes right away.

Are there BFers who google for the latest bike-oriented articles just to see what pops up? Heck, I have a feeling that some regulars over in A&S wake up every morning, copy & paste "cyclist injured" into Google, and look for the latest news items. Gotta have a morbid personality to do that.

I didn't even know Cracked still existed. I preferred Mad in my younger days. Now I'm an Onion man.

Heck, I have a feeling that some regulars over in A&S wake up every morning, copy & paste "cyclist injured" into Google, and look for the latest news items. Gotta have a morbid personality to do that.

:lol: Yep! That's why I've nicknamed that forum the D&D forum ... "Death and Destruction".

More juicy info from Cracked:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18965_5-weight-loss-tips-cynical-bastards.html

That cycling article cracked me up. The link to the "cycle bulge" at the end disturbed me greatly.

I must be a terrible cyclist, because I thought that was freakin' hilarious!

http://cbsavestheworld.blogspot.com/

Happy Cycling

I must be a terrible cyclist, because I thought that was freakin' hilarious!

http://cbsavestheworld.blogspot.com/

Happy Cycling

http://cbsavestheworld.blogspot.com/2011/03/it-doesnt-take-athlete.html

Where'd you see the Marines D&B?

Lame....

Is CRACKED just online now, or they still print a physical mag? Maybe a comic-collector's store will have an old issue... that you can roll up and beat your brother with until it shreds.

Just for fun.

let's face it, if we listened to what our relatives said, none of us would ever get on a bike.

When I mentioned to him that I was bike shopping, my career cynic of a brother--after telling me what a terrible investment it would be--emailed me this article (http://www.cracked.com/article_19063_5-reasons-riding-bike-most-humiliating-exercise.html). (I dare not mention the word "triathlon" in his presence.)

What do you guys think? Do you regularly encounter people who share the sentiment expressed in the article? Do you share the sentiment expressed in the article?

I haven't even bothered to read the article, but some of the passages quoted here tell me that it's just satire, and not intended to be taken seriously. Now there are few people in this world more cynical than I am, but if your brother is sitting there reading an article that's meant to be satire and thinking "yeah, right on!", he probably as some problems.

Personally, I'm not concerned about whether riding a bike is "humiliating" or not -- all I care about is the amount of money that it's saved me this year, and how much I'm going to enjoy the trip to Europe in September that I've paid for by riding my bike.


Heck, I have a feeling that some regulars over in A&S wake up every morning, copy & paste "cyclist injured" into Google, and look for the latest news items. Gotta have a morbid personality to do that.

Yep, but there's a lot of it going around. There are now entire "advocacy" websites devoted to that sort of thing. I think some people like to live the myth that they're risking their lives to "save the world", and thus get the ego boost it provides.

I remember when Cracked was funny. Well, I thought so when I was 12, anyway.

When I mentioned to him that I was bike shopping, my career cynic of a brother--after telling me what a terrible investment it would be--emailed me this article (http://www.cracked.com/article_19063_5-reasons-riding-bike-most-humiliating-exercise.html). (I dare not mention the word "triathlon" in his presence.)

What do you guys think? Do you regularly encounter people who share the sentiment expressed in the article? Do you share the sentiment expressed in the article?

You mean your brother actually believes what's written in that failed attempt at humor?.... does he also believe that superman does in fact weak chuck norris pajamas or that the boogie man checks under his bed at night for chuck norris?

I remember when Cracked was funny. Well, I thought so when I was 12, anyway.

Cracked, in my view, could never be as funny as Mad. :p

It never was, Si; it's why I lost touch with it after 2-3 issues.

I STILL enjoy MAD, whenever/wherever I happen to find it.

I didn't even know Cracked still existed. I preferred Mad in my younger days. Now I'm an Onion man.

Don't post an Onion piece in here, we don't want to give anyone a stroke. :lol:

This thread is evidence that some cyclists, like any other group, take themselves and their hobby waaaaaay too seriously. Lighten up, folks - you'll live longer.

I woulda laughed if it was funny. I go for a good bike joke as much as the next fella.

Example:

Q: Why did the roadie walk his bike cross the road?
A: It didn't. He slipped because of his road cleats.

See? Not funny either, but maybe it could have been, in the hands of a better writer.

At least we can all look down on recumbent riders...

At least we can all look down on recumbent riders...

And up to this guy?:

http://www.digitalmediatree.com/library/image/88/TallBikeZenga.jpg

(had to substitute a new pic because the URL for the previous one contained one of the Seven Deadly Words, which I guess the Board software filters out. The picture itself was harmless.)

And up to this guy?:

http://www.digitalmediatree.com/library/image/88/TallBikeZenga.jpg

Sorry - that joke went over my head....

Smile and Wave.. Smile and Wave.

Wait a minute.. what's the question again?

Whatever, Nevermind.