General Cycling Discussion - how do you know when you are a hacker?

I am a regular guy with one bike (2002 Trek 8500 MTB). I wish I had 10 bikes but I have no cash. I have a big goofy helmet, a camelback, and a few tools, but adjusting my seatpost is about the only thing I know how to do. I cant really even afford to get a tune up, so I just keep on riding my bike and hope my chain stays on. I race xc mtb, and i wear spandex, and i have a visor on my helmet. I dont come in last, but I dont win either.

Am I a hacker?

How does a poor guy graduate from hacker to enthusiast?

I am a regular guy with one bike (2002 Trek 8500 MTB)..........How does a poor guy graduate from hacker to enthusiast?
By being enthusiastic about what he does. In your case it sounds like you are, therefore you are one! It's not dependent on what you wear/ride/look like.

I would make one suggestion to you, seeing how much you like bikes. Learn how to maintain and repair yours. It's not difficult, though it takes some learning and a few proper tools. Park Tools has a fabulous website that can be of great help to the novice: http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml

Find someone who is skilled at bike maintenance and ask if you can observe. Are there bicycle repair books at your library? Read all you can (you can never have too much information) and learn by observing and doing. It's not rocket science, and soon you'll have your bike in top running condition.

I think an enthusiast is someone that goes out there regardless of what equipment they have and still walk away with the same grin as the guy out there in full gear and a top of the line bike.

Go buy a set of allen wrenches and an adjustable wrench atleast and check out parktools.com, sheldonbrown.com and this site for any help. I started with a used bike I picked up and the above sites and a couple of months later I can take care of most repairs except BB, headset and other complicated stuff that required special tools. It ain't rocket science so just plunge in headfirst and try it.

err, hackers are people that hack things. Such as a software hacker or hardware hacker.....
aside from that, you either are an enthusiast or your not. It's not something you have to try to do otherwise you are just posing really. If you love your bikes then go ahead and call yourself an enthusiast, but I would say you have to have some sort of knowledge beyond how to ride a bike for that to really be true.

I know a guy who's a woodsman...

I was a hacker but then I sold all my golf clubs and bought a second bike. :D

What exactly is the progression from observer to pro in the current vernacular?