Trakhak

First, full disclosure: I'm 5' 8 1/2," 130 lbs. I admit that I don't belong in here. But every time I stop by this forum, I can't help noticing that the Clydesdales/Athenas forum is an oasis of civility and thoughtfulness and mutual support. Seems like about every third thread on the other forums is just a few comments away from degenerating into namecalling and adolescent internet abuse. I don't think I've ever seen that happening on this forum.

Not to make you blush, but why is this forum consistently so much more civilized than the others? Any ideas?

Tom Stormcrowe

Mainly because all of us here have been the butt of much of that adolescent namecalling, etc. We just developed a nice community from the get go, and have a lot of self policing of our behaviors, and try to keep it goal oriented, but still plenty of room for fun, as well.

Thanks for the compliments, though.

DelusionalDude

Indeed, thanks for the compliments.

Not only have we been the butt of those jokes from others, but many of us have also participated in self-deprecating humor as a means of defense from such. So here, at least for the most part, is a safe-haven, and a means of group support. We all have the same goals, self improvement by means of improved health from increased physical activity. Having those mutual goals means we all understand the struggles we each face every day. Those common strugles help us to have empathy and compassion (those of us that have those capabilities anyway) and that keeps it from rapid degeneration into flame wars and insults.

Aleforge

Its a cruel world out there, very glad I found this haven of love and support!

Funny thing is I found it by someone saying I belonged in here, just because I felt my tires didn't like fat people.

txvintage

The thing I like most about this little sanctuary of the intarwebz is the way new folks are greeted and "newb" questions are handled. It's also pretty cool that the smallest of accomplishments is celebrated as sincerely as the most epic of accomplishments.

I think the key is the additional bond of common ground beyond the bike even though it doesn't take long to go from a person riding a bike to lose weight to a person who rides a bike. The other stuff just goes with it.

EDIT: We do have to occasionally poke the Mods with a stick to see if they are still awake.......

z415

"Introductions" isn't bad either ....

thompsonpost

I started by tripping through the Mountain Bike board. Big mistake. I love beating the bushes, but I'm allergic to floods of testosterone.

EasyEd

It's realy because we don't let you skinny's in here. Just kidding. You can hang with us if you want too.

Scummer

5'8" 130lbs? Wowsa... I think you need to eat a bigger meal once in a while
J/K. Sounds like you would make an exceptional climber tho.

rideabike

You obviously haven't read through the forum very thoroughly. Say something someone disagrees with and you get a "STFU."

Very civilized.

Missbumble 

Hey Trakhak - Welcome to our lil ole forum area. I think being a Clydesdale Athena for some means you have struggled in life with weight etc - and are working towards a goal. We are all very supportive and helpful. I find though in the real world that a lot of other bikers are very supportive of newbies as well. Sometime I think the skinny fellas out there have had a lot of things come easier for them - here we are pretty sensitive. Some come on in and get some love! And great advice on the bike or offer up some as well.

TrekJapan

There are some other boards that are pretty civilized as well. Folding Bikes is one of them.

I truly don't see much in the way of un-civility on BF in general because for one I only hit 2-3 of the boards and use the search function a lot when I'm researching everything. I don't open a heck a lot of the posts here either and you can "kinda" smell the bad ones by the title and number of responses.

I do admit to looking at almost all the "I got hit" threads I see. Some of those turn around and get weird sometimes. 15 people will chime in and say "Wow, sorry to hear it, good luck, fight the good fight" and one guy will invariably chime in and say "sounds like it was your fault".

John

chewybrian 

I find this forum and long distance to be civil. In both cases, you don't have to lose for me to win.(In case some don't know, most LD rides are timed, but not competitive, as finishers are not ranked, beyond pass/fail). So there is little reason to run you down. There is also no incentive to hold tight to "trade secrets", so people are quicker to help each other out.

StephenH

Possibly several reasons.
People in some of the other forums are very competitive in nature, and most of us heavier people aren't in that category. So we're not competing with each other.
A lot of heavier people, myself included, were fitter when young and got this way through the years. So the average age may be older in here than in the Road forum, and especially the SS/FG forum.
Part of it is just a forum dynamic that's hard to nail down (or change). If everyone in here was snippy and rude, we'd just sort of expect it of each other and it would continue, and I think that's sort of what goes on in some of the forums.
Maybe some of those snippy and rude people in the other forums are actually just hungry, and would be more mellow with a big plate of spaghetti in front of them.

Aleforge

That's great!

Little Darwin

Due to health reasons, I wouldn't suggest that anyone intentionally try to gain the weight needed to officially qualify for this forum, but I also know that nobody here pulls out a scale to make sure that everyone qualifies, so feel free to hang out when you need a rest.

You just have to wait a few years, and 50+ is another nice forum... and nobody there pulls out a calendar as long as you don't seem to be out of place.

Or if you have any interest in Classic & Vintage bikes, C&V is another section that is typically very low on the confrontation scale.

Little Darwin

Another good one... and Touring is typically very friendly as well... also Utility cycling, if you fit into that specialty niche too. I fit into none of those categories, but as a clydesdale have some interest in the style of bikes (touring/utility) so I have read the forums at some points in the past.

Village Idiot

Because I haven't seen anyone in here call another user a moron for riding Trek and not Specialized? It's all about just being on a bike, right?

Plus when some one does a 30 mile ride in about three hours and gets excited, it's nothing to call a person out on or call BS on. In fact, that's not very special to most of the "real cyclist" out there, but damn is that an accomplishment for some of us.

TechKnowGN

I will say that if Foo was like this place, Foo would suck. I'm glad we are mostly not nice to each other there LOL

dwr1961

I had to smile at Trakhak's observation... So true!

I'm not a Clyde (6'1" / 195), but close! I ought to weigh 180, so I can identify with the goal of losing some weight... I lurk in here occaisionally just to soak up some of the positive vibe. The C/A forum inspires me. I wish they all could be like that.

I won't kick dirt on some of the "less positive" forums, but I acknowledge there are more than a couple that could do some growing up... I taught junior high for a few years, and they remind me of a few of those classrooms...

That said, I think that Commuting is generally a positive, supportive bunch. Not too many folks in our area snipe from behind their screen names. Come on over for a visit if you haven't already.

Brando_T.

I was passed by two different guys yesterday that were about 130-140 lbs. Put them together and they still don't weigh as much as me.

they were both on titanium or carbon bikes...put the bikes together and they may not weigh as much as mine.

Mr. Beanz

There is some trash that goes on. But mainly by puppets that feel the need to insult others then run to the mods and have them issue you a warning when you send them a dirty filthy PM!

But really, I don't mind the trash talk in other forums cause 95% of the riders are all talk and have never even rode up a mtn and or cant' ride their way out of a paper bag! I know too many riders with top-o-the-line equipment that suck! Being skinny means squat!

I think I hang out her cause most of the guys are honest. The other forums are filled with riders that just have too much money on their hands!

godugr8

SS/FG is the worst.

thompsonpost

With reference to this site, it is a forum comprised of boards which are comprised of threads which are comprised of posts.

Is everyone here referring to other forums or are you calling "C&A" a forum?

This is a real question.

Spasticteapot

Because nobody here is willing to pay $3,000 and sacrifice a huge amount of longevity and durability to shave two pounds off a bike.

Also, people here recognize that the correct number of spokes on a bike is "how many can I get?"