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Made fun of By Other Cyclists...

Old 06-08-16, 08:28 PM
  #151  
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
..
...who let the road forum guys in here ? Nothing good ever comes out of the 41.
...who let the p&r forum guys in here ? Nothing good ever comes of that.
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Old 06-08-16, 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
...who let the p&r forum guys in here ? Nothing good ever comes of that.
... Hey, @BillyD. 'Sup.
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Old 06-08-16, 08:53 PM
  #153  
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
... Hey, @BillyD. 'Sup.
Where've you been hiding, dude?
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Old 06-08-16, 08:54 PM
  #154  
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Originally Posted by FullGas
an amazing number of anecdotal accounts of people being confronted about their choice of bicycle and/or attire.

in my entire cycling experience, I've never ONCE witnessed this type of behavior
I dunno, I'm getting hammered pretty good over in the Touring forum for thinking it is acceptable to carry jeans for off-bike activities on a bike tour...

Originally Posted by Oldguyonoldbike
I used to work with a guy from southern Italy who had a very healthy attitude towards life. He would often say:

"If someone tells you that you have a big nose, and you have a big nose, well, why get angry?
If, on the other hand someone tells you that you have a big nose and you don't have a big nose, why get angry, because you know you don't have a big nose."

I like my bikes. I dress however I want. I'm a happy guy.
You like your bike. Dress however you want. Enjoy your bike and be happy. If someone else has anything to say about it, well, it really is their problem.
On those same lines, one of the few bits of advice I remember from grade school is a teacher that always told the class "If it isn't something that will still be bothering you five years from now, it isn't worth getting upset about now"
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Old 06-08-16, 08:59 PM
  #155  
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Originally Posted by BillyD
Where've you been hiding, dude?
...my feet have been very slow to come around, so I decided to stay off the bike for six months in hopes of curing myself through some miraculous process of swimming (boring) and yoga. It makes me unhappy, but so does achy feets. So what can you do ? But I just cannot hang around bikers while I do this or I won't follow through. No self discipline.

Speaking of which, assuming the OP is in earnest, I don't understand the roadie delight in tormenting Freds. Never did. Must be testosterone poisoning...I have some experience with that.
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Old 06-08-16, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by IndianaRecRider
To those posters who say they don't believe the OP.....why not? What reason would he have to lie?
I don't recall anyone calling the OP a liar. I think many think he just misinterpreted events that are inconsistent with what most cyclists have observed over the years. His posts have been somewhat inconsistent so the simplest explanation is that he simply mis-heard.
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Old 06-08-16, 09:15 PM
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At age 83, still riding 100 miles a week and having pedaled in excess of 300-thousand miles I once in a while get a 'hey old man' comment. Hell I was riding way before those kids were born!
Just smile and wave (with all fingers)!
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Old 06-08-16, 09:18 PM
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.
...ah jeez. Now it's a waving thread. Those never end well.
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Old 06-08-16, 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
...my feet have been very slow to come around, so I decided to stay off the bike for six months in hopes of curing myself through some miraculous process of swimming (boring) and yoga. It makes me unhappy, but so does achy feets. So what can you do ? But I just cannot hang around bikers while I do this or I won't follow through. No self discipline.

Speaking of which, assuming the OP is in earnest, I don't understand the roadie delight in tormenting Freds. Never did. Must be testosterone poisoning...I have some experience with that.
I've been cycling for 40+ years and have never witnessed the issue at hand. In contrast, roadies typically ignore freds.

Good luck with the feet!
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Old 06-08-16, 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
...In contrast, roadies typically ignore freds.
...can't tell if serious ? Did you see all the 41ier responses in this thread ?

Originally Posted by BillyD
Good luck with the feet!
...thanks.
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Old 06-09-16, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by deapee

I have zero issues in life making friends with anyone and certainly don't have a lot of insecurities.
... says the guy trying to convince the whole internet. lol. Give up. Winning an internet argument about not being insecure is surely a harder conundrum than was proving Fermat's last theorem.
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Old 06-09-16, 07:26 AM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
...can't tell if serious ? Did you see all the 41ier responses in this thread ?
They talk a good game from the safety of the interwebz. The red-type in my signature says it all.
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Old 06-09-16, 07:34 AM
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Avid road cyclists tend to be a fairly judgemental crowd.
Judgemental of rider and bike/gear.
Anyone flat out denying this is oblivious or lying imo.
It is what it is...
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Old 06-09-16, 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Flinstone
... says the guy trying to convince the whole internet. lol. Give up. Winning an internet argument about not being insecure is surely a harder conundrum than was proving Fermat's last theorem.
My response was targeted at an individual, not the whole internet.
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Old 06-09-16, 09:08 AM
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How can we not appreciate the delicious irony of a rider being ridiculed by other riders, being ridiculed further for posting about it here?

Being ridiculed by cyclists for being ridiculed by cyclists, and further, by cyclists claiming that cyclists don't ridicule other cyclists.

Now the question is, does he post the next thread:

"Made fun of by other cyclists again .... "

And where could he post it? I guess he would need to join a cycling club, tell them about over beers after a ride, and then if they ridiculed him ....

Thanks, BF. Don't ever change.
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Old 06-09-16, 09:23 AM
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If roadies aren't allowed to laugh at freds, are freds allowed to laugh at roadies...what if the roadies show up to a slow roll 10mph family type ride in full kit, on their carbon tri bike?
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Old 06-09-16, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by SpeshulEd
If roadies aren't allowed to laugh at freds, are freds allowed to laugh at roadies...what if the roadies show up to a slow roll 10mph family type ride in full kit, on their carbon tri bike?
Noob question: What's a roadie (can probably figure this one out for myself but want to be sure)? What's a Fred (or at least, the background on the term)?
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Old 06-09-16, 09:34 AM
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meh, some of the delicate flowers here should try diving if they want to see some harshly conflicting attitudes over gear and attire.

any snorkel-toting, color-coordinated, warm water recreational type that encounters a group of technical guys better have a good sense of humor or the caustic comments will cause some tears...

makes cycling look like a non-stop love fest.
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Old 06-09-16, 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by SpeshulEd
If roadies aren't allowed to laugh at freds, are freds allowed to laugh at roadies...what if the roadies show up to a slow roll 10mph family type ride in full kit, on their carbon tri bike?
I did a charity ride last year (Bike the Bridge in Detroit) where for whatever stupid reason they decided to keep all 500 participants in one group. Every mile or so we'd stop for a few minutes and let all the stragglers catch up. One of those kitted out groups eventually just took their numbers off, removed themselves from the police escort, and took off on their own.

Originally Posted by FullGas
any snorkel-toting, color-coordinated, warm water recreational type that encounters a group of technical guys better have a good sense of humor or the caustic comments will cause some tears...
Happens in every hobby, unfortunately.
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Old 06-09-16, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by knapplc
Noob question: What's a roadie (can probably figure this one out for myself but want to be sure)? What's a Fred (or at least, the background on the term)?
I'd call a "roadie" your typical spandex guy on a road bike...rides in the bike lane, on the road.

Freds fit into all categories...they love bikes and dorking out on them, which sometimes results in various computers and lights and other gadgets spread across their handlebars, wearing a highway construction vest and a flag on their bike means they're ready for anything. I'd also categorize people that try a little too hard into this category, like the dentist that decided to spend $20k on a bike that he has to push up a hill. I dunno, I've never really called anyone a Fred before and try not to categorize them. They're all great people, just a little weird at times.
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Old 06-09-16, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by knapplc
Noob question: What's a roadie (can probably figure this one out for myself but want to be sure)? What's a Fred (or at least, the background on the term)?
Already posted this once on page 2, but I'll do it again:

Originally Posted by https://bikeparts.wikia.com/wiki/Fred_%28bicycling%29
"Fred" is a derisive term used by "serious" road cyclists to describe other cyclists who do not conform to serious road cyclists' norms with regard to dress and equipment, and appear amateurish to them. The term is generally reserved for men, while the rare female Fred is sometimes called a "Doris."

The exact qualities that define one as a "Fred" vary widely among regions and cyclists. The main two definitions used for the term are actually completely contradictory.

In the UK, an early usage of the word is the more common—used by 'serious' roadies to refer to (often) bearded, sandal-wearing, touring cyclists without any high-tech gear. This usage still survives in the US. David Bernstein, presenter of The FredCast says the term is "used by 'serious' roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable 'freds' drop the 'serious' roadies on hills because the 'serious' guys were really posers."

Recently, particularly in the US, a Fred is more often somebody with higher quality and more expensive gear than his or her talent would warrant. For example, a Fred could be guy with little cycling experience who watches the highlights of a few Tour de France stages, then goes to a bike store and buys a Trek carbon fiber Madone in Team Discovery colors, along with Team Discovery shorts and jersey, and then rides it on a cycling path at 15 mph (25 km/h). Some use "Fred" in a somewhat similar matter, but more synonymous with a roadie poseur. Such a person is more aware of roadie culture, and wants to be seen as a roadie despite lacking in the requisite ability and style (whereas the other type of Fred may have purchased some high-end gear, but is oblivious to road cyclist ways). An interesting corollary for the poseur type of Fred is that if someone is worried about being a Fred, he probably is one of these Freds. In addition, it is this type of Fred who is most likely to use "Fred" as a derisive term for others.


[snip]


The roots of the term "Fred" are unclear, though some believe it originated from[2] a touring rider named Fred Birchmore from Athens, GA. In 1934-35, Birchmore rode around the world on a bicycle he named Bucephalus. Birchmore and Bucephalus traveled approximately 25,000 miles. Bucephalus is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. In one famous incident while touring in Italy, Birchmore passed a bunch of racers during a race he had crossed paths with by chance. And despite going up hill on his loaded 50 pound non-racing bike, he passed the finish line well ahead of the racers. The cheering crowd at the finish line assumed him to be the winner of the race.
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Old 06-09-16, 10:06 AM
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It's rare, but personal insults happen once in awhile. Why anyone would insult a commuter is beyond me. Sort of like a guy in a Ferrari sneering at the guy driving a FedEx truck. I ride a SWB high racer recumbent, so I sometimes get shunned by the club riders. As for the club riders, some are nice, whereas others are ******bags. We have a local shop club comprised of hard core riders, and most of them tend to be rude, riding 4 abreast, refusing to yield the right of way, etc. Others are friendly, and ask about my bike. It might help that because I ride for recreation, I dress in cycling clothes, though I don't go for flashy team logos.

Sometimes we need to remember that even if the bike cost $8-12K, riding a bike, by yourself or with friends, is the same thing we used to do when we were eleven years old. It's not that serious (unless you have a sponsor).

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Old 06-09-16, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Denny Crane
Sometimes we need to remember that riding a bike, by yourself or with friends, is the same thing we used to do when we were eleven years old. It's not that serious.
+11111111111111111111111111111111111111
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Old 06-09-16, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by SpeshulEd
+11111111111111111111111111111111111111
... and I'll +1 that.

Reminds me of something someone wrote a few years ago on here (wish I could remember who): 'in the end, we're all just dorks riding around on bicycles'. That applies to all of us who are *'cyclists' of whatever variety. For any one Dork or Dork Group to feel 'superior' for any reason to a different Dork or Dork Group strikes me as utterly ridiculous.

*I use BSNYC's definition: a 'cyclist' is someone (and more importantly in the context of this thread, anyone) who rides a bicycle even though he/she doesn't have to, and who values the act of riding a bicycle more than the equipment used to do it.
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Old 06-09-16, 11:38 AM
  #175  
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Originally Posted by Geosammy
It must have been an anomaly, at least I'm hoping so.
Anomoly or not, worth it because now we all here get a laugh out of of those laughing morons...

This reminds me. Last time out riding to the shore I saw a parked fisherman's pink girls bmx with a ugly tackle box bolted on to the back. I don't think I've ever respected another rider more.. No ****s given by that guy.

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