Perception is in the eye of the beholder..
 

I think I am in the minority here. It seems that most of the regulars here are hardcore cyclists. By that I mean people that eat, sleep, and dream bicycles. I have no problem with that. In fact these same people are probably the ones with the most advice to offer an inexperienced rider like myself.

But in all honesty- I don't see there ever being a time when I will own a bike as my only means of transportation. I have neither the funds nor the desire to own the latest and greatest setup. I ride junk, partly because of budget, partly because I am content. If you can own the newest, fastest, most expensive bike then I am happy for you (really). But I can't and won't. I have no desire to be the fastest or be able to ride the farthest or jump the highest, but if that is your goal, I hope you reach it. I just want to ride. I do it for fun and exercise and nothing more. Am I the only one?

Let me say as I have before- I am NOT trying to stir up trouble, and if it comes across that way, then PLEASE , Joe, kill this post quick. That is not my intent. I am just curious.

I have found the people here, for the most part to be friendly and helpful. I haven't been offended by anyone, and would encourage anyone "lurking" to go ahead and join.

Thanks again to all who have offered me help in the past.

well I am not hardcore, I ride for fun and fitness and I don't care what people ride because if they are riding anything its better than sitting home. I too thought anyone spending alot on a bike was nuts, but as I rode more I upgraded each year till I had a top of line MTB, now we also bought road bikes and it will be same I will work my way up. Keep on riding

Just the fact that you take the time to read, join and post at an internet bicycle forum shows that your level of interest is greater than average. It doesn't matter what kind of bike you ride or even if you don't know how to true your own rims or rebuild your bottom bracket, your thoughts and veiwpoints will always be accepted and respected here(I think I speak for all the regulars here, at least that's how they've made me feel). I am by no means a hardcore cylist in reality, I come here because of my deep seated passion for the two wheeler that was instilled in me at an early age. I live out my cycling fantasies vicariously through the harcore members here while maintaining a "moderate" riding schedule in my real life (which the average non-cyclist still considers hardcore).

Don't feel like an outcast here. Come and contribute or just draw from the vast experience of the multi-national crowd here...in other words participate in watever way makes you comfortable! :D

Although I'm not riding much at present, I did ride a lot when I was still working, and commuting by bike.

I did it because I have no desire ever to own an automobile again; I think there are far too many cars on the road and they are not only destroying the environment but people's lives (in many ways!); because I got weary of riding the bus with obnoxious drunken crazies and bus drivers that were sometimes just as bad (though I continue to use public transportation, however unwillingly, and only wish it could be better--but that won't happen as long as people love their cars more than their own families); and finally because it was fairly convenient for me to make my commute by bike, and in order to keep somewhat fit.

I'm just as happy with my 1991 Giant Iguana and my 1970-s Nishiki Century as I would probably be with the fanciest machines out there today, and maybe more so, since I see no need for the 27-speed setups that are obsoleting everything earlier (and several riders here agree with THAT peeve); and because if one of my bikes gets stolen or trashed at least it's not going to be several thousands dollars' loss. Both are joys to ride.

I'd rather spend my money on new software that doesn't work! :D

I doubt it! :D

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By that I mean people that eat, sleep, and dream bicycles.

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This is true. Lots of people's spouses sleep on the couch...grease stains on the sheets...

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I have no problem with that. In fact these same people are probably the ones with the most advice to offer an inexperienced rider like myself.

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You'll get lots of that! :D Just kidding! That's what makes BF so rich.

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But in all honesty- I don't see there ever being a time when I will own a bike as my only means of transportation.

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Not me, either.

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I have neither the funds nor the desire to own the latest and greatest setup.

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Not me, either. I, too, am under budgetary constraints (how does, "H*ll, NO!" grab you in answer to, "Honey, I saw this nice bike...")

DARN!!!

:crash:

'goose, I would suspect that the majority of members are just like yourself: they ride to stay fit, and stay fit to ride. (There was a thread about this.) I would also suspect that the majority of us have a car because there are some things that are just too inconvenient to do on a bicycle. So don't feel bad, and don't feel you are an outsider; most of your posts that I've seen are interesting and thoughtful. Keep it up!

I'm hardcore. But, the way I look at it: anyone who rides a bike is fine by me.

BTW, real hardcore cyclists rarely own the latest and greatest. It's the poseurs who have the latest and greatest.

I'm a hardcore casual cyclist.

I only ride to commute to work and the odd errand, and it certainly isn't my only form of transport.

By hardcore I mean I ride in some pretty hairy traffic, and don't balk at riding on the road, any road, no matter how 'dangerous' people believe it to be. Indeed some of my most enjoyable moments have been doing things that push the limits of riding in traffic and pulling it off.

By casual, I mean that it's just a bike, and riding to work is no big deal. I try not to take it too seriously, and tend to shrug off things that would have had me fuming a few years ago. (I really think this helps in succeeding in the things described in the previous paragraph) I certainly don't have a top end bike, but I do spend money to keep the one I have, and I only have the one, running smoothly.

I keep up with this forum because, pathetic lifeform that I am, you guys and gals are the closest thing I've got to friends that share a common interest with me.

Well I have to say when I first started coming here (as a guest for about 1 month before I registered) I was looking for some info on how to fix up bikes and maintain them yourself. I never thought I would end up spending lots of money to build my own bike. At first I was riding just for the fun of it, but then it became something I saw had great use.

I'm not hardcore by any means, I also have a budget of sorts, and the way I see it is that is fine. The whole point is that you ride, and if that is fun for you then all the better. If competing in races is your thing, then go for it. If riding the biggest badest mountain is your idea of excitement, then more power to ya. I think it has to do with the fact that you are happy with what you do, whether you consider it to be a hobby or a lifestyle.

And as to the people that own the latest and greatest, there is an analogy that I heard a long time ago when I was playing paintball (fun sport if you never tried it)

It's not the gun that makes the player, but sometimes... it sure does help.

so...

it's not the bike that makes the person but sometimes it does help.

if you have fun... go for it :D

my 2 cents

they ride to stay fit, and stay fit to ride

One simple sentence sums up my entire reason for cycling, very appropriate.

CHEERS

Mark

It's all a matter of the company you keep.

Most of my non-cycling friends think that my road bike is super expensive. Compared to the bikes ridden by the guys I train with though, my bike is low end.

Most of my non-cycling friends think that I ride huge kilometres and that I ride 'really fast'. Compared to the guys I train with though, I don't ride all that far or that fast.

Let's be honest about this. A $4000AUD bike is still about $30,000 cheaper than a Ford Falcon.:D
Not to mention that after the purchase, it is virtually free to run.

CHEERS.

Mark

And servicing is much nicer too. You don't have some mechanic telling you about a part that needs replacing which you have no hope of verifying.

If a part is worn or needs replacing on a bike - it's pretty simple to spot - you can replace it yourself most of the time - and it won't cost you hundreds of dollars every time.

You mustn't be very popular with all this trying to inject a little logic into the argument. Some people can't seem to get past the bikes=toys idea, and spending $4000 on a toy is beyond their ken (but then they'll go out and spend $15000 on a jet ski, or however much it is they cost)

Isn't it the truth! I've known people at my workplace that thought $400 for a bicycle (my Giant Iguana, at the time I bought it) was WAY EXPENSIVE, and yet they will plunk down $1500 or more for a big-screen TV to watch mindless garbage on! :confused: