Nightshade

A new movement to a different path than the racer boys ride..........

https://grist.org/list/slow-biking-is...indless-speed/

PlanoFuji

https://www.slowbicyclemovement.org/

achoo

Sheesh. When I do go for a run, I don't feel any compunction whatsoever to compare myself to Usain Bolt or any other track athletes.

MattFoley

All this othering among cyclists is mind-numbingly stupid. Some people like to go fast, some people like to go slow, some people bike for exercise, some people bike for utility, some people do a combination of these. Riding slow isn't a "movement"...kitting out and going fast isn't a "movement". It's a personal preference that has no objective value over another. Ride your own ride, be a PAL, and get over yourself.

mprelaw

You have to understand that to the OP, a "racer boy" is anyone who rides anything other than a Worksman. And god forbid they ride with clipless pedals.

Wilfred Laurier

i propose a new type of triathlon

discipline 1
fast biking

discipline 2
slow biking

disciplie 3
changing a flat
or maybe
floating down a lazy river in an inner tube

you could subtract the slow biking time from the fast time
and divide by time spent on the river + beers consumed

no1mad 

Rearrange that order to fast, float, slow... otherwise, anybody who likes to drink will not be slowing down.

Depending on length and current of the float, the slow stage might be more appropriate on spin cycles surrounded by mats and a fair amount of buckets.

erig007

don't forget:

reverse biking
you ride in reverse and never reach your destination

dive biking
not sure where you can go with that

fish biking
after you succeeded the previous discipline on the list
(better go for the smaller fish they are better to handle)

fart biking
well... you get the picture

achoo

Really gotta wonder why he goes out of his way to define himself against something he's not.

"Hey, I'm not Aretha Franklin!"

Nightshade

Now, be nice. Let's not make this personal...........

mrtidy

Everyone I bike with thinks I'm part of the slow biking movement...

Rootman

Well, finally I am AHEAD of the curve on something. I've been doing this for years.

FenderTL5

https://www.meetup.com/NASHVILLE-SLOW...nts/136772642/


fwiw, i think it's a good idea. A lot of the group/club rides, in fact all of those in my part of the city, have a "Road Bike Only" restriction.
This seems like a friendlier alternative, YMMV.

caloso

I would imagine that this intended to prohibit TT/Tri bikes and fixed gears, both of which can be ridden fast enough to keep up with the A ride, but may not be safe in a group (aerobars) or on sharp corners (FG).

erig007

I'm wondering what anyone would think, when behind a group of people practicing slow biking on the bicycle lane, while late for work

FenderTL5

Maybe, but I inquired and was told "no mountain bikes or hybrids allowed".
I ride a hybrid, so I wasn't welcomed to join.

PlanoFuji

Probably the same thing any motorists thinks when behind a cyclist in the road lane while late for work.


BTW, I don't think you looked at the links on the SBM, it doesn't require practice, its more about an approach to life. Also known as stop and smell the roses or live for the moment.

erig007

I looked at the links and watch many videos. Whatever the reason practice or philosophy of life or my personal opinion, i'm just noticing a problem that could occur.
Now, i believe that those problems are not the same between cyclists and motorists and among cyclists.

Regarding, the problem between motorists and cyclists, i believe there is an organizational problem there. In a perfect world cyclists and motorists shouldn't have to share the same road because those are not the same kind of vehicles with the same level of damage to impact. An impact between a cyclist and a car, the former will probably have more damage than the driver. There is lots of uncertainty from the fact that they have different behaviors on the road as well (speed, reactivity, predictability...)
The more heterogeneous the system is the more parameters you have to deal with.
On the other hand, cyclists are cyclists whatever they do with their bikes. Doesn't mean the uncertainty isn't there. It's just that the scale of damage remains in the same range.
It's like a war with sticks and stones vs a war between sticks and stones ....and rocket launchers.

Shimagnolo

Slowing riding is a part of police motorcycle competitions.
Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwVqB9sfyUs

PlanoFuji

I am unclear how any of the above changes the fact that the motorist in my example would likely be annoyed and the cyclist in your example would likely be annoyed. In both cases the annoyance is a result of their mistaken belief that they have a right to go as fast as they want without regard to the rights of others. In short neither the motorist in my example of the cyclist in yours have feelings that matter at all in those situations.

Keith99

Then you found either jerks or communication impaired people. I can see rides where mountain bikes or hybrids would be strongly discouraged or come with a caveat. Specifically if you choose to ride such don't expect anyone else to wait for you.

EDIT: From what I've heard of some need for speed types and clubs I do think something a bit different might be worth creating as a club ethos.

Cooperation. Trying to help everyone find an appropriate ride, trying to help slower riders progress and perhaps most of all providing a good wheel to follow.

I find one thing a bit off regarding the go slow smell the roses idea.

Unless you are very lucky you can't do that nearly as well as a go quick stop when there is something worthwhile. A simple example. Start on the Beach Bike Path South of Santa Monica and be a slow rider. You will never see more.

Be a somewhat quick rider and you will continue onto the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You will see great views that a 'walk any hill' rider will only see if they drive there or spend an hour walking the hill. You just might continue on to the Buddhist Temple and the old WW II gun emplacement near it. Or climb to the top of the hills and have lunch overlooking the golf course.

I'm all sor smelling the roses, but first you have to get to the roses.

gecho

Riding slow makes my butt hurt.

PlanoFuji

The stop and smell the rose or enjoy the moment, which are really what the slow bicycle movement is about have absolutely nothing to do with actual speed. To use your example, if someone 'pushes' themselves to get to Palos Verdes Peninsula, then they are not really paying attention to and enjoying the surroundings on the way. The SBM is all about enjoying the ride and not worrying about the destination, speed, or any of that. And as with anything else, it needs to be approached in moderation. If part of what someone enjoys is 'pushing themselves' then by all means do it. For them the SBM would be about once in awhile just riding for the sheer joy of riding, with no goals of any kind in mind.


The slow part is emphasized so much because it seems that so many cyclists approach cycling as if they are training for the TDF. Their riding is all about getting faster, beating the prior times, etc... Those cyclists are the very ones who benefit most from just occasionally tabling all that and just riding for the fun of it.

erig007

I was trying to talk about the possible root causes of the problem rather than trying to deals with the resulting problems themselves. You can try to deal with all the problems resulting from sharing the same road and argue about who is right and who isn't or acknowledge the fact that people have to share the same road at start where they shouldn't, in a perfect world.

Now regarding the problem that some people are annoyed it can be for many reasons not just because people believe it is their right to ride or drive and it isn't the right of others. Whenever you prevent somebody from doing something it can generate irritability, frustration, anger. Like most people I believe, I will be annoyed when the phone ring preventing me from eating my food, a driver open the car door just in front of me, if i ride slowly someone going too fast too close or if someone on the road slow me down. In the later case whatever the fact that i believe or not that i can go as fast i want without regard to the rights of others.
In short, people can be annoyed for many reasons that we don't necessarily know.

Dudelsack 

wut