abdon 

I'm referring to the definition of a Fred as a person that does not conform to the tastes of a road cyclist.

On my neck of the woods not too many people recognize what the intended purpose of my bike is. Most roadies see a metal bike with a girlie front bag, lay back geometry, fenders, front light, and heavy leather seat with a canvas roll up. Judging by some of the looks, they think it is stupid.

It happens to be a titanium Merlin Extralight with full Dura Ace setup, brooks seat (titanium rails), leather tape for comfort, and canvas rando bag and tool kit. Without the rando stuff and a light seat, it is just a hair over 16 pounds. with all the goodies it tips the scales at around 22 pounds, which is light enough to climb mountains like an angel. I should add that while I may not put the same mileage as a lot of folks here, I do looooove them hills.

To get to the point of my story; I'm commuting back from work on my rando bike when on the corner of my eye I catch this head-to-toe biking getup guy, skinny as a rail on a carbon frame racing bike about to enter the road I'm in. I'm not stupid, I know that on a flat stretch he would probably run circles around me, but fortunately on the next mile and a half there are a few rollers and a nice climb at the end. It couldn't had been more perfect if I had set it up myself

He has to burn precious seconds in crossing the street, so I pick up the pace in order to both, bait him into chasing me and making him work hard on the catch up. Sure enough by the time we hit the beginning of the hill he is right on my tail probably thinking about leaving me in the dust.

One nice thing about having to get off the saddle to pedal miles and miles of 12~16% inclines is that you get really good at it. Heck, Once I did three miles off the saddle on a non-compact double while my buddy inched his way up the hill on the granny gear of his triple, but that's a story for another day. To finish this one, we get to the hill, I get of the saddle, maintain a 18mph up the hill, and the second the incline let up I shift up and pick up the speed up again. A mile later the guy is still nowhere in sight

I wonder what he thinks about my girlie front bag now

oban_kobi

Kinda mean...you don't even know the guy yet you bash him on the internet. Some days, I'm in "getup", some days shorts and a t-shirt. I don't think it has anything to do with the person. I don't think you'd appreciate it if someone smoked you and went to rave about it on the internet.
On the other hand, nice job on the hills
They can be murder.

abdon 

I have been smoked and stumped into the ground myself. I have and will continue to take it with a smile. For example, my last overdose of humble pie came from a 60+ years old Japanese lady that passed me by mountain hiking (damn grannies here are avid hikers). She's welcome to gloat all she wants, she deserves the credit.

Febs

Congratulations on winning your imaginary race, Mr. Mitty.

Mr. Beanz

You got caught from behind, so what!

taos07

https://www.zappos.com/orca-killakompression-socks-black

Rowan

I like it.

The thought police have just about erased great bragging like this from forums such as this one.

It certainly seems like the guy was up for a contest by the fact he tried so hard to catch up to you.

abdon 

Hey, he took the bait and went chasing. My only claim to glory is that I was able to draw him into the only spot I had an advantage, namely climbing.

Besides, I won't apologize for a good natured bragging, chest stumping, or whatever else you wanna call it. **** political correctness, feel free to brag. If you best me I'll high-five you. If you rather get your motivational drive from a Ritchard Simmons DVD, that's cool too.

oban_kobi

To me, it came across more as a bash, rather than a brag. Obviously I interpreted incorrectly, apologies for that. Bragging is definitely okay! Ha, I actually did the same thing the other day. He was gaining on me, and lo and behold, there was a hill. I laughed to myself and proceeded to charge up it.
Ha, Richard Simmons. That's a scary thought.

StephenH

It's all good.

However, there can be two sides to the story. For example, I was riding through a small town, and met these three teens on BMX bikes. One of them hollers "Wanna race?" Well, they were going the wrong direction so we didn't race (and I'm pretty sure I could whup 'em, too!). But they probably didn't realize that I was on about mile 127 of my ride for the day.

On the recent Texas Time Trials, we were doing a 26 mile loop. I did the 12 hour race, and at that time, the 48-hour and 24-hour racers were still going. So I got out there and passed some of those guys right up on the hills. But after about mile 104, I slowed down substantically, and went crawlling up those same hills in granny gear just like the guys that had been out there 36 hours.

gyorpb

I don't like racing and I don't race. I do secretly enjoy it when racers look disdainfully at my steel bike with its frame bags, fenders, spoke reflectors, light mounts and (shock!) rear view mirror.

.tsooJ

abdon 

That was the whole point of my post. My bike is for comfort and endurance riding. The fact that it isn't carbon, it doesn't have a geometry that would make a contortionist cringe, and it has an extra six pounds of gear attached to it, make these racer wannabes look at it with disdain.

Again, no bashing. If a ultra fast road bike is your thing, I am truly happy for you. If, however, you act like you just reached the pinnacle of cycling expression and look down on all other misguided souls practicing a lesser form of riding, then yeah I get a kick out of making somebody sweat.

I swear if that guy would had eaten my lunch that day, I would had looked him up to see if I could ride with him regularly. There is no better training than riding with somebody faster than you.

oban_kobi

That sounds like my winter/shopping bike...someone actually complimented it the other day, I was surprised.

abdon, I do it too I secretly race nearly everyone that comes along. I lose some times, but it's fun.

cccorlew

It's only a race if both people know it's a race.

andrewluke

This reminds me of the Honda Civics when I was just out of High School who would try to "race" me in my Focus. They would sit and rev, "squeal" tires off the line, get through second gear, and flick on their hazards like they "won." That car would run a quarter mile in the low-mid 15's (It was mostly a car built to turn) but I never raced on the open streets but if it made their day a little better, it's no skin off my nose.

I'm not bashing, but riding is not a race every time. I look down on the new Camaro. It's not that I think it's an incapable car, I just don't like it. I'm sure people have the same opinion of me on my Cannondale. Different people have different views.

oban_kobi

Oh they know lol, well, half of them do. For some reason, people are oddly competitive where I live, not sure why. The only people who aren't are the club riders. They know they have a long ride ahead of them and don't try to out-sprint you between lights like some people...I'm talking to you Mr. trashbins-as-panniers. Very clever set up actually.

unterhausen

girly front bag? on what planet?

echotraveler

your describe the bike, a i would never in my life think that to be girly...pics or it never happened


I guess you most have issues with roadies in your area. Found this forum and i believed this was my home...but then again im a hybrid...2 centurys a month and 50 mile rides other times, on a BLING BLING Carbon Fiber Bike...

CliftonGK1

Hey, maybe it's this one:


I'd use it, just to mess with people.

abdon 

I asked my 9 y/o and she rather have a basket

Here is a picture of Chloe, my girlfriend (just don't tell the wife)

PA230023..jpg

Around here there are commuters, a ton of Japanese mom bikes (upright 3 speed), some tourers on the open roads, off road bikes, and racing road bikes.

Commuters like the bike.

Mom bike riders don't really care about bikes, they just use them for transportation.

I have found plenty of tourers on the open roads. Always a nod and a smile when we pass each other by.

Off road bikes are doing their thing, don't care what your thing is, but you can still feel the kinship of riding bikes.

A number of people on road bikes look at the bike with bemused condescending tone. In all honesty a small percentage, but the fact that is only from the ones on the racing bikes makes it stick out. I guess the fenders, lights, what has been called a schoolgirl bag, the lack of a crippling geometry, and for crying out loud, clips, is too much to take in one package.

I'll tell you this, it is as comfy as my couch. going the distance non stop is a pleasure.

MNRon

She looks sweet. Nice setup.

echotraveler

nice setup...me want a randonne bike!

rogerstg

Sounds like splash of paranoia mixed with a dose of insecurity to me. Paging Dr. Phil - we have a mind reader that thinks people look down on him, then secretly races them to show them who's boss.

Seriously, hope you get well.

v70cat

I use a front bag on long rides on my road bike. I did a 140 mile Ride to Montauk and was the only ride bike with a front bag. I do think roadies are burden by the need to conform.

abdon 

Heck, you seem to know what they are thinking without even having a look at their faces. Who's the mind reader?

It may be paranoia, God knows I'm overprotective of my bike. Still, my other bike is a Surly Crosscheck I use for touring. For whatever reason I don't get the same looks even with panniers on.

I know you probably don't like to display your awesome powers of deduction for free, but would you please care to illuminate us poor ignorant bastards as to why this may be so