MadMechanic

Or motorcycle

MMACH 5

wphamilton

Or riding in a "just plain dumb" way. In your opinion. That's the key, right there: to you it seems dumb to even be there. To you it seems like if they insist on being there, they're doing it wrong. To you it seems like there is no point. The salient fact is, these things are not as they appear to you to be.

ricebowl

Jack Burton: I don't get this at all. I thought Lo Pan...
Lo Pan: Shut up, Mr. Burton! You were not brought upon this world to get it!
https://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3130785817/

Doohickie

Pretty much sums it up.

ESW116

Every time I get on my mountain bike and drop off of rocks and over logs and stuff I pretty much run the constant risk of breaking any number of bones in all regions of my body and suffering serious injury. I'm sure there are extremely large percentages of people in this country alone that find it is an activity in which only insane, stupid individuals would participate. Sorta like riding a motorcycle, for example.

But damn if I don't give a ****. It's awesome and extremely rewarding.

Your goal in life should be to live, not simply to exist.

Daspydyr 

This is getting good! Who needs cable?

spunkyj

Personally, I don't enjoy these particular situations on my road bike. I try to avoid busy roads and highways but sometimes there are stretches like this on otherwise very nice and quiet routes. So OP, I think you've set up a straw man in your post; road biking is not a sport that occurs exclusively (or even mostly) on busy, high speed, and dangerous roads/highways. Therefore, your entire premise for not understanding it is false.

There are many bike routes including secluded country roads, highways with very well maintained and wide shoulders, and MUPs that are not as your describe, again demonstrating the fallacy of your premise. If you bought a road bike and insisted on riding it EXCLUSIVELY in busy traffic then it might indeed be "impractical" or risky. OP, do you seriously think dancing with fast cars is a requirement or objective of road cycling? I would guess not, which makes your above post a tad dishonest and inflammatory IMO. But if not, then you have your answer: there are many low-traffic, and safe routes to cycle on where you can enjoy the speed, endurance, scenery, miles, etc. on a road bike. So, what's not to like?!

MadMechanic

Thank you sir, for a sophisticated reply. Again I know this. I just need to start recording video's of the types of rider's I am seeing in these places I am talking about just to separate the confusion. A lot of ppl are not reading what i've said and only getting "Road bikers are stupid and shouldn't be on the roads" out of the whole topic. I figured that was the way it would go instead of people actually reading what I was saying.

spunkyj

The problem here is that you were not honest in the intention of your post, and that will get people riled up. You were not posting about "not getting" road cycling as a sport. Instead, what you "don't get" is why some road cyclists, some of the time, choose to ride with busy traffic when you perceive it to be reckless. The answer to THAT question is: Sometimes it is the only way from A to B (with A and B representing safer paths which make up the longer part of a route). There is always some risk, but if a cyclist follows the rules of the road, pays attention, and is visible, the risk is not so high as to outweigh the benefits IMO. Compared to other sports, which all carry risk, I don't believe road cycling to be any more dangerous.

However, your comment about "recording video's of the types of rider's I am seeing in these places just to separate the confusion" makes me believe that instead of just "not getting" why roadies sometimes ride in traffic that you actually "don't get" why some roadies ride *recklessly and dangerously* in traffic. The answer to THAT question is: For the same reasons that some cars drive dangerously in traffic, and for the same reason some pedestrians walk dangerously into traffic: some people (motorists, cyclists, pedestrians alike) are idiots. Darwin will catch up to them some day. But to use idiot road cyclists as an example to deride the whole sport of road cycling is, as I pointed out earlier, a straw man. Yes there will be some idiots out there. Your point?

samburger

I just don't understand why those a-holes on their roadie bikes don't stay in their bike lanes.

uRabbit

Why were you not looking up/ahead already?

Oh... Right. That's why...

Daspydyr 

I asked a similar question about road riding a couple months ago. I got a more reasoned response at that time. Could be the pollen this spring.

Some of the reasons I received about road biking included:

Hitting a kind of Nirvana Zone when on a long ride, feeling and purposely sensing the interaction of the frame and tires with the different surfaces you encounter, interaction with riders of your level, friendly rivalry, scoffing at some arrogance that pops up from time to time. Hitting a speed where pedaling is not an issue, just rocketing down a long run where you reap the benefits of a long climb. Being part of a group where the energy of the group is contagious and pulls you along.

I think I said PLEASE when I asked the question. There are a good number of Freds or cross over riders around here. Today is kinda like taking roll. And YEAH, dumbass is not acceptable vocabulary unless referring to yourself.

To the Freds, feel free to add to the positives of why you enjoy road riding.

Siu Blue Wind

Wow...only two pages and insults are already being thrown! I did some clean up so if your post is missing it's because the offending post was quoted.

Oh and by the way - it's okay to say "ass" in here. No need to try to go around the censor.

Daspydyr 

Oh crap, now MOM is involved! Everyone chill!

corvuscorvax

Bummer. I liked the Spock pic.

Can we say "**** sapiens" yet?

jsigone

LOL cool video!!

Siu Blue Wind

Lemme see. *****apiens. Yep. It's all good. What the **** were you typing?

Stealthammer

I love that video everytime I see it! Thanks for posting it.

DX-MAN

YUP, COOL VID!

I used to think about putting that 5-Borough bike tour thing on my bucket list -- now, anymore, I think NYC is what needs to drop off into the ocean, not SoCal... just because of the F'n NYPD.

Dannihilator

I do road rides. I rather enjoy it when not doing anything with the dirt jumper.

pablosnazzy

i understood you the first time, perhaps i wasn't clear and just being overly verbose. i shall answer your question succinctly.

because it's fun. you might not think it's fun, you might not understand why it's fun, but it is. watch some lucas brunellel vids. https://www.digave.com/videos/ look at the one in mexico, on the highway.

that's why they are doing it.

MadMechanic

But what if you smoked a lot of weed? and it was legal there? because the Effin NYPD is so out of line. And you are such a stoner?

corvuscorvax

Lucas Brunelle is the man. "Drag Race NYC" is one of my old favorites.

When I used to live in Manhattan, I would occasionally ride 6th Avenue through midtown just for the sport. Awesome rush.

DX-MAN

OK, this is what I clicked on for, NOT the cool vid (samburger, you're a distraction-coated distraction with distraction filling...LOL).

The fact that people were erratically swerving everywhere is a CONDEMNATION of the DRIVERS, not the RIDERS; NOWHERE IN THE COUNTRY can drivers just blindly bull along without regard for what else is out there. As long as that road does NOT have a sign saying "NO BIKES ALLOWED", it's fair game for a ride. As was pointed out early on, maybe that's the only way from A to B for these riders; who knows?

Just hint, too, MM -- "RUSH HOUR" is usually the slowest time of the day in traffic! The **2** riders weren't causing a traffic tie-up, the **1000's** of cars all trying to get from B to A at once WERE! You feel this, pard?

1. Speed =/= entitlement.
2. They'd be even SLOWER in motorcycle leathers, WTF?
3. YOU, and a bunch of erratically swerving motorists SAW them, who needs hi-viz?
4. Public roads are public roads.
5. Sidewalks are ROUGHER, interrupted frequently, full of people TEXTING WHILE WALKING, and ILLEGAL IN MANY PLACES.
6. It's been posited by physicians that the more rapid breathing allows less 'settling' of the pollution in the lungs; AND, DRIVERS are getting it just as badly, without getting any exercise! DAMN few cars have a filtered ventilation system. Better to engage in a healthy activity than sit and vegetate while breathing that crap. Single whammy VS double....

I don't skip road biking (the light frames, skinny tires, etc.) because it's impractical; in fact, it's the CLOSEST thing to driving that there is, simply because it's the fastest! I just prefer my MTB, it's fun, versatile, and easier on my joints.

It's just one of the wonderful things about this country; we get to choose the recreation that, within the limits of law, gives us the most enjoyment. You're being a bit of a nanny here, pal, and I usually either slap nannies or schtup them (j/k....)

Seriously, though. . . lighten up. The ONLY roads "made for cars" were the Interstates, and even some of them around the country are available to bikes (because they are the only way from some A's to some B's!)