Originally Posted by
AzTallRider
And a few of us older males. Just a couple of days ago, sitting on the couch with my legs on the ottoman, I hear from my wife: "You shaved your legs? Like a woman?!?" I decided I wanted to be a full blown cyclist for my 56th birthday, which is this Saturday. Sort of a celebration of accomplishing (MOST of) my birthday bucket list:
A. Ride a century (check)
B. Hang with the big dogs on club rides (depends on the route, and who shows up)
C. Achieve my ideal weight (check)
D. Be content with who and where I am (check - and cycling enabled it)
E. Have a consistently positive effect on those around me. (am told you can't be 100%, but I'm doing pretty well)
I was a "bike rider" for a year of commuting to work. I've been a "cyclist" for the last 6 months or so, and, for me, there was a big difference between the two. The terms don't matter, but for me, there is a difference in attitude and approach. Focusing on riding as a "cyclist" gave me clear goals, and got me to a different level of fitness. My next step is working with a coach and competing. We'll see how that goes.
I would have to disagree: in my view, you were a 'cyclist' when commuting to work, unless the only reason you were using a bicycle to commute was the unavailability of another mode of transport you would have otherwise preferred (car, public transit, whatever). Your list (a to d) is of course totally consistent with being a 'cyclist', and of course you are one, but no one or more of the items on that list constitutes a necessary element. Rather, items (a) and (b) especially suggest the all-too-common (and restrictive) identification of (serious) 'cyclist' with 'road cyclist' (in the quasi-competitive and/or 'fitness' sense), a suggestion reinforced by your concluding paragraph. Perilously close to the
Bicycling magazine stereotype
Again ... great stuff (accomplishments, and goals) but I don't see how you are any more a 'cyclist' now than you were when 'just' commuting.