Originally Posted by
bt93
A few years back when I used to smoke I came across a guy just pulling out of his house and I followed way back just for kicks. I got tired of his slow pace especially since he was stuffed in full Lance Armstrong outfit and on the latest overly priced race bike. I pulled up beside him, took a drag on my smoke, a sip of my coffee, and said' What a great day for a ride' then pulled away from him.
OooooKaaaaay?
So you didn't stick around to hear what he had to say? Maybe he would have agreed that it was a great day and that you were both the lucky few to be out enjoying some two-wheeled freedom. Maybe he was turning over a new leaf, recovering from an accident, starting an 80 mile training ride, or working out some kinks from a hard crit race.
I think it's funny you write about how he's a "wannabe" with full TdF kit and modern bike while you care enough to list your own "full kit" and bike, conventional or not. Maybe you're the one taking "culture" too seriously?
Not just blasting on you, but nowadays "anti-culture" seems to be just as scripted and cynical as the "culture" they feel they have to attack.
I road ride, cyclocross race, mountain bike, commute daily, build bikes, buy and sell bikes, and watch bike racing. Whatever, I like bikes and cycling of all sorts. I wave and nod to lots of different people and encourage those who look like they are beginning. Everyone I ever speak with on a bike seems to be having fun and glad to meet another happy cyclist. Heck, just yesterday I told a chubby kid I'd "race him" on his BMX, he got up to 11mph and had a huge smile on his face.
Can't we all just get along? If we choose acceptance first we may realize we actually have something in common with "the others"... even the fixie kids...