Ok, so I have to admit that the first post I clicked on was about Rapha and Bikepacking, so it was bound to take a downward turn, I was just surprised as to the viciousness of it.

I have had my own experiences in getting lots of negative responses in the touring forum, but to be absolutely fair I was definitely taking the "you guys are wrong" approach rather than "I understand why some people prefer this, but I like it this way and think others might enjoy it." But the touring and commuting forums are both places where there seems to be a pretty set mold of "how it's done" and everything else is just a shadow of what "real" touring or commuting is.

In commuting, it's usually plain clothes over bike specific and panniers over backpacks. In touring, it's usually how you're not really touring unless you're carrying 5 gallons of water, 100 pounds of gear and a week's worth of food. Credit card touring is almost a curse word.

But in the end, as cyclists, shouldn't we all just be happy that people are riding bikes and making their own adventures and lifestyle decisions? I mean, aren't bikes awesome?