Originally Posted by Wildwood
I wrote the words that seem to have offended I-Like-To-Bike and maybe others. There was no offense intended, no statement slandering or denigrating fat slow hybrid riding old farts. Frequently I ride slow and just for a bit of fun. It was just nice to see a post by a 50+ who will be doing something that many of us wish we could accomplish. Nothing more. Certainly no desire to "get you started".
I'm not a power rider, I don't dress in team kit - heck, even the computers left my bikes years ago. No cycling diary, no power meter, no HRM. I ride my bikes alot - old bikes, city bikes, a mtb with no suspension, and even a beach cruiser. Digital Gee will remember that thread. But I like to ride my newer bikes the most when I go out for more than an hour. Sometimes I try to go farther or faster than last time. It's part of the thrill of the sport for me.
I liked Will's post a lot. It was a change from many of the posts on this forum. I like this forum and am not putting down other posts or any topic raised. Peace to all.
This is for me an interesting post. Wildwood is baring his soul a little.
I have been called elitist just because I love to push my limits and get high from it.
Example: Today intended to do a training ride at tour pace of 16.5 MPH.
What happened? There was a serious biker challenging me. He happened to be 45 years younger. We averaged 19.8 MPH on the same course I did 18 MPH average yesterday.
BTW, I have all the gizmo's and spend money like a drunken sailor on bikes. You would be surprised what this tour cost.
My reason is that life is short and I want to enjoy it to the fullest, not to impress anyone.
Does that make me elitist? My best friends are what some call couch potatoes and I still love them. Not one of them is a biker but they have other passions.
In the end we are all alone and must see how we get through life.
Not so long ago I was 240 lb. I did not have low self esteem because of that. I was self critical and decided to do something. Lots of my friends do not for all kinds of reasons. Some smoke. Now that is really doing damage in view of what we know. But will they stop? Certainly it is no good to bug them about that? To me that is the same as the issue Wildwood raised.