Originally Posted by vomitron
It's not arbitrary, it's just absurd. Spoke cards are part of the subculture because they stem from alleycats, which is decidedly non-roadie. Lycra is obviously the epitome of roadism, and thus, the diamteric opposite of the distinction necessary to be part of the subculture of fixed-gear.
A minority tribe needs to distinguish itself from the dominant cultural tribe, otherwise it won't have the subculture appeal.
the first spoke cards i remember was when i was a kid, youd put playing cards or anything else in your spokes...can't say as there was a reason.
the first spoke cards remember as a messenger weren't associated with any race, usually a bar, or the pornographic playing cards or sumsuch. the first I remember associated with a race had racer numbers on one side and the race sponsors or name on the other. you can usually tell where a person is from by their spoke cards unless they travel alot which is frequently the case for couriers. I don't think anyone has there nose in the air for having or not having them. I ride road cept in the winter, and i can ride up to any group of messers and have a freindly chat no matter their spoke cards or gears/lack of. I've encountered the elitism that yer talking about, but roadsies can't really talk bout elitism hehe. thats the blind red pot calling the pink kettle a blazing shade of safety orange.
