Originally Posted by
Machka
It's not that it's offensive. I just have trouble seeing randonneuring, for example, as recreational. Randonneuring is long distance cycling which requires a fair amount of effort, time commitments, money, equipment, planning etc. Recreational is short distance cycling which requires whatever bicycle you happen to have in the garage and an ice cream shop within about 5 km of where you live.
I do recreational cycling too ... when I'm recovering from a randonneuring event. And actually, I'm probably at a recreational level right now.
Randonneuring isn't recreation? We just see this very differently.
Maybe it's because I'm just so used to people where I live taking their recreation very seriously. There are guys I ride with with who have bikes that cost more than many pro level team bikes. Don't even get started with the skiing, photography, hi-fi gear, boats, you name it.