rhm

As we all know, Bike Forums has a search function for which the words "snafu" and "fubar" seem appropriate. You can't find anything by using too many words, and you can't find anything by using too few words, and you can't find what you're looking for if you use the wrong words, or if everyone else does. This is annoying.

So, in the interest of specificity, let me point out that this is what is known as an "FW hub":


It is called an "FW hub" because that is its model designation. It does, incidentally, freewheel (so you could call it a freewheel hub, though that would be dumb). If you look closely you will see that it says FW on it. If you want to talk about this model of Sturmey Archer four speed wide range hub, the correct term is "FW hub." No other term will do.

This, in contrast, is called a "freewheel hub."

It is called that because you can screw a freewheel on it (and if it's a freewheel with four cogs you could call it a four speed hub, but that would be dumb). Whatever you call it, it is not an FW hub. If you are talking about one of these, please do not call it an FW hub.

Thanks, that is all! What's your pet peeve today?

TimmyT 

The search function here is pretty terrible. Let me wait 30s to fix that

Basically, if my bike pile were to start evaporating, that would be good. I made the mistake of carving out a corner of my kitchen for this, and it's somewhat problematic. I need to rethink what little space I have.

Bianchigirll 

As Jimmy Durante was famous for saying "I got a million of them"!

My biggest for bike selling/reselling is All or Full Campagnolo and you look at the bike and only the derailleurs are CampI.

pastorbobnlnh 

Rudi,

Great example. As the owner of one FW hub and many freewheel hubs, I know exactly what you are talking about.

My pet peeve is when the original OP asks a question (often without pictures or even enough information), but subsequently seems to ignore his/her own post, and doesn't followup with either clarification, pictures, or any kind of response (i.e. "thanks" or "that was really helpful" or etc., etc.). To me this is as frustrating as a one time newbie asking for the value of a bike and C&V members provide all the needed information and then the same bike is spotted on ebay.

rootboy 

Oh boy. A chance to sound off and rant!

Pet peeves…. those who start 80% of their sentences with the word "So...". Thankfully, this pretentious trend seems to be losing steam.

Oh. Bike Forums related? Not many, other than the occasional pedantic expert who quotes someone with a post that says something like "you are incorrect.", without explaining just why or adding anything other than this somewhat arrogant declaration. Thankfully, this is quite rare here.

auchencrow

With my size 14's, I've never much liked the narrow quill pedals with the pointed thingy at the end.

rootboy 

That's why they make angle grinders, dude.

rhm

So that's pretentious? Who knew!

Pedaling Around

My pet peeve is shifting under load... it really grinds my gears, ya know?

rootboy 

AH. Not when it's used properly, as you just did.

photogravity

Sew this isn't pretentious? I'm confused...

seedsbelize 

"View first unread" never takes me there; instead it drops me at some random place in the thread. It used to work properly, but no more.

rootboy 

So…no. This is more like overly-anal English language purism.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I'm a cranky bastard so I actually do have a million of them. Actually its why you don't see me on forums as much anymore…I've seen the same sh*t (and same word filters) for 15 years.

A short list:
Abbreviating Campagnolo as Campy or Campi or Campag. You don't call Shimano "Shim", what gives? At the very least settle on a short form if you must use one.
People who assume that because its their first time doing/seeing something that nobody has ever done/seen it before. Its bikes people, its all been done before and you aren't clever.
Any thread title that contains the phrase "French Bike Content" or "Unobtanium Content" or really anything followed by the word "Content". We expect the thread to contain content…or rather we hope it does…that's a tall order sometimes….you don't need it in the title. Or hey, wild thought, just make the thread title actually reflect what the "Content" is and leave the "Content" disclaimer out.
"Restomodding" anything. Its not a unique idea worthy of a special name. Its just you putting new parts on an old bike. You've got two options: New parts or Old Parts. You aren't doing anything particularly difficult or impressive, its just a bike.
"Restoring" anything with no historical value. Just stop calling it "Restoring", you're only attempting to inflate your own ego…you're simply fixing up an old bike.
People who insist that Repainting and Powdercoating are the right answer to any bike with a scratched up and slightly rusty finish. Its an old bike, if you want a new looking bike go buy a new damned bike. The new ones are made surprisingly well despite what some folks around here would have you believe. They actually DO make them like they used to…actually not much has changed.



tl;dr: My favorite part about "Rant" threads is that after I rant some jackwad will be along shortly to Flame me about the things that peeve me. Sit back and ponder the irony of that alone….before it happens.

OldsCOOL

I'm not surprised though I find this humorous. The terminology in the cycling world is more on the level of something NASA (to bless our physicists) and/or the medical science field.

Dang, I cant pronounce half this stuff we talk about.

rootboy 

Good content, Zaphod. heh ….

RoadTire 

That's pretty funny. Pretentious? You must really hate some of my posts when I start off with said word. There is my pet peeve, and really is pretentious. "...said.." For goodness sakes that's really snooty. And those who come into the forum posing and jiving with "'sup homies!?" I just want to slap them. Friggin eh, write in English.

Obtw: often when I start something I imagine confused, a little sheepish, kinda hesitant to actually ask, and then I start out with "So....<pause> ummmm... does this make me look stupid?" I will attempt not to disturb your sensibilities by starting sentences with that two-letter word.

photogravity

When people use the word "unique" when the item they're talking about is not unique. My first Norman Rapide was unique because, at the time, there were no others documented on the web. Literally nowhere, so that made it unique. Now, I have a second Rapide, so I have quit using the word unique, because it is no longer then only one of its kind.

Oh, another one... When people get its and it's confused. I will occasionally make that mistake because I'm in a hurry, but usually try to go back and edit the comment.

repechage

A follow on to that is Cassette and Freewheel. Similar location on a derailleur equipped bike. But very different. It is though a good indicator of one's age. Those who came of age in the 90's thought cassettes and "freehubs" were all there were. Those young ones, such a narrow (spaced) view of the world.

Heaven help them should they need to gap a set of points and set dwell on a distributor.

pastorbobnlnh 

Seek patience, you must, young @Zaphod Beeblebrox, or the disharmony of the C&V Force, discourage you, it will. When peeved, ignore, always, then on, you must move.

RoadTire 

I had to quote your whole post because it just cracks me up. Even your sig line is funny this morning. Heck, this whole thread has so much potential to amuse me.

People who quote everything indiscriminately kinda tweak my waddles.

photogravity

This was my first belly laugh of the day. Thanks for that Bob!

SkyDog75

Here's a workaround:

Use Google and add "site:bikeforums.net" to your query so that it'll only return results for this site. For example, if you Google chain lube site:bikeforums.net, you'll probably find thousands of everyone's favorite chain lube threads, and only from bikeforums.net.

rootboy 

HA HA! I knew I'd get some blow back on this one. English language Nazi's are many people's pet peeve. Apologies. My mom was a stickler for proper usage and my eldest sister, who graduated from Stanford with a degree in English, pummeled the rest of us kids too.
How's that for pretentious?

Actually, Bob, I should have clarified my peeve. (or, not bothered at all, I'm thinking now). The way you used the word in the above sentence is the proper way to use it.

Instead of " the custom of starting non-interrogatory sentences with so, specifically among academics and other members of the chattering classes." Explored here, which explains the phenomena much better than I ever could.

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/us...ents.html?_r=0

jimmuller 

> My friend gave me this bike and I want to restore it to all its former glory.

> Should I paint my bike? What color should I paint my bike?

> Can anyone tell me what this bike is? It's red and says "Racer" on the front.

> I don't want to hear about how good or bad it is, just tell me about my bike.

> It's all original. The first time I rode it the tires went flat.

> I found this great bike on CL and I want to upgrade it to a 12-speed. The guy at the LBS said..."

> Which of these should I buy?