Bike Riding vs Cycling
08-11-15, 06:57 PM
#51
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What Chas, and OldsCOOL said in their posts is spot on, what puzzles me about the whole thing is why someone thinks they need to determine what others MUST wear, or the type of bicycle they ride is the correct kind, for that matter. If someone wants to do the "I wear the XXX Team kit" thing, more power to them. If you are the cut off jeans and tennis shoes/T-shirt type, on a cruiser, or the guy on the 'Bent with sandals on their feet and a groomed beard, I'm glad that you are out riding for what ever distance you are going after, and at the speed you feel best doing.
Its the people that seem hell bent on castigating someone for not riding the identical bicycle and wear what they feel is appropriate, that turn me off. When they spend time trolling the forums, or out on the roads/trails looking to beat down on the rider that is different from their ideal rider, they are just showing their immaturity, and that they are narrow minded. Short and quick answer for me, its absolutely no one else business what I wear or what I ride, or how fast I do so. Best that the busy bodies find someone else to try and control, I am 58+ years old, did my military service, pay my taxes and paid for my bicycle/kit, if it does not suit them, they can get bent.
I am certain that the OP was being humorous, and Chas wasn't looking to fry him on his reply, its the ones that are serious about this topic that make me want to look for another place to be, and maybe that is what is needed. There is a lot of navel gazing here this week, for some reason, must be the heat.
Bill
Its the people that seem hell bent on castigating someone for not riding the identical bicycle and wear what they feel is appropriate, that turn me off. When they spend time trolling the forums, or out on the roads/trails looking to beat down on the rider that is different from their ideal rider, they are just showing their immaturity, and that they are narrow minded. Short and quick answer for me, its absolutely no one else business what I wear or what I ride, or how fast I do so. Best that the busy bodies find someone else to try and control, I am 58+ years old, did my military service, pay my taxes and paid for my bicycle/kit, if it does not suit them, they can get bent.
I am certain that the OP was being humorous, and Chas wasn't looking to fry him on his reply, its the ones that are serious about this topic that make me want to look for another place to be, and maybe that is what is needed. There is a lot of navel gazing here this week, for some reason, must be the heat.
Bill
08-12-15, 05:40 AM
#52
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Cyclist v. Biker, hmmm, I usually get called several things, in the course of a day, most are unprintable in a family forum, and not one of them has either term as a part of its spelling. I should have used some "smilies", or something to "humorize" (sp?) things in my reply, I got some feedback about it, my apologies to anyone that took offense to my post, but, I do feel that we have some people that act in the manner I described, none of them are the ones that P.M.ed me about this post. I have responded to the P.M.s, and will gladly do so to anyone that feels slighted by my original post, but if you are one of the people in that category you will know that you are one, when I reply to you. Not that it should amount to a hill of beans about anything, it was just me venting, poorly it seems.
Chas, Ryp and Tim, you are not even close to being in the league of the kind of people I was thinking, and complaining about. You are fine men, in my book.
Bill
Chas, Ryp and Tim, you are not even close to being in the league of the kind of people I was thinking, and complaining about. You are fine men, in my book.
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
08-13-15, 10:01 AM
#53
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Cyclist v. Biker, hmmm, I usually get called several things, in the course of a day, most are unprintable in a family forum, and not one of them has either term as a part of its spelling. I should have used some "smilies", or something to "humorize" (sp?) things in my reply, I got some feedback about it, my apologies to anyone that took offense to my post, but, I do feel that we have some people that act in the manner I described, none of them are the ones that P.M.ed me about this post. I have responded to the P.M.s, and will gladly do so to anyone that feels slighted by my original post, but if you are one of the people in that category you will know that you are one, when I reply to you. Not that it should amount to a hill of beans about anything, it was just me venting, poorly it seems.
Chas, Ryp and Tim, you are not even close to being in the league of the kind of people I was thinking, and complaining about. You are fine men, in my book.
Bill
Chas, Ryp and Tim, you are not even close to being in the league of the kind of people I was thinking, and complaining about. You are fine men, in my book.
Bill
08-14-15, 05:19 AM
#54
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Naaah, Chas, don't go silent on us, we know, and love, the Chas that keeps us on our toes. We discussed this on some PM several years ago, I understand your point of view, and how/why you express things as you do. Sorry to the OP for derailing his thread, maybe its best if I "be irritated in silence", too.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
08-14-15, 06:18 AM
#55
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I was born a motion baby. My parents had to bundle me up and take me for a drive in the back of our 67 vw wagon just to get me to sleep. Still to this day, I must be in some kind of motion, doing something. Too much sitting/ stagnation makes me
.
Bicycling is my banana man. Especially when my world goes wonky.
.Bicycling is my banana man. Especially when my world goes wonky.
08-14-15, 08:31 PM
#56
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It really gets tiresome listening to people dictate what they think a cyclist is, or must be. FYI I ride a bent and a trike. I ride in t-shirts and rugby shorts. I am a cyclist. If you dont think I am, thats your problem.
08-23-15, 05:38 PM
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I notice more often than not that the true dedicated roadies typically don't wave or say hi.. This doesn't bother me as I figure they are concentrating and face it, if you wave and say hi to EVERYONE on a busy bike path you'll get tired of it. I notice a lot of older people on rental bikes are very enthusiastic and appear to be having a great time (unless it's a hill) and they are usually the first to smile, wave and say hi. It's almost as if they want to be recognized just because they are riding a bike?.. I always return the greeting but think to myself "lady, you aren't special just because you're out here". I HAVE had full kit hard core cyclists take the time to say hi so it's not fair to generalize but we all do it whether we admit to it or not. Those people on the rentals might just be having the best time they've had in years so the next step is for them to buy a bike which is a good thing. I hate to think people look down on me for riding a comfort hybrid but I'm sure they do just as I look at dedicated roadies and think they are probably stuck up and have an elitist attitude. I hate being passed by those guys but with some health issues and my age and lack of discipline I know I'll never be fast so I'm just jealous. 
08-24-15, 09:41 AM
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Let me put it bluntly. Only egotistical snobs claim that there is a forumla for being a cyclist. It is best that everyone ignore them.
08-25-15, 08:39 AM
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I'm a cyclist. Around here, bikers ride Harleys.
08-25-15, 09:10 AM
#61
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I sometimes think of "Cycling" as the sport. When you're on the bike purely for the act of riding, or training to be better at riding. Every other purpose, including general exercise, is "riding". So just mounting up, heading out and riding just for fun, to me is "Cycling" regardless of the equipment, appearance, or training plan because it's purely for the sport of it.
But, I've been told on the forums that you're not actually engaged in the "sport" of Cycling unless you actually race, or spend vast numbers of hours in the saddle, or compete in an event that is also Olympic sanctioned, and on up the list of an ever-more stratified hierarchy. So I'm not really set on the distinction and mostly I just "ride my bike", whether it's all decked out and high intensity intervals or hopping on with blue jeans for a quick trip to Home Depot.
But, I've been told on the forums that you're not actually engaged in the "sport" of Cycling unless you actually race, or spend vast numbers of hours in the saddle, or compete in an event that is also Olympic sanctioned, and on up the list of an ever-more stratified hierarchy. So I'm not really set on the distinction and mostly I just "ride my bike", whether it's all decked out and high intensity intervals or hopping on with blue jeans for a quick trip to Home Depot.
08-25-15, 09:43 AM
#62
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08-25-15, 12:10 PM
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I just sold my motorcycle this past spring, and I think of motorcycles when I think of the word Biker.
I consciously use the term Cyclist and Cycling so that my friends know I am talking about my bicycling and not about the motorcycles that I had ridden for decades.
I probably ride less than most of you guys. But I really enjoy it, and I like to spend time on this forum. I get a lot of motivation from your stories, particularly the 50+ crowd that rides big miles!
I consider myself a Cyclist.
I consciously use the term Cyclist and Cycling so that my friends know I am talking about my bicycling and not about the motorcycles that I had ridden for decades.
I probably ride less than most of you guys. But I really enjoy it, and I like to spend time on this forum. I get a lot of motivation from your stories, particularly the 50+ crowd that rides big miles!
I consider myself a Cyclist.
08-25-15, 12:55 PM
#64
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Made me laugh. I can just see the visual picture. Geeky to the max. Well done.
08-25-15, 01:17 PM
#65
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I'm not much concerned with what we call it, but I empathise with your feelings about being on the bike. I'm often asked what I think about when on a long ride, or when touring, and the answer, often, is nothing. I'm not thinking, I'm just being. It's highly meditative and, I think, extremely good for my mental health. The modern description of it is "mindfulness" - being in the moment, aware of one's relationship with one's surroundings, in contact with the physical rhythms of the activity. I feel whole when on the bike.
Back in the spring of 1995, I want on my 'cross-country bike trip'. Flew to D.C., reassembled my bicycle in the airport terminal, exited and started heading west. Reason for starting on the east coast is that I figured that I'd always be headed toward home, so I'd be less likely to quit. Big mistake! There is a huge, valid reason that most people go from west to east. I'll know better for next time. I did eventually 'quit' after three weeks and 1800 miles and took the train the rest of the way home.
What I rarely tell people is that the reason I took that bike trip is that I needed a large chunk of time by myself where I could 'arm wrestle' with God. There were some things going on in my life that I couldn't get a handle on. I had to duke it out with Him and have a 'heart to heart' talk. It took right at three weeks when I came to a resolution and gained inner peace and understanding . . . and I was ready to come home.
Yeah! I've done my best thinking on the seat of a bicycle. But usually, I'm just riding with the only thought of watching where my front wheel is going. That's good time too.
08-25-15, 01:31 PM
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I think I read on here a few years back that the difference between a cyclist and a bike rider is that a cyclist strives to *compete,* whereas a bike rider strives just to *complete.* By that definition, I'm a bike rider, and always will be. But if someone wants to call me a cyclist, I'm certainly not going to stop them.
08-25-15, 01:48 PM
#67
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"Racer boy?" Really?
08-25-15, 01:57 PM
#68
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Believe me, I totally understand what you are saying and I am usually in that place. However, when asked why I ride so much, I tell them that I do my best thinking on the seat of a bicycle.
Back in the spring of 1995, I want on my 'cross-country bike trip'. Flew to D.C., reassembled my bicycle in the airport terminal, exited and started heading west. Reason for starting on the east coast is that I figured that I'd always be headed toward home, so I'd be less likely to quit. Big mistake! There is a huge, valid reason that most people go from west to east. I'll know better for next time. I did eventually 'quit' after three weeks and 1800 miles and took the train the rest of the way home.
What I rarely tell people is that the reason I took that bike trip is that I needed a large chunk of time by myself where I could 'arm wrestle' with God. There were some things going on in my life that I couldn't get a handle on. I had to duke it out with Him and have a 'heart to heart' talk. It took right at three weeks when I came to a resolution and gained inner peace and understanding . . . and I was ready to come home.
Yeah! I've done my best thinking on the seat of a bicycle. But usually, I'm just riding with the only thought of watching where my front wheel is going. That's good time too.
Back in the spring of 1995, I want on my 'cross-country bike trip'. Flew to D.C., reassembled my bicycle in the airport terminal, exited and started heading west. Reason for starting on the east coast is that I figured that I'd always be headed toward home, so I'd be less likely to quit. Big mistake! There is a huge, valid reason that most people go from west to east. I'll know better for next time. I did eventually 'quit' after three weeks and 1800 miles and took the train the rest of the way home.
What I rarely tell people is that the reason I took that bike trip is that I needed a large chunk of time by myself where I could 'arm wrestle' with God. There were some things going on in my life that I couldn't get a handle on. I had to duke it out with Him and have a 'heart to heart' talk. It took right at three weeks when I came to a resolution and gained inner peace and understanding . . . and I was ready to come home.
Yeah! I've done my best thinking on the seat of a bicycle. But usually, I'm just riding with the only thought of watching where my front wheel is going. That's good time too.
08-25-15, 06:26 PM
#69
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I'm the same.
I get asked all the time:
"What do you think about on those long rides?"
And the answer is:
"Honestly, not a damn thing."
I get asked all the time:
"What do you think about on those long rides?"
And the answer is:
"Honestly, not a damn thing."
08-25-15, 07:36 PM
#70
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qcpmsame: it is always best to not rise to the bate of ones that divide because they can. We know that it doesn't matter what someone wears while they ride. We also know that bicycle specific cloths have become popular for a reason.
Wicking material dries faster but if you don't care if it dries while you are having coffee we know the simple answer is don't buy wicking material.
Shake it off and think happy thoughts.
Wicking material dries faster but if you don't care if it dries while you are having coffee we know the simple answer is don't buy wicking material.
Shake it off and think happy thoughts.
08-25-15, 07:52 PM
#71
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I don't really call myself anything. I just ride. I wear spandex because it's comfortable, but I'm too slow to be taken seriously or to take myself seriously.
08-25-15, 08:33 PM
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For me it is bike riding. I get on my heavy bike or my critical fixie and ride for 25 minutes every morning. If I had a nice light road bike I would have to cycle for well over a hour to get the same amount of exercise.
08-26-15, 03:37 AM
#75
Beicwyr Hapus
I've got a road bike, a couple of mountain bikes and a hybrid, some days I wear lycra, some days it's baggy shorts.
I'm confused by all this talk of cyclists and bike riders!
I'm confused by all this talk of cyclists and bike riders!