Why is it that when people have different opinions there is always one that says the other is wrong?

We all ride for our own reasons. Some like to try to turn the clock back and some like to ride easy.

No one is wrong. No one needs to be wrong. Whatever floats your boat.

Regards,

Bill

PS Go Will, be strong!

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.

Rant: Why should anyone here have to defend their cycling tastes/choices from the self-appointed disapproval police? We each ride the way we do because we enjoy it or circumstance dictates that we do. Just as DeeGee should not feel compelled to do a century unless he freely chooses to, so Will or anyone else shouldn't need to camouflage their achievements or passion in order not to offend a hypersensitive few who ride differently. I don't recall any of our faster, stronger, harder core riders throwing out terms like "wimp" or "quitter". I for one like stories of weekly centuries, midnight mud runs, and such. I feel no less about myself for admiring others.....and instead of elitist disdain, these riders express modesty and support for others.

This charge of "elitism" here deserves to be dropped like Gary's lead pipe. Compared to some other forums, this place seems awash in goodwill.

+1.

I just had a brainstorm:
What would we write in this forum if there are no such disagreements as raised by "I-like-to Bike" and "Wildwood"?
Let us please not stop arguing but of course we must be civil. This forum would be very boring without arguments. We all have seen threads were we just stroke each others egos.

Believe me, Internet forums will always include debate that goes beyond "lively".
On the Internet it's OK to be less than civil, because you can always opt out rather than argue.

Let's get back to the original topic of congratulating Will for his effort and wishing him every good bit of luck on his adventure. What a trip - kinda like around the world in 80 days but more painful.

Good idea. When not stroking each others ego, some of those offended by the suggestion that there may be a hint of roadie elitism underlying some of their posts, could post some more info about "serious" cycling and the equipment needed for such activity.

+1. Good luck in your journey, Will.

............indeed. Consider the noble, bottom dwelling, innocent-fish ambushing octopus. When confronted by a real or imagined threat to his well-being, he jets forth a cloud of harmless yet murky "ink" rather like a human epithet such as "elitist" or "racist" or somesuch--and then he slyly makes his getaway. Clever dog, er-- cephalopod!

Hey, I like this personal sarcasm; its, like, so real and authentic--unlike that drippy ego stroking BS and chit/chat. Its my first time being "nitty gritty" here at BF, but I'll get better and so will my contributions.

Now, you frickin' elitist, arrogant bustards, let's go after cable ends....I say the ones with lips are inferior to the lipless.

For sure, we all seem to support you, Will, no matter what your avg. speed for the day.

Like to Bike, this could be the start of a beautiful virtual friendship...we can duke it out on the road some time---two old farts spinning demonically at 12mph.

on hybrids

LOL - .........hey wait a minute, I resemble that remark!?!

Working in university public relations, this sounds like the story of my life.

Best wishes, good luck and a lot of fun for all these miles, Will
marmotte

Reading this Thread again in its totality is fun.
Flying out Saturday. Next two days are: Lets concentrate on wife days.
Thanks guys.

I finally found my hammer. Stand still while I knock that chip off of your shoulder!






There, doesn't that feel better?

I guess one finds what one is looking for!

I've never seen a less elitist group. A wide range of levels of participation - yes. But because someone has in interest in something and excels at it, that does not mean they are "elitist."

Good luck, Will.

It makes me excited just reading about a ride like this. Good Luck, Have Fun, Go Fast! And I love just being a participant.

Still haven't said it but Will-- Good luck. You set yourself a goal a while back to do this ride, and you are there. All I want to here now is the reports of you during the ride so keep us posted.

The stated purpose of the 50+ Forum is:

Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Denver:
IMHO you work very hard on improving this 50+ Forum. I do not know if this has been stated often enough but I noticed it since I joined this BF.
If you wish, I will make a contribution to your Rogue Gallery upon return from this tour. I even broke down and got a Digital Camera for it.

Thanks.

We would love to have your mug shot in the 50+ gallery.

Forget the mug shot..........we want a photo of your wife's fruit cake. We dig food around here.

If the self-appointed expert is establishing a goal to achieve an exalted state of their own description and applying it only to his or herself, why would the opinion of a lurking, obstreperous and truculent poster matter?

Will,

Best of luck and I hope that this bike trip is AT LEAST everything that you have imagined and have worked so hard for.

I'm jealous! I have 3 weeks of semester lefT!

Will..... I'm turning 40 this year. Go dog Go!!!!!
Wooohooooo for Will.....awesome!!!!!

Looking forward to the reports, dang I wish I was riding something like that.