Are we THAT nuts?
#26
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This is a conversation I've had a hundred times.
People who run long distances are, generally, admired by society--I think, due to the spartan, suffering, nature of the activity. There's something about that that people admire. Dunno why. Running sucks. Maybe that's why.
We cyclists, however, because of all of our fun toys, silly clothes, and the (possibly) great expense of our sport/hobby, are instead made fun of or looked down upon. Why? I think because we look like WE'RE HAVING TOO MUCH DAMNED FUN! People don't see the amount of effort we put in, the training, the suffering, they just see us cruising along, looking like brightly colored birds, taking up the road. Runners *look* like they're suffering; look like they're working hard; look serious. And for whatever Calvinist reason, people respect that.
And the reality is, we ARE having fun, even though distance riding is a lot of work and effort...and probably people are just jealous.
People who run long distances are, generally, admired by society--I think, due to the spartan, suffering, nature of the activity. There's something about that that people admire. Dunno why. Running sucks. Maybe that's why.
We cyclists, however, because of all of our fun toys, silly clothes, and the (possibly) great expense of our sport/hobby, are instead made fun of or looked down upon. Why? I think because we look like WE'RE HAVING TOO MUCH DAMNED FUN! People don't see the amount of effort we put in, the training, the suffering, they just see us cruising along, looking like brightly colored birds, taking up the road. Runners *look* like they're suffering; look like they're working hard; look serious. And for whatever Calvinist reason, people respect that.
And the reality is, we ARE having fun, even though distance riding is a lot of work and effort...and probably people are just jealous.
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Guess I'm weird then, I ride at least a metric century every Friday or Saturday, and that's not including the one or two 30 milers I do during the week.
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
#29
The Left Coast, USA
This is a conversation I've had a hundred times.
People who run long distances are, generally, admired by society--I think, due to the spartan, suffering, nature of the activity. There's something about that that people admire. Dunno why. Running sucks. Maybe that's why.
We cyclists, however, because of all of our fun toys, silly clothes, and the (possibly) great expense of our sport/hobby, are instead made fun of or looked down upon. Why? I think because we look like WE'RE HAVING TOO MUCH DAMNED FUN! People don't see the amount of effort we put in, the training, the suffering, they just see us cruising along, looking like brightly colored birds, taking up the road. Runners *look* like they're suffering; look like they're working hard; look serious. And for whatever Calvinist reason, people respect that.
And the reality is, we ARE having fun, even though distance riding is a lot of work and effort...and probably people are just jealous.
People who run long distances are, generally, admired by society--I think, due to the spartan, suffering, nature of the activity. There's something about that that people admire. Dunno why. Running sucks. Maybe that's why.
We cyclists, however, because of all of our fun toys, silly clothes, and the (possibly) great expense of our sport/hobby, are instead made fun of or looked down upon. Why? I think because we look like WE'RE HAVING TOO MUCH DAMNED FUN! People don't see the amount of effort we put in, the training, the suffering, they just see us cruising along, looking like brightly colored birds, taking up the road. Runners *look* like they're suffering; look like they're working hard; look serious. And for whatever Calvinist reason, people respect that.
And the reality is, we ARE having fun, even though distance riding is a lot of work and effort...and probably people are just jealous.
#30
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Oh, I don't. I still think the overwhelming majority of the cycling population is not pushing a 20+MPH pace for three hours. I just looked up the results of the last organized ride I did, a Giordana Gran Fondo Series event in Ontario, the 100k category had 10% of folks finish at or under three hours (25/255), and 69 out of 255 finished above 4 hours. Mean average was 3:42, median average 3:43.
Put me around that four hour mark, toss in some cleanup and recovery time, and yeah, it is using up a large part of one of two days I have off a week. Not nuts at all, just harder to do when your limited time gets spread amongst other things.
Put me around that four hour mark, toss in some cleanup and recovery time, and yeah, it is using up a large part of one of two days I have off a week. Not nuts at all, just harder to do when your limited time gets spread amongst other things.
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hang out w/ different ppl
#32
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If you do any regular moderate physical activity you’re going to seem extreme to someone. I do a moderate amount of excercise 5 days a week at least, biking, running/walking, weight training, yoga ect. I’m not in great shape, I’m not prepared to run even a half marathon, do a metric century, or any of that. But I am in a lot better shape than just your average random person off the street. My coworkers think it’s insane I walk across a busy highway to go pick up taco bell. The average person isn’t really that physically active. I like being able to have adventures with out being exhausted and sore the next day so I’m goimg to keep it up even if I’m never an extreme athlete.
#33
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Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
#34
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Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
#35
The Left Coast, USA
Actually, that's the #3 reason I like running. My experience, runners are pretty cool about dealing with other runners and pedestrians, lots of positive vibes, waives, smiles...at least where I run, (people with dogs are the universal exception). [#1 reason - better/faster workout. #2 reason: simplicity.]
#36
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I can't run a half marathon, probably couldn't run three miles right now. I can ride a half century, metric century or full century. What's the point? That we shouldn't use grandiose terms to describe stuff?
Making mountains out of molehills has been going on for a long time. It's our nature. Don't get bent that it's taking some of your glory.
Making mountains out of molehills has been going on for a long time. It's our nature. Don't get bent that it's taking some of your glory.
Last edited by Iride01; 06-06-18 at 01:06 PM.
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Actually, that's the #3 reason I like running. My experience, runners are pretty cool about dealing with other runners and pedestrians, lots of positive vibes, waives, smiles...at least where I run, (people with dogs are the universal exception). [#1 reason - better/faster workout. #2 reason: simplicity.]
#38
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If you do any regular moderate physical activity you’re going to seem extreme to someone. I do a moderate amount of excercise 5 days a week at least, biking, running/walking, weight training, yoga ect. I’m not in great shape, I’m not prepared to run even a half marathon, do a metric century, or any of that. But I am in a lot better shape than just your average random person off the street. My coworkers think it’s insane I walk across a busy highway to go pick up taco bell. The average person isn’t really that physically active. I like being able to have adventures with out being exhausted and sore the next day so I’m goimg to keep it up even if I’m never an extreme athlete.
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#40
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Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
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#41
WALSTIB
If you enjoy riding fast and/or long distances then do that. For me I don't care if I ride 50 miles or just 1 mile. Always something I can enjoy just being there. We each have our own happiness.
#42
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The best way I can equate this is to running. I don't run, so if I had someone I knew who ran a workout of a 1/2 marathon every week, I might think they were super talented or a little nuts. I have run a few 1/2's, just not my thing.
Why do I NOT think cruising for a metric century once a week is equally nuts? Sure, we have the bias on our side of being in the game. So we think it's normal.
Are we THAT nuts, or has the standard just drifted so low for the rest of the public that anything with a nice large number sounds bonkers to them?
Also, your weight. You tell someone you're barely 11 stone or about 68kg and people look at you like you're physically ill in the body, and in the head. I still eat and drink as much as I please thank you very much.
So, are we purple spotted unicorns or not?
Why do I NOT think cruising for a metric century once a week is equally nuts? Sure, we have the bias on our side of being in the game. So we think it's normal.
Are we THAT nuts, or has the standard just drifted so low for the rest of the public that anything with a nice large number sounds bonkers to them?
Also, your weight. You tell someone you're barely 11 stone or about 68kg and people look at you like you're physically ill in the body, and in the head. I still eat and drink as much as I please thank you very much.
So, are we purple spotted unicorns or not?
Sometimes we wonder about our sanity. We are leaving on an 1,500 mile ride in two weeks, and are already planning on month-long ride starting a couple weeks after we return.
Type 2 fun: An activity you didn't know was fun until it was over
Last edited by Doug64; 06-06-18 at 05:27 PM.
#43
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So far the only "Are you nuts?!?" comments I hear, mostly from non-cyclists, are directed at my preference for riding public streets rather than the MUP. Some folks only ride or walk the public park and paths. And some folks find it odd to even want to ride longer than 30 minutes. But despite getting clobbered by a car last month, most of my minor crashes and near misses occurred on the MUP, not on public streets. By far the most common hazards are on narrow, crowded MUPs. I try to avoid MUPs unless it's the only or shortest route between the public streets I prefer.
A metric century or thereabouts a week seems about right to me. After whipping myself back into shape over a couple of years an average workout ride was 20-30 miles. After that, a once a week 50-60something miler felt right, as long as I rode within my limits (while working to push my limits and improve).
Beyond that I had difficulties, mostly with neck pain from an old injury. I could ride reasonably fast for around 20-30 miles, but faded quickly and couldn't hang with a local club's fast group rides over 50 miles. Or I could ride my own slightly slower pace and finish 50-60 miles.
That didn't come easily though. My first year back in the saddle, 2015, after 30+ years away was tough. Took a year to be able to ride a metric century and even that required several rest stops. Took a lot of work to overcome asthma and a constricted airway to improve my aerobic fitness.
I don't recall anyone saying anything about my weight. At 5'11" and 160 lbs I look okay for a 60 year old, reasonably fit with just a bit of fluff around the midsection. If I get down to 150, closer to my optimal weight, I'll probably hear some comments but that's just because folks are accustomed to seeing so many young people with a layer of 5-10 lbs of fat that they look askance at anyone who's normally lean, as people were decades ago before constant snacking became the new normal. I noticed on some recent walks around my neighborhood I see quite a few kids and young teens who look like kids did generations ago, so either they're more active or don't snack constantly.
A metric century or thereabouts a week seems about right to me. After whipping myself back into shape over a couple of years an average workout ride was 20-30 miles. After that, a once a week 50-60something miler felt right, as long as I rode within my limits (while working to push my limits and improve).
Beyond that I had difficulties, mostly with neck pain from an old injury. I could ride reasonably fast for around 20-30 miles, but faded quickly and couldn't hang with a local club's fast group rides over 50 miles. Or I could ride my own slightly slower pace and finish 50-60 miles.
That didn't come easily though. My first year back in the saddle, 2015, after 30+ years away was tough. Took a year to be able to ride a metric century and even that required several rest stops. Took a lot of work to overcome asthma and a constricted airway to improve my aerobic fitness.
I don't recall anyone saying anything about my weight. At 5'11" and 160 lbs I look okay for a 60 year old, reasonably fit with just a bit of fluff around the midsection. If I get down to 150, closer to my optimal weight, I'll probably hear some comments but that's just because folks are accustomed to seeing so many young people with a layer of 5-10 lbs of fat that they look askance at anyone who's normally lean, as people were decades ago before constant snacking became the new normal. I noticed on some recent walks around my neighborhood I see quite a few kids and young teens who look like kids did generations ago, so either they're more active or don't snack constantly.
#44
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Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
But seriously, I'd chalk it up to closing speed. If I say something to a runnre I'm passing, by the time I'm done saying it, I'd have to turn my head to hear or they'd have to yell to respond cause I'm alrwady up the trail. Simple matter of practicality.
#46
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Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
Probably why there's such a proliferation of dark-colored kit and flat-black road bikes. Gotta look Hard, you know?
#47
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Bikes are something like five times more efficient than walking; if you can walk three or four hours then you should be able to fairly easily bike 60 miles. A reasonably fit person should be able to hike across most terrain for many hours because that is what our bodies evolved from. Not run, just hike.
Most of not all riders I know are fine with biking a metric, really the only limiting factor is the seat. Obviously the pace matters, but if we're just expending about the same as walking, then nah a metric isn't noteworthy. Like all riders I always loop an hour off my 50 miler then brag about doing...a fifty miler...
Of much greater concern is most Americans are physically unfit. As in, cannot walk an hour or two. In that sense, yes, you are nuts because you are part of a ever shrinking minority that can do 2-5 hours of anything that is slightly physically taxing.
Most of not all riders I know are fine with biking a metric, really the only limiting factor is the seat. Obviously the pace matters, but if we're just expending about the same as walking, then nah a metric isn't noteworthy. Like all riders I always loop an hour off my 50 miler then brag about doing...a fifty miler...
Of much greater concern is most Americans are physically unfit. As in, cannot walk an hour or two. In that sense, yes, you are nuts because you are part of a ever shrinking minority that can do 2-5 hours of anything that is slightly physically taxing.
#48
Senior Member
Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
#49
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Well, I like my cycling group and enjoy riding. But I run on trails used by cyclists and let me tell you, what an UNHAPPY group of people. It's rare that someone says hello, virtually no one is smiling, what's more common is this angry grimace on riders face...last thing I would accuse riders of doing is having fun, Just saying, lots more misery/stress than joy,
#50
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I think my wife must think this, because not more than three years ago I was in that category. Oh, I think I could walk an hour or two, since I have a physically demanding job, but my weight was at 280 and when I wasn't working I wasn't doing much physical stuff. But now it's nothing for me to go out and knock out 20 miles in less than a couple hours.