Cycling and Character
07-07-18, 06:52 PM
#26
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07-07-18, 08:14 PM
#28
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Human beings are generally awful and cyclists are no exception.
Every year after the Dirty Kanza there is a flood of naval gazing blog posts about what an incredible life changing experience it is.
No, it's not. It's just a really difficult 200 mile gravel ride.
If you were an ******* before the ride, and you finish, you're just an ******* who rode 200 miles. There's nothing about a bicycle that magically transforms someone into a good person.
Every year after the Dirty Kanza there is a flood of naval gazing blog posts about what an incredible life changing experience it is.
No, it's not. It's just a really difficult 200 mile gravel ride.
If you were an ******* before the ride, and you finish, you're just an ******* who rode 200 miles. There's nothing about a bicycle that magically transforms someone into a good person.
07-07-18, 08:28 PM
#29
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There's a logical fallacy in there somewhere.
07-07-18, 11:00 PM
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it really comes down to the product they use on there chain; wax or lube?
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07-08-18, 04:31 AM
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Human beings are generally awful and cyclists are no exception.
Every year after the Dirty Kanza there is a flood of naval gazing blog posts about what an incredible life changing experience it is.
No, it's not. It's just a really difficult 200 mile gravel ride.
If you were an ******* before the ride, and you finish, you're just an ******* who rode 200 miles. There's nothing about a bicycle that magically transforms someone into a good person.
Every year after the Dirty Kanza there is a flood of naval gazing blog posts about what an incredible life changing experience it is.
No, it's not. It's just a really difficult 200 mile gravel ride.
If you were an ******* before the ride, and you finish, you're just an ******* who rode 200 miles. There's nothing about a bicycle that magically transforms someone into a good person.
07-08-18, 05:25 AM
#33
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Some years ago, I was working on a carpentry job in Brookline MA, and staying there for the summer -
Area of very fancy "mini-estates", bordering a large country club.
Anyway, there was a rash of nighttime burglaries - From the evidence, done by a guy on a mountain bike !
He was still "at large" at the time I left, even though they brought in bike cops to try and catch him...........
Area of very fancy "mini-estates", bordering a large country club.
Anyway, there was a rash of nighttime burglaries - From the evidence, done by a guy on a mountain bike !
He was still "at large" at the time I left, even though they brought in bike cops to try and catch him...........
07-08-18, 05:36 AM
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Some years ago, I was working on a carpentry job in Brookline MA, and staying there for the summer -
Area of very fancy "mini-estates", bordering a large country club.
Anyway, there was a rash of nighttime burglaries - From the evidence, done by a guy on a mountain bike !
He was still "at large" at the time I left, even though they brought in bike cops to try and catch him...........
Area of very fancy "mini-estates", bordering a large country club.
Anyway, there was a rash of nighttime burglaries - From the evidence, done by a guy on a mountain bike !
He was still "at large" at the time I left, even though they brought in bike cops to try and catch him...........
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07-08-18, 08:48 AM
#36
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Cyclists are just ordinary people on human powered two or three wheels. I've never noticed any significant difference between us and anyone else, other than a different tolerance for sweaty socializing.
I've met a few vaguely shady characters who were avid cyclists. But that's because cyclists represent as much diversity as the population at large. I've ridden alongside politicians, lawyers, electricians, teachers, civil servants, salesmen, waitresses, mechanics, musicians and cops in the same group rides. What we all have in common is wearing silly clothing and managing to get along.
I've met a few vaguely shady characters who were avid cyclists. But that's because cyclists represent as much diversity as the population at large. I've ridden alongside politicians, lawyers, electricians, teachers, civil servants, salesmen, waitresses, mechanics, musicians and cops in the same group rides. What we all have in common is wearing silly clothing and managing to get along.
07-12-18, 09:46 AM
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& all parents are grown-ups ... 
07-12-18, 09:50 AM
#38
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I'm a cyclist...And according to my ex-wife, I'm a real ******bag.
So, there you have it.
So, there you have it.
07-12-18, 09:55 AM
#39
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He paid a civil settlement for it, and wasn't charged criminally only because the statute of limitations had run by the time he admitted it.
The attacks on detractors and people telling the truth are why he must never be forgiven by the sport.
07-12-18, 10:20 AM
#40
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My nominee for best character of any bicyclist:
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27333310Gino Bartali: The cyclist who saved Jews in wartime Italy
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27333310Gino Bartali: The cyclist who saved Jews in wartime Italy
Last edited by livedarklions; 07-12-18 at 10:22 AM. Reason: add headline
07-12-18, 10:32 AM
#41
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I have met a lot of serious cyclists, and have in general been very impressed by the character of them as a whole. Yes, you have DB’s, really insecure people (usually one and the same) cheapskates, braggarts, blowhards, wheel-suckers, people who yell at you in pacelines, snot-blowers, and other annoying types, eccentricity is practically a staple in the cycling world.
But I can’t remember ever having met a genuinely bad person who was a serious rider. I’m talking career criminals, everyone knows the type. Smooth talker, brazen thief, been in and out of jail since their teens, make their living ripping people off so that they don’t have to work. These kind of people never spend the time and effort needed to become a proficient cyclist or racer. The guy who steals bikes is never much of a serious rider, or that's been my observation anyway.
So if you run into someone who rides a lot, it’s almost guaranteed they will be a decent person, a chill bro, and won’t try to rip you off, not too badly anyway. This sport has a rather cleansing effect on people’s character, I like to think.
Has anyone here ever known a serious criminal / really bad person, who was also an avid cyclist?
But I can’t remember ever having met a genuinely bad person who was a serious rider. I’m talking career criminals, everyone knows the type. Smooth talker, brazen thief, been in and out of jail since their teens, make their living ripping people off so that they don’t have to work. These kind of people never spend the time and effort needed to become a proficient cyclist or racer. The guy who steals bikes is never much of a serious rider, or that's been my observation anyway.
So if you run into someone who rides a lot, it’s almost guaranteed they will be a decent person, a chill bro, and won’t try to rip you off, not too badly anyway. This sport has a rather cleansing effect on people’s character, I like to think.
Has anyone here ever known a serious criminal / really bad person, who was also an avid cyclist?
07-12-18, 11:30 AM
#42
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07-12-18, 12:06 PM
#44
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Yes, and who could forget:
But she wasn't a "serious" cyclist, obviously, just look at that terrible position on the bike. And she's not wearing cycling-specific shoes, or even toe clips, FFS.
But she wasn't a "serious" cyclist, obviously, just look at that terrible position on the bike. And she's not wearing cycling-specific shoes, or even toe clips, FFS.
07-12-18, 01:43 PM
#45
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I judge L.A. cycling ability on his cycling not on his character.
If I judged every pro athlete on their character I couldn't watch, golf, football, baseball, tennis,etc.
07-12-18, 01:56 PM
#46
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Well, that's nice. He cheated to get that riding ability. He effectively ruined or greatly damaged the lives of people who were telling the truth about this. His entire record is a fraud. He has been stripped of all titles and they should never be restored.
I really don't care what you watch.
07-12-18, 01:57 PM
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07-12-18, 02:07 PM
#48
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Here's a hint, better than everyone one else in the same era doing the same thing.
07-12-18, 02:12 PM
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He wins the award for bestest cheater. We have no idea where he would have been in a clean sport, and his actions beyond the cheating were so morally repugnant, no one owes him the benefit of the doubt.