Elitism
07-28-18 | 07:53 AM
#26
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
"The Elites" would be a great name for a bicycle club.
07-28-18 | 09:14 AM
#28
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 2,506
From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Every sport and hobby has elitism and snobbery.
07-28-18 | 09:24 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 780
Likes: 155
From: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Cooper CX; 2007 Cannondale F4
The more you spend, the better you are.
There's a gap between those who actually use their bikes and those who spend the most money on them. The latter are posers. The former are pragmatists.
That's a gross oversimplification. I admit that. But I think it does highlight a very interesting and very real divide. Do you use your bike as a vehicle, or do you use it as a status symbol? It's a false dichotomy. You can do both, and you can very easily have multiple bikes for multiple purposes. I do, and so do others.
Bikes are for fitness. Bikes are for utility. Bikes are for enjoyment. Bikes are for competition. All of the above apply. Use your bikes how you want, and don't be a jerk to other riders who make different choices. You both ride, and that alone gives you more in common than you have with a lot of other people.
Be chill. We all love cycling.
There's a gap between those who actually use their bikes and those who spend the most money on them. The latter are posers. The former are pragmatists.
That's a gross oversimplification. I admit that. But I think it does highlight a very interesting and very real divide. Do you use your bike as a vehicle, or do you use it as a status symbol? It's a false dichotomy. You can do both, and you can very easily have multiple bikes for multiple purposes. I do, and so do others.
Bikes are for fitness. Bikes are for utility. Bikes are for enjoyment. Bikes are for competition. All of the above apply. Use your bikes how you want, and don't be a jerk to other riders who make different choices. You both ride, and that alone gives you more in common than you have with a lot of other people.
Be chill. We all love cycling.
You should start an incendiary thread ranting about how E-bikes are ruining cycling, next!
07-28-18 | 10:03 AM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 154
From: Boston area
Bikes: 1984 Bridgestone 400 1985Univega nouevo sport 650b conversion 1993b'stone RBT 1985 Schwinn Tempo
07-28-18 | 10:12 AM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
The more you spend, the better you are.
There's a gap between those who actually use their bikes and those who spend the most money on them. The latter are posers. The former are pragmatists.
That's a gross oversimplification. I admit that. But I think it does highlight a very interesting and very real divide. Do you use your bike as a vehicle, or do you use it as a status symbol?…
Be chill. We all love cycling.
There's a gap between those who actually use their bikes and those who spend the most money on them. The latter are posers. The former are pragmatists.
That's a gross oversimplification. I admit that. But I think it does highlight a very interesting and very real divide. Do you use your bike as a vehicle, or do you use it as a status symbol?…
Be chill. We all love cycling.
The difference is largely snobbery...
I'm high-5ing that.
Hell, a sub-$200 bike can beat a $2,000+ bike in the right circumstances. The rider is what matters most. You are the engine, after all.
Ride what you have. Love what you have. Let the snobs do what the snobs will do. Bikes are meant to be ridden. Everything else is BS.
Hell, a sub-$200 bike can beat a $2,000+ bike in the right circumstances. The rider is what matters most. You are the engine, after all.
Ride what you have. Love what you have. Let the snobs do what the snobs will do. Bikes are meant to be ridden. Everything else is BS.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 07-29-18 at 04:17 AM.
07-28-18 | 10:13 AM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,917
Likes: 3,944
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
I hope those dumpster-divers are wearing helmets. There is simply no good reason not to, despite the ambiguous medial findings ......
07-28-18 | 10:18 AM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,860
Likes: 821
From: SE Wisconsin
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Another, in a seemingly endless stream, of threads that are a waste of good electrons.
07-28-18 | 10:31 AM
#34
Professional amateur
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 688
Likes: 136
From: Ga.
Bikes: Does a Big Wheel count ?
I would be an Elitist, but as Groucho Marx famously quipped, "I refuse to be a member of any club that would have me as a member". 
07-28-18 | 01:28 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 420
From: Tucson Az
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
I have a pretty decent bike but I'm too much a commoner to be an elitist
07-28-18 | 01:37 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,653
Likes: 2,385
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Unless they're riding like a jerk and reflecting poorly on all the rest of us...No, wait...that's another thread, never mind.
07-28-18 | 01:50 PM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 563
Likes: 151
From: Connecticut
Bikes: Trek Domane, Surly Disc Trucker
I use my bikes for chasing down dogs and spraying them, running over small children on MUPs, and making obscene gestures to rude drivers who pass me too closely. There, I think I covered everything ... 
Probably already too much time has passed closing this one.
Probably already too much time has passed closing this one.
07-28-18 | 02:00 PM
#38
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,559
Likes: 799
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed
I find the anti-elitist elitism amusing. He can rest assured that he's better than those snobs.
07-28-18 | 02:03 PM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 45,316
Likes: 23,499
Coffee was still kicking in when I originally commented. Totally spaced on the fact that I was preparing to go for a ride in what is, the last time I checked, the 5th wealthiest county in the entire U.S. as measured by median household income. My super-fly, one-of-a-kind, custom ti ride and I had a great time riding amongst the winners in the world. Saw lots of other elite cyclists.
How'd y'all make out today?
How'd y'all make out today?
07-28-18 | 02:27 PM
#40
Full Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 453
Likes: 2
From: Southern Appalachians
Bikes: A hauler, a commuter, and a steamroller.
No disc brakes. How plebeian!
07-28-18 | 02:33 PM
#41
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
The latter are posers.
-Bandera
07-28-18 | 02:54 PM
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 45,316
Likes: 23,499
He wasn't making disk brake road bikes back there. I would have had to wait until the fall. It took 5 months as it was. Didn't want to miss the entire spring and summer just so I could get meat slicer brakes. Guy runs his own LBS and makes award winning frames. Twice Best MTB at the NAHBS back in the mid-2000s. Now that he has a kid he doesn't go anymore.
07-28-18 | 03:03 PM
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,917
Likes: 3,944
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Your elitist seat post is bent. 
07-28-18 | 03:14 PM
#44
Full Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 453
Likes: 2
From: Southern Appalachians
Bikes: A hauler, a commuter, and a steamroller.
He wasn't making disk brake road bikes back there. I would have had to wait until the fall. It took 5 months as it was. Didn't want to miss the entire spring and summer just so I could get meat slicer brakes. Guy runs his own LBS and makes award winning frames. Twice Best MTB at the NAHBS back in the mid-2000s. Now that he has a kid he doesn't go anymore.
More seriously, cool bike.
07-28-18 | 03:19 PM
#45
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 5,126
Likes: 1,324
From: Left Coast, Canada
Show us a picture of your good bike.
07-28-18 | 03:47 PM
#46
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 514
Likes: 24
From: the danger zone!
Bikes: steel is real. and so is Ti...
The more you spend, the better you are.
There's a gap between those who actually use their bikes and those who spend the most money on them. The latter are posers. The former are pragmatists.
That's a gross oversimplification. I admit that. But I think it does highlight a very interesting and very real divide. Do you use your bike as a vehicle, or do you use it as a status symbol? It's a false dichotomy. You can do both, and you can very easily have multiple bikes for multiple purposes. I do, and so do others.
Bikes are for fitness. Bikes are for utility. Bikes are for enjoyment. Bikes are for competition. All of the above apply. Use your bikes how you want, and don't be a jerk to other riders who make different choices. You both ride, and that alone gives you more in common than you have with a lot of other people.
Be chill. We all love cycling.
There's a gap between those who actually use their bikes and those who spend the most money on them. The latter are posers. The former are pragmatists.
That's a gross oversimplification. I admit that. But I think it does highlight a very interesting and very real divide. Do you use your bike as a vehicle, or do you use it as a status symbol? It's a false dichotomy. You can do both, and you can very easily have multiple bikes for multiple purposes. I do, and so do others.
Bikes are for fitness. Bikes are for utility. Bikes are for enjoyment. Bikes are for competition. All of the above apply. Use your bikes how you want, and don't be a jerk to other riders who make different choices. You both ride, and that alone gives you more in common than you have with a lot of other people.
Be chill. We all love cycling.
I'd say I'm more of a steel/ti purist. And I feel good about that.
07-28-18 | 03:51 PM
#47
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 514
Likes: 24
From: the danger zone!
Bikes: steel is real. and so is Ti...
07-28-18 | 04:58 PM
#48
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 845
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade
Just shut up and ride.
07-28-18 | 11:33 PM
#50
Banned.
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 5
From: France
Bikes: Brompton, Time, Bianchi, Jan Janssen, Peugeot
My timepiece is Patek Philippe, my clothes are all Armani, except, of course, for the handmade jeans and T shirts designed for me by Calvin Klein, my car is a Jaguar and my bicycle a Brompton.
I'm not remotely elitist, I don't need to be. My bodyguards keep the jealous rabble away!
I'm not remotely elitist, I don't need to be. My bodyguards keep the jealous rabble away!