Road Fan

I’m also not sure what it is ALL about, but if you like pedaling a bicycle, keep pedaling a bicycle. Don’t worry about what those others are doing. I don’t know what you ride, and really, don’t care much. But there’s room for a lot of ways to enjoy pedaling.

Hiro11

What I learned from this thread:
- people that ride faster than many here are entitled jerks with a death wish who should slow down. They just don't "get cycling". The concept of using a bike for vigorous exercise is just 100% absurd.
- lycra is not very masculine and those who wear lycra are only doing so because they think it looks cool, and because they're jerks.
- spending over $1K on a bike is bad. Really bad. It makes the buyer a pretentious, smug, arrogant dick. Who do they think they are?

seypat

You forgot about these:
People that ride slower than many here are entitled slackers who should speed up. They just don't "get cycling." The concept of using a bike, not necessarily for vigorous exercise is just 100% absurd.
Lycra is not very masculine. Those who wear lycra are only doing so because it improves their cycling experience. They might think they look cool also. If they look down on people who don't wear lycra, they are jerks.
Spending over $1K on a bike is bad if you can't afford it. Really bad. To some people, it makes the buyer a pretentious, smug, arrogant dick. Who do they think they are? To others, not spending over $1K on a bike will also make the buyer a smug, arrogant dick. Who do they think they are?

Anything else to add?

PimpMan

Exactly big dude on skinny frame bicycle going to look bit off.

If i make analogy with motorcycles, for some its Harley and Chopper for other fast sport bikes its a lifestyle choice.

genejockey 

It's not about aerodynamics, or at least not ALL about aerodynamics. Regarding the shorts, there's the pad, the absence of seams in the crotch, the fact that fabric moves with you so it doesn't rub and cause chafing, the fact that it gets your junk out of the way of the saddle, the fact that there's no loose fabric in the crotch to catch on the nose of the saddle as you sit back down after an out-of-saddle effort.

Jerseys - the wicking capacity of the fabric means you're not wearing a clingy, clammy T-shirt. I find that on most climbs, I end up dripping with sweat. Totally soaked. By the bottom of the descent, totally dry. So if you're going to wear 'performance fabric rather than a cotton T-shirt that won't wick sweat, you want it to fit snuggly so it does its job well. Loose, flappy clothing not only robs you of speed, it's also LOUD, and louder the faster you go.

Basically, millions of cyclists find all those advantages in cycling kit, because it works. It's been refined over decades to work better. So, really the question is no longer whether there's advantage in cycling kit. The question is where is the advantage in not wearing it? It's just trying to convince others you're not "one of those Lance wannabes", which means you end up being the one who really cares what other people think.

David of CA

Who would want to be a fraud?

autonomy

Maybe NOW we can have a good flame war!

BlazingPedals

The thing with this forum is, it's for everyone. Not just for the people who think 15 mph is "racing," and not for those who actually race. There are types both here, as well as quite a few in between. Let's show some tolerance for others. You don't see the fast riders talking down about the slower riders; those out there in the first group should stop throwing wild accusations. I ride to make me happy, and I ride and wear what makes me happy. I don't care if I impress strangers or threaten their world view. It's all about me.

There, it's said.

burnthesheep

While agreeing with this, let me qualify it by saying that this chat forum seems to allow a lot of intellectually dishonest troll efforts. To the credit of the moderators, usually the instigators play on people's kindness by at first appearing genuinely newer or in need of something. Making it tougher to sniff out.

Just looking at the topic title of this topic, one can fairly assume right off that it's an effort to demean a group of people or start some kind of flame war. "What's their deal". Really?

Then there's the "debate settled fact" types. The whole "heavier bike is better exercise" topic is literally the bicycle troll topic equivalent of "will a model airplane take off from a moving treadmill". The airplane treadmill thing is as old as the internet now, there's probably a Mythbusters video about it already. Anytime it's posted again, it's a troll effort. But somehow this stuff slips through.

Lastly there's the "make grandiose claims" crowd who then cry when asked for proof. That's a more subtle and advanced troll effort. It plays on the forum's open arms and politeness repeatedly until it's provoked sensible people to lash out. That's a forum sin in taking advantage of forum rules on politeness and people's kind nature.

I wish people would respect these kind of sensibilities just a bit more.

livedarklions

Respect sensibilities? Have you seen the internet before?

I think there are naive posters who come here and say or ask something that's obviously uninformed and I have a high level of tolerance for them. OP is not one of those people, this was just pure troll.

burnthesheep

Haha, for once I was trying to not be as much like I normally am. A turd. You nailed it here.

Eric F 

Who is being a fraud?

livedarklions

Freud.

Eric F 

Why are only skinny people are allowed to ride road bikes? What about guys who used to be skinny? I see people of all different sizes riding Harleys and sport bikes. Is that also a problem for you? Is every sport bike rider wearing full leathers pretending to be Mark Marquez?

livedarklions

You do realize you're arguing with a guy who calls himself PimpMan, right?

Who cares what offends him?

cbrstar

If the OP and others think Roadie's look ridiculous. I can't imagine just how silly old guys like me riding around on children's bicycles must be.

BlazingPedals

A $25 Zebco rod/reel set will catch the same fish that a $500 set will. So why buy the expensive stuff? Maybe because the aficionado appreciates the higher build quality, the balance, the more predictable action, or even the fancier look. Who's to say they're wrong? Someone who doesn't fish? Yes,this is a troll thread.

fuji105

More effort on a heavy bike? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the type of training or riding you're doing. Your heavy bike may take more effort, depending on how hard you push yourself and how long, but a rider on a lighter bike will work just as hard or harder because she is stressing her body to go faster (thus having to go faster). By the way, there is a difference between big strong muscles that can push or lift heavy weights and fast-twitch muscles that can make quick movements over an extended time period.

rsbob 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric F View Post
Q. Why are only skinny people are allowed to ride road bikes?
A. I believe it is a state law in most states. Could go national.

Q. What about guys who used to be skinny?
A. People who have gained weight automatically forfeit their right, unless they return to being skinny and then are entitled to all the rights and privileges including a road bike.

Q. What about people of all sizes riding Harleys and sport bikes?
A. False equivalency? Apples and pears? Never seen an overweight person riding a sport bike. Might want an eye exam.

caloso

Wouldn't you get a better workout with a heavier bike ?

jconti13

Is this your sport troll?

Calsun

If there were inherent virtues in heavy bikes then adding a few 5 lb weights to the bike would make it even better. What is interesting to me is how often folks will worry about saving an ounce with a new saddle but ignore the extra 20 lbs of belly fat or carry around 2 or even 3 water bottles and a 2 lb bike repair kit.

What is also overlooked is the choice provided by the bike manufacturers when it comes to components and saddles on bikes targeted at the casual rider. The heavier bike has cheaper deraillers, cheaper rims, cheaper brakes, and usually poor frame geometry and of course gearing that is wrong. I have seen the days when "race" bikes were built for criterion racers and were terrible for road racers or touring riders. When triathelons became popular it was great as the bikes built for competitors were the best overall for the average club rider or touring cyclist.

I have to laugh when someone thinks $1,000 is expensive for a bike. In college in 1970 the expensive bikes were the Italian ones that cost around $500 which in today's money is roughly $5,000. A lot of fellow riders had such bikes but they did not have cars or trucks to support.

terrymorse 

Tri bikes are good for club rides and touring?

I don’t think so. They handle terribly.

They’re good at going fast in a straight line, and that’s about all.

woodcraft

Does bouncing weight really matter?

LarrySellerz

Is weight really that important even on flats? Im 235 lbs and could be like 190, think I would get a substantial increase in speed on flat ground?

Also this is 100% a troll thread