GhostRider62

I am sure we would get along real good on the golf course. I was a +2. It isn't ability but adherence to some common decency and importantly knowing those things that determines, in my mind, a serious golfer from a hack. Simple things like not moving or talkin when others are hittin or not walking on the thru line of another player and just simply being ready to hit. For me, ability isn't the determining factor. In fact, some of the most serious athletes are the least advantaged genetically. Of course these labels do not matter.

Riveting

Quiet please, scratch golfer on the forum!

You're correct about etiquette, and made me realize that I forgot to mention that in my informal tongue-in-cheek list of things that make a "serious" cyclist. And you're also right that being ready to roll at the designated time of a group ride, or directly after a pit stop, is the equivalent of not playing ready-golf. Failure to being ready when you should is not a sign of a "serious" hobbyist.

BTW: I've always wondered how bike racing could be with a golf-like handicap system? And with the advent of eBikes, I could see us giving slower/heavier riders some number of watts of pedal assist, based on their past performance, and decreasing those watts (handicap) as the rider places better in races, or increasing watts if they become slower. Just a random thought I've had.

WhyFi

No, it's not completely disingenuous.

"Ugly," and "stupid," are inherently negative. "Cheap," can have negative connotations, depending upon context. The same can be said for "real." In this instance, I think that "real" just means something that conforms to the guy's idea of a typical bike; for many people, a recumbent wouldn't fit that mold. I mean, do we really expect everybody on a bike to pull out a term like "double diamond"? Or is it fair to assume that someone might say something awkward while fumbling for words? Of course, the way it was delivered could say a lot about intent, but based upon word choice and context? I'm inclined to say that he didn't know enough to know that he'd committed a faux pas.

macstuff

Small cross body bag worn on my back or bike bag strapped to some part of the bike.

wolfchild

Every serious cyclist should carry a flat repair kit and they should know how to use it. If they don't then they're not serious cyclists.

cyccommute 

Well that cuts out about 90% of cyclists who think of themselves as “serious”

livedarklions

Seriously? What's the not insulting opposite of real? Fake? Pretend? Toy? Ersatz?

That wasn't awkward. He chose a very loaded term. I usually assume people mean the things they say, and the implication of the word he chose was bloody obvious. You're just assuming he was too stupid to realize it. I'm giving the guy the benefit of that doubt.

The Chemist

Trunk bag on my rear rack. Also a good place to store my lock, spare water bottles, spare tube, patch kit, multitool, and snacks. I don't carry a wallet, though, as here in Shanghai I can pay for everything with my phone so I pretty much never carry cash.

Miele Man

I carry my cell phone in my jersey right pocket, my wallet is in my jersey left pocket and my snacks go in my middle pocket. I carry my keys and my apartment entry fobs on a lanyard that goes around my neck. It also doubles as a plumb bob when I'm doing hard pedaling and want a quick reference so as to avoid thrashing my body side to side.

My cable clock and repair stuff including a spare tube fits inside my seat bag.

If it looks like it might rain, I'll tightly roll up my rain jacket and toe-strap it under my seatbag.

Cheers

WhyFi

Tons of contexts, tons of synonyms, many of them inoffensive. Feel free to disagree, though. It may be bloody obvious to you, but others have different sensibilities and aren't looking for ways in which they may have been slighted.

Beyond this, I've already witnessed how the offended party has misinterpreted statements and found insults where none were directed at him - I'm not ready to count him as a reliable narrator on these matters and I'm not terribly interested in spending more time on his ruffled feathers.

indyfabz

I’ve done some serious riding, including across the US and then some in one trip unsupported, but I almost never take a pump with me during my 2 mile one-way trip to work. Seriously. Should I sell my $400 bibs and buy something with a “lot pockets”?

Riveting

Nobody strives to be a serious clown, do they?

mschwett 

cell on my handlebars. quad lock mount.

keys (if needed) in the pocket of my MTB-style shorts. if i'm riding from the office, no key, just a card key.

no wallet. for a really long ride, a credit card and $40 in the same pocket as the keys.

for a short ride (<40mi) literally all i carry is the keychain with a couple flat keys (no car keys), the cell mounted on the bike, and a mask. in case of catastrophe, that will get me into an uber and home.

MyRedTrek

I suppose it could have been a clumsy attempt at being friendly or humorous though yeah it sounds like an arrogant, Richard-headed comment to make.

The obvious irony of his commentary seems to have flown over his head - he was the one stranded because his "real bike" failed.

downtube42

For my commutes, wallet goes in right pants pocket and cell phone in left. That might be wool knicker or poly cargo shorts, depending on weather.
Rationale: I don't wear cycling clothes on my short commute; when I arrive I don't want to dork around collecting my stuff from a bag.

For sporting rides when I'm wearing lycra, if it's not raining then cell phone and wallet go in jersey pockets. If it's rainy, cell phone is stowed in a rain jacket pocket but the wallet stays in the jersey pocket. If it's super hot, cell phone might be in a baggie to protect against sweat.
Rationale: Baggage on sporting rides is not stylish.

For brevets, ID, credit card, cash, pen, brevet card, and route info go in a pouch on a lanyard around my neck. Cell phone is stowed in a frame bag, in a baggie if it's rainy.
Rationale: Jersey pocket is too sweaty on long rides. KISS - if everything's around your neck, you don't have to make multiple trips back to the bike because you forgot a thing.

In fact, I have the lanyard thing around my neck at the moment. I'm doing a 1200k Saturday morning, everything's all situation for that, and I'm wasting time on BF. And I am not a serious cyclist; that sounds horrid.

friday1970

LOL.

Someone asked below "What constitutes a serious rider?".
Definitely not me. I'm an "avid" rider. 3-4 times a week, usually one really fast, hard drive, one easy going ride, a long Saturday ride, and then if time permits, something fun.

When I was in the USMC, there was a Sgt in charge of our squad. When he ran, he always tried to run at 100% of what his body could do. And when we had squad runs, we'd have to run at this pace. There was no fun or joy to these runs. They were fast, hard 3-5 mile runs, and I hated them. The squad hated them. And usually on Saturday mornings too. Apparently when he got out, he must have burned himself out, as he looked quite portly based on a recent FB photo.
On my own when I ran, I ran both fast and slow, but I made it fun. Just like my rides now. I'd run to the beach and swim, then run back. Or run to explore a new area around the base(s). Or when running with fellow Marines, chat about life along the way. My rides are no different. The idea is to make my rides fun, so that burnout never happens.
I guess my old Sgt would have been the runner's equivalent of a serious cyclist. Not doing things for fun.

But the OP would have been better to use the word "experienced" instead of serious.

mdarnton

Since I ride in a city I carry everything important in a fanny pack. Anything hanging on my bike is at risk of riding away if my bike gets hijacked from me, so nothing but food, water, etc ride attached to the bike.

Mojo31

Interesting, a condom for a bike ride.

indyfabz

You never know. When I was riding across the country back in ‘99 I met a girl in a laundry mat in Isle, MN on free dryer day. Yadda yadda yadda. I never heard from her again.

Mista Sparkle

I occasionally commute ~20 mi each way, usually in regular clothes. I've given up on carrying a wallet. If I need keys, they tend to go in a pocket (small ish keychain) but sometimes the saddle bag for rides >40 mi.

My phone case has a slot which I keep a CC in as well as ID. Between the case and phone I usually have $20-$40 case for a snack or emergency beer or whatever. It just goes in a pocket normally. Same when I'm towing kids or whatever.

When going for a longer or faster ride all I take is my phone in the center jersey pocket and I'm set.

livedarklions

I ride ironically.

livedarklions

Probably turned off when you tried to wash the condom.

kahn

I thought STEEL was better.

Milton Keynes

So, in other words, you and she talked for a bit.

Warbird21

I ignored the "serious rider" descriptor, but I do need to carry a phone (always) and keys (occasionally), as I usually ride from my home.

I have a garage opener keypad that I use to close the garage door, when leaving on the bike, and open on my return. Last night, wife was gone, I got home and the keypad didn't work. Luckily, I had my phone, with my Toyota app, and used to unlock my car, then hit the garage door opener. Whew. I have a key stashed somewhere, but it had been so long, I had no clue. Wife reminded me as to the location when she returned. So, the phone turned out to be pretty handy last night.