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-   -   What is the "cockpit"? (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1286836-what-cockpit.html)

shelbyfv 12-26-23 09:15 PM

Is that a Slinky wedged between the headset and stem? Compliant for sure. :thumb:

genejockey 12-26-23 09:23 PM


Originally Posted by Alan K (Post 23111126)
And occasionally, the pavement! 🤪

But in case of bicycles, the origin of the term must be mostly to do with a greatly exaggerated sense of self-importance… or possibly a delusional justification to blow 8 grand on a bicycle. ;)

Alternatively, some people don't want to say "stem and handlebars", or especially "one-piece stem and handlebars", because it's too many syllables.

Personally I find that people who use different words from me are either pretentious gits or knuckledragging troglodytes, depending on which words they use that I don't. ;) :roflmao2:

Alan K 12-26-23 09:29 PM


Originally Posted by genejockey (Post 23111588)
Alternatively, some people don't want to say "stem and handlebars", or especially "one-piece stem and handlebars", because it's too many syllables.

Personally I find that people who use different words from me are either pretentious gits or knuckledragging troglodytes, depending on which words they use that I don't. ;) :roflmao2:

Seems reasonable. ;)

rsbob 12-26-23 10:39 PM


Originally Posted by genejockey (Post 23111588)
Alternatively, some people don't want to say "stem and handlebars", or especially "one-piece stem and handlebars", because it's too many syllables.

Personally I find that people who use different words from me are either pretentious gits or knuckledragging troglodytes, depending on which words they use that I don't. ;) :roflmao2:

Your words remind me of the old phrase: When I am driving, people who slow me down are idiots and people who drive faster than me are maniacs. :D

wolfchild 12-27-23 06:46 AM

Airplanes have cockpits, bicycles don't have cockpits.

Trakhak 12-27-23 06:50 AM


Originally Posted by wolfchild (Post 23111719)
Airplanes have cockpits, bicycles don't have cockpits.

Airplanes don't have cockpits, Mexican gamblers have cockpits.

polyrhythmia 12-27-23 07:47 AM


Originally Posted by VegasJen (Post 23108960)
I've heard this term used a few times in reference to bikes but I don't know the definition in relation to cycling. I get the cockpit of an airplane or a race car, but not sure what it means in the cycling context. Can someone explain? And what parts are and are not within the "cockpit"?

The term "cockpit" would make sense if you were riding a Cruzbike recumbent, especially the Cruzbike Vendetta racing model.

Polaris OBark 12-27-23 08:31 AM

I thought it referred to the cut-out of a male-specific anatomical saddle.

This, in turn, makes me wonder about the female saddle equivalent.

shelbyfv 12-27-23 08:57 AM


Originally Posted by Polaris OBark (Post 23111773)
I thought it referred to the cut-out of a male-specific anatomical saddle.

This, in turn, makes me wonder about the female saddle equivalent.

And then there is the issue of female with that pesky Y chromosome.

Polaris OBark 12-27-23 10:15 AM


Originally Posted by shelbyfv (Post 23111792)
And then there is the issue of female with that pesky Y chromosome.

I actually thought of that, but decided not to go there, in an uncharacteristic exhibition of restraint.

MaxKatt 12-27-23 11:14 AM


Originally Posted by Trakhak (Post 23111049)
By the way, the meaning of the slang term "cockpit" in aviation, like the related "joystick," is not exactly family friendly. (Or is it?)

___________________________

Cockpit is family friendly. Derives from Cockswain, or the person who sat in the little steering compartment of a small boat called a cock in old England.

If it wasn't family friendly WSD bikes would have to be marketed with VagPods.

Ghazmh 12-27-23 11:45 AM

Haven’t we already had this conversation?

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...n-cockpit.html

Chuck M 12-27-23 11:47 AM

^^^
'tis how zombies awaken.

genejockey 12-27-23 01:38 PM


Originally Posted by Ghazmh (Post 23111998)
Haven’t we already had this conversation?

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...n-cockpit.html

Everything old is new again.

tcs 12-27-23 02:20 PM

'Cockpit': not in glossary.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/glossary-c.html

Wonderful preserved cockpit at St. Fagan's outside of Cardiff:

https://museum.wales/stfagans/buildings/cockpit/

Interior shot:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...289f41311d.jpg

According to 'Why Did the Chicken Cross the World' by Andrew Lawler, it's a sure bet that at some point in history your ancestors enjoyed cock fighting no matter where in the world they lived. :eek:

You can see how this structure's name got applied to sailing:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7cd51a207a.png

The rudder and principle sheets (the controls) are all accessible from the cockpit.

rsbob 12-27-23 02:56 PM


Originally Posted by Chuck M (Post 23111488)
It just needs more bar, or these bars need more stuff.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...822e1bace5.jpg

More cowbell!

indyfabz 12-27-23 03:05 PM


Originally Posted by genejockey (Post 23112076)
Everything old is new again.

I never new that.

Chuck M 12-27-23 03:13 PM


Originally Posted by rsbob (Post 23112138)
More cowbell!

I took a welding class as a youngster and we made cow bells to learn how to oxy-actylene weld. If I still had it, I'd be more noticeable on the MUP.

indyfabz 12-27-23 03:18 PM

Surprised that no one has joined to make an AI post describing the meaning of cockpit.

rsbob 12-27-23 03:45 PM


Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 23112144)
I never new that.

Sounds like you aren’t old enough yet. :D

Sy Reene 12-27-23 05:17 PM


Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 23112157)
Surprised that no one has joined to make an AI post describing the meaning of cockpit.

We don't want you to leave you surprised.

The term "cockpit" has its roots in the nautical world, where it originally referred to a sunken space on a ship's deck from which the vessel was steered and navigated. This concept dates back to the 17th century, and the word itself is derived from the Dutch word "kokpit," which means a cooking or boiling pit. This connection arises from the fact that the sunken area on a ship resembled a cooking pit.

Over time, as technology advanced and transportation modes evolved, the term "cockpit" found its way into aviation. In airplanes, the cockpit is the enclosed space where the pilot and other controls are located. The term maintained its essence of being a control center or a centralized space for operating a vehicle.

Now, how did it end up being associated with bicycles? In the context of bicycles, especially those designed for racing or high-performance riding, the term "cockpit" is borrowed to describe the rider's position and the arrangement of handlebars, saddle, and pedals. The idea is to convey a sense of control and command over the bike, emphasizing the rider's interface with the machine.

In cycling discussions, referring to the "cockpit" allows enthusiasts to talk about the ergonomic design and setup of the bicycle, including handlebar choice, saddle position, and overall rider comfort. This term has become a way to express the rider's command over the bike, akin to the control exerted by a pilot in an aircraft or a captain on a ship. So, in the world of bicycles, the term "cockpit" has smoothly transitioned from its maritime and aviation origins to capture the essence of control and navigation in the realm of cycling.

OldTryGuy 12-27-23 08:00 PM


Originally Posted by genejockey (Post 23112076)
Everything old is new again.

or Déjà vu all over again ???

indyfabz 12-27-23 08:03 PM

Hope this thread had fulfilled whatever needs the OP has.

I still have that bridge for sale. PM me.

VegasJen 12-28-23 12:05 AM


Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 23112422)
Hope this thread had fulfilled whatever needs the OP has.

I still have that bridge for sale. PM me.

Fulfilled my curiosity by post 8. But hey, whatever y'all wanna do is cool with me.

indyfabz 12-28-23 04:56 AM


Originally Posted by VegasJen (Post 23112538)
But hey, whatever y'all wanna do is cool with me.

My point exactly.


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