It may be a regional colloquialism.

I keep reading on here that none of these riders want to race or "know they're in a race" when you drop them. That is BS. If I pass a rider or close on his tail and he, all of a sudden, picks this moment to speed up and attempt to overtake or remain ahead, he wants to dominate. This is not difficult to determine.

Maybe he just doesn't want to ride anywhere near a sketchy rider.

I'll drop a stranger who's latched onto my wheel if their riding makes me nervous. Then I'll go back to riding my pace. Once dropped, they always stay dropped.

They're just flexing their ego that's all.

"closing in on his tail", as in drafting him without his consent. That is rude and dangerous. Their response may simply be avoiding an a$$hole, with no particular desire to "race".

Do you really do that? To repeat, it is RUDE AND DANGEROUS.
If somebody I don't know gets on my wheel, I usually don't try to drop them. I move aside and tell them that they don't have my permission to draft me. They can pass if they want.

Two-way bike trails are only so wide here. Unless you want to stay behind every rider you encounter, you will be doing a form of closing on his tail. This is not riding his tail; this is closing with an obvious intention to pass.

Oh, a pathlete. Even worse.

Perks of being a Lance: (are u kidding moi?)
In case no one has stated the obvious.

Lots of nice jerseys for every different condition.
Lots of nice bib shorts/knickers/tights.
Several pairs of $500+ shoes.
Complete winter ensemble for that special ethic.
Many expensive bicycles detailed to one's fit.
Lightweight carbon wheels.
Various color helmets.
Gloves - every description
Sunglasses - from every maker
A personal trainer.
Masseuse
Nutritionist/chef
Breaking rules with impunity and not getting busted.


A sponsor, ... or spouse that keeps it rolling at Xmas and Birthday.

What a good life!
Where can I sign up?
Well, that was the question wasn't it?

I’m sorry, we’re not looking for any new members right now.

This is the most Larry-esque thing I've seen on these forums since Larry told of waiting at the tops of hills to race people without their knowledge they were racing.

Shucks - I have been wanting to be an inspiration for bikers () to crank to it to 400 watts and drope the hamer on me. Good exercise for them - physically and mentally. Only seeking to be a valued therapist for unfulfilled MUP champions or warriors.

Your cause is worthy. For you, we will grant an exception.

The first rule about being a Lance is: you do not talk about being a Lance. The second rule about being a Lance is: you do not admit to being a Lance.

No butt hurt, really - maybe more people need custom 3D printed saddles to gracefully support a toned derriere. What's meant by 'get all woman like'? grow long hair, go buy more cool stuff? Measuring oneself against every other person on 2 wheels doesn't sound like fun. Sounds rather ... elitist ... when one always confirms their style as superior.

I never thought of myself as a Lance - never owned jersey/shorts/socks from a ProTeam. Never wanted a racing license, nor fastest on a group ride, nor chasing MUP riders. But I wear cycling kit, padded shorts for over 10 miles, wool when the weather cools and (yes) winter gear. Been doing it on drop bar road bikes, as an adult, for 40+ years. Ride in the 15 - 18 mph range for average. Sometimes good form and aero position save a ton of energy on a metric century, into a headwind, or on a hot day. We work at pedaling circles and looking thru eyebrows - for the efficiency gained. If that's a Lance - well, ... I must be in the General Forum.

Like Winter skiing - one needs to understand and appreciate the Art of Glisse - only on 2 wheels.

^^ Decade ago, a self-fitting - before upgrading this bicycle to 1" threadless, new fork&HS&stem&bars

get the form correct and efficiently experience glisse on the road. On quality tubulars, naturally.

Bikes with lesser quality can satisfy for tooling around and slower rides with grandaughters

i can even go Woman-like and enjoy it.

Yep, that's our Larry! Kid on a BMX bike.... Race! Guy riding 30-year-old bike to the liquor store.... Race! Old lady on a Huffy Beach Cruiser.... Race! New parents with kid in a bike trailer.... Race! All just so much fodder for the racing grist mill.

I ride 90% of the time as "a Lance." I do get the respect from other cyclists, though that's less important to me than earning some goodwill for the rest of us Lances.

Less serious riders and pedestrians only wave to me if I wave first. Oftentimes, they don't know what to do until I pass, as I'm apparently the only Lance who waves to them.

I do signal and ride courteously, on the MUP AND street, so maybe that earns some respect from a lot of people.

The main benefit though is that I'm more comfortable (padded shorts, breathable clothes) and it takes less effort to maintain a given speed, when clothing is not flopping around in the wind.

I have a couple long sleeved jerseys that are a size too big. One time, I wore one on a windy day, and I felt like I was riding into a headwind ALL the time. This is how it feels to me, wearing regular clothes on the bike.

Give birth, discover radium, fly solo over the Atlantic, and ride a mixte.

You must mean the female corollary of hegemonic masculinity?


Largest hours of space flight time, fastest growing sports teams in USA, female umpires/referees/coaches, etc, etc.

What is equality without parity? Good question for artificially intelligent(?) algorithms?

Men and women are not equal.
Both genders have strengths and weaknesses.
Instead of all trying to be equal why don't we all just excell at our strenghts

A woman can be as equally Lance as a man. Lanciness does not discriminate.

Well minus 1 testicle

Getting bent out of shape when a guy in cycling clothes (Lance) passes , must be so much more dramatic (bentier?) when Lancella and Lancita fly by - and they are merely average Joesitas, without dresses.

Roll On.
With hairless legs = like Lance
____________________
Q+TheyThemLance(?) Wildwood

Your strengths don't include the whole "spelling and typing" thing. Maybe you should stop.

Didn't claim mine did.

Learning is fundamental to understanding/wisdom...

....some 'Lances' have been learning cycling for decades; believe = we understand the various ways of riding a bike. The best way is to ride with a smile - not a smirk, jeer or a pre-judgement. Those are the cycling Lances we avoid.


Years back we used to have threads about the Perks of being a Fred, What Really is a Fred? Are plaid flannel, fleece-lined Carhartt coveralls Freddly in Winter?
At times those threads could be funny (- ) - much like this one.