Which group on these forums is the most bizarre to you? IOW, they really don't seem to make any sense to you. (At least their type of riding doesn't make sense.)

All of them make sense to me.

See ... that's the great thing about cycling: VERSATILITY!

There are many different types of cycling to appeal to our varied moods, or to appeal to many different types of people.

Personally, I ride a road bicycle, I ride in the winter, I ride a mountain bike, I commute, I ride recreationally, I have ridden recumbents, and I am a cycle tourist.

I am also an ultra-distance cyclist (Randonneur) which you did not mention in your list.

I mainly used types of cycling that are categorized on these forums. For veteran forum members we have been exposed to most of these categories for years. There is not a Randonneur forum that i am aware of so there isn't as much material to draw from.

I ride on the road on a road bike, but "roadies" are just WAY too fashion obsessed. Hanging out on the road forums is like listening to Joan Rivers at the Oscars, only more pathetic.

"Did you see what he's wearing? Doesn't he know it's gauche to wear a green jersey if he didn't win it on a sprint stage???"

"Ooooh, I just got a compact crank because I need lower gearing but I can't possibly be seen with a triple."

Can't we all just get along?

I voted for Roadie as well. I just got a road bike this year but still don't get it. The whole culture is just too weird.

I pretty much confound myself mostly.

Most of the "advocates" make no sense to me.

Fixies I find somewhat confusing, but at the same time intriguing. I like technology, but am intrigued by their love of simplicity.

Good one.

I spend time on the Advocacy section and am confounded by how some "advocates" spend so much time posting misrepresentaions about dangers and risks on a bike.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

The Advocacy and Safety guys seem to be fighting relentless trench warfare over bike lanes. I find it amusing and puzzling at the same time.

The relentless pursuit of style and OCP points in the road section can be amusing (as I think it's intended to be, mostly) but after awhile all it makes me want to do is get on my bike and go for a quiet ride in the country without the slightest regard for anything but the sun the wind and the landscape.

The politics and religion forum makes my head want to explode.

from my short time on these forums lurking and posting, i would have to say the single speed and fixed gear forum is completely bewildering. that forum isn't about riding; it's about belonging and conforming to some bizarre group that still thinks drinking and being obnoxious is somehow a declaration of individuality. i guess being a cyclist doesn't mean you're more intelligent. the threads about "which xyz part looks best" also floor me. JMHO YMMV

Yeah. I failed to include fixed gear in the Poll. Maybe it is because although i have been a member here for over 2 years and posted over 2500 posts, i have never clicked on the fixed gear section. I have ZERO interest in it!

I voted for cyclocross simply because I have no clear idea what it is.

CX -Compact geometry road-type bikes that go offoad with heavier duty tires\rims.
XC -Mtn bikes that run mostly flatland offroad but not downhill as they are ridden seat up for speed.

I find fixed gear track bikes with persuit geometry running brakeless as commuters kinda wierd.
Not that there's anything wrong with wierd - or fixed.
Just sounds scary.

+1

Note to self: Add Machka to list of those who 'get it'

The one group I have the most trouble with is the mountain bike group. Most of the people over there are way to involved in riding big BMX bikes and talking about hucking, doing drops and other extreme stuff. It scares away more people than it appeals to. About 10% of all riders are interested in that stuff but it seems to take up 90% of the band width. We need more about ridin' and less about flyin'!

I'm thinking roadies, but I get them. Oddly, too, I'm kind of agreeing with Merton on this one - why is there no SS/Fix? We should be the ones that make the least sense to anyone. The OP even mentioned that he's never even entered the forum - does that mean he doesn't want to understand the extreme connection that we find with our bikes?

Blah, I'm not even going to vote. The only types of bikers I haven't been able to understand are people that commute on BMX bikes. There's one in my building, and I know he rides year round. WTF is up with that?

And jeff - I'm glad that you added "persuit geometry" to your post... Otherwise I'd have to explain myself

Yeah, you see a lot of that. With the younger riders, that's what's bringing them into the sport so they ALWAYS want to talk about that. I think that the mountain bike section of forums probably has the most young guys, probably more so than the BMX section. I wouldn't let those guys scare you off, while I love droppin and huckin (I suck though), I still enjoy a nice flowy technical trail. Don't be shy, c'mon over, we'll show some love.

I ride year round too. In Minneapolis. -40F means my coworkers are late, not me. I just noticed that he rides year round because he leaves his bike in the hall and makes a puddle as the snow melts. So I know that he rides every day somewhere, probably commuting, and keeps his bike in the hall in the winter so it doesn't mess up his hardwood floors. I put down a blanket and wipe most of the snow off before entering the building.

Year round here is a little different than it is for you, Merton.

Mtb is many disciplines\types of riding.

Cross country.
Freeride.
Downhill.
All mountain.
Single track.
Racing (in all cat's)
Trails.
Trials.
Rec\commuting.

Very diverse, possibly bewildering.
Eh..just get into the woods and do it wild.

I just ride a bike lots, like any type of cycling.
Have little to say to recumbent riders...'cept -anybody have some nice Carmichael cogs they don't need?
High chain tension rocks. No idlers please. Ya I'll be on a 'bent @ 60.

Oh and anybody have a 7spd index rear shifter not plastic Shimano body crap that your not using...please P.M me.
I'm busting 1 a year now it seems.
Love ya all.
Peace.

you forgot ONE,, the Fixgear fellowship.

they will get my vote for sure...

Yes jeff we got it the first time.

Sorry, not sure if it's the forum or my 'puter, hiccup.

Not unless we can laugh at each other

BMX. It's not that what they do doesn't make any sense to me, it's just that their equipment is so different from what the rest of us use. I love watching flatland freestyle stuff. Those guys do stuff that I KNOW can't be done and they make it look easy.