I've just spent the last hour trying to figure out if I am a road cyclist, a commuter cyclist, a utility cyclist, etc. I build my own bikes to carry groceries, pump up hills and bring me to work and back, all while keeping up with the dude in spandex. Does anyone find themselves irritated by all the labels and separatist groups? What are your thoughts?

-PJ

Are you using an untralight pole with a bait casting or spin casting reel?

I don't bother trying to keep up with the spandex crowd. Never has been my style. I just ride. Stop and smell (and photograph) the flowers. Then ride some more. Sometimes it's errands; sometimes it's just riding for the pure pleasure of it; sometimes it's riding just to see things I don't often get to see.

No irritation here.

What I notice more is not so much a separatist attitude because people are stand-offish, but more because it doesn't occur to them to cross over, mix things up a bit, or even just get to know riders in other disciplines. However, I can tell you that my own riding is enriched from having some friends in other styles of riding.

I just call myself a "cyclist."

Riding hybrids and rigid MTN bikes sort brings the mountain biking and road cycling worlds, together....

Just add rack and panniers, then you've got the utility world too!

Go to work or school on anyone of 'em and your in the commuter world!

So ya see! ....We're all in the same union, more or less!

PS.

Same union, different forums!

Ayup!

FWIW I have different types of bikes for different types of riding... don't bother with the Spandex though.

Aaron

My thoughts on that are ... you've got a lot of time on your hands to waste an hour thinking about labels. I've got a lot of work to be done here, maybe you could drop by and help us pack boxes.


+1

I have done all sorts of cycling, and have all sorts of bicycles. What category of cycling I fall into depends entirely upon the particular bicycle and particular goal of the moment ... and it could change a couple hours later.

Shimano makes reels. So does Fuji.

A bicycle is a Tool, and what one tool is universal?
Bike shop question #1, 'what kind of riding are you planning to do?'

like .. which separatist group.. ? and who are they labeling .. what?

Yup just another cyclist....As such I post on like 5 or 6 different bf forums.

I frequent 6 bf forums quite regularly, another 2 semi-regularly, and I'll dabble in most of the rest now and then.

What do you call someone who rides a folder?

Aaron

"Near-sighted", if he's wearing glasses!

I used to read a MB where "folder" was a word filter for a particular vulgarity.