I have come to the startling conclusion I'm not enough of any one thing to be a member of the speciality forums.

Anyone else have this issue?

Nah, I fit in over on the 41. At least I think I do...

Yeah same here. I ride a road bike, but I don't fit in with the 41 crowd.

41=no go, my road bikes are steel and from the 80's

I've never let the fact that I don't fit in stop me from doing anything.

Not too shocking coming from you my 7 speed brethren.. was more just a polite way of expressing my annoyance with the elitism of several subforum members/mods on the site without going into a woe is me, or bashing type diatribe.

I think that's an internet thing, not a bikeforums specific thing.

nah - go exploring, you'll be fine. couple bumps and bruises won't hurt ya!

I'm 60, and at one time I weighed 235 lbs, and I do some of my own wrenching, so I go to Clydes/Athenas, 50+ and mechanics in addition to the 41. And this one.

I tend to avoid the loony bin known as A&S, though.

I just hit "New Posts" up top and browse all the forums at once.

Ah, gotcha. There will always be folks who will attempt to dominate the discussion (anywhere) -- I think the trick is just to let them say their bit, and not engage them further.

Even if I'm not saying what the majority think, I figure (or at least hope) that someone might get something out of my contributions, so I try not to let that dissuade me from participating. If that makes any sense.

Nope, just means you're fit for a lot of them. They overlap. I'm over 50, over 200 lbs, ride a road tandem on long-distance rides. That right there qualifies me for 5 "specialized" forums plus this one.

I've always thought I didn't belong here in the General forum since I'm not even in the military.

Exactly what I do...if I find something of interest I read and may chime in...

So, it's not just me. I am over 50 and I am over 200 lbs. but most of my bikes are low to lower mid-range, Fredded out, "kind of" mountain/hybrid/commuter/touring/utility bikes. One is a NOS 80's steel road bike frameset still awaiting assembly, not quite a gas pipe bike but still low enough on the food chain to not get much respect when it's done but I like it anyway. It and two of my three MTB's are old enough for C & V but aren't classic by any means, I don't let it stop me though. Maybe we need a forum for all the "Square Pegs in Round Holes" that don't fit anywhere else. If somebody started a "Show us your old but not vintage, low end generic bikes and BSO's" thread I could have a field day LOL.

I think biking is a whole body experience. You get your descriptions of bike fits and legs and arm reach, you get your discussion of how to ride, and the mind is included in discussions of law and bike philosophy. Since it is a whole body experience it is only natural that you will find some a-holes. They seem to feel as if they have to disparage any comments not reflecting the company line as they have judged it.
Ignore them, don't let them bully you out of any forum, and feel sorry for them. Anyone who puts you down in an elitist manner is trying to raise themselves up by putting you down, which means they secretly don't think much of themselves.

Fortunately in both forums and in reality, an a-hole is but a small fraction of anatomy. Go where your interest takes you, there are many who bike for the joy of it, and are here to help others and enjoy the companionship of fellow bike riders.

Ha no worries man! Was blowing off steam semi-constructively.. I luckily run the gamut.. I have a 2013 track bike, racing road bikes from the 80's... racing mtb's from the 90's... 60/70's 3 speeds and 10 speeds, I do my own mechanic work, am strongly opinionated on A&S.. I am everywhere. It's just annoying as all heck that people seem to think their preconceived notions are the only ones that are valid.. and trust me I am often able to dissuade reasonable people from this point of view even if only temporarily.. (IE the length of my conversation with them). I find the best cure for an a-hole, is a good bike ride myself.

Well I'd think of a more flattering title but you actually have a brilliant idea IMHO. There is the 'Trollheim' forum where all the testosterone crazed elitists can hurl their epithets at on another and in general the thought is if one can't take the heat to stay out of that kitchen. Maybe there should be an equal but opposite forum where snark is proactively discouraged. I still think one should just go where one's interests are, but there are times when one just doesn't want to face yet another elitist snob denigrating a bike or subject one wants to talk about.

Oh, I don't know, I take a certain pride in being a "square peg in a round hole" at times.

One thing I will point out is that there is a "Road Cycling" forum, not a "Road Bike" forum. So you can interpret that to refer to certain personal/equipment/riding style stereotypes, but you don't have to fit those stereotypes to be a part of it. For example, most road cyclists don't race, don't own power meters, etc.

But don't they all aspire to?

Does Specialized know you just used the word "specialized"?

...it must be a painful realization that some of us are more special than you, huh ?

I have to be honest, I think I've only visited "Road Cycling" once since joining and immediately got the impression I didn't belong there. Mostly because what little "road cycling" I do is best done on a mountain bike due to the condition of most of the roads in my area. My "recreational" riding for the most part fits in better with what the folks in the commuting forum experience so I probably feel most at home there even though I don't commute to work via bike. It's just tToo far and the roads I'd have to take are too dangerous, I don't even feel safe half the time in my car.

Nope, just means you're fit for a lot of them. They overlap. I'm over 50, over 200 lbs, ride a road tandem on long-distance rides. That right there qualifies me for 5 Specialized[SUP]Ò[/SUP] forums plus this one.

There, fixed it.