View Poll Results: How much of a "serious" road cyclist are you?
Virtually all the time
70
49.65%
Most of the time, but I have other cycling interests
43
30.50%
Occasionally - half the time or less
17
12.06%
Rarely
9
6.38%
I don't even own a bike - I just like talking about them.
2
1.42%
Voters: 141. You may not vote on this poll
How much of a road cyclist are you, strictly speaking?
07-07-17, 04:43 AM
#1
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How much of a road cyclist are you, strictly speaking?
One gets an impression from the nature and tone of the discussions here, but I figured what the heck, why not just ask?
By "road cyclist, strictly speaking," I'm thinking involves wearing the uniform (lycra, cleated shoes), riding a bike with drop bars, narrow tires, front and rear derailleurs, riding for no specific practical function (e.g., commuting, running errands, etc) except to ride, with or without others, with or without any fitness or related goals.
And by "how much" I'm thinking: what proportion of all your rides are "training" rides, races, sportives, group rides, tours, run-of-the-mill out-and-back rides, etc.
So, when you are riding, how much of the time would others identify you as a "serious road cyclist?" Maybe every time you're on a bike you're fully kitted out, either training or racing or hanging out with your training and racing mates. Maybe you like to participate in sportives and train for them often, but ride around the neighborhood with your kids often, too. Maybe you commute by bike daily, or ride mountain bikes most of the time, and only occasionally join group rides or just go out for a 40 mile loop in the country to clear your head once in a while.....
By "road cyclist, strictly speaking," I'm thinking involves wearing the uniform (lycra, cleated shoes), riding a bike with drop bars, narrow tires, front and rear derailleurs, riding for no specific practical function (e.g., commuting, running errands, etc) except to ride, with or without others, with or without any fitness or related goals.
And by "how much" I'm thinking: what proportion of all your rides are "training" rides, races, sportives, group rides, tours, run-of-the-mill out-and-back rides, etc.
So, when you are riding, how much of the time would others identify you as a "serious road cyclist?" Maybe every time you're on a bike you're fully kitted out, either training or racing or hanging out with your training and racing mates. Maybe you like to participate in sportives and train for them often, but ride around the neighborhood with your kids often, too. Maybe you commute by bike daily, or ride mountain bikes most of the time, and only occasionally join group rides or just go out for a 40 mile loop in the country to clear your head once in a while.....
07-07-17, 05:00 AM
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75% in uniform on carbon road bike chasing numbers.
15% on steel road bike in casual cycling attire chasing a good time.
10% running errands with an old hybrid.
15% on steel road bike in casual cycling attire chasing a good time.
10% running errands with an old hybrid.
07-07-17, 08:19 AM
#3
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Over 95% commuting. On days I have to go to a different branch or it rains in likely taking my hybrid or walking to the train station, but otherwise I'm trying to haul butt on my road bike in Lycra, often on the drops. Commuting is my excuse to ride my bike. Two young kids and my wife don't allow me much time for myself to go out and ride. I'm very happy I'm able to ride to work, all year round at that too.
I don't know what to vote for on the poll.
I don't know what to vote for on the poll.
07-07-17, 08:22 AM
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100% chasing fitness goals. Don't see the option in the poll.
I would have a hard time believing that in today's world people working 60+ hours have enough time to ride for any other reason.
I would have a hard time believing that in today's world people working 60+ hours have enough time to ride for any other reason.
Last edited by JagR; 07-07-17 at 08:25 AM.
07-07-17, 08:29 AM
#5
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I don't have cleats, I wear a pair of short over my bib because it's too revealing when I walk my bike from my office to the parking, oh yeah, I mostly commute but I do take some rides with my wife just for the fun of it but at the speed we're going, just short and t-shirt is enough, so nope, not a roady. Exception is when I do group ride for charity.
07-07-17, 08:39 AM
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I just ride because I enjoy riding. I try to get faster.. and I am slowly but surely.. but my main goal is just riding for the love of riding. I don't try to 'beat' other riders or to get to the top on Strava segments.. I get out and ride to stay fit.. or try to and just enjoy being out on the road.
07-07-17, 08:57 AM
#8
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07-07-17, 09:04 AM
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100% roadie. All that gravel and mtn biking and so on is for those other peoples . . . you know, heathens.
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07-07-17, 09:07 AM
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"Photobucket is holding my pictures hostage."
Ditto.
Free the photos, free the photos, free the photos....... !
Ditto.
Free the photos, free the photos, free the photos....... !
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07-07-17, 09:14 AM
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The only time I Never think of work is while I am riding.
Take away my bikes I'd cut my wrists.
Didn't see a poll option for that, either.
07-07-17, 09:18 AM
#13
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I ride on over 90% of my commutes to work. That covers about 7000 km. I total about 10,000 km per year, so those 3,000 km are purely riding for riding's sake. I am, however, in kit 99% of the time.
07-07-17, 09:28 AM
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Working that much or more ... fitness is a small part of it. Unwinding and escaping is the largest part. Sometimes I even dream about being at work----Really sucks.
The only time I Never think of work is while I am riding.
Take away my bikes I'd cut my wrists.
Didn't see a poll option for that, either.
The only time I Never think of work is while I am riding.
Take away my bikes I'd cut my wrists.
Didn't see a poll option for that, either.
07-07-17, 09:52 AM
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I ride a road bike, skinny tires, drop bars, etc.
But, almost all of my riding is for commuting and errands. I just kind of mix the bike in with my activities, so, I don't differentiate commuting from other "fun riding".
I did hit a double century this spring... yep, commuting
If I do a "fun" ride, I'm not sure how "serious" it would be.
I am comfortable riding in jeans + T-shirt, although I have started hunting for some bike specific clothes lately... still not looking like a TdF rider.
But, almost all of my riding is for commuting and errands. I just kind of mix the bike in with my activities, so, I don't differentiate commuting from other "fun riding".
I did hit a double century this spring... yep, commuting
If I do a "fun" ride, I'm not sure how "serious" it would be.
I am comfortable riding in jeans + T-shirt, although I have started hunting for some bike specific clothes lately... still not looking like a TdF rider.
07-07-17, 10:15 AM
#17
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I am a runner and until I got older it was about trying to run a decent pace and for a few years racing. Still a runner but I see my road bike as my middle age sports car. I don't care anything about cars but I do like a cool Corvette to look at. My road bike represents my fancy to move quick, smooth, agile, and burn enough calories to off set the beer.
I don't like gravel, bad roads, trails, or commuting, for that I have a car. I guess I am a one-trick-pony probably in the minority.
I don't like gravel, bad roads, trails, or commuting, for that I have a car. I guess I am a one-trick-pony probably in the minority.
07-07-17, 10:25 AM
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I used to be a car guy myself. Loved them, and still interested, I suppose, but more in the mechanical stuff and the technology. But as far as buying or driving them, I am not keen on either. In our car-centric culture people like to show up with fancy expensive cars to impress because it says that you've made it financially, or they turn middle age, have a crisis and then buy a fancy sports car to compensate. I turned middle age I lost 30 pounds and got a new body instead...but I digress.
Carry on.
Carry on.
07-07-17, 11:07 AM
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I do road rides.
I commute.
I run errands, go to dinner, go the movies, etc., on a bike.
I do self-contained touring.
I commute.
I run errands, go to dinner, go the movies, etc., on a bike.
I do self-contained touring.
07-07-17, 11:11 AM
#21
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100% road.
100% bibs, Jersey and clipless.
100% pleasure, no races so no training.
Around 5000-6000 miles a year.
100% bibs, Jersey and clipless.
100% pleasure, no races so no training.
Around 5000-6000 miles a year.
07-07-17, 11:22 AM
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07-07-17, 11:36 AM
#23
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I wear Lycra and cleats every time I ride. I ride about 80 to 120 miles each week. I only ride a road bike. Given all of that, though, I don't consider myself "serious". I'm more of a silly cyclist. I'm not racing or exercising, just having fun on a bike.
07-07-17, 11:45 AM
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07-07-17, 11:46 AM
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For those confused about how to vote, the question is about being a "road cyclist" as opposed to some other kind, more about your choice of bike and style/type of riding than your circumstances. When given a choice of type of bike to ride and kind of ride to go on, how often do or would you chose something else, like mountain biking, tooling around the neighborhood with the kids and so forth? If you commute on a road bike, how much of the time are you consciously "working out" or engaged in programmatic training, and how much of the time is it just a commute you happen to use your road bike for?
