What's the Opposite of a Poseur ?
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What's the Opposite of a Poseur ?
I tend to wear plain jerseys, or old club/ team jerseys I used to ride for. I have a nice, but not showy bike, and I don't try to stand out in the crowd of riders .... (I do like being at the front when climbing & sprinting though)
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Originally Posted by HAMMER MAN
a wannabe
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
That would be the guy 100 yds back on the climb.
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
I tend to wear plain jerseys, or old club/ team jerseys I used to ride for. I have a nice, but not showy bike, and I don't try to stand out in the crowd of riders .... (I do like being at the front when climbing & sprinting though)
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Fred
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The polar opposite of a "Poseur" is a "Fred." "Poseur" = clown who is more into appearances than cycling. "Fred"=guy who is totally into cycling and actively flaunts convention by riding a bike and clothes from the 70s. In the middle are regular people who just want to ride.
"Wannabe" is definitely not the opposite of "poseur," as I can attest to by the fact that I've passed many a poseur riding bikes that cost 5x mine, kitted out with an outfit that matches the bike, while I plug away in my running shorts and a T-shirt. They usually respond by overexerting themselves to re-pass me, which they usually sustain for about a mile.
The best way to find a poseur is Craigslist - they're the ones selling $2000 bikes that they've ridden four times before realizing they weren't really into it, and didn't have time to ride while pursuing their MBAs.
"Wannabe" is definitely not the opposite of "poseur," as I can attest to by the fact that I've passed many a poseur riding bikes that cost 5x mine, kitted out with an outfit that matches the bike, while I plug away in my running shorts and a T-shirt. They usually respond by overexerting themselves to re-pass me, which they usually sustain for about a mile.
The best way to find a poseur is Craigslist - they're the ones selling $2000 bikes that they've ridden four times before realizing they weren't really into it, and didn't have time to ride while pursuing their MBAs.
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Originally Posted by Mr. Underbridge
"Fred"=guy who is totally into cycling and actively flaunts convention by riding a bike and clothes from the 70s. .
Fred: A term that pro riders came up with for people who have the latest and greatest bikes and gear and ride 12-14mph
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Originally Posted by dmotoguy
Fred: A term that pro riders came up with for people who have the latest and greatest bikes and gear and ride 12-14mph
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opposite of a poseur is a Fred who (choose one):
A. brings the noise
B. dropps the hammer
C. dials it up to 400 watts.
D. All of the above.
A. brings the noise
B. dropps the hammer
C. dials it up to 400 watts.
D. All of the above.
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Saturday we stopped at a coffee shop that we don't usually go to. I knew it was a poseur coffe shop but the coffee is really good (Peet's). There were probably two dozen high dollar bikes leaned against the walls and people strutting around trying to suck in their bellies and flex their calves... I got a good chuckle out of it.
Then SHE walked by. SHE wasn't on a ride, she just happened to be in the area. SHE had on loose shorts and a tight T-shirt with very short sleeves. Her skin was darkened from the sun, she moved with power and grace like a cat. Her arm had a perfectly shaped but not large deltoid muscle, then it got really narrow before bulging out to a perfect bicep/tricep pair, then skinny again at the elbow. SHE positively radiated an endurance athlete aura. SHE was the quintessence of non-poserness.
A tear came to my eye just now as I recalled her presence.
Then SHE walked by. SHE wasn't on a ride, she just happened to be in the area. SHE had on loose shorts and a tight T-shirt with very short sleeves. Her skin was darkened from the sun, she moved with power and grace like a cat. Her arm had a perfectly shaped but not large deltoid muscle, then it got really narrow before bulging out to a perfect bicep/tricep pair, then skinny again at the elbow. SHE positively radiated an endurance athlete aura. SHE was the quintessence of non-poserness.
A tear came to my eye just now as I recalled her presence.
#17
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I see it differently.
I see a poseur as someone who has all the material stuff, but not the legs to back it up.
. . . a Fred as someone who has neither all the material stuff, nor the legs. And they aren't concerned about it.
. . . the opposite of a poseur as being the real deal. They do no pretending.
I see a poseur as someone who has all the material stuff, but not the legs to back it up.
. . . a Fred as someone who has neither all the material stuff, nor the legs. And they aren't concerned about it.
. . . the opposite of a poseur as being the real deal. They do no pretending.
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One way you could categorize people is to plot them on a grid, like in 2-D geometry. You could call the horizontal axis "Rider/Owner". So someone who derives pleasure from being a rider, you'd locate on the far right, whereas someone who derives pleasure from ownership would be plotted on the far left. The vertical axis would be called "Stylish/Unstylish" or something like that.
The vast majory of people with bikes are Unstylish Owners. This person bought a bike at the department store - or maybe at the LBS ten years ago - because he thought, "hey, I ought to have a bike." So now he's got one. But he rides it maybe once a year or less.
The classic poseur is the Stylish Owner. He's all about the gear, and it's got to be the best. These are actually extremely rare, in my experience.
Then there's the Unstylish Rider. The classic definition of the Fred, he loves to ride, but is unconcerned with how he appears to others. Gear fixation may occur, but it will be functional gear - trouser bands, helmet mirrors, lights and reflective equipment.
Finally, the Stylish Rider... the classification speaks for itself. The "bike weenie" who likes the leterst and greatest, looks dapper, and rides as much as he can. IMO, the typical roadie tends to fit more or less in this category.
I don't really like the term "stylish" in regards to the degree of fredliness, but I can't think of a more correct term.
And, as always, it's a continuum. There's always someone out there who is more of a weenie than you are...
The vast majory of people with bikes are Unstylish Owners. This person bought a bike at the department store - or maybe at the LBS ten years ago - because he thought, "hey, I ought to have a bike." So now he's got one. But he rides it maybe once a year or less.
The classic poseur is the Stylish Owner. He's all about the gear, and it's got to be the best. These are actually extremely rare, in my experience.
Then there's the Unstylish Rider. The classic definition of the Fred, he loves to ride, but is unconcerned with how he appears to others. Gear fixation may occur, but it will be functional gear - trouser bands, helmet mirrors, lights and reflective equipment.
Finally, the Stylish Rider... the classification speaks for itself. The "bike weenie" who likes the leterst and greatest, looks dapper, and rides as much as he can. IMO, the typical roadie tends to fit more or less in this category.
I don't really like the term "stylish" in regards to the degree of fredliness, but I can't think of a more correct term.
And, as always, it's a continuum. There's always someone out there who is more of a weenie than you are...
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Originally Posted by botto
the real deal. any more questions?
according to Botto anyways.
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Originally Posted by Phantoj
One way you could categorize people is to plot them on a grid, like in 2-D geometry.
Hmmm...I was working on this while you posted, I guess great minds think alike:
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Originally Posted by botto
good for you.