Okay, silly question.

But in your own humble opinion...

Are we not bikers because motorcyclists claim this title?

Or are we bikers. Or are we cyclists?

We label is more fitting for us. Bikers, or Cyclists?

John

I like riders

The only silly questions are the ones you ask.

In the meantime, go up to a bunch of grizzly Harley aholes outside some pissant dirtbag dbag biker bar in a rural area, preferably in your lycra and on your Fred bicycle, and tell them that you are a 'biker'.

Get back to us with your experiences.

Biker.

I don't know what you are, but I'm a cyclist.

Biker.




Cyclist.

some of us are both.

Nice patent, maybe I'll see if I can race him too. ;-) I'll bet he breaks down first.

What about cycler, is it even a word?

Cyclists have probably been calling themselves cyclists for at least as long as bikers have been calling themselves bikers. It's not about a sense of superiority, it's just a matter of identity and convention. Though I admit that I prefer the company of cyclists to that of bikers, generally.

Personally, it bugs me a bit when others (non-cyclists) call me or other cyclists "bikers," or ask about all the "biking" that I do. I think it's just the way it messes with the terminology and identity that I have in my head. I'm a cyclist, not a biker. I don't go biking, I do a lot of riding (coincidentally, I think bikers say the same thing). When discussing other cyclists and how they dropped my ass on the latest group ride, I say he/she is a great rider, though. Not cyclist. These conventions are pretty widespread, so I guess it's a bit grating when we step out of our little world, blinking and bemused, into the big scary universe. I let the irritation go and don't usually correct people. It's a very small and petty aggravation, and without a suitable audience, the pedantry would be wasted and leave a poor impression. I just see it as a marker - don't talk about bikes with these people, they don't get it and will be embarrassingly astonished at the distances you ride and the funny outfit you wear.

Sure, it's just rarely used except by writers who don't want to repeat themselves.

When I was younger, if I was going on a bike ride, or called myself a biker, people thought bicycle. Now at 23 people ask "oh what kind of motorcycle do you have?"

I like that opinion grolby. I'm the same way. When someone who does not 'ride' proceeds to refer to the sport as biking, I want to correct, but I'm not quite sure how to approach it.

I'm asking this question because I normally ride alone. I train by myself. I still have yet to join a local riding group, but I do an average of 30 or so miles a day, more if I have time. So I havent really had a lot of conversation with people who ride as a lifestyle. Therefore I'm curious as to what the more 'seasoned' cyclists think about this, and those who ride with others.

John

cyclist

i used to tell people at work, when asked what my plans for the weekend were, that i was going out on my bike. they would go on and on about motorcycles; harleys and what not.

now i just say i'm looking forward to cutting my grass.

Only if he's on a Harley.

Where's that idiot Whoosshhy when you need him?

All the really profound idiots here disappear. It's so much fun while they stick around too.

Oh well.

Exactly.

cyclist here, chiming in.

i HATEHATEHATE when people call me a biker.
i am not fat. i am not tattooed (at least not to that extent) and i do not own a motorcycle.

Hey Jean, hows Austin treating you? Family lives there. I take my 'cycle' everytime I go.

lol cycle, bicyclist works too, but the long first syllable makes it sound funny.

austin is great, i love the hills and the hills love me. where do you ride when you're down here?

My final answer is 'cyclist.' I prefer that the most.

Mostly 'Parmer', or I try to go to the Veloway (sp?). I like to do laps.

My sis lives by Parmer, my dad lives on Bee Caves, in Barton Creek. I've wanted to try those hills off of 360, but they still intimidate me. Mostly because I dont have many hills here to train on.

Looking to move to Austin in a year or so.... hoping!

John

oh man, we could do rides! not sure about how you'd feel about riding with a 20 year old, but you know my boyfriend could also use a riding buddy since i'm not doing rides as long as he is (yet). but my goal is to ride to lake travis and back by the end of summer. i'm about to hit up 360 next week but as of right now i'm doing rides to buda and back (30 miles-ish total there and back with the route we take).

woo hooo, keep me posted.

Cool Jeanatx! My 1st potential riding buddy in Austin! I need someone to show me the ropes. Unfortunately my sister and bro-inlaw are runners. No good that is.

Keep it up! I'll keep you posted!

John

I'm a velocepedist.

Personally, never cared if people call me a biker, a cyclist, bicyclist, etc.

I usually just say biker or iterations of the root because I have been saying it since I was a little kid.

I have been yelled at by other people that ride bicycles because they got offended that another person that rides a bicycle is calling them a biker.

Besides, I like the brevity.

I'm brevety. But don't call me a biker.