Dion Rides

As I browse through this forum, I've really realized how NOT serious I am compared to to others on here. I lay down about 100-150 miles per week of riding, and that doesn't include my off-road excursions, BMX flatland trick riding (which I LOVE since 1987, and not half bad at), and beach cruiser getaways wearing flip-flops and a low brow ball cap. It's a great experience rolling/spinning/balancing on one wheel on a 20" bike one day and going for a road ride the next day.

I don't train for anything. A lot of people on here talk about training, and there's nothing I have to prep for, get ready for or work towards... and my riding goals are decided either before, 5 min. into the ride or an hour into the ride - or never at all. Sometimes I just open the garage door and start pedaling and see what happens. Sometimes it turns into an all day event, sometimes it turns into 30 min.

I have a triple crankset because I'm not proud enough to say that a granny gear does come in handy at times.

My Surly Pacer is 22lbs. of steel and happiness, not 16 lbs of carbon fiber - although I've owned that type of machinery before. I can bunnyhop stuff with it, although I try not to if not necessary. I can ride fast, but sometimes take it down so I can see and enjoy the scenery where I live.

I don't ride in groups, have a team kit, or have ever been in a paceline except maybe when I rode a supported event, by accident.

My only true purpose of riding a bicycle, is to ride a bicycle. If you're a racer or have cycling specific goals - that's awesome. But I've realized that if you just point your bike and start pedaling, all the things that people seem to desire as a result of cycling (weight loss, speed, endurance , power, climbing ability, etc) just comes.

I'm not a serious road rider.

cshell

I don't feel so bad now!

Mr. Beanz

So then, what you're saying is that you don't average 26 mph into the wind like everyother rider we meet? Most of which my wife blows their doors off while averaging a cheesey 17 mph!

Hunt-man

I bet you wear tall white sock, like me.

Drag

Join the club.

lshaped

you sound like me- i don't train for events but do set a goal for myself every year, I don't ride in groups and do most of my rides commuting. with work and family riding in the evening is a rarity which is why i can't do a group ride. besides, i;d probably get dropped anyway

whenever i go out i go with the purpose of enjoying myself- yesterday i decided to go out in the pouring rain for the first time just to see what it was like. i ended up having the best ride of my life on my trek fx- after the first two of 20 miles i felt like riding hard- really hard just to see what i could do. not bad- i averaged 18 mph on a rail trail with stop signs every mile.

VA_Esquire

You are in the same boat as me. I ride a bike b/c it is fun and is a great way for fitness.

Was going to purchase a brand new bicycle, but decided a motorcycle would be a better idea

Steve90068

I'm with you. I love the sport, ride as much as possible and try to become a better rider without letting it control my life. I don't ride for training purposes, I ride because I enjoy every second I'm on the bike.

Gotcha38

Finally. Someone I can identify with here.

EventServices

I train a lot, eat right, race a lot, spent a lot, train some more, and read a lot. Heck, I even wrote a book about it. But I still don't consider myself a serious Roadie.

It's all a matter of perspective.

I've skipped group rides to play golf instead.
I've skipped races to go to play tennis.
I drove two hours to a race once and decided not to race because it was a great day for other things.
I've gone full weeks without touching the bike.

But I wear the stuff, own the good stuff, yell in the paceline, and obsess over my weight.

Pick your level and go. Don't worry about where you fall in the continuum.

cshell

What's the book?

DeweyJuice

You sound healthy :-)

Cycho

I bought my first serious bike last year and started riding because some friends also bought bikes. I then decided to start commuting to work 17 miles one way because it would be a good way to save money on gas, lose weight and have fun. As I started looking further into the sport, I realize that like just about every other sport/hobby, there are the hardcore specialists who ride for the competitive aspects, the posers who just like to look good but have no discernible skill or purpose and the enthusiast who does it because they enjoy it. I've thought of riding with a group but I don't think riding a bike (for enjoyment) should be constrained by rules and guidelines. If I want to go fast, I'll go fast. If I want to plod along at 10mph and take in the scenery, that should be fine too.

I guess I'm not all that serious either.

EventServices

The Anti-Shill and Self-Promotion Laws of 1993 prohibit me from mentioning the name here.

But if you find any post by Botto...

StephenH

I think part of the thing is that about half the stuff in the "road" forum should go in the "road racing" subforum, and that skews the perspective a good bit.

I don't know how many people around here race. But when you show up at the larger charity rides, you'll have 2,000+ people out on road bikes, and probably 90% of them never race in anything, or train for anything besides just riding when they feel like it.

TMonk

I suggest that you give riding in a group/paceline a try, even if you aren't a competitive person; It's really alot of fun. I'm willing to bet that your pretty fit as well.

Personally my fun on the bike increases proportionally with my speed, so fast group rides are alot of fun.

They're also "great training", although you don't necessarily have to conceive of riding in a paceline as training if you don't want to. Personally in almost all of the group rides I do about 25-30% are fit "non-racers" who just like to ride fast.

Like EventServices said it's all about perspective.





Lastly I would like to add that being "serious" is a mentality, not about what you actually do. You can be a "serious" racer and train 6-8 hrs a week like certain members of this forum, or you can also be a super fit recreational cyclist who rides hard 15+ hours a week.

Like everything else in life being serious has it's pros and cons. I am currently in my 2nd year of training "seriously"-but that doesn't stop me from having fun. One thing that has changed since I've been "serious" is that the highs are alot higher and the lows are alot lower.

KiuBWhy

I'm picking it up for my Beach Trip in two weeks. Should be a nice read while listening to the ocean!

Mose

I take very little of what I do seriously... if you're taking a hobby or sport too seriously, you might not be having fun.


I've noticed that some people will look down at cyclists who don't race or race regularly. They take things too seriously.

Though I find it easier to stick with personal goals if I've signed myself up for something towards which to train.

lshaped

i'm very curious- any hints on what the name of the book is?

KiuBWhy

I'm guessing it has to do with Botto's sig.

Do a search on "botto" and see his signature's suggestion.

cshell

I'll promote it, then.

https://www.amazon.com/Roadie-Misunde.../dp/1934030171

is this it?

DScott

Sheesh, what a condescending load of crap that is.

BF rules!

ILUVUK

correct

Steve90068

that is awesome..... love the book BTW

DataJunkie

I don't care what I am. I just am.