old sch wheeler

In context... it wasn't a blanket statement. In my humble view, it depends on who's doing it and why, and the ability to perform at the implicit level or not.

TMonk

do you make a distinction between wearing a pro kit and wearing a kit you got for free/cheap from a local racing team/club?

old sch wheeler

Not true! ...at least for me.. I get passed and I pass (sometimes the same people - if fact fairly often back and forth). I'm not trying to show supremacy or speed any time I'm riding. Some riding partners are half my age and can't keep my pace - and the other way around too. It's all relative. My only criteria and goals are self based solely on my own performance and level of fitness. Who's ahead means nothing, or next to nothing; that crap is merely about pace and pace only, nothing more. I'll venture the guess here that who's taking the front or passing might be more of an issue with the corporate logo dress-up crowd. Surely not me!

At my age my average speed hangs around 15-16, and that's on a good day. ..I'm long past trying to prove any kind of physical prowess. I don't stoop down there in the mud and goo. I'm just asking why the need for the garish billboards on wheels, if not trying to prove something that isn't there to begin with? I have friends who race (I used to do it myself) I also know pros, one dude a world level cat rider, he was a domestique in the Euro tours whenever he could get a ride. When I expressed my views on the garish boy dress-up garb all those people knowingly laughed at it.

maxine

Dang, I've read some incoherent rants in my time, but this . . .

And by the way (since you've said it twice, in separate posts) in this context it's "sowed," not "sewed."

(But, you know -- "no offense intended." )

old sch wheeler

I have little reason to think you're not telling it like it is. I respect what you say and your motives. They're honest. You may be 1 in 50 of whom is good enough, and has decent enough reason to wear the colors of whomever might be funding your endeavor. I like your honesty; you have courage enough to be forthright about what you do.

Good luck with all of it. Thanks for the comeback.

On your rhetorical question: We are all in leagues of are own out there. We ride for the reasons we do. It's a zen thing. My observations and preferences in style (and attire) aren't really very quantifiable. I don't do that or think that way. The rub here (not really for me) is when someone needs to look the part they tend to get very defensive, especially when someone asks them why. Many of those variety often allow the passive/aggressive drama-queen elements to come out of the woodwork - with their chamois all in a knot.

Enjoy your day.

DaveWC

I have no doubt that they laughed. You just thought that they were laughing with you.

I've got no problem with your views regarding logos on bikes/jerseys. You're welcome to think however you want. And when you express those views here, people who disagree with you are equally welcome to voice their opinion. You see attacks & hurt feelings where none exist, except within you. You seem to have really strong views on totally inane issues. Who cares what others wear, or whether they have logos on their wheels? How does it affect you, and why would you mount such an offense against these folks? (no offense taken of course). Just ride you bike and stop worrying about senseless chit.

old sch wheeler

Picking nits is a tactic of last resort when SOMEONE is seeing the futility of a flawed position. (Did I spell everything okay for you..? - rhetorical) Sorry about the spelling error maxie I don't know what I was thinking (maybe the topic huh..?). You need to un-knot those riding shorts a little. NO OFFENSE THO..!

old sch wheeler

recheck the whole thread.

Your comeback was typical and classic, and expected. I can tell if someone is in agreement or NOT after spending the whole day with them. Enjoy your day, but look in your mirror now and then too. What's looking back might be just what you think you're seeing in someone else.

old sch wheeler

Not at all! Great to see it.

maxine

(shrug) My shorts are ever un-knotted, and I hold no positions for which I need to seek any flawed utility. I am a happy cyclist. I wear what I like while I'm riding how I like, and I do not have the slightest care about how anyone else dresses, or rides, or dresses while they ride. I enjoy riding with roadies, with tourers, with commuters, with little kids on Big Wheels. And they all enjoy riding with me. That's how pleasant life can be when you're not a bitter, judgmental "sewer" of discord. You might want to give it a whirl sometime . . .

DaveWC

Oh I've read it. Your input has been hilarious. I'm still trying to figure out how someone goes golfing trying to look like Tiger Woods. So if they wear a golf jersey & slacks suddenly they're a poser? How does one try to look like any golfer in particular?

The rest of your posts are typical old man, "get off my lawn", things used to be different in my day, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH garbage. You're clinging to a single point, that people shouldn't wear gear that has logos on it, and extrapolating that point to condemn entire swaths of the cycling community. Again, why do you care? Surely you've got bigger fish to fry than to worry about what other cyclists wear or ride. I'll bet there are some teens smoking pot behind your garage right now. Go check.

ill.clyde

THANK YOU! I was getting twitchy reading that!

caloso

I was wondering the same thing. I pulled out one of my team jerseys and counted the logos. Not including the kit manufacturer, there are two corporate sponsors, but both of which we got through team members who happen to be execs there. Then we have a local law firm, a local dentist, a local general contractor, our team LBS, the local running/tri shop, and Hammer Nutrition (who will pretty much "sponsor" any team in the form of some gels and mixes).

I think this is pretty typical of the teams around here. Whether you get your kit for free, some subsidy, or have to pay full cost depends on each team and how it wants to structure things. I had to pay for my kit when I first joined, but have pretty much gotten free clothes since.

For what it's worth, I'm grateful for the support of these mostly small businesses and I am happy to be a billboard for their logos.

BillyD

What's this thread all about?

DaveWC

Get off my lawn!

WC89

Isn't it great! I mean, given the fact that there are 307,000,000 people in the U.S, how we all differ so greatly in our personal preferences. What, I say what, if we were all exactly the same? Well, who would we patterned after? Scary, huh?

TMonk

Cool, I'm glad we see eye to eye here.

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. That's all this really comes down to.

sleepy

Some dudes were butthurt and started mocking some dude who didn't read the Road Cyclist handbook and posted youtube vids of himself snarking on roadie "posers". Feathers were ruffled, denials were made. Some dudes with forum grudges started flinging poo.
Then the nature of what constitutes a poser came up. Guys who like wearing their team jerseys were made fun, guys who don't wear team jerseys were made fun of. Folks who shaved are ridicoulous, folks who don't shave don't get the nuances of cycling.
Basically a big bowl of steaming hot horse manure.
Par for the course in this lovely little land of crabon riding, vintage steel humping spandex wearing, disposable income Randian loving, resentful proletarian dorks.

Bah Humbug

You're certainly giving off an air of superiority in this thread based on what you wear. Ironic. But I suppose you feel justified.

Bah Humbug

Crass whining... What exactly do you think it is you're doing?

sleepy

More butthurt posers.
Sew gud!

revchuck

Bless you, my daughter. I winced when I read that in those posts.

halfspeed

High school resentments playing out well into senescence.

sleepy

Dude, that word was hard! I had to google it.

I like the idea of High School grudges playing out like a plant getting all old and weedy on a thread about poseur roadiez not keeping up with the Commute Warrior.

Dylan Roberts

So according to this guy the more I wear and the more gear I take makes me a better rider?