Why is road cycling so political and middle class?
04-29-14, 12:27 PM
#126
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Posts: 6,341
Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 325 Times
in
226 Posts
It takes at least 6-8 hours a week riding to be in decent shape although more is better
To be most pleasant that must be
1. During daylight
2. Not overlapping typical commuting hours
which suggests some time in the middle of the day. I try to ride a couple of hours around 2pm (long enough after breakfast to finish work projects, long enough after lunch to not puke).
The schedule flexibility for that is most likely in a "middle class" job.
Cycling is also somewhat social. Working in that sort of job you're more likely to be exposed to other cyclists.
To be most pleasant that must be
1. During daylight
2. Not overlapping typical commuting hours
which suggests some time in the middle of the day. I try to ride a couple of hours around 2pm (long enough after breakfast to finish work projects, long enough after lunch to not puke).
The schedule flexibility for that is most likely in a "middle class" job.
Cycling is also somewhat social. Working in that sort of job you're more likely to be exposed to other cyclists.
04-29-14, 12:46 PM
#127
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
It takes at least 6-8 hours a week riding to be in decent shape although more is better
To be most pleasant that must be
1. During daylight
2. Not overlapping typical commuting hours
which suggests some time in the middle of the day. I try to ride a couple of hours around 2pm (long enough after breakfast to finish work projects, long enough after lunch to not puke).
The schedule flexibility for that is most likely in a "middle class" job.
Cycling is also somewhat social. Working in that sort of job you're more likely to be exposed to other cyclists.
To be most pleasant that must be
1. During daylight
2. Not overlapping typical commuting hours
which suggests some time in the middle of the day. I try to ride a couple of hours around 2pm (long enough after breakfast to finish work projects, long enough after lunch to not puke).
The schedule flexibility for that is most likely in a "middle class" job.
Cycling is also somewhat social. Working in that sort of job you're more likely to be exposed to other cyclists.
04-29-14, 12:51 PM
#128
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
04-29-14, 01:27 PM
#129
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chicago Western 'burbs
Posts: 1,065
Bikes: 1993 NOS Mt Shasta Tempest, Motobecane Fantom Cross CX, Dahon Speed D7, Dahon Vector P8, Bullitt Superfly
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I'm sizing up other riders, I see one of two trends regarding those cyclists who don't know what they are doing. First are the guys trying to fit in. Full kits, fancy gear, racing wheels, flashy colors, etc. I think these are the riders termed "elitist" by this forum. Their jerseys match, so they are the defacto "in" crowd. The ignore all the others.
The other trend is the anti-establishment. They ride in T-shirts and non-cycling shorts because they are above it all. They don't know the benefits of cycling gear, so they eschew them on the assumption there is no benefit. They are proud of their non-name-brand bike because they think themselves clever by saving a few bucks (what's a few bucks on something that'll be around for 10 years?). They intentionally clash, so they are the defacto "out" crowd. They think everyone is looking at them, judging.
The commonality between both? Neither can ride. Both are trying to play social games in a meritocracy. If you can ride or have your eyes open to learn, you have my respect. If you can ride, nobody talks about your equipment.
The other trend is the anti-establishment. They ride in T-shirts and non-cycling shorts because they are above it all. They don't know the benefits of cycling gear, so they eschew them on the assumption there is no benefit. They are proud of their non-name-brand bike because they think themselves clever by saving a few bucks (what's a few bucks on something that'll be around for 10 years?). They intentionally clash, so they are the defacto "out" crowd. They think everyone is looking at them, judging.
The commonality between both? Neither can ride. Both are trying to play social games in a meritocracy. If you can ride or have your eyes open to learn, you have my respect. If you can ride, nobody talks about your equipment.
04-29-14, 01:34 PM
#130
Senior Member
How did you get that?
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
04-29-14, 01:54 PM
#132
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
04-29-14, 02:00 PM
#133
Senior Member
04-29-14, 02:12 PM
#135
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chicago Western 'burbs
Posts: 1,065
Bikes: 1993 NOS Mt Shasta Tempest, Motobecane Fantom Cross CX, Dahon Speed D7, Dahon Vector P8, Bullitt Superfly
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
From your post
04-29-14, 02:13 PM
#136
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 2,180 Times
in
1,470 Posts
Running can expensive. If you put serious miles in, you'll need a pair of $100 shoes every couple months. Add in there high tech material socks, shirts, shorts, suits, hat and gloves, and it's $2,000.
04-29-14, 02:15 PM
#137
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 2,076
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Plus surgeries, physical therapy, and psych visits due to the self loathing.
04-29-14, 02:20 PM
#138
Senior Member
Read it again. It is not appropriate to reverse the direction of IF-THEN statements.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
04-29-14, 02:21 PM
#139
Senior Member
Is this some kind of fetish? Do people wear diapers cycling? I mean, I guess if we are talking about triathletes who piss their shorts...
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
04-29-14, 02:27 PM
#140
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chicago Western 'burbs
Posts: 1,065
Bikes: 1993 NOS Mt Shasta Tempest, Motobecane Fantom Cross CX, Dahon Speed D7, Dahon Vector P8, Bullitt Superfly
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've read it a few times. Still reads the same. Two kinds of cyclists who don't know what they are doing. Those who wear too much lycra and those who wear too little. Not sure what else you mean.
04-29-14, 02:32 PM
#141
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
Yeah, but that's the running equivalent of the guy with the Dura Ace Di2, full Rapha kit, Sidi Genius, and a new Colnago frame every year. Any sport can be as expensive as you want it to be, but even if a runner is putting in enough miles to go through shoes every 2 months, they can still get all the shirts and shorts etc they need in Target.
04-29-14, 02:41 PM
#142
Senior Member
It means what I wrote doesn't apply to cyclists who know what they are doing. Cycling is not about the clothes you wear or the equipment you use. It's about how you use your clothes and equipment. Cyclists who know what they are doing don't ride cutoff jeans and Vans on a 30 mile ride out of a misplaced sense of pride (though they might out of necessity), and they don't suit up with matching kit and race wheels for a coffee shop hop out of a misplaced sense of vanity (though you might find them drinking coffee after a ride).
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
04-29-14, 02:55 PM
#143
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 124
Bikes: KOMobile
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't know how some of you can even stay up with all this **** going on in your head. Do I wave? Blow kisses? Get their number so we can ride together? Nice Kit. Nice bike. Nice helmet. Nice crank. I love that rider. WTF? Lucky for me I don't have a lot going on upstairs so I can just roast pavement.
04-29-14, 02:56 PM
#144
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 2,076
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, but that's the running equivalent of the guy with the Dura Ace Di2, full Rapha kit, Sidi Genius, and a new Colnago frame every year. Any sport can be as expensive as you want it to be, but even if a runner is putting in enough miles to go through shoes every 2 months, they can still get all the shirts and shorts etc they need in Target.
04-29-14, 02:58 PM
#145
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 2,076
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It means what I wrote doesn't apply to cyclists who know what they are doing. Cycling is not about the clothes you wear or the equipment you use. It's about how you use your clothes and equipment. Cyclists who know what they are doing don't ride cutoff jeans and Vans on a 30 mile ride out of a misplaced sense of pride (though they might out of necessity), and they don't suit up with matching kit and race wheels for a coffee shop hop out of a misplaced sense of vanity (though you might find them drinking coffee after a ride).
04-29-14, 03:00 PM
#146
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chicago Western 'burbs
Posts: 1,065
Bikes: 1993 NOS Mt Shasta Tempest, Motobecane Fantom Cross CX, Dahon Speed D7, Dahon Vector P8, Bullitt Superfly
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It means what I wrote doesn't apply to cyclists who know what they are doing. Cycling is not about the clothes you wear or the equipment you use. It's about how you use your clothes and equipment. Cyclists who know what they are doing don't ride cutoff jeans and Vans on a 30 mile ride out of a misplaced sense of pride (though they might out of necessity), and they don't suit up with matching kit and race wheels for a coffee shop hop out of a misplaced sense of vanity (though you might find them drinking coffee after a ride).
04-29-14, 03:07 PM
#147
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 33,006
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Mentioned: 325 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11975 Post(s)
Liked 6,655 Times
in
3,486 Posts
C'mon cyclosaurus, you're trying to make something out of nothing.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
04-29-14, 03:20 PM
#148
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 533
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
People on this forum are from all over the world and "cycling culture" may be different depending on the country.
Personally, while I do think there is an overall appreciation for someone who is "good at the sport" and looks the part (as there is in any sport), I never felt like people look down or disapprove of others who approach the sport more casually. I mean, are there jerks? Sure there are, everywhere, in every subcategory of the population. But I do not think that jerks self-select into this sport, or that this sport turns you into one. That said, there is some snobbery in this sport. I think we are all aware of it.
But maybe that reputation of bike-snobbery and elitism, that is not as prevalent in everyday life as it is or example in this forum, has made you self-aware. One thing many cyclists do is check out other peoples gear. I do it as well, at the traffic light, when sitting down at a cafe, whatever. Some might see it as a look of disapproval, others might think their gear impresses me so much that it makes me stare at it. But really, I am just interested in what others use/wear. If you do something out of the ordinary it is going to draw attention, but that does not make people snobs and jerks just for looking at you.
About the nodding and greeting, I would just let that go. Where I live, if you greet random strangers, they are likely to ignore you, on the bike or off. There are other parts of the country that are less densely populated, and I go there to cycle every once in a while. Over there, everyone greets everyone. I just follow whatever the norm seems to be. Though sometimes when someone greets me, it catches me by surprise and I typically do not respond in time.
Thinking about it , I could very well be mistaken for a jerk sometimes. But really, whenever I see someone new to the sport, I am the guy rooting for them. When I see someone out of shape trying to get in shape, I am the one rooting for them. Even when I see hipsters on their oldschool roadbikes, I think it is kind of cool that it holds that kind of appeal to them, even though it is a different scene and I sometimes cringe because of the way they ride on them. Still I am rooting for them. But I do so without a smile, without a wave. Not because I am a jerk, but I just do not think about in when on a ride, nor expect anyone to care. You might also catch me looking at your bike, since I am interested in bikes. But that does not mean I am passing judgement.
Personally, while I do think there is an overall appreciation for someone who is "good at the sport" and looks the part (as there is in any sport), I never felt like people look down or disapprove of others who approach the sport more casually. I mean, are there jerks? Sure there are, everywhere, in every subcategory of the population. But I do not think that jerks self-select into this sport, or that this sport turns you into one. That said, there is some snobbery in this sport. I think we are all aware of it.
But maybe that reputation of bike-snobbery and elitism, that is not as prevalent in everyday life as it is or example in this forum, has made you self-aware. One thing many cyclists do is check out other peoples gear. I do it as well, at the traffic light, when sitting down at a cafe, whatever. Some might see it as a look of disapproval, others might think their gear impresses me so much that it makes me stare at it. But really, I am just interested in what others use/wear. If you do something out of the ordinary it is going to draw attention, but that does not make people snobs and jerks just for looking at you.
About the nodding and greeting, I would just let that go. Where I live, if you greet random strangers, they are likely to ignore you, on the bike or off. There are other parts of the country that are less densely populated, and I go there to cycle every once in a while. Over there, everyone greets everyone. I just follow whatever the norm seems to be. Though sometimes when someone greets me, it catches me by surprise and I typically do not respond in time.
Thinking about it , I could very well be mistaken for a jerk sometimes. But really, whenever I see someone new to the sport, I am the guy rooting for them. When I see someone out of shape trying to get in shape, I am the one rooting for them. Even when I see hipsters on their oldschool roadbikes, I think it is kind of cool that it holds that kind of appeal to them, even though it is a different scene and I sometimes cringe because of the way they ride on them. Still I am rooting for them. But I do so without a smile, without a wave. Not because I am a jerk, but I just do not think about in when on a ride, nor expect anyone to care. You might also catch me looking at your bike, since I am interested in bikes. But that does not mean I am passing judgement.
Last edited by Cookiemonsta; 04-29-14 at 03:46 PM.
