Do you want to be labeled a "Cyclist" by others?
11-20-13, 12:38 PM
#101
Sophomoric Member
Maybe we should go back to wheelman, except nowadays it would have to be wheelperson?
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11-20-13, 12:57 PM
#102
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No prob... You've always been kind of a hero to me. Sometimes when I'm riding and I get real tired, I think about you doing those 24 hour rides and it inspires me to keep going. I also respect your talents for writing and photography.
I do disagree with a lot of your opinions, which actually seem contrarian on this board. Sometimes you piss me off a lot.
But it takes balls to be the dissenter on the Internet. ILTB has done it for years, and I give him props for that. We will see if you and your lovely husband are up to it also. Just remember: it isn't personal, at least on my part.
I do disagree with a lot of your opinions, which actually seem contrarian on this board. Sometimes you piss me off a lot.
But it takes balls to be the dissenter on the Internet. ILTB has done it for years, and I give him props for that. We will see if you and your lovely husband are up to it also. Just remember: it isn't personal, at least on my part.
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11-20-13, 01:09 PM
#103
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Deal with people as individuals and what each one says, not what you have conditioned yourself to hear colored by your own prejudices based on vehicle ownership stereotypes.
11-20-13, 01:09 PM
#104
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Good find!
I say again: Who knew? I thought cyclist was a synonym for person on bike. For a while, I was labeling myself as an everyday cyclist, based on somebody who rides a bike every day or for everyday purposes, but that never really caught on. Now I usually use transportation cyclist, but that term seems either redundant or too limiting, depending on how you think about it. I often say rider, both because it seems more romantic, and it puts us on a par with drivers. But professional cyclists call themselves riders, so it's probably an equally objectionable term to those who object to cyclist.
Let me describe a typical day of my bike activities: do a fast 10 miles on a rural highway (fitness), ride slowly along a river on the MUP (recreation), take my son and grandson out for ice cream (family fun), impromptu race with random teenager on a BMX (competition), getting groceries (utility), and riding to work (commuter). And I'm probably wearing padded Lycra bike shorts under a pair of cargo shorts or khakis.
How the hell am I supposed to label all that?
I say again: Who knew? I thought cyclist was a synonym for person on bike. For a while, I was labeling myself as an everyday cyclist, based on somebody who rides a bike every day or for everyday purposes, but that never really caught on. Now I usually use transportation cyclist, but that term seems either redundant or too limiting, depending on how you think about it. I often say rider, both because it seems more romantic, and it puts us on a par with drivers. But professional cyclists call themselves riders, so it's probably an equally objectionable term to those who object to cyclist.
Let me describe a typical day of my bike activities: do a fast 10 miles on a rural highway (fitness), ride slowly along a river on the MUP (recreation), take my son and grandson out for ice cream (family fun), impromptu race with random teenager on a BMX (competition), getting groceries (utility), and riding to work (commuter). And I'm probably wearing padded Lycra bike shorts under a pair of cargo shorts or khakis.
How the hell am I supposed to label all that?
11-20-13, 01:12 PM
#105
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11-20-13, 01:14 PM
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Yes. Don't try to label/categorize the people you meet, in order to fit them into the handy stereotypes you have established in your mind.
Deal with people as individuals and what each one says, not what you have conditioned yourself to hear colored by your own prejudices based on vehicle ownership stereotypes.
Deal with people as individuals and what each one says, not what you have conditioned yourself to hear colored by your own prejudices based on vehicle ownership stereotypes.
If I had the time to develop a highly nuanced, individualized impression about every human I met, I might do it. But, if we're talking about folks I've just met, who've already categorized me, and are actively heckling whatever stereotype they've tried to file me under, I feel it's more efficient to go with the flow.
11-20-13, 01:49 PM
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I came across this article/blog yesterday on this subject: ..instead of cyclist?
It seems some bicycle oriented publications are beginning to reduce the usage because it carries a negative connotation.
It seems some bicycle oriented publications are beginning to reduce the usage because it carries a negative connotation.
The selection of bicycles on the store showroom floor, usually limited to performance/enthusiast bikes, as well as the "performance" prices, chase any potential "other kind of bicyclist" out the door and to the nearest big box store.
11-20-13, 02:31 PM
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If I'm a lyrca clad unfriendly aero obsessed fred that doesn't own a car what is my label?
11-20-13, 02:49 PM
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11-20-13, 03:10 PM
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11-20-13, 03:19 PM
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11-21-13, 03:54 AM
#113
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I'm thinking we need a better solution for us transportation/commuter/utility/everyday cyclists. We should take back the word "cyclists" for ourselves. Similar to the Bike Pittsburgh ads, we should have our own marketing campaign to show that "We Are Cyclists Too!"
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11-21-13, 12:27 PM
#114
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The most likely organization to adapt such a marketing slogan would be a big box store chain like Walmart or Target whose bikes ARE aimed at and sold to such Cyclists as well as students, youth and children. They can afford to let the LBS try and survive on the leftovers of bikes only aimed at performance enthusiasts and lycra clad cyclists.
11-21-13, 02:22 PM
#115
Prefers Cicero
Let me describe a typical day of my bike activities: do a fast 10 miles on a rural highway (fitness), ride slowly along a river on the MUP (recreation), take my son and grandson out for ice cream (family fun), impromptu race with random teenager on a BMX (competition), getting groceries (utility), and riding to work (commuter).
11-21-13, 02:59 PM
#116
Sophomoric Member
Actually, um, no. I have many days like that, but I shouldn't have said typical...maybe once a week.
The point was, on any given day, I use a bike for several different purposes, often beyond what people think of as a "cyclist". Most people on this forum could probably say the same, without exaggerating. I don't know of one term that would cover all of it, other than a very broad one like "cyclist".
The point was, on any given day, I use a bike for several different purposes, often beyond what people think of as a "cyclist". Most people on this forum could probably say the same, without exaggerating. I don't know of one term that would cover all of it, other than a very broad one like "cyclist".
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11-21-13, 03:32 PM
#117
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Not in the eyes of many (most?) LBS owners or media outlets.
The most likely organization to adapt such a marketing slogan would be a big box store chain like Walmart or Target whose bikes ARE aimed at and sold to such Cyclists as well as students, youth and children. They can afford to let the LBS try and survive on the leftovers of bikes only aimed at performance enthusiasts and lycra clad cyclists.
The most likely organization to adapt such a marketing slogan would be a big box store chain like Walmart or Target whose bikes ARE aimed at and sold to such Cyclists as well as students, youth and children. They can afford to let the LBS try and survive on the leftovers of bikes only aimed at performance enthusiasts and lycra clad cyclists.
anyhoo, I wasn't thinking of an ad campaign sponsored by retailers. I was thinking of sponsorship by non-profit groups of transportation cyclists. Bike shops would be a target of the campaign: they should cater to somebody other than performance bike enthusiasts because We Are Cyclists Too!
Another target would be so-called bicycle advocacy groups. A local bike group focuses their advocacy efforts on a three foot law, because they seem to think that all "cyclists" are club riders who ride mainly in packs on highway shoulders. They don't recognize that the vast majority of cyclists ride mainly on traffic-choked city streets, or most likely sidewalks. We transportation cyclists don't benefit much from three foot laws. We need specific infrastructure improvements, and laws that criminalize hitting people with a car. Because, dammit, we are cyclists too!
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11-21-13, 03:46 PM
#118
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Here's where I'm at, in terms of nomenclature:
-on this board, it doesn't matter what you terms you use: you will be mocked, questioned, dissected, challenged, and dismissed regardless of the terminology you select. There's a chance you might be applauded, but it is equally likely that you will make someone cry with whatever synonym for "cyclist" you choose.
-elsewhere on the internets, cycling discussions have a tendency to be relegated to all the sub-genres and niches anyway, so "cyclist" is probably good enough, unless you find yourself on some sort of esoteric "organisms atop of velos" forum or blog, in which case you'll need person-centered language to keep all the sensitive folks in check. "I'm NOT a cyclist!!! I'm a human being!!!"
-In the real world, you can say cyclist, but the folks I know who ride or talk about those who do, we're likely to use a less conscientious version of the person-centered talk. "Some kid on a bike..." "This chick on a bike..." "An arrogant DB on a bike..." In the case where you need to get more specific, you can, and it'll be easier b/c your friends can ask immediate clarifying questions, whereas internet ppl will ask clarifying questions hours after you post, and you might not get the chance to respond for a few days. If you pre-clarify, you might make someone cry.
- I've often referred to the modern cyclists as "LARPists", b/c many folks on a bike have a tendency to be acting out some sort of fantasy role with their bicycles. (I'm already anticipating the bizarre, narcissistic challenges that this assertion may bring.) I've found it easier to use the projected fantasy as a way to describe a particular type of rider, and it works well for ppl familiar with the concept. Beyond the obvious fake roadracers, you'll have the fake messengers (and their cousins, the fake Keirin racers) , the elven LARPists (with twine all over their 6-bolt cranksets, and whatnot), the fake-it-like-it's-a-motorcycle set ("yeah, I put a springer and a sissy bar on my '58 Hornet"), the fake-mt-dew-commercial guys ("dude! extreeeeeeeeeeeeme!!!"), the reenactment cyclists (who crossover with the elves quite frequently), and the folks who try hard to fake it like they're being as pragmatic as is humanly possible. (To be honest, I'm a little bit guilty of most of these...)
Of course, there are many more, but at the end of the day, they're all cyclists. And, with the exception of a few circus bears on unicycles, we all know that virtually every cyclist is a human, so we probably don't need to find a new way of expressing that, just b/c the roadie LARPists have dominated the cycling world for so long now.
How's that for playing around with my drive to label/categorize ppl?
-on this board, it doesn't matter what you terms you use: you will be mocked, questioned, dissected, challenged, and dismissed regardless of the terminology you select. There's a chance you might be applauded, but it is equally likely that you will make someone cry with whatever synonym for "cyclist" you choose.
-elsewhere on the internets, cycling discussions have a tendency to be relegated to all the sub-genres and niches anyway, so "cyclist" is probably good enough, unless you find yourself on some sort of esoteric "organisms atop of velos" forum or blog, in which case you'll need person-centered language to keep all the sensitive folks in check. "I'm NOT a cyclist!!! I'm a human being!!!"
-In the real world, you can say cyclist, but the folks I know who ride or talk about those who do, we're likely to use a less conscientious version of the person-centered talk. "Some kid on a bike..." "This chick on a bike..." "An arrogant DB on a bike..." In the case where you need to get more specific, you can, and it'll be easier b/c your friends can ask immediate clarifying questions, whereas internet ppl will ask clarifying questions hours after you post, and you might not get the chance to respond for a few days. If you pre-clarify, you might make someone cry.
- I've often referred to the modern cyclists as "LARPists", b/c many folks on a bike have a tendency to be acting out some sort of fantasy role with their bicycles. (I'm already anticipating the bizarre, narcissistic challenges that this assertion may bring.) I've found it easier to use the projected fantasy as a way to describe a particular type of rider, and it works well for ppl familiar with the concept. Beyond the obvious fake roadracers, you'll have the fake messengers (and their cousins, the fake Keirin racers) , the elven LARPists (with twine all over their 6-bolt cranksets, and whatnot), the fake-it-like-it's-a-motorcycle set ("yeah, I put a springer and a sissy bar on my '58 Hornet"), the fake-mt-dew-commercial guys ("dude! extreeeeeeeeeeeeme!!!"), the reenactment cyclists (who crossover with the elves quite frequently), and the folks who try hard to fake it like they're being as pragmatic as is humanly possible. (To be honest, I'm a little bit guilty of most of these...)
Of course, there are many more, but at the end of the day, they're all cyclists. And, with the exception of a few circus bears on unicycles, we all know that virtually every cyclist is a human, so we probably don't need to find a new way of expressing that, just b/c the roadie LARPists have dominated the cycling world for so long now.
How's that for playing around with my drive to label/categorize ppl?
11-22-13, 12:59 AM
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I am a Cyclist ... who does all sorts of different cycling, on all sorts of different bicycles.
I dress up in my comfy and attractive cycling attire and ride long distances (well, not right this minute ... health issues), short distances, and even races
I dress up in casual attire and tour
I dress up in winter attire to ride 6 months of the year
I ride single bicycles of various sorts
I ride a tandem
I have ridden recumbents and recumbent trikes, and would like to acquire one
I ride for fitness, I ride events, I ride to run errands, I ride to go places and see things, I have ridden to commute and may do that again, and I ride for fun.
Being a Cyclist encompasses all those things.
If you don't want to be a Cyclist, that's fine. Me ... I like being a Cyclist.
I dress up in my comfy and attractive cycling attire and ride long distances (well, not right this minute ... health issues), short distances, and even races
I dress up in casual attire and tour
I dress up in winter attire to ride 6 months of the year
I ride single bicycles of various sorts
I ride a tandem
I have ridden recumbents and recumbent trikes, and would like to acquire one
I ride for fitness, I ride events, I ride to run errands, I ride to go places and see things, I have ridden to commute and may do that again, and I ride for fun.
Being a Cyclist encompasses all those things.
If you don't want to be a Cyclist, that's fine. Me ... I like being a Cyclist.
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11-22-13, 01:06 AM
#120
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11-23-13, 07:03 AM
#122
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
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Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
12-06-13, 12:59 AM
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I don't know. I have never been introduced as a cyclist. But maybe that's because that most people I know are both cyclists and motorists, and living where I live there is nothing odd about cycling. Not one bit. I have been introduced as a rower but that was to another rower, though.
12-19-13, 05:54 PM
#124
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Off topic a bit I am sure but jus what kind of LBS do so many of you have that would drive you to a BB store? Just what are you looking for that you can't get from places like REI or Performance or in my case one of the three LBSs?
Like I have said before I don't care if I am called a cyclist or not but I do take pride to a degree on the bikes I buy, build and ride. I just can't see what most BB store bikes have to offer other than rock bottom price and zero service and quality control. I know some people couldn't tell the difference between a Next duel suspension BSO and a LBS and a Redline DD880 but once using one for the purpose they were supposed to be designed for they should be able to see the difference.
I spend a lot of time helping neighbors trying to keep their BB store bikes running simi acceptable, by my standards I understand, and even I will have to visit the LBS now and then for a problem I can't solve in a timely manner. I will also admit that not many LBSs have traditional roadsters for sale but not BB stores do either.
When someone bothers to ask me about getting a bike I will in most cases point them to a LBS because they offer service as well as sales. One of the ones I go to rebuilds old bikes including Schwinns. Then I suggest an online bike store, then Craig's list, then a thrift store and lastly a BB store. a BB store beats walking but in my opinion only about 50 percent of the time because the bikes are low quality to start with. I just don't know how so many here can have such a bad experience with a LBS. If I remember correctly one of the biggest detractors of BB store bikes to visit these forums works at a BB store and puts together of all things Bikes. So no I don't believe a LBS is the worst.
Like I have said before I don't care if I am called a cyclist or not but I do take pride to a degree on the bikes I buy, build and ride. I just can't see what most BB store bikes have to offer other than rock bottom price and zero service and quality control. I know some people couldn't tell the difference between a Next duel suspension BSO and a LBS and a Redline DD880 but once using one for the purpose they were supposed to be designed for they should be able to see the difference.
I spend a lot of time helping neighbors trying to keep their BB store bikes running simi acceptable, by my standards I understand, and even I will have to visit the LBS now and then for a problem I can't solve in a timely manner. I will also admit that not many LBSs have traditional roadsters for sale but not BB stores do either.
When someone bothers to ask me about getting a bike I will in most cases point them to a LBS because they offer service as well as sales. One of the ones I go to rebuilds old bikes including Schwinns. Then I suggest an online bike store, then Craig's list, then a thrift store and lastly a BB store. a BB store beats walking but in my opinion only about 50 percent of the time because the bikes are low quality to start with. I just don't know how so many here can have such a bad experience with a LBS. If I remember correctly one of the biggest detractors of BB store bikes to visit these forums works at a BB store and puts together of all things Bikes. So no I don't believe a LBS is the worst.
12-20-13, 12:56 AM
#125
Sophomoric Member
Off topic a bit I am sure but jus what kind of LBS do so many of you have that would drive you to a BB store? Just what are you looking for that you can't get from places like REI or Performance or in my case one of the three LBSs?
Like I have said before I don't care if I am called a cyclist or not but I do take pride to a degree on the bikes I buy, build and ride. I just can't see what most BB store bikes have to offer other than rock bottom price and zero service and quality control. I know some people couldn't tell the difference between a Next duel suspension BSO and a LBS and a Redline DD880 but once using one for the purpose they were supposed to be designed for they should be able to see the difference.
I spend a lot of time helping neighbors trying to keep their BB store bikes running simi acceptable, by my standards I understand, and even I will have to visit the LBS now and then for a problem I can't solve in a timely manner. I will also admit that not many LBSs have traditional roadsters for sale but not BB stores do either.
When someone bothers to ask me about getting a bike I will in most cases point them to a LBS because they offer service as well as sales. One of the ones I go to rebuilds old bikes including Schwinns. Then I suggest an online bike store, then Craig's list, then a thrift store and lastly a BB store. a BB store beats walking but in my opinion only about 50 percent of the time because the bikes are low quality to start with. I just don't know how so many here can have such a bad experience with a LBS. If I remember correctly one of the biggest detractors of BB store bikes to visit these forums works at a BB store and puts together of all things Bikes. So no I don't believe a LBS is the worst.
Like I have said before I don't care if I am called a cyclist or not but I do take pride to a degree on the bikes I buy, build and ride. I just can't see what most BB store bikes have to offer other than rock bottom price and zero service and quality control. I know some people couldn't tell the difference between a Next duel suspension BSO and a LBS and a Redline DD880 but once using one for the purpose they were supposed to be designed for they should be able to see the difference.
I spend a lot of time helping neighbors trying to keep their BB store bikes running simi acceptable, by my standards I understand, and even I will have to visit the LBS now and then for a problem I can't solve in a timely manner. I will also admit that not many LBSs have traditional roadsters for sale but not BB stores do either.
When someone bothers to ask me about getting a bike I will in most cases point them to a LBS because they offer service as well as sales. One of the ones I go to rebuilds old bikes including Schwinns. Then I suggest an online bike store, then Craig's list, then a thrift store and lastly a BB store. a BB store beats walking but in my opinion only about 50 percent of the time because the bikes are low quality to start with. I just don't know how so many here can have such a bad experience with a LBS. If I remember correctly one of the biggest detractors of BB store bikes to visit these forums works at a BB store and puts together of all things Bikes. So no I don't believe a LBS is the worst.
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