There is an organization that shall remain nameless that terms outsiders 'Earth People' because they just don't get it. Cycling is like that. Very much so.

I love John Mayer, think he's a great songwriter, performer, outstanding guitarist (and I've been playing the guitar for 25 years, I know a little about what's good and what sucks), yet the other day I hear somebody on the radio trashing him. Go figure. I don't care. If an artist's music connects with me, I love it. I don't care if anybody else hates it. And it doesn't bother me. Art is about the stuff you connect with, not how other people judge your choices.

You get to a point in your life where you get comfortable in your own skin, and the opinion of the world starts to become less important. How the hell do you think I can stay involved in cycling, arguably the dorkiest sport on the planet? I don't care if the rest of the world thinks I'm an oddball (and they do). That actually has become one of the parts of the sport that I love the most. They see me in my stupid lycra out there in the rain and the 20º cold and the gloom of night, and they think I'm insane. I actually have come to like that.

How cool is it when you tell your neighbor that your handlebars cost more than his entire new bicycle and he looks at you as if you're completely friggin off the hinges? And you know nothing you can ever say will ever make him understand. You know who understands? My wife understands. She has seen me riding zero point zero miles annually and she knows what I'm like riding 2-3 hours daily, and she greatly prefers the latter. And that's the opinion that matters to me.

Happy New Year Weenies. You're all friggin insufferable dorks, Freds, Road Nazis and Bike Weenies. And I'm just like every single one of you, but with a higher post count.

so riding a bike for you is the same as lisstening to john mayer?

time to start the cycle for john mayer cult.

If my post raises reading comprehension challenges for you, steer clear of the new SAT test. I saw the test my daughter had to take the other day. I'm an NYU honor graduate, I did great on the SATs in the 70's, and I didn't know what the F they wanted on those answers.

My taste in music and cycling are two things which usually leave people shrugging their shoulders when I start talking about them. I've always been a fan of indie rock and have a soft spot for all things Guided by Voices and Pavement in particular; I listen to other types of music but those two bands are my comfort food, they make the tunes that just warm my soul. Cycling is something I've always enjoyed on my own, even though I started riding because a friend of mine convinced me to get a bike to ride with him. I became hooked and got faster, next thing you know no one wanted to ride with me because I wanted to ride fast and not cruise around chewing the fat, go figure.

So pcad, not only do you ride your bike slowly, but you've dedicated 25 years to playing the guitar poorly?

You're some sort of anti-Renaissance Man.

^^lightning will strike you down boy.

i feel you P

Fixed it for you.

Nah. Could be worse. Just tell pcad to put a compact crank on his next build. That's a far worse reaction.

compact crank...sounds like a portable *****. can you say that here?

man that is some kinky ride...

That appears to be the King of the Mountain model. Or would that be Queen of the Mountin'?

Good post pcad. I can relate, as I got in to cycling as a teenager in the 80's. When some of the other students were driving to school, and I still chose to ride a bike as a way to get in the training miles for racing, it definitely required a big dose of "doing it because I want to, and F* what the others think". It's great that Mrs. pcad understands; that's a rarity.

I selflessly post this meaningful thread as a BF Community Service, and this is what I get.

There's no Gratitude on BF.

I think you're just experiencing the wearying of BF to you being full of it. The opinion of the world is less important? Less important than what? Everyone knows that if I point out how much John Mayer sucks you'll go sideways and tell me all the ways I should **** my mother. You also wouldn't start 47 threads about whether the bike your buying is any good, when like any grown person you know damn well that what you ride doesn't make a lick of difference.

BF's weariness is not my concern. Besides, I know I'm full of it. It should be apparent by now that I revel in it.

A little Cabin Fever setting in there pal? You sound angry. Where's the Zen? Take two Xanax and meditate until Monday.

You are incorrect Gary. I would roll my eyes and cue up 'In Your Atmosphere'. I can't control your musical preferences. But I am interested in the music you like: Email me a list of that iPod stuff you listen to. I've never heard of any of those bands and I want to check every single one of them out. Seriously.

Actually I couldn't be happier. I'm putting up some of my intervals ever. Though sadly with the cancellation of the weekend's shin dig you miss the opportunity to add the meeting of yet another BF member to your life list.

Somebody Hooked Up.

Shindig is one word you crazy cat.

I'm just doing it to piss off that other guy.

Happy New Year pal. Hope you're getting the Hugs you need, because with the Great Recession and all, that Pony may be on hold.

Yup. A bicycle is the ultimate suburban status symbol.

Park a $30,000 bass boat and trailer in your driveway and the neighbors might not even notice. Tell those same neighbors that you paid 1/10 of that for a bike that you still have to pedal and they'll think that you must be made of money. Don't try that with a truely high end bike unless you have the EMT's on speed dial.

Whoa, two stellar American groups. "Bee Thousand" and "Terror Twilight" are among my top 20 all-time favourite albums.

I don't really need ponies, schwag, or prize money. I'm just in this to make people quit the sport.