TimothyH

As I posted in the other thread, I don't understand why some people can't express their love for something without dragging everything else down. If his form of cycling is so sublime, and I'm sure it is, then it should stand on its own. Like TMonk, the insults don't make me want to read the article.

Contrast that with a truly great tourer and super nice guy, Iohan Gueorguiev.

The Video Project ? Bike Wanderer

Broctoon

That's what I did with my Trek 1100 that my dad bought new in 1990 and passed to me a decade ago.

Actually, I have a mixed set of components: used 105 RD and Ultegra FD, Tektro front brake, something-or-other rear brake, and FSA crank. But I bought some new 105 levers (5700--ten speed). With this stuff and some decent wheels, the bike has gained a new life, and I expect it to give good service for another 20+ years.

Enjoy your rebuild!

Broctoon

I'm with you, Monk. I've found a group of friends who prove that high-performance riding and comfortable, long distance riding need not be mutually exclusive.

These guys do the RAGBRAI every year--across Iowa in one week--riding the same bikes and wearing the same gear that they use for races.

Beach cruisers are cool. Superlight, ultrastiff carbon fiber bikes are neat. Beautiful vintage steel bikes are awesome. Even silly aero TT bikes have their place. My favorite? Lately, versatile single speed and fixed gear bikes set up for city/commuting/fitness riding. But any bike is better than no bike, and it's too bad some folks can't stop dumping on each others' preferred styles.

TMonk

exactly. bikes are cool, period. but hey, haters gonna hate.

There is certainly some disdain and negativity that comes from within the road and competetive road communities as well, which is ironically most prevalent in lower racing categories where ego often precedes experience. Perhaps it's a response to that, which I get, but it's still lame.

SquidPuppet

I'll quote myself from the other thread.

TMonk

good for you that you have a thick skin.

I've heard that crap so many times that it just makes me tired

TejanoTrackie 

Snobbery is obnoxious, regardless of its form.

TimothyH

So will I.


-Tim-

SquidPuppet

Do you guys really get the vibe that he is hating on roadies? I didn't pick up an anger or hate vibe at all. Seemed like he was just poking for a laugh, not trying to belittle anyone. I read it more like he was making fun of his former self. It struck me like good natured teasing, not mean spirited.

SquidPuppet

I got the opposite. Like he was at peace with himself.

ethet 

I agree that he was critiquing his former self. He was a person that he didn't feel comfortable being, and rather than discarding his entire identity as a cyclist, he found a way to maintain his passion, a thing that fundamentally brought him pleasure, but that he began to adjust his relationship with it.

It reminds me of how the most passionate anti-smoker you will find is the person who quit smoking a year ago.

It is a story of one person's evolution in self-understanding and overcoming ego, and that takes a radical rejection of what had been formerly holding him back from achieving what he wanted to become. That the thing was racing culture is irrelevant other than a plot point in his momentum.

TimothyH

Yes. I get that feeling. He is hating on his former self and anyone he feels is like his former self.

The problem is that his present self is very similar to his former self. I see very little difference between the two photo's below. Only the externals have changed.

ethet 

The difference is subtle. There is only one person in the second picture.

TimothyH

The real reason for the article is to create controversy, drive readership and sell sandals.

TMonk

Another thing to consider is the (cycling) demographic of the readers of the article. He's preaching to the choir, which makes me thing it's a marketing thing.

edit: someone mentioned that in the comments section too haha.

johnnytheboy

he used to tear up the austin mtb race circuit on an early 90s rigid trek converted to 27.5". he doesn't wear lycra anymore and rarely showers... but he's still a beast.

TMonk

a hidden savage of sorts. you never expect those that aren't all decked out in matching lycra w fancy shoes to be strong, but they're out there.

seau grateau

So, same guy, just doesn't have friends anymore.

scoho

Huh, I have no idea what he's like in person, of course, but I didn't get a bitter/angry vibe from that article at all. It's filled with the kind of wry self-mockery and exclamation points that signal, to me, good humor.

Take, for example, the photo caption that exclaims:

Of course they're not, and of course he doesn't think they are, but the point is that he doesn't care--not about his own lack of aerodynamics or about roadies' excess of it. The bitter version of that caption would have said something self-righteous about roadies' obsessive pursuit of vanishingly marginal aero gains. Instead, he simply turns his gaze facetiously on himself.

Or this:

I mean, come on.

Finally:

If "plus size foot model" and "handlebars jacked up to the moon" and "lubed in extra virgin coconut oil" don't signal a lighthearted sense of laughing at oneself rather than a caustic rejection of everyone else, then I'm not nearly jaded enough--and don't want to be.

JohnDThompson 

Hey, whatever turns your crank, man.

But I have to wonder:



Bedrocks matched with a tech poncho. Bike touring essentials. And very aero.

How effective is that poncho without mudguards on the bike? There's got to be a lot of crap thrown up by the wheels where the poncho doesn't protect you.

ethet 

TMonk

I'll admit to being pretty jaded. Roadies are on one far end of the cycling spectrum (as the author puts it) and thus things can get pretty polarized. Most bf.net users here are pretty moderate, which makes it a great subfoum IMO.

The part that I don't like is how he continually refers to his (past) self as being angry, or pedalling in anger, or how he felt hollow after pedaling 'far and fast' at all costs. Not all roadies are empty and angry like that - and I worry that cyclists from the other side of the spectrum with no "roadie" experience will view me that way after reading crap like that.

SquidPuppet

Exactly as I see it. In fact, my perception is that it's 180 degrees away from mean spirited. He refers to his own new style as "cliche". If that's not self deprecating humor, I don"t know what is.

And I think it's worth noting that he never even mentions any other rider(s) or groups or types of riders. He writes only about his own journey from racer to hippie. It's like he's saying, "I went from that kind of a geek to this totally different kind of geek."

Was it written to sell sandals? You bet it was. But I like his writing style and sense of humor. Anyone that can make fun of them self is OK in my book.

TMonk

The article definetely isn't mean spirited, and I don't think anyone here claims that it is. My argument is that it is polarizing and divisive. The guy was a crappy pissed off roadie and I worry that others will view us like how he was.

But again, I'm jaded, and most people (at least around here) have enough expeirence as to not be so easily influeunceable. I would argue that articles like that are bad to read for new cyclists - of any camp.

ethet