FlyinRyan
12-11-08 | 09:11 AM
#126
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Crowhurst
However it depends on whether or not he actually fakes anything. So far he's just hitched a ride to phoenix, which he admitted, so we'll see where he goes from here.
12-11-08 | 09:18 AM
#128
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
12-11-08 | 09:23 AM
#129
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,798
Likes: 1
From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
Ryan's website states he's riding a bicycle from LA to DC - have you read it? Do you recall a fellow who was adamant that Neils on Wheels had to ride from downtown Pittsburgh in May because starting in McKeesport at the trail head was misrepresentation? By your own standards, Ryan's misrepresented himself - Phoenix is a heck of a lot further from LA than McKeesport is from Pittsburgh.
https://www.bikingforobama.com/2008/1...in-the-desert/:
I came across an ultimatum over the weekend. I had to make a decision of whether or not to drive part-way on the trip and I was very conflicted. My support car had to return to Los Angeles, and I was unprepared yet to go through the desert alone.
__________________
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
- Ukulele Abyss - ukulele cover videos - Videos
- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.
12-11-08 | 09:28 AM
#131
Guest
Posts: n/a
That was months ago, and he's obviously learned from that.
https://www.bikingforobama.com/2008/1...in-the-desert/:
https://www.bikingforobama.com/2008/1...in-the-desert/:
"3159 miles from Los Angeles to St. Augustine, FL, and 750 miles up the Atlantic Coast to Washington DC."
If the webmaster can post left wing videos, why can't he change (there's that word again!) other material on the website?
12-11-08 | 09:32 AM
#132
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 170
Ya know, the more I've been thinking about Ryan and his priorities on this trip, the more pissed I've gotten. As an Obama supporter, I had to hear all of the crap during the campaign about him being an elitist and how all of the poor people will get free money, feel entitled, etc.
Ryan is the epitome of someone who feels he is entitled to something. He's the quintessential elitist. He decides he's going to ride his bike across the US. He decides that everyone else should pay for it. He wants a camera to document the journey, so he begs for a $4500 camera. IF I were in the position of begging for donations to ride a bike across the country, I would set my standards a little lower. Like, the $100 cameras from Wal-Mart, or a used version.
He has (allegedly) embarked on a 4000 mile journey with a bike and a rack-top bag. No panniers, no sleeping bag, no tent.... do any of his brain cells actually communicate with each other? I am just completely dumbfounded by his lack of planning, lack of judgment, and lack of humility.
The anger I feel that someone such as Ryan is "representing" Obama is beyond words.
Ryan is the epitome of someone who feels he is entitled to something. He's the quintessential elitist. He decides he's going to ride his bike across the US. He decides that everyone else should pay for it. He wants a camera to document the journey, so he begs for a $4500 camera. IF I were in the position of begging for donations to ride a bike across the country, I would set my standards a little lower. Like, the $100 cameras from Wal-Mart, or a used version.
He has (allegedly) embarked on a 4000 mile journey with a bike and a rack-top bag. No panniers, no sleeping bag, no tent.... do any of his brain cells actually communicate with each other? I am just completely dumbfounded by his lack of planning, lack of judgment, and lack of humility.
The anger I feel that someone such as Ryan is "representing" Obama is beyond words.
I'm also getting tired of all of the subtle and not-so-subtle attempts to censor on the two Ryan threads. We've been told me must not be "naysayers". Why not? The naysayers were right. We've been told we shouldn't say anything when Ryan fails. Why not? This has been very instructive for learning how not to do a bike tour. And now these ridiculous "stop the hate'" posts. Again I ask, what 'hate'?
A better question is why were so many people saying "Go for it!" when Ryan was proposing something that was obviously unworkable. He had too little time, lacked the proper equipment, lacked sufficient funds, lacked experience, had unsuitable weather, insufficient daylight, and on and on.
12-11-08 | 09:36 AM
#133
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
While I don't have quite the anger you feel, I agree with most of your points, PlatyPius. The sense of entitlement that Ryan has displayed is appalling. His inability to plan is amazing. His comments about "welfare queens" and "whiteness" were outrageous. If Barack Obama had been as disorganized and arrogant as Ryan, he would never have gotten beyond the Iowa caucuses.
I'm also getting tired of all of the subtle and not-so-subtle attempts to censor on the two Ryan threads. We've been told me must not be "naysayers". Why not? The naysayers were right. We've been told we shouldn't say anything when Ryan fails. Why not? This has been very instructive for learning how not to do a bike tour. And now these ridiculous "stop the hate'" posts. Again I ask, what 'hate'?
A better question is why were so many people saying "Go for it!" when Ryan was proposing something that was obviously unworkable. He had too little time, lacked the proper equipment, lacked sufficient funds, lacked experience, had unsuitable weather, insufficient daylight, and on and on.
I'm also getting tired of all of the subtle and not-so-subtle attempts to censor on the two Ryan threads. We've been told me must not be "naysayers". Why not? The naysayers were right. We've been told we shouldn't say anything when Ryan fails. Why not? This has been very instructive for learning how not to do a bike tour. And now these ridiculous "stop the hate'" posts. Again I ask, what 'hate'?
A better question is why were so many people saying "Go for it!" when Ryan was proposing something that was obviously unworkable. He had too little time, lacked the proper equipment, lacked sufficient funds, lacked experience, had unsuitable weather, insufficient daylight, and on and on.
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
12-11-08 | 09:46 AM
#135
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
I could care less about, Obama, DC.
Chances are great he will fail.
But he got farther then you or I.
But he at least Started.
Here is the way to get money for a bike trip.
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
Last edited by 10 Wheels; 12-11-08 at 09:55 AM.
12-11-08 | 09:54 AM
#136
Guest
Posts: n/a
He, and some of the posters defending him, are best described as "tender misanthropes." This is another Florence King term, used in her brilliant book With Charity For None. A 'normal' misanthrope thinks mankind is corrupt, flawed, and just generally rotten. (A sense of humor allowed the misanthrope to get around the inevitable self-loathing.) A tender misanthrope believes mankind is corrupt, flawed, and generally rotten, but with the proper people providing the proper examples and the proper guidance, they can be made 'good' - whatever good is. Ryan is clearly a tender misanthrope, identified by his insistence that he's going to change others, and by his complete lack of a sense of humor. 
12-11-08 | 09:56 AM
#137
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
A better question is why were so many people saying "Go for it!" when Ryan was proposing something that was obviously unworkable. He had too little time, lacked the proper equipment, lacked sufficient funds, lacked experience, had unsuitable weather, insufficient daylight, and on and on.
When Ryan first introduced himself and his grand quest, there was enough time. This being the touring forum, I assumed he knew enough about touring to either have the necessary equipment or at least know what it was. Riding to the inauguration was not, at that time, impossible.
If Ryan had stopped by my house that day, I could have lent him nearly everything I thought he needed; and after hanging out with him for a little while, I might well have done so. As for the things he thought he needed, well, I have already addressed that. Had I known then what I know now, I might have responded differently. Indeed, if things were different, things would be different.
12-11-08 | 10:05 AM
#138
Guest
Posts: n/a
Please don't insult me by comparing me to this kid. I'm a doer.
* That said, I did accept lodging from Spinnaker on the first night.
12-11-08 | 10:08 AM
#139
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,037
Likes: 827
From: Tallahassee, FL
Bikes: Several
A better question is why were so many people saying "Go for it!" when Ryan was proposing something that was obviously unworkable. He had too little time, lacked the proper equipment, lacked sufficient funds, lacked experience, had unsuitable weather, insufficient daylight, and on and on.
We didn't and still don't know his financial status (not that we should).
Others have started off with little or no experience and succeeded. Remember RobbyKills, the guy who wanted to carry a machete for protection and did a full coast to coast trip picking his route as he went. He had a very successful trip.
I think Ryan had more lead time than we did when we did out TA. We did own camping gear and had a wealth of outdoor and camping experience, but others have succeeded without any. It really doesn't take much planning, but leaving on a xc tour where you will need to camp without having panniers, sleeping bag, and tent lined up is a recipe for failure. He could have spent some of the time and money devoted to web development on that. Even buying new, it is possible to find a serviceable tent, sleeping pad and bag, and panniers for $300 or so.
It wasn't/isn't all that unreasonable of a goal. It is definitely possible.
12-11-08 | 10:57 AM
#141
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,955
Likes: 10
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
Bikes: 2009 Chris Boedeker custom; 2007 Bill Davidson custom; 2021 Bill Davidson custom gravel bike; 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike
I would, by *I'm* raising money to buy a seat in the U.S. Senate. I'll let you know how it goes.
12-11-08 | 11:05 AM
#143
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
12-11-08 | 11:13 AM
#144
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
You know what Ryan's quest reminded me of? When I was in college a buddy and I cooked up a crazy scheme to cycle across the country and have the whole thing subsidized by a certain fast food chain. We figured, make a map that shows all their locations, and pick a route that connected the maximum number of the dots, and eat nothing but their food --free, of course-- all the way across the country. This was 20 years before the words "supersize me!" meant anything. We never even got as far as proposing it to the company, and I'm glad... but what a long, strange trip it would have been!
12-11-08 | 11:15 AM
#145
Arsehole
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 1
17 days until our 2nd anniversary. w00t!
(She isn't as young as she looks, btw. [35] I've been accused to trying to pass off my daughter as my wife a few times - I don't have a daughter. I guess it's more noticeable because I'm 40, fat, and grey.
)
(She isn't as young as she looks, btw. [35] I've been accused to trying to pass off my daughter as my wife a few times - I don't have a daughter. I guess it's more noticeable because I'm 40, fat, and grey.
)
12-11-08 | 11:19 AM
#146
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Oh, I'm so glad this thread is starting to make sense again!
You know what Ryan's quest reminded me of? When I was in college a buddy and I cooked up a crazy scheme to cycle across the country and have the whole thing subsidized by a certain fast food chain. We figured, make a map that shows all their locations, and pick a route that connected the maximum number of the dots, and eat nothing but their food --free, of course-- all the way across the country. This was 20 years before the words "supersize me!" meant anything. We never even got as far as proposing it to the company, and I'm glad... but what a long, strange trip it would have been!
You know what Ryan's quest reminded me of? When I was in college a buddy and I cooked up a crazy scheme to cycle across the country and have the whole thing subsidized by a certain fast food chain. We figured, make a map that shows all their locations, and pick a route that connected the maximum number of the dots, and eat nothing but their food --free, of course-- all the way across the country. This was 20 years before the words "supersize me!" meant anything. We never even got as far as proposing it to the company, and I'm glad... but what a long, strange trip it would have been!
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
12-11-08 | 11:20 AM
#147
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,955
Likes: 10
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
Bikes: 2009 Chris Boedeker custom; 2007 Bill Davidson custom; 2021 Bill Davidson custom gravel bike; 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike
You know what Ryan's quest reminded me of? When I was in college a buddy and I cooked up a crazy scheme to cycle across the country and have the whole thing subsidized by a certain fast food chain. We figured, make a map that shows all their locations, and pick a route that connected the maximum number of the dots, and eat nothing but their food --free, of course-- all the way across the country.
https://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...0/3282859.html
12-11-08 | 11:29 AM
#149
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Your idea was stolen - you should demand royalties.
https://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...0/3282859.html
https://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...0/3282859.html
Maybe it's not such a crazy idea after all... it'd be like a 4000 mile pub crawl, but without the beer. Anyone want to join me for, say, next summer?
12-11-08 | 11:30 AM
#150
Guest
Posts: n/a
Your idea was stolen - you should demand royalties.
https://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...0/3282859.html
https://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...0/3282859.html
Last edited by Neil_B; 12-11-08 at 12:01 PM.