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The utility cycling 'image'
It seems to me like the utility cycing crowd don't appear to be too interested in image but are definitely more interested in function - function over form.... but sometimes I get the impression that we seem al little too disinterested in image, in fact I will come right out and say that some seem to cultivate the utility cyclist image and go out of their way to do so, to the point of casting scorn and derision on the non-utilitarians that 'don't get it'. That puts us on par with the lycra clad obsessive compulsive poseur roadies, except we're obsessive compulsive utilitarians, and even worse because of the 'holier than thou' attitude we try to project.
....feel free to discuss. Refute my observation if you like. |
Utility is utility - it is not fashion. Having said that, there are snobs, poseurs, inverse snobs etc. in any group or category of people, so I guess utility cyclists are the same.
As for your observations - were they from bikeforums? Any illustrative threads you could point out? |
Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
(Post 5679281)
...some seem to cultivate the utility cyclist image and go out of their way to do so, to the point of casting scorn and derision on the non-utilitarians that 'don't get it'. ...and even worse because of the 'holier than thou' attitude we try to project.
I think your first statement of utility cyclists being in it for the function is correct. I think we do what we think works and leave it at that. Never gotten the picture that any utility cyclist had a "holier than thou" attitude. Depends on if you consider a utlity cyclist also an anti-car individual... |
Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
(Post 5679281)
sometimes I get the impression that we seem al little too disinterested in image, in fact I will come right out and say that some seem to cultivate the utility cyclist image and go out of their way to do so, to the point of casting scorn and derision on the non-utilitarians that 'don't get it'. That puts us on par with the lycra clad obsessive compulsive poseur roadies.
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Originally Posted by dwoloz
(Post 5679676)
I don't agree with these assertions and not sure what you're basing it off of.
I think your first statement of utility cyclists being in it for the function is correct. I think we do what we think works and leave it at that. Never gotten the picture that any utility cyclist had a "holier than thou" attitude. Depends on if you consider a utlity cyclist also an anti-car individual...
Originally Posted by cooker
(Post 5679307)
As for your observations - were they from bikeforums? Any illustrative threads you could point out?
I'm just curious to hear the experience of others here, I thought it may be an interesting discussion topic. |
Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
(Post 5684331)
Not from bf.net fortunately, just from around the neighborhood. Just some (a very few) cyclists I see around the place, we greet each other in passing, but I've noticed that the more tereotypically 'utility' I look the friendlier the greeting I get, and when I'm on my flashy road bike I get completely snobbed off by them. In fact I don't think they recognise me when I'm on the road bike, which kind of got me wondering - do they see another human being? a neighbor? a local? as I do, or are they caught up in an 'us and them' thing? I'm only basing my original post on the vibe I get, of course I could be completely off target.
I'm just curious to hear the experience of others here, I thought it may be an interesting discussion topic. |
To me it's like seeing maybe a '57 international with 60's ford lights added to the front, retrofitted with a ferguson hitch, oversized front wheels that come from god knows where, etc. Even if you know nothing about tractors, you can tell that on many levels it's very different from a meticulously kept bone stock '05 Kubota. Ferrari are in another time zone and the very vast majority of "ferrari" around here are **** cars with a body kit, but they're essentially indistinguishable by looks so...
I see a lot of people riding very clean 700c bikes with racks and fenders and all, but it lacks the essence. I rarely ever see their racks used, most don't even have bungee cords or anything either. On the other end, when I see someone riding around who has a bike with all sorts of little details thought out on it, I can tell they've been in it for a long time. But It goes much deeper then the bike: It's like brushing the aura of a cycling god, how could I help but smile? Brought to you by the things that make you go "Hmm" department. |
This would have been an interesting topic to post over in Living Car Free.
I think this issue comes back to something more basic. It's the old "us and them" mentality that seems to be such a feature of human nature. As someone said earlier, there are snobs in any group of people. I often laugh at the suburbanite snobs who get all excited about which suburb a person lives in. It's all the same thing really -- here on the Gold Coast it seems to be all about which side of Burleigh Heads you live on. Heck, even the touring forum had a discussion about whether or not supported touring was "real" touring recently. A lot of the roadies probably stereotype utility cyclists as being "poor", which just feeds the resentment on the other side. In the end, I think it's just to keep people entertained as much as anything else. A quote I hear often suggests that it would be a rather dull world if we were all the same. You can extend that to point out that it's a much more entertaining world if you overstate the differences. |
Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
(Post 5679281)
...in fact I will come right out and say that some seem to cultivate the utility cyclist image and go out of their way to do so, to the point of casting scorn and derision on the non-utilitarians that 'don't get it'. That puts us on par with the lycra clad obsessive compulsive poseur roadies, except we're obsessive compulsive utilitarians, and even worse because of the 'holier than thou' attitude we try to project.
....feel free to discuss. Refute my observation if you like.
Originally Posted by cooker
(Post 5679307)
As for your observations - were they from bikeforums? Any illustrative threads you could point out?
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
(Post 5687654)
See numerous posts on Living Car Free List from some "obsessive compulsive utilitarians" for numerous examples of "holier than thou'" attitude being projected.
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Originally Posted by Chris L
(Post 5685852)
[color=red]This would have been an interesting topic to post over in Living Car Free.
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its the sportscar vs old pickup scenario....look at the jerk in the porsche...lol
my first thought when i see a group of road bikers that look like they're in the tour de bike lane is 'look at the jerk in the porsche'......lmao.....well it was when i was into off-road mtb'n....me and my buddy would make fun of them all the time....not directly TO them, of course they couldnt hear us its all about stereotypes |
Well, here's an image of me utility cycling yesterday. :)
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...r/DSCN0993.jpg |
"Utility" cycling and "Utility" cyclist in North America for the last 100 yrs
have been largely the poor and the odd balls due to the vast number of cars on the roads. In Europe and the rest of the world these same cyclist are viewed as "ordinary folk's" traveling in a "normal" manner. The car culture in North America will take a long time to kill but die it must as the cost to support the infrastructure and fuel issues will make the car to expensive for the masses. These same masses will need mass transport in the form of rail and busses with the road infrastructure modified to accomodate more cyclist than ever before. There will be pain in this change over but it's North America's fault so grin and bear it. For now it will be tough to be on the leading edge of this painful change but it's always that way for folk's on the leading edge of any change. |
Originally Posted by donnamb
(Post 5689254)
Well, here's an image of me utility cycling yesterday. :)
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^^^
Donna is always fully prepared. Besides, it's the cover to her floor stand, rear blinky. |
One should always travel with a lampshade in case a riotous party breaks out...
The utility cyclists I see have looks that range from high tech to low tech and I figure I sit somewhere in the middle of that... One thing I do see is that there is less snobbery among this group of cyclists as we are all out there doing something we see as being important for ourselves and our own little corners of the world ans appreciate other people who are doing the same. I see much more snobbery among extreme road bikers and mountain bikers. |
Originally Posted by cooker
(Post 5689341)
Do you always travel with a lampshade?
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...r/DSCN0951.jpg http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...r/DSCN1020.jpg http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...r/DSCN1014.jpg These are the sorts of utility cycling images that rest in my head. |
Originally Posted by donnamb
(Post 5690067)
Only when someone is moving. My load was pretty light in comparison to some others'.
These are the sorts of utility cycling images that rest in my head. Were you involved in some of those moves? How far did they go? I guess Bailey's trike is not so heavy after all. |
Donna - That is some amazing work and some great pictures.
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That was all one move - and my very first. The Xtreme Bike Move was 12 miles one way, and the longest on Portland record. It was also the largest with 27 people, 26 bikes, and 24 trailers. It was Spokebreaker's move, and I'm hoping he'll start a thread about it once he's somewhat settled into his new place.
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Originally Posted by donnamb
(Post 5690172)
That was all one move - and my very first. The Xtreme Bike Move was 12 miles one way, and the longest on Portland record. It was also the largest with 27 people, 26 bikes, and 24 trailers. It was Spokebreaker's move, and I'm hoping he'll start a thread about it once he's somewhat settled into his new place.
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Originally Posted by 2manybikes
(Post 5690224)
Wow ! Any hills?
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thats so awesome to see everyone get together to help......thx for the pics
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Originally Posted by donnamb
(Post 5690289)
Yes, although the route was planned to avoid really bad ones.
That is impressive !! BTW good photos. |
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