Does my bike really make me a black sheep of the community?
#76
Member
I'll keep the bike and keep tweaking it into various levels of discomfort, and dare anyone to criticize it. :-) I'm thinking of a Brooks saddle at the moment.
gtd
#77
Member
"I did a 6km ride last night which is probably pitiful for most people here, . . . ."
Perish the thought. I sometimes ride circles in my driveway for fun, or through the back yard (road bike) just because. The other day I rode a whole 1.7 miles and actually logged it because . . . well, because.
Just ride and have fun! 60 feet, 100 miles, 1,000 miles it doesn't matter. Just have fun and keep riding. You're already doing just fine.
Perish the thought. I sometimes ride circles in my driveway for fun, or through the back yard (road bike) just because. The other day I rode a whole 1.7 miles and actually logged it because . . . well, because.
Just ride and have fun! 60 feet, 100 miles, 1,000 miles it doesn't matter. Just have fun and keep riding. You're already doing just fine.
#78
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Atlantic Canada
Posts: 10
Bikes: Supercycle Reaction 700c Hybrid
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks again for the kind words guys. And yeah, I think that I've come to the conclusion that if I want to ride with a group and they aren't interested simply because of my choice of bike, I probably wouldn't be missing out on much anyhow.
Also, I totally get that my experience at BW SJ was completely interpretation and is likely very skewed, I'm pretty socially awkward irl so that's part of why I wanted to sanity check my experiences with you guys here on the forums. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
Also, I totally get that my experience at BW SJ was completely interpretation and is likely very skewed, I'm pretty socially awkward irl so that's part of why I wanted to sanity check my experiences with you guys here on the forums. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
#79
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Atlantic Canada
Posts: 10
Bikes: Supercycle Reaction 700c Hybrid
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Oh, also, a few people have said that people tend to usually not fixate on others' bikes and size them up. I got thinking about that, and I guess I sort of assumed that based on my limited exposure to a few cycling enthusiasts at work and also based on how a lot of people act when it comes to building and showing off their
gaming computers for example (I happen to enjoy PC building quite a bit), a lot of people buy flashy stuff just for the bragging rights. Im still really surprised to see how different people seem to treat this sport / hobby versus how a lot of people appear to treat PC building and gaming rigs. Seems like a significantly less 'toxic' community overall (in my own experience of course)
gaming computers for example (I happen to enjoy PC building quite a bit), a lot of people buy flashy stuff just for the bragging rights. Im still really surprised to see how different people seem to treat this sport / hobby versus how a lot of people appear to treat PC building and gaming rigs. Seems like a significantly less 'toxic' community overall (in my own experience of course)
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2236 Post(s)
Liked 1,314 Times
in
707 Posts
Well.. many people do buy expensive bikes just so they can look good, seeking whatever the trend is at the moment to possess the right bling. And some do look down on others because they think the possession represents the person. The cycling world is very much like any other segment of society in that way. But there are also a lot of people who really know the true value of cycling which is the freedom of moving from A-B with little complication or cost, a sense of moving through a landscape while hearing, feeling and smelling it. The reward of well earned sweat and fatigue, the joy of working on and operating simple but elegant machines. The ability to slip between the cracks of urban congestion ... Those are the people to stick with, wherever you find them or whatever genre they inhabit. Often those cyclists can be socially awkward too so you have to give them some time to open up and what we might perceive as arrogance or standoffishness may just be shyness or lack of social finesse.
That's the dad in me speaking I guess. As I get older I find myself giving the world a break more often for not being exactly as I think it ought to be all the time.
Here's a good example of jumping to conclusions:
A while ago I posted in the long distance forum that I had just done a 200km ride, not as part of an official course or event but as my own personal goal. Another person replied that it sounded like I was Just Riding Around.
Just Riding Around! I replied. Well maybe you are some kind of hot shot but I thought it was pretty good etc... Turns out JRA is a term long distance riders use to describe training rides that are not part of sanctioned events. Fortunately I was quick to realize and apologize for jumping to conclusions and the thread ended with all being friendly ha ha! but I could have built a pretty good resentment out of it and left that forum as a bunch of elitist snobs.
Ps. The whole "group" ride thing is over rated IMO. You don't need a group to just ride around
That's the dad in me speaking I guess. As I get older I find myself giving the world a break more often for not being exactly as I think it ought to be all the time.
Here's a good example of jumping to conclusions:
A while ago I posted in the long distance forum that I had just done a 200km ride, not as part of an official course or event but as my own personal goal. Another person replied that it sounded like I was Just Riding Around.
Just Riding Around! I replied. Well maybe you are some kind of hot shot but I thought it was pretty good etc... Turns out JRA is a term long distance riders use to describe training rides that are not part of sanctioned events. Fortunately I was quick to realize and apologize for jumping to conclusions and the thread ended with all being friendly ha ha! but I could have built a pretty good resentment out of it and left that forum as a bunch of elitist snobs.
Ps. The whole "group" ride thing is over rated IMO. You don't need a group to just ride around
Last edited by Happy Feet; 08-28-18 at 11:35 PM.
#82
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,095 Times
in
5,053 Posts
I rode around for about a month on a 50 pound Walmart "Huffy" cruiser last year, and there was nothing funnier than watching people's faces as I passed them on their fancy road bikes. One time, I had to shout "on your left" about 4 times because dad kept telling his teenage son not to bother clearing the left lane because they had passed me before when we were accelerating after a stop sign and there was no way I was going to pass them. I finally forced the issue, and the kid said to his dad "he's going faster than me, just barely, but still...." They never caught up again. It was clear, BTW, that dad was the slower of the two. I'm pretty sure I ruined his day.
#83
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Providence
Posts: 732
Bikes: Specialized tarmac sl2 giant tcx zero
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 319 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
My first legit road bike was a japanese 80s road bike i got for free from the community bike shop . i found a giant hybrid for free . i bought a giant road bike for 60 bucks and a really nice felt for 300 . point is you dont need a bike shop bike to have a great bike . you need a great bike and the understaning to optimize it for your needs usually without spending too much .i most likely will never buy from a bike shop their selection sucks . just go on ebay or cl and find a legit deal .
#84
Newbie
Ride what you have and be happy.
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
"I did a 6km ride last night which is probably pitiful for most people here, . . . ."
Perish the thought. I sometimes ride circles in my driveway for fun, or through the back yard (road bike) just because. The other day I rode a whole 1.7 miles and actually logged it because . . . well, because.
Just ride and have fun! 60 feet, 100 miles, 1,000 miles it doesn't matter. Just have fun and keep riding. You're already doing just fine.
Perish the thought. I sometimes ride circles in my driveway for fun, or through the back yard (road bike) just because. The other day I rode a whole 1.7 miles and actually logged it because . . . well, because.
Just ride and have fun! 60 feet, 100 miles, 1,000 miles it doesn't matter. Just have fun and keep riding. You're already doing just fine.
#86
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 387
Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Specialized Enduro Pro, Lemond Tourmalet
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times
in
94 Posts
Let's hear it for mountain bikes from the 90's on the road! The low-end 1995 GT mountain bike that I've been riding (and wrenching) on the road for the past 23 has not stopped me from being 'part of the community' (whatever that is ;^). I've been too frugal (read cheap) to buy myself anything else, so I ride what I have and it makes me happy.
Ride what you have and be happy.
Ride what you have and be happy.
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 661
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 223 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
106 Posts
Great responses in this thread.
Like most others, ride the bike you have.
But this thread is near and dear to me. My main rode bike is the epitome of budget performance. I went against the entire grain on this bike.
It started out as a Dick's Sporting Goods Nishiki Maricopa. A decent 3x8 budget bike that was recently on sale for $299.
And going completly against the grain and the advice of others, I stripped this bike and bought all new components. And the components? Best of the budget stuff only. Origin8 brakes, crankset, and BB. Microshift Arsis groupset and cassette. Nashbar carbon fork. Chinese carbon seatposts, stems, and handlebars. And Vuelta wheels.
The only thing people would think is decent is my tires, Conti GPs.
The thing is...I don't care. It's 18lbs, costs about $1k all together, and rides like a dream. Keeps up with the A guys, and fits my small size like a glove. It's taken me over 4 years to replace everything, and I'm happy with it.
Like others said, ride with what you have now. Get comfortable riding it, and then maybe borrows a friends bike to compare. If you find another bike to be better, then make your purchase. But always, keep riding!
Like most others, ride the bike you have.
But this thread is near and dear to me. My main rode bike is the epitome of budget performance. I went against the entire grain on this bike.
It started out as a Dick's Sporting Goods Nishiki Maricopa. A decent 3x8 budget bike that was recently on sale for $299.
And going completly against the grain and the advice of others, I stripped this bike and bought all new components. And the components? Best of the budget stuff only. Origin8 brakes, crankset, and BB. Microshift Arsis groupset and cassette. Nashbar carbon fork. Chinese carbon seatposts, stems, and handlebars. And Vuelta wheels.
The only thing people would think is decent is my tires, Conti GPs.
The thing is...I don't care. It's 18lbs, costs about $1k all together, and rides like a dream. Keeps up with the A guys, and fits my small size like a glove. It's taken me over 4 years to replace everything, and I'm happy with it.
Like others said, ride with what you have now. Get comfortable riding it, and then maybe borrows a friends bike to compare. If you find another bike to be better, then make your purchase. But always, keep riding!
#89
Zeke
Go out there and ride whatever you have. Don't worry about the other cyclists. Some will accept you, some will not. Frankly, it doesn't matter.
Get on your bike and ride. Talk to people. Learn from some, ignore the others, discard the useless.
Learn to maintain your own bike and start using craigslist and other used parts outlets. Go to your LBS and look at what they have on the bargain bins and buy what you can use.
Start riding, less worrying.
Get on your bike and ride. Talk to people. Learn from some, ignore the others, discard the useless.
Learn to maintain your own bike and start using craigslist and other used parts outlets. Go to your LBS and look at what they have on the bargain bins and buy what you can use.
Start riding, less worrying.
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,480
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7648 Post(s)
Liked 3,465 Times
in
1,831 Posts
There is actually a set of rules, the Velominati rules, which explains this---if your bike isn't worth more than your car, you are not fit to ride with the rest of us Seeeeerious Cyclists ... so just stay home and don't embarrass yourself and the rest of us.
Some people here seem to take these rules Quite seriously.
(I got around this by buying a Matchbox car for $2.)
Some people here seem to take these rules Quite seriously.
(I got around this by buying a Matchbox car for $2.)
#91
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 7,927
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
i got around it by selling my car in 2008.
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
#92
Cycleway town
I've long never given a stuff what category people wanna pigeonhole my tools and toys in.
My last car was a highly modified 30yo hot hatchback, it was frowned upon by most people yet was faster than most.
My current bike is equally odd, it has huge chrome fenders, cruiser tyres etc but is heavily electric powered, and is a child-back tandem to boot. But hey, it doesnt have a kickstand, so i guess i'm good.
My last car was a highly modified 30yo hot hatchback, it was frowned upon by most people yet was faster than most.
My current bike is equally odd, it has huge chrome fenders, cruiser tyres etc but is heavily electric powered, and is a child-back tandem to boot. But hey, it doesnt have a kickstand, so i guess i'm good.
#93
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 7,927
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
You scratch it up laying it down or against a building?
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
#95
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm in the same situation as the OP and consider myself part of the community. I bought a department store Diamondback hybrid off a co-worker for $50 because he doesn't ride it. The thing is a couple years old but looks brand new. I, too, felt a tad "bike shamed" when taking it to a Performance Bike shop for a safety check and tune-up. "It's way too big for you!" (maybe a little, but I also suspect height alone is not a good way to measure for fit). Can you inspect it please? "Why put money in a bike that doesn't fit?" Well... the $25 seems like a small investment to see how much I'll like it. And on and on it went.
I know myself - I'm impulsive and jump in the deep end with every new/passing hobby. I do not know how often I'll ride, where I'll ride, etc. I'll do things "right" when I'm ready to commit. For now, I'm content to wave to every single other biker out there as they pass me by.
I know myself - I'm impulsive and jump in the deep end with every new/passing hobby. I do not know how often I'll ride, where I'll ride, etc. I'll do things "right" when I'm ready to commit. For now, I'm content to wave to every single other biker out there as they pass me by.
#96
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,095 Times
in
5,053 Posts
I'm in the same situation as the OP and consider myself part of the community. I bought a department store Diamondback hybrid off a co-worker for $50 because he doesn't ride it. The thing is a couple years old but looks brand new. I, too, felt a tad "bike shamed" when taking it to a Performance Bike shop for a safety check and tune-up. "It's way too big for you!" (maybe a little, but I also suspect height alone is not a good way to measure for fit). Can you inspect it please? "Why put money in a bike that doesn't fit?" Well... the $25 seems like a small investment to see how much I'll like it. And on and on it went.
I know myself - I'm impulsive and jump in the deep end with every new/passing hobby. I do not know how often I'll ride, where I'll ride, etc. I'll do things "right" when I'm ready to commit. For now, I'm content to wave to every single other biker out there as they pass me by.
I know myself - I'm impulsive and jump in the deep end with every new/passing hobby. I do not know how often I'll ride, where I'll ride, etc. I'll do things "right" when I'm ready to commit. For now, I'm content to wave to every single other biker out there as they pass me by.
Welcome! Sounds quite sensible. If you do decide to upgrade later, your experience will help inform you what you are looking for. But if it's too big for you to feel like you're in control, that might be somewhat misleading. I'd only be concerned that nervousness with this bike might discourage you from getting in deeper.
Have you ridden it more than a couple miles yet? How's it going?
#97
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Welcome! Sounds quite sensible. If you do decide to upgrade later, your experience will help inform you what you are looking for. But if it's too big for you to feel like you're in control, that might be somewhat misleading. I'd only be concerned that nervousness with this bike might discourage you from getting in deeper.
Have you ridden it more than a couple miles yet? How's it going?
Have you ridden it more than a couple miles yet? How's it going?
#98
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,410
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 850 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times
in
247 Posts
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but one potential reason people may not you to ride your flat bar road bike in their group is because it has flat bars. Flat bars tend to be wider and theoretically easier to get entangled in other people's arms (could be wrong). With drop bars, you can bump elbows and shoulders without issues. Also, your descending capability could be reduced (due to aero, handling and braking reasons) so some may be uncomfortable doing high speed descents with you in the group. If you're not riding shoulder to shoulder and the descents are tame, then it should be fine.
That being said, I've never ever encountered even a hint of elitism ever. Except from bike shops who have an interest in shaming you into spending more.
I've ridden in groups with $13,000 bikes that also had $200 bikes in them. People will ooh and aah if you pull up on an expensive bike, but they're far more likely to respect you if you keep up on your crappy 1970's 10 speed. So, if anything, it's the other way around. Buying an expensive bike puts you on a slightly lower rung because you're buying speed rather than putting in effort. Not that anyone really cares either way. People are just out to have fun.
That being said, I've never ever encountered even a hint of elitism ever. Except from bike shops who have an interest in shaming you into spending more.
I've ridden in groups with $13,000 bikes that also had $200 bikes in them. People will ooh and aah if you pull up on an expensive bike, but they're far more likely to respect you if you keep up on your crappy 1970's 10 speed. So, if anything, it's the other way around. Buying an expensive bike puts you on a slightly lower rung because you're buying speed rather than putting in effort. Not that anyone really cares either way. People are just out to have fun.
#99
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Snobs with more money than sense get some sort of perverse pleasure looking down on other peoples bikes that dont cost as much as theirs.
#100
Senior Member
What does matter to others in the group is how you ride. That is, if you can hold a line, maintain a constant speed, and in general you aren't doing stupid stuff that represent a danger to everyone around you. Speed and what bike you have matter a lot less.