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Uhh, what's a cyclist?

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Uhh, what's a cyclist?

Old 07-06-20, 12:40 AM
  #51  
Bill in VA
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Originally Posted by General Geoff
Anyone riding a bike is a cyclist, just as anyone driving a car is a motorist.

Cycling enthusiasts are a much smaller subset of cyclists as a whole, just as car enthusiasts are a small subset of motorists. The only rule to be considered an enthusiast is that you need enthusiasm or passion for it.
I agree. Unfortunately the media will frequently call motorcyclists and bicyclists, by the generic term cyclists and/or bikers (often in the same article) when reporting accidents, thefts, or any negatives. But then do they really have a clue?
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Old 07-06-20, 02:25 AM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Anything that ends with an ism is cultish and leads to fanatical set of beliefs and behaviour.
Capitalism...
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Old 07-06-20, 02:47 AM
  #53  
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The only good labels are the ones with which we label ourselves.

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Old 07-06-20, 04:18 AM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Anything that ends with an ism is cultish and leads to fanatical set of beliefs and behaviour.
Cynicism? Optimism? Skepticism?

My cultish metabolism?
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Old 07-06-20, 04:49 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by Reynolds
There are cyclists. And then there are Serious Cyclists™.
You forgot "Cyclist Shaped Object".
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Old 07-06-20, 05:39 AM
  #56  
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The dude riding the wrong direction in the bike lane in the dark with no lights, helmet not strapped on and looking at his phone while riding no hands is a person on a bike (with a suicide wish). Grandma riding her trike being careful still makes cyclist. The commitment is there, whether it is exercise or the way to get to the store. That said, there are a lot of people on bikes, and also a lot of cyclists. You don't need to ride in a club, with a $5000 aero road bike with Lycra to be a cyclist, though they definitely are part of the group. That said, I mostly ride road with Lycra, though you might see me and the wife out on our cruisers in my shorts and a t (somewhere I did not get the letter stating men over 50 must spend the summer shirtless!).
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Old 07-06-20, 05:58 AM
  #57  
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Uhh, what's a cyclist?
Originally Posted by rosefarts
Seems to be some confusion about this one.
Originally Posted by shelbyfv
This thread would be considered beyond lame even in the dead of winter. Here it is July. The pandemic is destroying all standards.
Originally Posted by Reynolds
There are cyclists. And then there are Serious Cyclists™.
Originally Posted by MattTheHat
How many pages before this thread turns into a ping pong exchange of insults and then gets locked? I’m guessing 6 pages.
OK, OK, after this thread gets closed you can take your arguments outside.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I previously posted to this current thread with a similar theme, on the Fifty-Plus Forum, ”Bike Lovers vs Bike Snobs”.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
This thread seems based on a "holier-than-thou" mentality, not unlike these two previous threads:
˅˅˅˅

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 07-06-20 at 06:05 AM.
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Old 07-06-20, 05:58 AM
  #58  
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˄˄˄˄




(Courtesy of @BobbyG)

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 07-06-20 at 06:04 AM.
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Old 07-06-20, 06:52 AM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by Reynolds
There are cyclists. And then there are Serious Cyclists™.
I just yesterday posted about my validation as a Serious Cyclist.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
”Do you really enjoy riding a bike?”

I describe my riding experience similarly, as a cycling lifestyle (of 40 years). I once listed as my credentials: a carbon fiber bike, year-round cycle-commuting, a cross-country tour, and a serious car-bike accident.

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 07-09-20 at 04:40 AM.
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Old 07-06-20, 08:19 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
˄˄˄˄




(Courtesy of @BobbyG)
AND she has her brakes set up right-front/left-rear (ie, properly) - I think I'm in love....
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Old 07-06-20, 08:53 AM
  #61  
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cyclists wear lycra. bike riders do not
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Old 07-06-20, 11:12 AM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
This thread would be considered beyond lame even in the dead of winter. Here it is July. The pandemic is destroying all standards.
Standards? What standards? That everyone should spend all their time discussing the technical minutia of cycling, focused on being the smartest or most knowledgeable guy around, discussing the latest trends and amenities, making every possible effort to present yourself as a bona fide serious cyclist? What I like to call pissing contests?

Not addressing you specifically, Shelby, but mostly the general demographic here that thinks this way. It’s one of the reasons there’s so much hostility around these forums because too many people have their pride at stake in their postings. I don’t expect this pattern to change just because of my criticisms, but a good, lite hearted thread comes along much too infrequently now days. Just saying.

Good job, OP.
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See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
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Old 07-06-20, 03:01 PM
  #63  
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What's the difference between a serious cyclist and an elitist ??
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Old 07-06-20, 03:25 PM
  #64  
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Anyone, any time, any where, any age, on any bike!!!!
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Old 07-06-20, 03:26 PM
  #65  
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Anyone, any time, any where, any age, on any bike!!!!
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Old 07-06-20, 03:32 PM
  #66  
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Now---------------does a cyclist wear a helmet, and what does he lube his chain with?
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Old 07-06-20, 03:34 PM
  #67  
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But what about tricyclists? Or is triclists?
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Old 07-06-20, 09:05 PM
  #68  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
What's the difference between a serious cyclist and an elitist ??
It depends...
I've heard people calling someone a serious cyclist because they wore a helmet
others because they used clipless pedals
others because they commuted in all weather
others won't call someone a serious cyclist if their FTP is below 300W, or their sprint is below 1000W...
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Old 07-06-20, 10:26 PM
  #69  
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What if you really just don’t give a ___ what people think?

John
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Old 07-07-20, 03:16 AM
  #70  
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And is it possible to be a professional bike rider while not being a cyclist?

For example, bike couriers/messengers ride bikes for money, but rarely wear lycra, at least from what I've seen. Not to mention mountain bikers apart from XC riders and BMX racers.
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Old 07-07-20, 04:23 AM
  #71  
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Old 07-07-20, 05:41 AM
  #72  
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I think there are enough people trying to divide us these days without threads such as this.

I understand that xenophobia and setting in-group vs out-group boundaries are part of human nature, but they are hardly admirable characteristics. We should be trying to overcome these tendencies, we shouldn't be pandering to them. I suggest thinking of people, all people, as people. Personally I'm far from perfect at this, but it's amazing how much such a simple change can shift your attitudes.
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Old 07-07-20, 07:19 AM
  #73  
rosefarts
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Originally Posted by noimagination
I think there are enough people trying to divide us these days without threads such as this.

I understand that xenophobia and setting in-group vs out-group boundaries are part of human nature, but they are hardly admirable characteristics. We should be trying to overcome these tendencies, we shouldn't be pandering to them. I suggest thinking of people, all people, as people. Personally I'm far from perfect at this, but it's amazing how much such a simple change can shift your attitudes.
Are you sure you have no imagination? Cause you just jumped the mother effing shark.
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Old 07-07-20, 07:45 AM
  #74  
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I'm not sure what you mean, since I don't see how the idiom applies here (there's that lack of imagination rearing its ugly head).

Can I take from your comment that you mean that my post ridiculously exaggerates the significance of the original post and the effects of attempting to define cyclist vs not-cyclist?

If no, can you explain?
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Old 07-07-20, 07:49 AM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by noimagination
I think there are enough people trying to divide us these days without threads such as this.

I understand that xenophobia and setting in-group vs out-group boundaries are part of human nature, but they are hardly admirable characteristics. We should be trying to overcome these tendencies, we shouldn't be pandering to them. I suggest thinking of people, all people, as people. Personally I'm far from perfect at this, but it's amazing how much such a simple change can shift your attitudes.
I've seen that sort of appeal at every forum or message board I've ever been a part of over the last 20+ years. Not that the sentiment isn't worthy. But no matter what the hobby, sport, or subject matter may be, there is no way that all people that enjoy a similar sport will ever be fully united. It gets even worse when politics and religion get introduced into that hobby, sport, or subject matter.

So many people on this earth and so many subdivisions.

Edit to add: Yeah that was negative, probably because I haven't ridden a bike today. Riding cheers me up. I'll see if I can do something about that soon.

Last edited by FiftySix; 07-07-20 at 08:03 AM.
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