70sSanO

As forums go, BF is pretty benign; although the General and Mechanics can get a bit testy. But like all specific topic forums, most of those who are members are enthusiasts. I have spent my life as a Jack of all trades and master of none. It is based on what my Mom told me years ago when I was a teenager and moping that of all the friends I knew I was not the best at anything. She said that I should be thankful to be able to do a lot of things well enough to enjoy them. At a couple weeks from turning 72, that is what I did. My life is littered with, "That looks like fun."

As for a casual/club rider, I'm much too competitive to just ride along aimlessly, but I'm also no where close to being dedicated enough to pursue lofty performance goals. From the time I was a kid I would go all out for a couple of hours at any sport or activity. So I am probably more of a casual athlete. But I also like the technical aspect of things, so I turn my own wrenches.

My greatest admiration is for those who will pack their lives onto a bike and ride for days unsupported to wherever their heart's desire.

Everyone can find their own lane and as long as they are enjoying that lane there is not a lot more that can be asked. And for those who are striving to improve, more power to them.

John

john m flores 

I've always thought that introverts (and only children) are overrepresented in the riding community, as it does not require teammates like most of the major ball sports.

Biker395 

I commuted for 20+ years every day, so a lot of my riding was alone. Weekends, I rode in casual groups. Not generally a bike club, just like minded people who wanted to ride in the mountains .... typically a very friendly group with a wide range of abilities.

I only recently went on Strava, and I did that because my kids bought me an iWatch so they would get notified in a crash. The iWatch makes it super easy to keep track of rides. I'm not sure why I even bother uploading rides ... but one thing for sure, the fact that it is a simple single button operation is a big part of it.

I don't ride with a Garmin or other handlebar mounted GPS. These days, I don't even have a speedo/odo on the bike. I guess the information one would provide would be useful, but I'm not keen on adding another thing to the bike that requires recharging.

I've done a lot of endurance races .. even won my age division once. But I'm not fast, and I do endurance races more for the camaraderie and adventure. Finishing is the goal.

I was lucky enough to do RAW and RAAM. I think we placed first in our age group in RAW and in the middle of our age group in RAAM. Again, it was about having fun. There are LOTS of people faster than I ever was.

I've belonged to a few local bike clubs, mostly because I liked them and wanted to support them.

I've done a bunch of supported tours. I think they are my favorite.

So I'm not sure I fit into the club rider, casual rider, or what. I've just gravitated to ride with people who do rides like me.

One thing I have learned is that cycling is a broad activity. It means different things to different people ... ranging from casual weekend strand cruisers to semi-pro calorie counting professionally trained racers. It's all good to me. There is a lot of room on the cycling bus.

rsbob 

As an introverted, only child I take great offense and defense at this statement of almost (alternative?) fact. Since my parents moved constantly, my only constant ‘peers’ were adults. Thus I pursued solo sports for the most part - skiing, tennis, track and general fitness running, hiking and of course cycling. The only real ‘team’ sport I participated in was soccer. I don’t count tennis team and the ski team as real teams, since it was always a solo effort.

As a retiree, who is able to ride any time, especially mid-week, I see quite a few other solo riders, mostly males. A few are of retirement age and others are 40s-50s, perhaps retired or flex-hours types. I only really see group rides on weekends when the middle-aged working people can get together. Even on the weekends, 90% of the people riding even in more populous areas are also solo. Perhaps one of the great appealing aspects of the sport is that it only takes one to tango.

Only child, perhaps. Introverted, perhaps not.

Now I really need to get back to analyzing my performance stats.

Trakhak

You do an excellent job of championing their cause, though.

ofajen

You may be cool, but you’re not “Jenny Graham, rode unsupported around the world in 124 days, slept in ditches and set the world record” cool. 😊

Otto

70sSanO

No offense intended, but I don’t tour so I have no idea what “You may be cool” means.

But I still admire anyone who does.

John

ofajen

Never mind. Just supposed to be funny.

Otto

70sSanO

No problem. Just didn’t follow it.

John

Trakhak

I read it as both a compliment to you and a shout-out to Jenny Graham (which I appreciated, having never heard of her).

Wildwood 

If one wants to exercise for cardio (balance, leg strength, endurance) it might as well be an activity so easy on the joints it can be a lifetime participatory sport.

besides, too much fun to NOT get out and ride.
Show the duds.

Enjoy the road

Smile at Nature

And my Pinarello takes me to amazing places and allows me to be a part of marvelous things.

rsbob 

To cool for school!

rsbob 

Ah the infamous Kalakala. Wonder if it is still on Lake Union or has been turned into tuna cans.

seedsbelize2

My experience has been generally unpleasant when riding with groups. All that chattering, and shouting ‘car back’ all the lime. And the waving of the arms pointing out holes and other obstructions.

Wildwood 

I occasionally like to sing, whistle and think deep. Not good at any of them, nor conversation. Who wants to go riding?

Fredo76

My little town has no clubs, nor even a LBS, so almost all my rides are solo. Wouldn't mind a riding buddy, but have little interest in bigger group rides, really. I'm way slower than I used to be in my youth, and less skilled as well. I do huff and puff while riding by myself - to actually slow down and take it easy and enjoy the scenery is something I have to remind myself is OK sometimes. But I hate being hurried and waited for, only to have the waiting riders rush off immediately, so it's probably just as well.

big john

Do you ever see other people riding while you are out?

Fredo76

On occasion, sure, but it's not a big cycling town, so not many. There is one gal I'd like to meet - maybe one of these days...

t2p

lol - you’ve described group rides I’ve often been a part of

that stuff never bothered me

t2p

I met mrs t2p via cycling

I did a short run one early evening and returned to a parking lot where I met some bike friends that had just returned from their bike ride .. and the future mrs t2p finished her bike ride and was parked near us

could say it was love at first bike

Trav1s

I'm 51 and got back into cycling in my late 40's because I needed an outlet from a very taxing and people-y job so I rode alone. I have changed jobs several times since then and still need my space so I ride alone. I do occassionally ride with a college friend (local MTB trails) but paved trails are my happy space and I'm happy to be alone. I do some local rides with my wife and 9 year old daughter but those are about the ride. My daughter will also go out with me some but we are working on the sore bottom issue (new saddle in the spring) so I am hoping she'll take some longer destination rides with me in 2024.

I have a competitive streak that surfaces at times but it's about being in tune with my body and beating my previous best a few seconds at a time. Frankly, I'm just happy to ride and don't care what anyone else thinks. I don't care of they think my hybrid with fenders and a rack looks odd or if the notice the full 105 upgrade it received...

freeranger

I was riding with a group, but stopped some time ago. Rather than lengthy explanation, see post #2.

Trakhak

I've never understood this tendency to assume that riders are going around judging others by their bikes. It happens with cars, probably, but bikes---not in my experience.

Most riders, I would guess, admire people who are on bikes that are clearly set up for touring, errand running, etc. It's possible, I suppose, that some guys with expensive bikes judge others with bikes that are almost but not quite as expensive, but even imagining that is a struggle. Thinking otherwise might simply be projecting.

Trav1s

I agree that most are in the first group. I also have encounterd hard core cycling people that are very similar to the hardcore car guys. The parallels are incredible...

In either arena, I'm from the "I researched, I built it, and I enjoy it" school. Often people ask why and my response is simply because I can and I enjoy it. My Quick 1 is an example of this as is the Subaru Outback XT that sits in the garage...

john m flores 

IDK, there's a lot of groupthink and conformity in the more sportive cycling groups that I've encountered. Some of it is understandable, i.e., lycra and slim fit riding gear are more aero. I've mostly ridden solo but for years I considered myself part of the sporty crowd. But now that I'm older and slower and more likely to have a bag or two on my non drop bar bike and wear non-aero clothes, I've encountered sporting cyclists who've basically ignored my friendly hello and wave.

And there's a reason why the whole mountain bike scene grew the way it did, as a counterculture to the stereotypical conformist roadie. And in a lot of ways it's still like that.

Not that it bothers me - I'm too old for that crap and have always been independently-minded. But I do think it's there.