Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Tour de-france type of riders, what's their deal?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Tour de-france type of riders, what's their deal?

Old 05-06-21, 11:50 AM
  #1  
PimpMan
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 106
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
Tour de-france type of riders, what's their deal?

I call them "wanna be tour de-france riders" i see every day a few who dress fancy expensive riding clothes and ride bikes that cost more than grand and ride as if they trying to set world record in speed, (often are running trough red light).

They all are skinny and probably would be fast riding any bike, but when they invest in lighter bikes this get's them even faster.

Never understood this what this riders are all about, are they try to set world record in speed or something, i doubt that they ever will participating in any cycling sport events.

I know there's such thing as bicycle industry and marketing that popularize this, e.g. fishing industry for example and if you go to fishing store you see thousands of lures, hooks, and different types fancy rods when in reality do you really need to make it so complicated to catch a fish?

I know this is also some kind of popularized thing, but what is it all about?
PimpMan is offline  
Likes For PimpMan:
Old 05-06-21, 11:54 AM
  #2  
pdlamb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,846

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2575 Post(s)
Liked 1,900 Times in 1,192 Posts
Is your point that some people dress differently than you, or that they ride faster than you do?
pdlamb is online now  
Old 05-06-21, 12:01 PM
  #3  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,810

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times in 3,262 Posts
They just like doing something in a manner that you don't. Not much different than anything else. Are we all supposed to act the same and do the same as each other?

Not that I don't understand partly. We had a organized group ride last Saturday and had three or four pacelines of not quite a dozen riders each blow by us like we were standing still. Some of those dropping off the front seemed to miss me by about 3 inches which was a tad annoying.

But why should I be concerned that they don't ride as slow as me?
Iride01 is offline  
Likes For Iride01:
Old 05-06-21, 12:13 PM
  #4  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
I call them "wanna be tour de-france riders" i see every day a few who dress fancy expensive riding clothes and ride bikes that cost more than grand and ride as if they trying to set world record in speed, (often are running trough red light).

They all are skinny and probably would be fast riding any bike, but when they invest in lighter bikes this get's them even faster.

Never understood this what this riders are all about, are they try to set world record in speed or something, i doubt that they ever will participating in any cycling sport events.

I know there's such thing as bicycle industry and marketing that popularize this, e.g. fishing industry for example and if you go to fishing store you see thousands of lures, hooks, and different types fancy rods when in reality do you really need to make it so complicated to catch a fish?

I know this is also some kind of popularized thing, but what is it all about?
(Giving this post the benefit of the doubt that it is not a troll post.)

Why do you doubt that they race?
caloso is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:14 PM
  #5  
Trakhak
Senior Member
 
Trakhak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,338
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,886 Times in 1,646 Posts
Which sports should adults be allowed to participate in? Pie-eating contests?
Trakhak is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:17 PM
  #6  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,824

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,764 Times in 1,725 Posts
Originally Posted by Trakhak
Which sports should adults be allowed to participate in? Pie-eating contests?
Sign me up!!!!!!
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:19 PM
  #7  
bOsscO
bOsscO
 
bOsscO's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 748

Bikes: 2015 Norco Search S1, 93 Mongoose IBOC COMP

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 292 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times in 211 Posts
We just watched 'Stand by Me' with our 12-y/o son and I forgot about the pie-eating contest scene. Classic.
bOsscO is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:23 PM
  #8  
surak
Senior Member
 
surak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,949

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 871 Post(s)
Liked 725 Times in 436 Posts
Can't believe the OP missed the obvious answer that every non-cyclist yelling out of a car knows: they're all Lance wannabes.
surak is offline  
Likes For surak:
Old 05-06-21, 12:30 PM
  #9  
smashndash
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
Well... you've certainly come to the right place.

I'd say don't knock it until you've tried it. Riding in a big group with a bunch of strong guys (and gals) all riding very expensive bikes and wearing expensive clothes is a lot of fun. I'm gonna go do it this weekend

You seem to be upset that there exist people who are more passionate, more physically capable and perhaps more wealthy than you. I'd say that you probably have things in your life that you are uniquely passionate about or that you are significantly better than average at. If not... what exactly are you doing out here? Were you born to work, raise ungrateful kids, and die? Maybe try having some fun. It'll take an inordinate amount of time, money and energy, but maybe you'll do something one day that makes you glad you were born.
smashndash is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:31 PM
  #10  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,290 Times in 7,228 Posts
Originally Posted by Trakhak
Which sports should adults be allowed to participate in? Pie-eating contests?
Depends. What flavor pie?
indyfabz is offline  
Likes For indyfabz:
Old 05-06-21, 12:31 PM
  #11  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times in 1,439 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
fancy expensive riding clothes
bikes that cost more than grand
ride as if they trying to set world record in speed
They all are skinny
i doubt that they ever will participating in any cycling sport events.
what is it all about?
Seems like it's mostly about you making assumptions and judgments about people doing things they like to do.

No one owes you an explanation or cares about your approval.
Rolla is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:32 PM
  #12  
PimpMan
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 106
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by Trakhak
Which sports should adults be allowed to participate in?
Does this sport has a name i can read about because i never heard of it.

This actually brings me to the second point i forgot to make - when one is riding for health, not to compete with others.

Whats the actual difference if one ride light bicycle fast with many speeds vs one rides heavier bicycle slower speed, IMO at the end of the day person with heavier bicycle puts more effort into pedaling...

Last edited by PimpMan; 05-06-21 at 12:38 PM.
PimpMan is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:35 PM
  #13  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,290 Times in 7,228 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
That's the question i have what sport is it? Does it have a name?
Cycling.

/thread
indyfabz is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:39 PM
  #14  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times in 1,439 Posts
This you?

Originally Posted by PimpMan
i get owned numerous times going from stop light by people riding tiny BMX with 20" wheels.
Rolla is offline  
Likes For Rolla:
Old 05-06-21, 12:40 PM
  #15  
Trakhak
Senior Member
 
Trakhak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,338
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,886 Times in 1,646 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
Does this sport has a name i can read about because i never heard of it.
It's called toasting:



Trakhak is offline  
Likes For Trakhak:
Old 05-06-21, 12:51 PM
  #16  
Bearhawker
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Posts: 311

Bikes: '23 Devinci Hatchet Carbon Apex1 '19 Norco Bigfoot 6.1 ,'12 Motobecane Turino (killed by dog crash), '12 Trek 3700 Disc

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 74 Posts
My neighbour has a Nascar decal on his car.

He doesn't race.

Who do I report him to?
Bearhawker is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:51 PM
  #17  
fredlord
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 226
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 144 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times in 70 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
Whats the actual difference if one ride light bicycle fast with many speeds vs one rides heavier bicycle slower speed, IMO at the end of the day person with heavier bicycle puts more effort into pedaling...
If you scroll down the General Cycling Discussion page a little you'll find a whole thread dedicated to just such a discussion.
fredlord is offline  
Likes For fredlord:
Old 05-06-21, 12:54 PM
  #18  
Trakhak
Senior Member
 
Trakhak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,338
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,886 Times in 1,646 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
Whats the actual difference if one ride light bicycle fast with many speeds vs one rides heavier bicycle slower speed, IMO at the end of the day person with heavier bicycle puts more effort into pedaling...
You're a bit behind in the "What's up with . . . ?" schedule: a thread on precisely that topic in roughly the same words was reintroduced (as usual in the spring) a week ago and is percolating along nicely.

Several other perennial favorites are currently available, though, including "Why don't Tour-de-France-type riders wave back when I wave at them?" and "Why do people waste money buying bikes more expensive/less expensive than mine?" and "Don't spend money on expensive bikes! Losing body weight is free!"
Trakhak is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 12:59 PM
  #19  
PimpMan
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 106
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by Trakhak
Ahha this image is so false, its someone on steroids or hormones.

Although i get the point you are trying to make, i get compliments for my legs beefy many times and its mostly due to circling.

Of course if you put big legs on "Ectomorph" body type (most fast riders are) this would look disproportionate to the rest of his skinny body.


Originally Posted by Trakhak
You're a bit behind in the "What's up with . . . ?" schedule: a thread on precisely that topic in roughly the same words was reintroduced (as usual in the spring) a week ago and is percolating along nicely.

Several other perennial favorites are currently available, though, including "Why don't Tour-de-France-type riders wave back when I wave at them?" and "Why do people waste money buying bikes more expensive/less expensive than mine?" and "Don't spend money on expensive bikes! Losing body weight is free!"
Thanks this best laugh i had in a while.

Last edited by PimpMan; 05-06-21 at 01:04 PM.
PimpMan is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 01:03 PM
  #20  
msu2001la
Senior Member
 
msu2001la's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,870
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1455 Post(s)
Liked 1,477 Times in 867 Posts
I'm more of a "wanna be Giro" type of rider, myself.
msu2001la is offline  
Old 05-06-21, 01:15 PM
  #21  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times in 1,439 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
Does this sport has a name i can read about because i never heard of it.
Apparently, the sport is called circling.

Originally Posted by pimpman
i get compliments for my legs beefy many times and its mostly due to circling.
Rolla is offline  
Likes For Rolla:
Old 05-06-21, 01:16 PM
  #22  
Eric F 
Habitual User
 
Eric F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,797

Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4834 Post(s)
Liked 7,826 Times in 3,707 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
Does this sport has a name i can read about because i never heard of it.
Bicycle racing. The Tour de France - as you referenced in your thread title - is one example of a bicycle racing event. There are many, and quite a lot of variety of different types.

Originally Posted by PimpMan
This actually brings me to the second point i forgot to make - when one is riding for health, not to compete with others.
It is possible to do both.

Originally Posted by PimpMan
Whats the actual difference if one ride light bicycle fast with many speeds vs one rides heavier bicycle slower speed, IMO at the end of the day person with heavier bicycle puts more effort into pedaling...
This is false. The weight of your bicycle doesn't change your effort. Weight (among other factors) will change how fast you go with that effort.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Eric F is online now  
Old 05-06-21, 01:18 PM
  #23  
HTupolev
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,261
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1971 Post(s)
Liked 1,297 Times in 629 Posts
Originally Posted by PimpMan
I call them "wanna be tour de-france riders"
This says a lot more about you than about them.

They all are skinny and probably would be fast riding any bike, but when they invest in lighter bikes this get's them even faster.

Never understood this what this riders are all about
Riding a performant bike in good working order is fun. Non-flappy clothing is fun.

are they try to set world record in speed or something
No, if they were trying to maximize speed they'd be on TT bikes. Or recumbents. Or, really, a motorcycle. If they're on a road bike, they probably just like road riding on road bikes.

i doubt that they ever will participating in any cycling sport events.
Why?

I know this is also some kind of popularized thing, but what is it all about?
People doing what they like doing.

Originally Posted by PimpMan
Does this sport has a name i can read about because i never heard of it.
Cycling?

This actually brings me to the second point i forgot to make - when one is riding for health, not to compete with others.
What makes you think they're riding for health, or that health and competition are mutually exclusive reasons to be riding?

Whats the actual difference if one ride light bicycle fast with many speeds vs one rides heavier bicycle slower speed, IMO at the end of the day person with heavier bicycle puts more effort into pedaling...
If I'm trying to ride fast, and I get on a faster bike, it doesn't make things any easier. I just go faster.
HTupolev is offline  
Likes For HTupolev:
Old 05-06-21, 01:18 PM
  #24  
skidder
Pennylane Splitter
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,873

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1750 Post(s)
Liked 1,422 Times in 973 Posts
Did someone say 'pie?'

Those guys on the spendy bikes with matching kit don't bother me except when individually or a group racing down the local MUP, taking up the entire path with no regard to anyone else, and when blowing through stop signs and red lights on city streets. I always hope karma will catch up with those stop sign/red light runners; 'bummer you got clobbered by that car, but you totally blew through that stop sign".
skidder is offline  
Likes For skidder:
Old 05-06-21, 01:20 PM
  #25  
big chainring 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wilmette, IL
Posts: 7,318
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 746 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times in 347 Posts
"Never understood this what this riders are all about, are they try to set world record in speed or something, i doubt that they ever will participating in any cycling sport events".
I'm with you OP. Although in my neck of the woods there are quite a few old timers, such as myself, that raced at high levels back in the day and just can't give it up. We gotta keep going at it even when we're overweight and slow.
big chainring is offline  
Likes For big chainring:

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.