Let's Retire the Term "Gravel Grinder"
#27
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I certainly dont correct people when they call it a seat, but I also only ever call it a saddle.
A seat is something you sit in/on. A saddle is something you sit atop. Recumbent has a seat, diamond frame has a saddle. Yeah maybe its largely a distinction without a difference, but still...
A seat is something you sit in/on. A saddle is something you sit atop. Recumbent has a seat, diamond frame has a saddle. Yeah maybe its largely a distinction without a difference, but still...
#28
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I do not, because they are not called that. I just remember something I learned when I was 9, that language is fascinatingly inconsistent, and move on.
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#29
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I'm fin with gravel grinder as it implies a certain amount of physical and mental exhaustion, typically.
I also can't stand when people say "kit". And for that matter, "jersey" is slightly annoying too. It's just a shirt. Maybe it has funny pockets or a zipper, but at the end of the day it's just a shirt. "Gilet"? It's a freakin vest. You don't need that pretentious nonsense.
Another one that's steadily gaining popularity over the last few years that I abhor is "colorway".
And anyone that says "bidon" can GTFO...
I also can't stand when people say "kit". And for that matter, "jersey" is slightly annoying too. It's just a shirt. Maybe it has funny pockets or a zipper, but at the end of the day it's just a shirt. "Gilet"? It's a freakin vest. You don't need that pretentious nonsense.
Another one that's steadily gaining popularity over the last few years that I abhor is "colorway".
And anyone that says "bidon" can GTFO...
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My Brooks B-17 has more in common with a saddle than a seat. For one thing, it's on my steed.
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#32
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I certainly dont correct people when they call it a seat, but I also only ever call it a saddle.
A seat is something you sit in/on. A saddle is something you sit atop. Recumbent has a seat, diamond frame has a saddle. Yeah maybe its largely a distinction without a difference, but still...
A seat is something you sit in/on. A saddle is something you sit atop. Recumbent has a seat, diamond frame has a saddle. Yeah maybe its largely a distinction without a difference, but still...
#33
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#34
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#35
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As gravel roads are roads, I propose we replace the term "gravel grinder" with the term "road."
Lets rename the skinny tire aero scene.
Speed bikes?
Lets rename the skinny tire aero scene.
Speed bikes?
Last edited by base2; 05-10-22 at 10:25 AM.
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The word "brifter" really grinds my (gravel) gears. Just call it a shifter or a brake lever. I've never understood why people combine this into one made-up word.
"Kit" has never bothered me. Seems like a fine way to describe the variety of coordinated cycling apparel that one wears. I do find it irritating when someone uses the word "bidon" or other Euro specific terms they likely learned from watching the Tour de France, like "groupetto", "musette", "moto" etc.
"Kit" has never bothered me. Seems like a fine way to describe the variety of coordinated cycling apparel that one wears. I do find it irritating when someone uses the word "bidon" or other Euro specific terms they likely learned from watching the Tour de France, like "groupetto", "musette", "moto" etc.
#37
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Ha, groupetto does make me laugh since it is almost entirely either Shimano or SRAM at this point which are distinctly not Italian and not even European. Its a group or grouset. Dont try to church it up, Dirt.
Bidon also makes me chuckle, but I thankfully havent actually heard it spoken. If anyone in Iowa were to say it, there would be some dumbfounded stares.
Bidon also makes me chuckle, but I thankfully havent actually heard it spoken. If anyone in Iowa were to say it, there would be some dumbfounded stares.
#38
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Ha, groupetto does make me laugh since it is almost entirely either Shimano or SRAM at this point which are distinctly not Italian and not even European. Its a group or grouset. Dont try to church it up, Dirt.
Bidon also makes me chuckle, but I thankfully havent actually heard it spoken. If anyone in Iowa were to say it, there would be some dumbfounded stares.
Bidon also makes me chuckle, but I thankfully havent actually heard it spoken. If anyone in Iowa were to say it, there would be some dumbfounded stares.
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#39
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Ha, groupetto does make me laugh since it is almost entirely either Shimano or SRAM at this point which are distinctly not Italian and not even European. Its a group or grouset. Dont try to church it up, Dirt.
Bidon also makes me chuckle, but I thankfully havent actually heard it spoken. If anyone in Iowa were to say it, there would be some dumbfounded stares.
Bidon also makes me chuckle, but I thankfully havent actually heard it spoken. If anyone in Iowa were to say it, there would be some dumbfounded stares.
My favorite is some of my Italian friends refer to CO2 cartridges as bomboletti (little bombs)
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#42
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No such thing as a groupetto perhaps you mean gruppetto? It means 'the laughing group' basically the sprinters and others arriving at the finish just before the time cut. For a component group from any manufacturer it would be gruppo (group) but also Italian fans might also say gruppo to refer to the peloton so depends on the context. Also Italian fans along the road will yell 'Dai! Dai!' which to an English speaker like me sounds like 'Die! Die!' and takes a moment to realize they're saying 'Go! Go!'.
My favorite is some of my Italian friends refer to CO2 cartridges as bomboletti (little bombs)
My favorite is some of my Italian friends refer to CO2 cartridges as bomboletti (little bombs)
I have seen it spelled multiple ways, which is why I typed different versions here.
#43
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Asked and answered, but to say again- I meant Groupo/Grupo/Gruppo/Grouppo. Again, apologies for the confusion as I typed that while sitting on a Teams call and just repeated the term that was used earlier in the thread without thinking.
I have seen it spelled multiple ways, which is why I typed different versions here.
I have seen it spelled multiple ways, which is why I typed different versions here.
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How did niche pavement racing bikes co-opt the all encompassing "road" label? How about Pavement Pushers?
Gravel bikes are just road bikes that don't suck on gravel.
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Hey, that's just a guess.
#46
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Yeah, I figured 'brifter' started back when STI shifters were new to road bikes. Half of a brand's offerings had STI shifting and half had downtube shifting with dedicated brake levers. Why its lasted 30 years?...I guess tradition, but not sure. At this point if someone says 'shifters' the default is they are using levers that both shift and brake. If anyone is using downtube, IGH, or bar ends to shift, the expectation should be that they specify since its so out of the norm.
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Yeah, I figured 'brifter' started back when STI shifters were new to road bikes. Half of a brand's offerings had STI shifting and half had downtube shifting with dedicated brake levers. Why its lasted 30 years?...I guess tradition, but not sure. At this point if someone says 'shifters' the default is they are using levers that both shift and brake. If anyone is using downtube, IGH, or bar ends to shift, the expectation should be that they specify since its so out of the norm.
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If I told someone that I crashed (while riding in the gruppeto) and broke my Campy gruppo's downtube shifter on my vintage gravel grinder whip, there would still be zero confusion about which part I was referring to.
It's time to retire "brifter", which has always been an awful term.
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"Brifter" persists because it is short, snappy, and generic. Terminology is "sticky" so if anyone wants to retire (dare I say "cancel") a word they don't like, it's on them to come up with something that fulfills those goals even better.
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