Let's Retire the Term "Gravel Grinder"
05-11-22, 12:38 PM
#76
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I'm good with the term "dork-disc", mostly because I don't actually know what the technical term for this useless bit of plastic is, and I suspect most others don't either. Manufacturers probably call this "packaging material" and remain confused as to why people don't remove it after unboxing the bike.
It's a shifter. No one outside of a Shimano conference room or trade show booth uses the term "dual control lever". You seem to have completely missed the point that Shimano literally calls them "shifters" not "brifters".
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05-11-22, 12:45 PM
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No, you do not generally have to say "disc brake" if you know the context. And you don't always have to specify shifter/brake.
But sometimes you DO have to specify the type of brake, thus there are different names for them..... and sometimes you DO have to specify the type of shifter, thus there are different names for them.
That's the thing about language. It is often contextual. If one is an a context where it might not be clear what sort of shifters you have, "brifters" clears that up.
New words are added to vocabulary when they have a use such as streamlining communication or adding clarity. Folks can accept that or they can yell at the clouds.
But sometimes you DO have to specify the type of brake, thus there are different names for them..... and sometimes you DO have to specify the type of shifter, thus there are different names for them.
That's the thing about language. It is often contextual. If one is an a context where it might not be clear what sort of shifters you have, "brifters" clears that up.
New words are added to vocabulary when they have a use such as streamlining communication or adding clarity. Folks can accept that or they can yell at the clouds.
If I call up a shop and say "I broke my right side brifter - can you order me a new one?" they're going to respond with the exact same questions as if I called them up and said "I broke my right side shifter - can you order me a new one?".
Brifter adds absolutely nothing.
If I call up a shop and say "I broke my right side GRX800 shifter" they'll know exactly what I'm talking about. If I say "I broke my right side GRX800 brifter" they'll probably make fun of me first, then know exactly what I'm talking about.
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05-11-22, 02:30 PM
#78
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05-11-22, 02:33 PM
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05-11-22, 05:19 PM
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If one is referring to the shifting component, it's shifters. If one is referring to the braking component, it's brake levers. If one is just referting to the part without specifying the function under discussion, they're levers.
I'm a gray haired old man and think brifters is a stupid term and will never use it, and have never. No need to.
As for clipless pedals terminology - that's stupid too. I have decided to call them automatic pedals. that's a good term!
I'm a gray haired old man and think brifters is a stupid term and will never use it, and have never. No need to.
As for clipless pedals terminology - that's stupid too. I have decided to call them automatic pedals. that's a good term!
05-11-22, 06:59 PM
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05-11-22, 09:11 PM
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I ride trails often. I avoid gravel when possible. Like riding on ball bearings…..
05-12-22, 11:20 AM
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I remember similar discussions when Mountain Bikes were new. It was pointed out that most "mountain" bikes never saw an actual mountain.
For a while ATB ("All Terrain Bike") and MTB (MounTain Bike) were interchangeable.
For a while ATB ("All Terrain Bike") and MTB (MounTain Bike) were interchangeable.
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05-12-22, 12:00 PM
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An integrated braking/shifting lever designed for gravel roads will referred to as a grifter™.
Last edited by tyrion; 05-12-22 at 12:01 PM. Reason: added trademark symbol
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05-12-22, 06:11 PM
#88
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”Drop bar hybrid.”
05-12-22, 06:26 PM
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$&#&$%&#$. I wish I read this thread before I got the neck tattoo.
ISO. A good tat artist that can change script “Gravel Grinder” to “Diversified facet bicycle” in something like a Times Bold Italic
ISO. A good tat artist that can change script “Gravel Grinder” to “Diversified facet bicycle” in something like a Times Bold Italic
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05-16-22, 11:29 AM
#90
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Brifter is a great word, in fact I'd say it's a perfectly cromulent word. In an alternate universe they have shlevers on their road bikes. I don't see why having a word for a specific kind of shifter is bad... thumbies is a great word too.
Last edited by clasher; 05-16-22 at 11:41 AM.
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05-17-22, 06:07 AM
#91
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So, just to piss off the bike industry marketing types, I started my own list of terms to use instead of "groad" :
Road & Rut
Mudcadum
Grit-phalt
Crushin’ stones & shakin’ bones (stolen from one of the gravel sites)
Lane & loam
Freeway & filth
Macadam & muck
Parkway & pebbles
Turnpike & tailings
DirtPike
Cyclophalt
Boulder & boulevard
Streets & stones
Cobbles & concrete
Knobs & nubs
Gravment
And my favorite: TarDust
05-17-22, 06:22 AM
#92
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05-22-22, 03:59 PM
#94
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Wasn't "brifter" coined by Saint Sheldon?
I was out at the parking lot where everyone but me parks to go ride gravel or mountain bike trails (don't drive to the ride). There was a vehicle there with a bumper sticker about the local "gravel grinder" It's part of the name of the event "ROTHROCK GRIT GRAVEL GRINDER" I thought we were over that 5 years ago.
It was like riding around a bend and finding a rattlesnake. Or maybe nails on a chalkboard. But probably more like the rattlesnake.
I was out at the parking lot where everyone but me parks to go ride gravel or mountain bike trails (don't drive to the ride). There was a vehicle there with a bumper sticker about the local "gravel grinder" It's part of the name of the event "ROTHROCK GRIT GRAVEL GRINDER" I thought we were over that 5 years ago.
It was like riding around a bend and finding a rattlesnake. Or maybe nails on a chalkboard. But probably more like the rattlesnake.
05-23-22, 05:01 AM
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Groad bike.
