Are you a luddite?
08-15-10, 11:35 AM
#1
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Are you a luddite?
I developed this scientific survey to determine who among us is a luddite.
Please take a moment to answer the questions, and respond with your numeric score, from 0 to 22.
- If you agree with 14-22 statements, you are a true luddite. Wear it proudly.
- If you agree with 7-14 statements, you are a typical C&V’er.
- If you agree with 1-6 statements, you are a post modernist.
- If you disagree with all the statements, you’re a spy from the Road Forum.
1) You only use loose bearings and think that caged and sealed bearings are a plot to undermine the morals of our youth.
2) You do not carry a cell phone when you ride, because it is your coveted time-off from the techno-present.
3) You think brifters look like some mutant extra-terrestrial gargoyles, perched on your handlebars.
4) You maintain that clinchers are a passing fad.
5) You prefer steel cottered cranks to cotterless, because steel is inherently more reliable.
6) You would not be caught dead riding a bike without cloth bar tape.
7) You think they started making poly-lined cable housing for lazy people.
8) You insist on pink brake shoes.
9) You believe that any center-pull brake is infinitely superior to any side pull.
10) You would prefer to push a brake rod than to pull on a brake cable of any kind.
11) You wrote (snail mail) to your Senators demanding action to outlaw slanted top tubes and compact frames.
12) You disparage Carbon and Aluminum frames at every opportunity – especially to the ignoramus owners who just will not listen to (your) reason.
13) You are looking for a set of wing nuts for your axles.
14) You think SIS stands for something else.
15) You prefer wood to metal rims.
16) You insist that clipless pedals are another way to part a fool and his money.
17) You keep wondering why they took the lead out of paint.
18) You say that anything other than a leather seat will cause hemorrhoids.
19) You fear alloy micro-adjust seat posts.
20) You trust AVA alloy stems.
21) You are still trying to adjust to the idea of having the front derailleur shifter location on the down tube, instead of the seat tube.
22) You don’t ride fixies because when you were a kid, that’s all there was.
Please take a moment to answer the questions, and respond with your numeric score, from 0 to 22.
- If you agree with 14-22 statements, you are a true luddite. Wear it proudly.
- If you agree with 7-14 statements, you are a typical C&V’er.
- If you agree with 1-6 statements, you are a post modernist.
- If you disagree with all the statements, you’re a spy from the Road Forum.
1) You only use loose bearings and think that caged and sealed bearings are a plot to undermine the morals of our youth.
2) You do not carry a cell phone when you ride, because it is your coveted time-off from the techno-present.
3) You think brifters look like some mutant extra-terrestrial gargoyles, perched on your handlebars.
4) You maintain that clinchers are a passing fad.
5) You prefer steel cottered cranks to cotterless, because steel is inherently more reliable.
6) You would not be caught dead riding a bike without cloth bar tape.
7) You think they started making poly-lined cable housing for lazy people.
8) You insist on pink brake shoes.
9) You believe that any center-pull brake is infinitely superior to any side pull.
10) You would prefer to push a brake rod than to pull on a brake cable of any kind.
11) You wrote (snail mail) to your Senators demanding action to outlaw slanted top tubes and compact frames.
12) You disparage Carbon and Aluminum frames at every opportunity – especially to the ignoramus owners who just will not listen to (your) reason.
13) You are looking for a set of wing nuts for your axles.
14) You think SIS stands for something else.
15) You prefer wood to metal rims.
16) You insist that clipless pedals are another way to part a fool and his money.
17) You keep wondering why they took the lead out of paint.
18) You say that anything other than a leather seat will cause hemorrhoids.
19) You fear alloy micro-adjust seat posts.
20) You trust AVA alloy stems.
21) You are still trying to adjust to the idea of having the front derailleur shifter location on the down tube, instead of the seat tube.
22) You don’t ride fixies because when you were a kid, that’s all there was.
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08-15-10, 11:50 AM
#2
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Priceless, I guess that makes me post modern.. as proof my most ridden bike:
About as far from C&V as you can go
About as far from C&V as you can go
08-15-10, 12:03 PM
#3
You gonna eat that?
I won't answer the questions, but I know I am a luddite.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
08-15-10, 12:05 PM
#4
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Luddite, but just barely 
Cheers,
Chris
Cheers,
Chris
Last edited by Chris W.; 08-15-10 at 05:38 PM.
08-15-10, 12:41 PM
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0, sorry. I love vintage bikes but I don't think that they can't be improved on, from an objective standpoint, except perhaps some lightweight frames.
08-15-10, 12:50 PM
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There's nothing interesting on craigslist right now so I'll play 
.
1) You only use loose bearings and think that caged and sealed bearings are a plot to undermine the morals of our youth.
Sometimes I do caged bearings in headsets, so that'll be 1/2 point
2) You do not carry a cell phone when you ride, because it is your coveted time-off from the techno-present.
I don't OWN a cell phone. I don't even want my home phone.
3) You think brifters look like some mutant extra-terrestrial gargoyles, perched on your handlebars.
If they could come up with an attractive design I just might try 'em.
4) You maintain that clinchers are a passing fad.
They're still using tubs in the TdF, aren't they? I'd ride tubulars more if I lived in a civilized part of the world.
5) You prefer steel cottered cranks to cotterless, because steel is inherently more reliable.
Don't forget about the steel cotterless cranks on the Super Course.
6) You would not be caught dead riding a bike without cloth bar tape.
A few of my bikes have cork but I try very hard not to die whilst riding them.
7) You think they started making poly-lined cable housing for lazy people.
I still wax certain parts of the cables, at least.
8) You insist on pink brake shoes.
I thought the black ones were pink ones which had "gone bad"...
9) You believe that any center-pull brake is infinitely superior to any side pull.
Fixed-length straddle cables make things hard to set up, but it can be done.
10) You would prefer to push a brake rod than to pull on a brake cable of any kind.
While I've never ridden a rod-brake, I do like the concept.
11) You wrote (snail mail) to your Senators demanding action to outlaw slanted top tubes and compact frames.
They all look like girls' bikes to me. I also think that lycra makes people look like Power Rangers.
12) You disparage Carbon and Aluminum frames at every opportunity – especially to the ignoramus owners who just will not listen to (your) reason.
How does it help the environment to ride a non-biodegradable bike? And I don't even like aluminum for airplanes.
13) You are looking for a set of wing nuts for your axles.
I actually bought a complete bike FOR the wingnuts.
14) You think SIS stands for something else.
I've played Spy vs Spy on the C64.
15) You prefer wood to metal rims.
I'm thinking of MAKING a set of wooden rims. Does that count?
16) You insist that clipless pedals are another way to part a fool and his money.
Or rather, to keep a fool and his money connected during the slo-mo topple.
17) You keep wondering why they took the lead out of paint.
When did they do that?
18) You say that anything other than a leather seat will cause hemorrhoids.
Can't say for sure, but I'm not taking any chances.
19) You fear alloy micro-adjust seat posts.
Real men adapt. And they're not really any lighter than steel posts, are they.
20) You trust AVA alloy stems.
If the French wanted to kill me they would've done it years ago.
21) You are still trying to adjust to the idea of having the front derailleur shifter location on the down tube, instead of the seat tube.
It's less of a shock if you use your right hand for both downtube levers.
22) You don’t ride fixies because when you were a kid, that’s all there was.
Didn't NEED to coast when I was a kid - everything was uphill both ways.
Now how do I get these flashing lights and colors out of my cave? I have some finger-paintings to complete.
.1) You only use loose bearings and think that caged and sealed bearings are a plot to undermine the morals of our youth.
Sometimes I do caged bearings in headsets, so that'll be 1/2 point
2) You do not carry a cell phone when you ride, because it is your coveted time-off from the techno-present.
I don't OWN a cell phone. I don't even want my home phone.
3) You think brifters look like some mutant extra-terrestrial gargoyles, perched on your handlebars.
If they could come up with an attractive design I just might try 'em.
4) You maintain that clinchers are a passing fad.
They're still using tubs in the TdF, aren't they? I'd ride tubulars more if I lived in a civilized part of the world.
5) You prefer steel cottered cranks to cotterless, because steel is inherently more reliable.
Don't forget about the steel cotterless cranks on the Super Course.
6) You would not be caught dead riding a bike without cloth bar tape.
A few of my bikes have cork but I try very hard not to die whilst riding them.
7) You think they started making poly-lined cable housing for lazy people.
I still wax certain parts of the cables, at least.
8) You insist on pink brake shoes.
I thought the black ones were pink ones which had "gone bad"...
9) You believe that any center-pull brake is infinitely superior to any side pull.
Fixed-length straddle cables make things hard to set up, but it can be done.
10) You would prefer to push a brake rod than to pull on a brake cable of any kind.
While I've never ridden a rod-brake, I do like the concept.
11) You wrote (snail mail) to your Senators demanding action to outlaw slanted top tubes and compact frames.
They all look like girls' bikes to me. I also think that lycra makes people look like Power Rangers.
12) You disparage Carbon and Aluminum frames at every opportunity – especially to the ignoramus owners who just will not listen to (your) reason.
How does it help the environment to ride a non-biodegradable bike
? And I don't even like aluminum for airplanes.13) You are looking for a set of wing nuts for your axles.
I actually bought a complete bike FOR the wingnuts.
14) You think SIS stands for something else.
I've played Spy vs Spy on the C64.
15) You prefer wood to metal rims.
I'm thinking of MAKING a set of wooden rims. Does that count?
16) You insist that clipless pedals are another way to part a fool and his money.
Or rather, to keep a fool and his money connected during the slo-mo topple.
17) You keep wondering why they took the lead out of paint.
When did they do that?
18) You say that anything other than a leather seat will cause hemorrhoids.
Can't say for sure, but I'm not taking any chances.
19) You fear alloy micro-adjust seat posts.
Real men adapt. And they're not really any lighter than steel posts, are they.
20) You trust AVA alloy stems.
If the French wanted to kill me they would've done it years ago.
21) You are still trying to adjust to the idea of having the front derailleur shifter location on the down tube, instead of the seat tube.
It's less of a shock if you use your right hand for both downtube levers.
22) You don’t ride fixies because when you were a kid, that’s all there was.
Didn't NEED to coast when I was a kid - everything was uphill both ways.
Now how do I get these flashing lights and colors out of my cave? I have some finger-paintings to complete.
Last edited by cinco; 08-15-10 at 01:00 PM.
08-15-10, 01:51 PM
#8
In the right lane
Always carry a cell phone, never have it turned on. Haven't found a suitable ring-tone. But just carry it in case I end up in a vortex or something. And, of course... yes... the techno-present.
08-15-10, 02:22 PM
#12
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- Did you know that if you happen to be between two GPS satellites when you finally do decide to turn it on, it will create said vortex?
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08-15-10, 03:32 PM
#14
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1 - n
2 - n, reluctantly.
3 - y
4 - n
5 - n
6 - y
7 - n
8 - n, y for Scott-Mathauser
9 - n
10 - I'll take either
11 - y
12 - n, that's just as bad as helmet nannyism.
13 - y
14 - Shimano's Idiotic System.
15 - Never tried the former, but will gladly do so.
16 - y, toe clips and straps forever.
17 - n, but I wouldn't mind it back.
18 - y
19 - What the hell is a Campagnolo Nuovo Record post if not the world's finest micro-adjust seatpost?
20 - Not all of them.
21 - No, but I wish I was - does that make it a yes?
22 - I don't ride fixies because I don't ride fixies. Capish?
I don't agree that these questions give accurate results. Many of them could be answered "no" by riders of the very era of which pegs us modern folk as "luddites."
-Kurt
2 - n, reluctantly.
3 - y
4 - n
5 - n
6 - y
7 - n
8 - n, y for Scott-Mathauser
9 - n
10 - I'll take either
11 - y
12 - n, that's just as bad as helmet nannyism.
13 - y
14 - Shimano's Idiotic System.
15 - Never tried the former, but will gladly do so.
16 - y, toe clips and straps forever.
17 - n, but I wouldn't mind it back.
18 - y
19 - What the hell is a Campagnolo Nuovo Record post if not the world's finest micro-adjust seatpost?
20 - Not all of them.
21 - No, but I wish I was - does that make it a yes?
22 - I don't ride fixies because I don't ride fixies. Capish?
I don't agree that these questions give accurate results. Many of them could be answered "no" by riders of the very era of which pegs us modern folk as "luddites."
-Kurt
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08-15-10, 04:46 PM
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I have no idea what most of those questions even mean. I ride a bicycle, but if I ever need to have someone know what its parts do (or are called), well that's what a bike shop is for.
Last edited by ianbrettcooper; 08-15-10 at 04:50 PM.
08-15-10, 04:51 PM
#16
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I've never thought of myself as post-modern, but according to this quiz I'm one of the Jetsons!
Hilarious and well written.
Hilarious and well written.
08-15-10, 05:08 PM
#17
Steel is real, baby!
I'm a post modernist. I'm almost a spy...
08-15-10, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by auchencrow
5) You prefer steel cottered cranks to cotterless, because steel is inherently more reliable.
I have snapped 2 steel cottered cranks with my massive guads (probably when I dialed it up to 400 watts
). I have never broken aluminum cranks.And if it isn't painfully obvious, although I love my vintage bikes, I am a 41 spy.
08-15-10, 08:41 PM
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I think brifters are what keeps some of you coming back here to C&V from the 41.
It's OK -That's a good start, and before you know it you'll be scoring in the high teens or twenties!
It's OK -That's a good start, and before you know it you'll be scoring in the high teens or twenties!
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08-15-10, 10:14 PM
#22
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Cinco, you're the greatest! BTW, of course lycra makes us look like power rangers. That is supposed to happen!
08-15-10, 11:20 PM
#23
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I think I'm a luddite, but not not an orthodox luddite. But I suppose realistically, I scored 2-1/2...
3) YES
9) hmmm
22) YES
My old bike has center-pull brakes, and they stop me just fine. It has a 5-speed freewheel, which gives me at least 8 gears, which is enough. I broke the front derailleur when the bike was a year or two old (so in '81 or '82), and just took it off and shifted it by hand. Last year I came across a replacement, so I figured I might as well put it on.
My new(ish) bike came with indexed 3x8 gearing (and no brifters), which I was initially suspicious of, but it worked. Now I'm running a friction shifter for the front, though, because I don't want to spend dumb money on brifters. The brakes are v-brakes, which stop the bike just fine.
I've been suspicious of side-pull brakes since I got rid of my cheap department store 26" 1-speed in 1978 and replaced it with a bike with sensible centerpulls.
I wear lycra on rides longer than 5 miles because it's comfortable. Most of my jerseys are hivis, though, so that puts me into a different class of ridiculous, I guess.
3) YES
9) hmmm
22) YES
My old bike has center-pull brakes, and they stop me just fine. It has a 5-speed freewheel, which gives me at least 8 gears, which is enough. I broke the front derailleur when the bike was a year or two old (so in '81 or '82), and just took it off and shifted it by hand. Last year I came across a replacement, so I figured I might as well put it on.
My new(ish) bike came with indexed 3x8 gearing (and no brifters), which I was initially suspicious of, but it worked. Now I'm running a friction shifter for the front, though, because I don't want to spend dumb money on brifters. The brakes are v-brakes, which stop the bike just fine.
I've been suspicious of side-pull brakes since I got rid of my cheap department store 26" 1-speed in 1978 and replaced it with a bike with sensible centerpulls.
I wear lycra on rides longer than 5 miles because it's comfortable. Most of my jerseys are hivis, though, so that puts me into a different class of ridiculous, I guess.
08-16-10, 12:30 AM
#24
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I don't think anyone will be surprised to know that I'm a spy, by this metric.
08-16-10, 01:41 AM
#25
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Thanks guys . Even one of the owners of "my" bike shop laughed when I told him that about lycra. And if my backward nature weren't obvious enough, I have a weird little BF-inspired C&V project in the works that I'll be unveiling soon.
. Even one of the owners of "my" bike shop laughed when I told him that about lycra. And if my backward nature weren't obvious enough, I have a weird little BF-inspired C&V project in the works that I'll be unveiling soon.
