Entry level nonsense

Shadowduck

I don't know that anyone on this site has ever used the term as a veiled insult - since we're all such lovely people on here probably not. My reading isn't limited to this site though and there are others (notably some techie / geek sites) where terms such as "entry-level" are very deliberately used disparagingly as part of the gear snobbery...

So I cringe when I see it, here or elsewhere. *shrug*

Parkey

I cringe more when I see people riding what I know as "Argos bikes". MTBs with full suspension and disk brakes that cost about £80 from Argos. You know, the ones with a Y-shaped frame made by welding two RSJs together.

These are generally used just to ride about town too, and it's a shame because basic but nice town hybrids aren't all that expensive and are much better suited to the job.

"Entry level" to me implies that you're actually entering the sport of cycling with plans to take it remotely seriously.

Tom Butcher

Agree - nothing wrong with the term entry level - it's useful in steering people away from the £80 Asda specials. I knew a guy that took up road cycling on one of those £200 raleighs a couple of years ago - it didn't last - the wheels weren't strong enough, forever going out of true, bottom bracket didn't last etc - you can't the miles in you'd need to on something that cheap they just aren't up to the job. £400+ is entry level if you want to compete - at that price you can get a bike that wont significantly disadvantage you and should last a few years with normal maintenance.

allaction

I'd like to know why the guy who posted this has lit the fuse on his first post and then not responded to any of the replies?

I'd also like to say that if this forum becomes as PC as the rest of society it will have far fewer members. Lets be honest here who is really OFFENDED by 'Entry Level'? I mean where does it end?

Ford Ka advertised in Auto Trader 'Perfect Learner Vehicle'. Does that mean learners are only capable of driving these or does it offend drivers who have passed there test many moons ago. No. It is simply stating the fact.

Agree that £450 may sound a lot as entry to anything, but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Parkey

What on earth has this got to do with political correctness? I mean at all?

This fella is just irritated by the term "entry level". I get very annoyed by people who say "train station" and "quad bike", and yes it makes me grind my teeth, but that doesn't mean I find it offensive. I'm also irritated by the way the word "technical" is used in the context of cycling as to me it's just odd and makes no sense. These are just personal opinions though.

To group together an individual's dislike of a certain term and society objecting to people being deliberately offensive to others is a bit of a leap in my opinion.

allaction

Not quite sure where you're coming from Parky. You haven't started a thread about your 'dislikes' so you're obviously not as bothered as the post starter who is 'sick and tired' of a certain term which I find it strange to get worked up over.

Everyone is irritated by something but we don't usually start a frenzy over outlawing the term train station (not sure what the problem is there anyway).

Parkey

I wouldn't like to say I'm starting a frenzy or trying to outlaw anything, I'm just saying that it's a pedantic git's right to be irritated by such things.

Maybe the guy who started the thread was bored?

Also, I think you'll find it's a RAILWAY station

Shadowduck

allaction wrote:

I'd also like to say that if this forum becomes as PC as the rest of society it will have far fewer members. Lets be honest here who is really OFFENDED by 'Entry Level'? I mean where does it end?

I don't think anyone has said they're offended by it, have they? I just find it cringeworthy, mainly because of how it's used in other contexts.

For me it carries echoes of "ideal for beginners", a tag often attached to crap musical instruments - they're ideal for beginners because anyone who knew anything about that instrument would avoid them like rabies. I suppose the problem I have is that, notwithstanding how it's used here, it's usually marketing code for "the cheapest one in the range".

wildmoustache

on holiday i rented a bicycle shaped object of the sterling house variety ... was genuinely horrible, but more to the point it was dangerous, despite being fairly new according to the owner (and looking it). I ended up ripping the crank off with one well timed burst of speed. I am not that strong a rider either

wildmoustache

allaction wrote:

I'd but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Try more like £1000

spen666

wildmoustache wrote:

allaction wrote:

I'd but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Try more like £1000

speak for yourself.

My ticket costs less than £500

wildmoustache

spen666 wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

allaction wrote:

I'd but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Try more like £1000

speak for yourself.

My ticket costs less than £500

in that case your's is entry level

top_bhoy

wildmoustache wrote:

spen666 wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

allaction wrote:

I'd but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Try more like £1000

speak for yourself.

My ticket costs less than £500

in that case your's is entry level

....for Derby County

spen666

Top_Bhoy wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

spen666 wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

allaction wrote:

I'd but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Try more like £1000

speak for yourself.

My ticket costs less than £500

in that case your's is entry level

....for Derby County

For £500 I would expect to buy Derby County, not a season ticket

Cunobelin

wildmoustache wrote:

spen666 wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

allaction wrote:

I'd but then season tickets to Premier league football probably average £500 and they aren't all occupied by upper-middle class types are they?

Try more like £1000

speak for yourself.

My ticket costs less than £500

in that case your's is entry level

Of course its "Entry level".....

Entry to the match is the whole point!