How do you know you are finally a serious "roadie"

hbscouse

Now that after my first twelve months on a bike with drop bars, and having finally managed to (touch wood)complete a ride without the dreaded clipless tumble, I was wondering how you know you have become a serious roadie?

I reckon you have when it takes longer to put all the kit on than the ride itself, any other signs?

trickeyja

Here are some interesting/amusing ones: http://www.wheelman.com/bikertest.html
http://bikefit.ca/page.cfm?pageID=86

explosifpete

You need to get them legs shaven for real roadie status

brownbosh

Erm is it wrong that 9 points on that list rang a bell?

synchronicity

trickeyja wrote:

Here are some interesting/amusing ones: http://www.wheelman.com/bikertest.html
http://bikefit.ca/page.cfm?pageID=86

Quite good that!

Nick6891

explosifpete wrote:

You need to get them legs shaven for real roadie status

haha just out of interest how come people always say that, i have heard it loads

robjhp

You know you're a roadie when u remove the peak off your helmet.

dennisn

Scars, got to have a few scars. You know, like where your skin was peeled away by
the road some years ago. And these scars must be visible when wearing your summer kit. Anything hidden doesn't count.
Your bike must look like it's ridden and well used. Constantly shining and cleaning is a no-no. Don't let it get filthy but instead try to strike a balance between the "I ride all the time look" and the "I clean all the time look". A little bit of grunge here and there shows that
you're not some low life poser.
Ride without gloves if you can. This shows that you are definitely a manly man rider
with years of experience.
Never, never let the big chain ring touch your bare leg. Nothing screams amateur more
than greasy tooth marks on your calf. If this happens you must stop immediately and
clean it off. No excuses.
Ride tubular tires. This will guarantee acceptance into the inner sanctum of upper echelon racers and riders. Real cyclists would rather walk than use clinchers.
Keep your water bottles a little on the ratty looking side. Cap with some teeth marks in it,
old worn looking bottle with black marks on it (this requires that you use a metal cage -
also another must do). It must be filled with a nasty looking lemon - lime colored liquid. No
exceptions.

Dennis Noward

Crapaud

I like this one:

"You've been asked if you're a tap dancer."

You're a real roadie when you get mistaken for a 'Fathers for Justice' protester.

Mark Alexander

brownbosh wrote:

Erm is it wrong that 9 points on that list rang a bell?

I made it 10!!!!

You select a restaurant because of its charming, outdoor dining. Your bike is 23 inches away. You lock it anyway. But you can't enjoy your meal because you can't take your eyes off your bike.
Can I substitute the pub?

You know the location of all the major potholes between your home and office.
Sounds familiar

cycologist

.......is it when you give a nonchalant wave or nod to a passing cyclist - even when you are driving a car !

Mark Alexander

cycologist wrote:

.......is it when you give a nonchalant wave or nod to a passing cyclist - even when you are driving a car !

that's a good one,
Alternatively,
You know you're a cyclist when
you wake up, look out of the window and say "it's only a hurricane" I'll go for a ride!

bobpzero

ultimate - century (100miles) ride in a day. still hav to do that one.

singlespeedexplosif

double century on a fixie.

dennisn

No seat bag bigger than wallet size, unless you're commuting. Anything bigger screams
rookie.

Absolutely no multi colored bar tape. All bar tape must be cork and it must never look new.
Pieces missing are an added plus(looks like you crashed).

Generally speaking everything must have a worn, well used look to it. New saddles must be ridden in secret until they look suitably well worn(i.e. on a trainer all winter).

Keep the bling to a minimum. Power meters, GPS's, and the like are sure signs of a new
rider with deep pockets. Bikes should have minimal instruments and simply be ridden fast.
Nobody really cares about your power output and you must never get lost or even hint at not knowing which way to turn. It is required that you know every road within 100 miles
of your house.

Dennis Noward

redddraggon

Dennis, you are answering "How do I make myself look like a right gypo on the bike?" rather than "How do you know you are finally a serious "roadie"?"

janetthompson

dennisn wrote:

Never, never let the big chain ring touch your bare leg. Nothing screams amateur more
than greasy tooth marks on your calf. If this happens you must stop immediately and
clean it off. No excuses.

:shock:
Oh my God!!! I'm an amateur!! Oh the shame! :oops:

notsoracy rich

This is sad but true---a couple of years ago I was driving my car in quite heavy traffic up the M11(or freeway for our overseas readers) when I had to swerve slightly to avoid some debris in the road. I smoothly steered round with my right hand, while my left hand went automatically behind my back to let the rider behind me know what I was doing--too many club runs,it affects the brain. :oops:

Rich

dennisn

redddraggon wrote:

Dennis, you are answering "How do I make myself look like a right gypo on the bike?" rather than "How do you know you are finally a serious "roadie"?"

Well, you have to admitt that the look is very important. Slighty shabby, well worn, etc.
all indicate a seasoned rider, whereas all new and shiny equals newby who spends too much time shining. Once you have achieved this "look" you will know you have "arrived".
I do see your question though and will give it some further thought.

Dennis Noward

chuckcork

Personally I'm trying to learn the roads around where i live withing the area denoted by the OS map for that area. Only a square 32 x 58km, when i've learnt them all THEN I'll throw away my map.

AS for grease on the leg from the chainring, NOT a sign of an amateur, I get it becuase unfortunately the comfortable angle for my feet is toes out, which means ankle in.

(In case you were wondering, 7600 miles logged since Nov. 01, 2007.)

My own definitions of you know when....

You justify spending three times as much on your bike as your wife does on her car because the bike is a cheap mode of transport;

dennisn

Janetthompson wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Never, never let the big chain ring touch your bare leg. Nothing screams amateur more
than greasy tooth marks on your calf. If this happens you must stop immediately and
clean it off. No excuses.

:shock:
Oh my God!!! I'm an amateur!! Oh the shame! :oops:

It's not that the seasoned riders don't get those marks, they do, it's that the seasoned
rider NEVER lets anyone see him with one. Therefore he "never gets them", so to speak.
It's not about getting one , it's about being seen with one, then "Oh the shame". Hope I have cleared that up for you.

Dennis Noward

edindevon

When I first started riding seriously a few years ago, I decided that I wouldn't consider myself a proper road rider until I had ridden the distance round the earth at the equator, which they reckon to be about 25,000 miles.

Edindevon

janetthompson

Point taken. I shall remove them as soon as they arrive in future!

ForumNewbie

I reckon anyone who does a lot of cycling on the road, be it commuting, touring, racing or just riding for pleasure could be classed as a serious roadie - no matter how fast they go, what clothes they wear, how small their saddlebag is, or dare I say, even if - shock horror - they dare to ride with standard flat pedals (i.e. no clips or cleats).

synchronicity

Yeah.
I remember being in the car as a passenger with someone else when my partner said: "you know, he's in the car but he's really on his bicycle"

Alex_Simmons/RST

real roadies race. hard. end of story.
nothing to do with bike or kit.
it's having a number on your back and the way you race.

singlespeedexplosif

Well, you have to admitt that the look is very important. Slighty shabby, well worn, etc.

Quite the opposite. Nothing screams 'amateur' more than grubby bar tape, tyre logos not aligned with valve etc.

Mark Alexander

bobpzero wrote:

ultimate - century (100miles) ride in a day. still hav to do that one.

change to Km and you'll be ok

Damien
If you need bits missing to look like you've crashed, I'm an elite rider 8)

dodgy

I don't agree that real roadies have slightly grubby looking bikes.

dodgy

I've done this a couple of times! - "Another cyclist asks you for the location of the nearest bike shop; you fix their bike on the spot."

Gazzaputt

dodgy wrote:

I don't agree that real roadies have slightly grubby looking bikes.

Seconded.

You must look the part.

Fake tan at the start of the season on them shaved legs. :P