Elitism

DonDaddyD

Greg66 wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Exactly.

I think Greg66 is a Numpty for having two Cervelo's, He should give one to me!

Which would make you .. half a numpty?

Strange sense of ambition :shock:

Half a numpty with a Cervelo!!! :P :P :P

Then I could rightly look down my nose at everyone whose bike wasn't as good as mine. It's like wearing an expensive suit or shoes... I won't even talk to my own mother when I'm wearing a pair Churchills!

:shock:

Hey Jax

DonDaddyD wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

I for one, am glad that I skipped the "buying-the-crappy-hybrid" stage of my cycling journey - so what wrong with passing that advice on?

I went through this stage. Jaysus, bloody horrifc £260 down the drain.

The crappy-hybrid stage is like a filtering process to ensure only the most enthusiastic cyclists make it to the Nirvana that is the Road Bike.

It's Darwinism. Survival of the fittest, seperating the Men from the boys and all that.

I think its an essential evolvement that most newbies have to go thru. I would never have dared buy a road bike as a total newbie to commuting in the beginning. I loved my cheap Decathlon Hybrid. on this i gained confidence, stamina, courage and learned to be roadwise.. I did outgrow this bike, and now love my new roadie. but will still use my hybrid when we go off road. so its not wasted

DomPro

I was teetering on the brink of getting a hybrid flat-bar to begin with. I thought the drops were a bit beyond my needs and only the pro's need them. For whatever reason, call it intuition, I purchased a top of the range road bike, with no expense spared. And I advise any new comers to do the same! Technically I'm still a beginner because I've only been in this game a few months.

OldSkoolKona

Greg T wrote:

So are we having a go at bikes with straight bars or not?

Point me at the target and I'm your man, in particular those fixed riding, fat, balding guys on Konas. Those guys need taking down a peg - get some gears Tubster - it'll help you to move your lard!

Oi, no! :shock: Come on the flat bars (though admittedly with gears). Hey, you pick your bike, you ride it. I've always said the best thing about the Commuter forum is that it has all sorts on it 8)

Oh, and at the weekend, I was riding Mrs OSKs old Raleigh Lizard to the shops (Commuter Kona is in bits for a poorly timed overhaul during the current lovely weather ) and I had one of those 'it doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you ride' moments cos as heavy as it is, its still fun to ride :-)

chuckcork

DonDaddyD wrote:

If I was shaved I'd have to take up the oldest profession.

Um, you'd become a midwife?

STEFANOS4784

DonDaddyD wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

numpties" on £5k racing thoroughbreds.

WHOA! Let's not be calling LiT's (who is soon to take delivery of a Viner Maxima - though we don't what price she paid, speculation has it ranging anywhere from the price of a Spitfire to that of a Concorde) a numpty. One of the nicest, kindest most welcoming people I've met and she doesn't have to be.

If she's got the money to afford it I'm not one to hate. It's liek saying to a person you don't need a BMW 5 series you could have a Mondeo, if they have the money they have the money and if they don't they don't.

Personally I don't judge the cost of the bike, but the bike itself.

I don't post here much as i usually put my foot in it..........so here i go again.........
Does that sh1t on you nose smell good?

*despite joking, legs it back to the road section*

STEFANOS4784

And also, very quickly, whilst legging it. You're right! Drops are scary i've tried persuading a few non cycling mates and as soon as they get on a roady they wibble and wobble and say "stuff that cycling lark".

*Gone in a puff of smoke 8) *

DaleH

[Cyclocross is just a fetish along the S&M route....

Whoa did I just say that!



SHHHHHHH!!! :oops: :roll:

Kieran_Burns

DonDaddyD wrote:

Cyclocross is just a fetish along the S&M route....

Whoa did I just say that!

Doms new fetish rubber bike:



and the man himself in his new rubber kit:

itboffin

redddraggon wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

I for one, am glad that I skipped the "buying-the-crappy-hybrid" stage of my cycling journey - so what wrong with passing that advice on?

I went through this stage. Jaysus, bloody horrifc £260 down the drain.

The crappy-hybrid stage is like a filtering process to ensure only the most enthusiastic cyclists make it to the Nirvana that is the Road Bike.

It's Darwinism. Survival of the fittest, seperating the Men from the boys and all that.

Whereas I went from a road bike TO a CX bike as the road bike was inappropriate. Does this make a numpty in the making?

Cyclocross bikes are cool

I'm clearly far to important and elite to take part in this topic other than to add YES CX bikes are cool 8)

As you were, that is all

shoulder_of_orion

anyone who has a lesser bike than me is an execrable worm unworthy of my contempt.

anyone who has a better bike than me is a saddo bike geek who really ought to think about life's priorities and get out more.

Stone Glider

Well that has sorted out the elitist charge then. I have a two year old Trek hybrid which is still a better bike than I am a rider. I now have a "light tourer", steel frame, old school road bike I mostly be riding. The hybrid is now configured for tracks and trails but when I first rode it I could not have handled drop bars, too fat and too unconfident. The riding position is still more "relaxed" than the road bike and allows me to watch my neighbours when in company. Also the brakes are firmer, which engenders confidence.

This is my first post although I have been follwing the forum for a couple of weeks, I do not commute, I try to ride every other day as I have plenty of time at my disposal these days. Please accept my thanks for the recommendation of "Cyclecraft" by John Franklin, it arrived yesterday and is an education in the best sense of the word.

Jay dubbleU

Some of us actually like riding 'crappy hybrids' - they are much more useful that specialised bikes unless your idea of fun is riding as fast as possible on tarmac - some of us actually like bikes which can go off road or be ridden in the rain or can double up as a light tourer if we want to go camping - its a matter of choice and anyone should be welcome no matter what they ride

If we are talking numpty what about those that cycle 2 miles to the office dressed as though they are taking part in the TDF :twisted: :twisted:

Helmet, jeans and softshell works for me 8)

DaleH

itboffin wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

I for one, am glad that I skipped the "buying-the-crappy-hybrid" stage of my cycling journey - so what wrong with passing that advice on?

I went through this stage. Jaysus, bloody horrifc £260 down the drain.

The crappy-hybrid stage is like a filtering process to ensure only the most enthusiastic cyclists make it to the Nirvana that is the Road Bike.

It's Darwinism. Survival of the fittest, seperating the Men from the boys and all that.

Whereas I went from a road bike TO a CX bike as the road bike was inappropriate. Does this make a numpty in the making?

Cyclocross bikes are cool

I'm clearly far to important and elite to take part in this topic other than to add YES CX bikes are cool 8)

As you were, that is all

Yes indeed!

OldSkoolKona

Stone Glider wrote:

This is my first post although I have been follwing the forum for a couple of weeks, I do not commute, I try to ride every other day as I have plenty of time at my disposal these days. Please accept my thanks for the recommendation of "Cyclecraft" by John Franklin, it arrived yesterday and is an education in the best sense of the word.

Welcome SG, one of the cool things about here is that its a great place to hang out and learn stuff as a newbie. Enjoy Cyclecraft, excellent book!

Rockbuddy

Basically without elitism and people striving to be the elite you wouldn't have roadies with their fancy drop bars as no-one would feel the need to be that 10th of a second faster than the next guy. So roadies and droped bars breed elitism ergo anyone that rides them are seen to be striving for elitism, as canbe seen by the tounge in cheek posts here. Not saying it's a bad thing, afterall it's what makes the world go round, just a view point... :P

linsen

hmm not sure where I would fit in here.

I have learned that it is logical to have a road bike if you are going a long way on a road and want to get there relatively quickly.

I have learned that you need a MTB if you are going off road in the mud and down steep bits (road tyres get a bit stuck)

I have learned that you need a crappy hybrid to get you round town and to be able to leave outside shops without fear of it getting nicked.

I have learned that a singlespeed is great for riding if you can't be bothered to keep changing gear, or clean your gears, or want to pretend you are hard / cool.

So I have all four..........

I don't think that people mean to be elitist, but this is a forum populated by cyclists who, between them at least, have lots of experience. I for one have learned a lot from them.

DaleH

Jay dubbleU wrote:

Some of us actually like riding 'crappy hybrids' - they are much more useful that specialised bikes unless your idea of fun is riding as fast as possible on tarmac - some of us actually like bikes which can go off road or be ridden in the rain or can double up as a light tourer if we want to go camping - its a matter of choice and anyone should be welcome no matter what they ride

If we are talking numpty what about those that cycle 2 miles to the office dressed as though they are taking part in the TDF :twisted: :twisted:

Helmet, jeans and softshell works for me 8)

Good point ,but at what distance of commute do you say i need to wear decent cycling kit ?
My commute is 10miles each way ,i wear biblongs ,jersey etc. but still get the TDF p1ss take from non cyclists at work :roll: as you say though it's a matter of choice.

No elitism here, i ride a cyclocross and ofcourse they are cool. 8)

rally200

Within any group some people will try to establish a pecking order, it's human nature. But I think it shows some strange insecurity when old hands post smug/snide/critcal responses to newbs - especially in the road beginners section.

DomPro

I bet someone out there has one of them "26 Terrain Ascent MTB. Yes, the £40 bike shaped object from Tesco. Its crap and anyone who buys one is a muppet.

pigeon42

I love my "crappy" hybrid too with it's flat bars it suits my commute fine - it's short (3.5 miles - and yes I do wear lycra 'cos it's warmer and dries out more quickly than the trackies & t-shirt I started commuting in) and part road, part dirt track/mud/gritty sand. I don't worry about leaving it out in all weathers outside work, I don't worry about it getting nicked either as it's far from sexy.

I also love my proper road bike - I feel like I'm flying on it along the road (even though my cycle pooter confirms otherwise... :oops: ) - but for my commute it would be a nightmare.
My commuter bike also proved just fine out on a 35-miler into the wilds of West Berks/Wiltshire when we had friends down (and in my generosity I lent out my lovely Trek) - I was comfortable, and easily kept up with those on the road bikes (and overtook on several occasions )

... so there!

Clever Pun

I went through the hybrid stage... nothing wrong with it.. I was using canal paths at the time

I'm selling it on ebay right now with panniers, lights the works..... trek 7300 with ortlieb.. go on it's your gateway bike

il_principe

Clever Pun wrote:

I went through the hybrid stage... nothing wrong with it..

Me too, I wouldn't go back though. Right bike for the right task I reckon. I don't go off road so roadies and my SS are perfect. If I did go off road I'd get a CX or a MTB (or both) but I'd never buy another hybrid. Looked at some the other day whilst buying the missus a bike. She settled for a flat bar roadie, half the price of the hybrids in the shop, better equipped and about half the weight!

roger_merriman

where the hybrid works is for short distances, and if in the town bike end will have clearances for big (for road) tires and relaxed frame that will shrug off potholes and such.

i have,
one (town bike) hybrid
one old MTB with slicks
one newer MTB's with mud tires
one old road bike

all ride very differently.

jedster

Jash,

She settled for a flat bar roadie

Many people (most?) would regard that as a hybrid. IMO there are two types of hybrid:
1. road derived - e.g., spec sirrus
2. MTB derived - e.g., spec cross trail (or whatever the new model is called)

Which is most appropriate depends on your mix of trail versius road riding.

Although I'd of course argue that a cx bike is better than either!

J

Kieran_Burns

jedster wrote:

Jash,

She settled for a flat bar roadie

Many people (most?) would regard that as a hybrid. IMO there are two types of hybrid:
1. road derived - e.g., spec sirrus
2. MTB derived - e.g., spec cross trail (or whatever the new model is called)

Which is most appropriate depends on your mix of trail versius road riding.

Although I'd of course argue that a cx bike is better than either!

J

As would I 8)

nation

Where does something like a Cotic RoadRat fit in?

It's a road bike designed by someone who doesn't like drop bars (which is why it appeals to me, can't get used to them). Is there a distinction between hybrids and flat bar road bikes? I always thought of flat bar bikes built for speed as "flat bar road bikes" and flat bar bikes built for comfort as "hybrids".

passout

Anyone without exactly the same bikes as me is numptie slowcoach and probably horribly working class too. However I don't feel like telling you which bikes I own......so there!

What's wrong with Eltism anyway? It's better than Communism: all riding aroundon dull, poorly made ,heavy bikes....it would be like a trip to Halfords. Perish the thought.

biondino

passout wrote:

What's wrong with Eltism anyway? It's better than Communism: all riding aroundon dull, poorly made ,heavy bikes....it would be like a trip to Halfords. Perish the thought.

Everyone would have the same FCN, and scalping would be outlawed as repression of the proletariat.

Christophe3967

biondino wrote:

passout wrote:

What's wrong with Eltism anyway? It's better than Communism: all riding aroundon dull, poorly made ,heavy bikes....it would be like a trip to Halfords. Perish the thought.

Everyone would have the same FCN, and scalping would be outlawed as repression of the proletariat.

Except our dear comrades the Politburo, who would all ride Pinarellos, Viners, and Cervellos on specially reserved, freshly tarmaced lanes.