Cool?

pottssteve

Coo-ey!

In my (largely misguided) attempts to understand more about the world, I've noticed that some things are "cool" and other things are "uncool". For example:

1. Sunglasses worn with the arms over the helmet-straps = cool.
Sunglasses with the arms under the helmet-straps = uncool.

2. Deep section/aero wheels = cool.
Standard rims or full disc wheels = uncool.

3. Climbing with ars* out of the saddle = looks cool.
Climbing seated = uncool.

The trouble is, I don't know why these differences exist, and even if other people feel the same way. I know about "The Rules", but is there some innate mental trigger that is activated by aero wheels?


Please explain...

MountainMonster

Cool is all in the head. What's cool for you may be atrocious for someone else, and vice versa. Who cares anyways. Enjoy life.

McBain_v1

Breezing past some geared-up speedster on a full carbon rig on my 1997 Raleigh 653 steelie... cool 8)

daviesee

Doing it - cool.
Worrying about it - uncool.

EKE_38BPM

Doing what you think to be right, regardless of what the arbiters of style and taste say = cool
Slavishly doing what the arbiters of style and taste say in, an attempt to follow fashion = uncool

McBain_v1

Reading the Waugh column in The Sunday Times = uncool

BiggerBoat

"Sunglasses worn with the arms over the helmet-straps = cool."

At some point you finish your ride, knackered, remove you helmet and watch your shades fly off into the distance. Never understood that one.

daviesee

BiggerBoat wrote:

"Sunglasses worn with the arms over the helmet-straps = cool."

At some point you finish your ride, knackered, remove you helmet and watch your shades fly off into the distance. Never understood that one.

It's 'cos your shades know you have to get more miles in

Aggieboy

8) er than the other side of the pillow....................

rick_chasey

I've always felt box set retro wheels with no visible rim where coolest.

All this deep rim stuff makes it look like you care about your performance and that you're slow enough that you're looking to buy performance.

Surely a really understated classy old-skool wheel would be cool? It would naturally have to fit in with the frame - it's going to look rubbish on a Cippolini bike for example.

pottssteve

Some interesting replies, but I think some people have missed my point. I'm not interested in being cool - I'm a 43 year old science teacher with a penchant for tweed, so it's not going to happen. I'm more interested in knowing what decisions are made in the brain in order to favour one option over another. Any behavioural psychologists around?

MattC59

Rick Chasey wrote:

I've always felt box set retro wheels with no visible rim where coolest.

All this deep rim stuff makes it look like you care about your performance and that you're slow enough that you're looking to buy performance.

Surely a really understated classy old-skool wheel would be cool? It would naturally have to fit in with the frame - it's going to look rubbish on a Cippolini bike for example.

That'll be me then
I bought a set of Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 ACC wheels off a mate for less than half price 9with only a couple of hundred miles on them !!!!). I was going to spend about £350 - £400 on a new set of wheels anyway and these came up so I grabbed them. I don't need 50mm carbon wheels, and wouldn't have bought them had the deal not presented its self, but they do look cool

EKE_38BPM

By not trying to be cool, you are instantly cooler. You could join a tweed ride without changing, how cool is that?!

Sirius631

pottssteve wrote:

1. Sunglasses worn with the arms over the helmet-straps = cool.
Sunglasses with the arms under the helmet-straps = uncool.

2. Deep section/aero wheels = cool.
Standard rims or full disc wheels = uncool.

3. Climbing with ars* out of the saddle = looks cool.
Climbing seated = uncool.

Wearing glasses outside helmet straps, using deep section aero wheels and climbing out of the saddle whilst being passed by scruffy, non-shade-wearing person seated on a BSO = well uncool.

rick_chasey

EKE_38BPM wrote:

By not trying to be cool, you are instantly cooler. !

It's a fine line though.

You need to be doing something cool, not for coolness sake, but because you like doing it, and it happens to be cool.

markos1963

Got to agree Aggie, Indurain looked so totally cool on a bike, Eddy might have been the best ever racer in my eyes but I always wanted to look like Big Mig whilst riding.

kieranb

pottssteve wrote:

1. Sunglasses worn with the arms over the helmet-straps = cool.
Sunglasses with the arms under the helmet-straps = uncool.

2. Deep section/aero wheels = cool.
Standard rims or full disc wheels = uncool.

3. Climbing with ars* out of the saddle = looks cool.
Climbing seated = uncool.



Please explain...

'Cause the pros do it, 'cause I have assumed that glasses outside the straps so that in case of a crash they come off easily and don't break and stick fragments in your eyes.

I don't agree with the other 2 points, there you go, it's all subjective - it depends on which group you want to identify with.

MattC59

Cool is doing your own thing and not worrying whether others think it's cool or not.

RDW

The sunglasses thing is rule #37. You are following the other 84 rules, right?:

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

Martincan

If adhering to rule #29, you wont be looking to cool when breaking rule #69!?

Monty Dog

Cool rider = Maurizio Fondriest - Big Mig was positively agricultural on a bike in comparison.

Cool = having the 'legs' to match the bike and making it look effortless.

Uncool - trying too hard to look cool!

de_sisti

pottssteve wrote:

Coo-ey!



1.
Sunglasses with the arms under the helmet-straps = uncool.

Watching the tour, you'll probably find that half of the peloton wear their sunglasses like that.
FFS, it really matters to you, doesn't it? :roll:

Please explain...

pottssteve

De Sisti wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

Coo-ey!



1.
Sunglasses with the arms under the helmet-straps = uncool.

Watching the tour, you'll probably find that half of the peloton wear their sunglasses like that.
FFS, it really matters to you, doesn't it? :roll:

Please explain...

De Sisti,

You're missing the point.

1. No, it doesn't really matter to me - please read the posts above. I'm interested in why it looks cooler to me.
2. If you look here: http://www.steephill.tv/2011/tour-de-fr ... /stage-14/
I chose this stage at random, and every pro has their glasses over their straps, as far as I can make out.


So your contribution was, I'm afraid, unhelpful.

Steve

RichN95.

pottssteve wrote:

1. Sunglasses worn with the arms over the helmet-straps = cool.
Sunglasses with the arms under the helmet-straps = uncool.

2. Deep section/aero wheels = cool.
Standard rims or full disc wheels = uncool.

3. Climbing with ars* out of the saddle = looks cool.
Climbing seated = uncool.

1. Yes. Nothing to do with cool though. Just practical. The shades come on and off more than the helmet.

2. No, If you're a pro or elite rider then you use the best kit. Otherwise you fall into the category "all the gear, no idea", which is desperately uncool.

3. Not really. Climbing seated is controlled and calm. This gradient is no problem to you. Honking is for those trying to squeeze a little bit extra.

ElLawro

I must be in some parallel universe

Anonymous

If you just do what you do, buy and use kit to improve ( in any sport/pastime) then you will be cool.

I have a litespeed with 60mm carbon wheels and wear Rapha. Just like 'em, like the look and style and it all works for me. BTW, I am a 40yr old slaphead with 3 kids, work it out.............. 8)

Ron Stuart

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fulls ... tatus=True 8)