Seemingly trivial things that annoy you

robert88

rjsterry wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Shortfall wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Stems from the days when to get a bright light you needed big batteries. A solid unit containing big batteries can have other uses, particularly as it is already in your hand. That said, a smaller torch and a proper baton these days, I'd think.

I think I'm at crossed purposes here. I haven't introduced batons into the discussion. The fictional TV characters I'm on about aren't carrying batons or guns, they're generally looking for some bad guy in the dark somewhere and they have an overhand grip on the flashlight which is then rested on the opposite forearm. This appears to serve no actual purpose other than to look more dramatic, a bit like the other reference to holding a handgun with the handle facing flat to the floor. If people in the real world want to carry batons with their torches and this strange grip serves some practical purpose then great, but it's not what's trivial and annoying to me.

I'd want a weapon in these circumstances. A big heavy torch can be used as a weapon. And you already have it in your hands. Maybe it is that heavy that they need to rest it on their other arm?

But then as soon as you try to use it as some sort of baton it becomes useless as a torch. You're either pointing it at the ceiling or the floor.

Ain't none of you lot read The Godfather?

Al Neri began his career as a New York City policeman where he earned a reputation as a legitimately tough officer due to his fierce temper and quick reflexes. He frequently patrolled the streets with a large flashlight which he used to great effect, either cracking up the foreheads of Italian youths that ran with street gangs or shattering the windshields of diplomats who showed no regard for traffic laws. After his wife, Rita, left him because of her fear of his temper, Neri killed violent pimp Wax Baines who was in the process of slashing a little girl. Neri accomplished this by shattering Baines' skull with his flashlight; he was later convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

If only he'd heard about the strobing flashlight..

Matthewfalle

laurentian wrote:

Pross wrote:

People firing handguns on films and TV shows that hold it one handed and twisted so the grip is parallel to the floor.

Oh, and the whole handgun in both hands pointing in different directions.

Agreed and I would add:

That "shhhhinnng" sound every time a sword is pulled from it's scabbard - this sound effect is used in every shot of a sword being drawn in every film and TV series ever made. A steel sword being drawn from a leather scabbard just wouldn't make that sound.

i've just checked and can confirm that my kukri doesn't make that noise either.

#ouchi'vejustcutmyself

Pross

People using the term 'cockpit' when talking about a bike. It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings.

rolf_f

Pross wrote:

People using the term 'cockpit' when talking about a bike. It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings.

Ditto "steed" of course. Your bike is not a horse, OK? It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings. To be honest, I'd probably be annoyed at a horse rider using the term "steed" as well. Pretentious numptyism.

Matthewfalle

Rolf F wrote:

Pross wrote:

People using the term 'cockpit' when talking about a bike. It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings.

Ditto "steed" of course. Your bike is not a horse, OK? It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings. To be honest, I'd probably be annoyed at a horse rider using the term "steed" as well. Pretentious numptyism.

cockpit
steed
man cave
fleet of bicycles
etc

#uttershit

robert88

Pross wrote:

People using the term 'cockpit' when talking about a bike. It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings.

It does rhyme with bullshit.

haydenm

I would use the term cockpit probably but I'm not sure I ever have. On mountain bikes some feel completely different to others and it's to do with bar width, bar rise, grip thickness, stem length, fork/stack height, reach and probably other things. Not just talking about the 'front end' of the bike as I'd assume you meant the forks, headangle and tyres rather than the 'front end controls' or whatever else you could call it

rolf_f

HaydenM wrote:

I would use the term cockpit probably but I'm not sure I ever have. On mountain bikes some feel completely different to others and it's to do with bar width, bar rise, grip thickness, stem length, fork/stack height, reach and probably other things. Not just talking about the 'front end' of the bike as I'd assume you meant the forks, headangle and tyres rather than the 'front end controls' or whatever else you could call it

What, you mean you'd use the term "cockpit" to describe all those bike related fit variables that cannot be changed in an actual cockpit?

I'd just use "fit" to describe that stuff.

rick_chasey

The office cleaner by all accounts does a good job - I can't complain, they work stupid hours for crap pay, and every w@nker who loses something blames them for it.

They do however have a tendency to accidentally lock the coffee away in the morning by mistake.

AAARGH.

Stevo_666

Matthewfalle wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Pross wrote:

People using the term 'cockpit' when talking about a bike. It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings.

Ditto "steed" of course. Your bike is not a horse, OK? It's just a couple of bits of metal / carbon fibre and a few bearings. To be honest, I'd probably be annoyed at a horse rider using the term "steed" as well. Pretentious numptyism.

cockpit
steed
man cave
fleet of bicycles
etc

#uttershit

You can add the term 'chapeau' to that list. Pretentious w***.

pinno

Chapeau - simply meaning hat.
Like cooking, cycling uses French terminology.
Peloton, grimpeur, rouleur, stagiere, palmarès, domestique...

haydenm

Rolf F wrote:

HaydenM wrote:

I would use the term cockpit probably but I'm not sure I ever have. On mountain bikes some feel completely different to others and it's to do with bar width, bar rise, grip thickness, stem length, fork/stack height, reach and probably other things. Not just talking about the 'front end' of the bike as I'd assume you meant the forks, headangle and tyres rather than the 'front end controls' or whatever else you could call it

What, you mean you'd use the term "cockpit" to describe all those bike related fit variables that cannot be changed in an actual cockpit?

I'd just use "fit" to describe that stuff.

Yes. 'Fit' has far less defined parameters in mtb than it does in road. It's more about handling characteristics, fashion and rider preference. It's very open to experimentation. Edit: If I tried a long reach, short stem and wider bar I wouldn't say I like the 'fit', I'd say 'I have more control on flat out sections' or something

Also, words have lots of meanings and contexts, I don't think describing a part of a bike where controls are is that far away from this use.

"dates from the early 20th century and derives from an early 18th-century nautical term denoting an area in the aft lower deck of a man-of-war where the wounded were taken, later coming to mean ‘the ‘pit’ or well from which a yacht is steered’; hence the place housing the controls of other vehicles."

Stevo_666

Pinno wrote:

Chapeau - simply meaning hat.
Like cooking, cycling uses French terminology.
Peloton, grimpeur, rouleur, stagiere, palmarès, domestique...

I know what it means, but it still makes the user sound like a pretentious w***er. I suppose you could get away with it if you're French, mind.

pinno

HaydenM wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

HaydenM wrote:

I would use the term cockpit probably but I'm not sure I ever have. On mountain bikes some feel completely different to others and it's to do with bar width, bar rise, grip thickness, stem length, fork/stack height, reach and probably other things. Not just talking about the 'front end' of the bike as I'd assume you meant the forks, headangle and tyres rather than the 'front end controls' or whatever else you could call it

What, you mean you'd use the term "cockpit" to describe all those bike related fit variables that cannot be changed in an actual cockpit?

I'd just use "fit" to describe that stuff.

Yes. 'Fit' has far less defined parameters in mtb than it does in road. It's more about handling characteristics, fashion and rider preference. It's very open to experimentation. Edit: If I tried a long reach, short stem and wider bar I wouldn't say I like the 'fit', I'd say 'I have more control on flat out sections' or something

Also, words have lots of meanings and contexts, I don't think describing a part of a bike where controls are is that far away from this use.

"dates from the early 20th century and derives from an early 18th-century nautical term denoting an area in the aft lower deck of a man-of-war where the wounded were taken, later coming to mean ‘the ‘pit’ or well from which a yacht is steered’; hence the place housing the controls of other vehicles."

It's still not a 'cockpit'! :roll:

Look, pensioners aside, haven't you got any trees to shout out? I expect they have all gone deaf.

haydenm

Suggest a more applicable word for the front end controls of a mountain bike to help you describe the combined effect variables listed above. It's not directly comparable but it is very useful for conveying an issue, people would know exactly what you mean (provided they are mountain bikers)

Language isn't literal, the evolution of language is a study in itself

rolf_f

HaydenM wrote:

Suggest a more applicable word for the front end controls of a mountain bike to help you describe the combined effect variables listed above. It's not directly comparable but it is very useful for conveying an issue, people would know exactly what you mean (provided they are mountain bikers)

Language isn't literal, the evolution of language is a study in itself

"Fit"!! - it's closer to what you are talking about than "cockpit". It doesn't need to have exactly the same meaning as per road bikes!

It's not about the appropriateness of the word as much as not sounding like an idiot when using it!

Pross

HaydenM wrote:

Suggest a more applicable word for the front end controls of a mountain bike to help you describe the combined effect variables listed above. It's not directly comparable but it is very useful for conveying an issue, people would know exactly what you mean (provided they are mountain bikers)

Language isn't literal, the evolution of language is a study in itself

What's wrong with bars & stem (or even just bars as to me the stem is an extension of the bars). People managed for decades without using the word cockpit in relation to a bike.

laurentian

Whilst in the realms of cycling related jargon, may I throw the use of the term "stiff and responsive" into the equation?

Every review of every cycling component or accessory descibes them as "stiff and responsive". Frames, wheels, stems, shoes, saddles, pedals, bars, jerseys, helmets, socks . . .

hopkinb

laurentian wrote:

Every review of every cycling component or accessory descibes them as "stiff and responsive". Frames, wheels, stems, shoes, saddles, pedals, bars, jerseys, helmets, socks . . .

After a week of commuting, my socks are certainly stiff, and they evoke a very specific response in those people unlucky enough to be exposed to them.

haydenm

Rolf F wrote:

HaydenM wrote:

Suggest a more applicable word for the front end controls of a mountain bike to help you describe the combined effect variables listed above. It's not directly comparable but it is very useful for conveying an issue, people would know exactly what you mean (provided they are mountain bikers)

Language isn't literal, the evolution of language is a study in itself

"Fit"!! - it's closer to what you are talking about than "cockpit". It doesn't need to have exactly the same meaning as per road bikes!

It's not about the appropriateness of the word as much as not sounding like an idiot when using it!

The purpose of language is to convey meaning, if I went to a bunch of mountain bikers at an enduro race and said something like 'there is something wrong with the fit of my front end' it wouldn't be a clear as saying 'something about the cockpit doesn't feel quite right'. They might suggest different grips or maybe pointing your brake levers down or something. Unfortunately for some it is already in common usage and has it's own distinct meaning here, a bit like the term 'plush' for suspension feel. It's a combined effect of lots of variables to create a 'feeling'

haydenm

Pross wrote:

HaydenM wrote:

Suggest a more applicable word for the front end controls of a mountain bike to help you describe the combined effect variables listed above. It's not directly comparable but it is very useful for conveying an issue, people would know exactly what you mean (provided they are mountain bikers)

Language isn't literal, the evolution of language is a study in itself

What's wrong with bars & stem (or even just bars as to me the stem is an extension of the bars). People managed for decades without using the word cockpit in relation to a bike.

Because cockpit is more than just bars and stem, it's also more concise so it leaves more free for words like 'gnarly' and 'rad'

Ben6899

Stevo 666 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Chapeau - simply meaning hat.
Like cooking, cycling uses French terminology.
Peloton, grimpeur, rouleur, stagiere, palmarès, domestique...

I know what it means, but it still makes the user sound like a pretentious w***er.

Could be worse, Stevo...

Stevo_666

Ben6899 wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Chapeau - simply meaning hat.
Like cooking, cycling uses French terminology.
Peloton, grimpeur, rouleur, stagiere, palmarès, domestique...

I know what it means, but it still makes the user sound like a pretentious w***er.

Could be worse, Stevo...

Could be Ben, but this is the trivial thread.

Matthewfalle

#triviality

FatTed

Stevo 666 wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Chapeau - simply meaning hat.
Like cooking, cycling uses French terminology.
Peloton, grimpeur, rouleur, stagiere, palmarès, domestique...

I know what it means, but it still makes the user sound like a pretentious w***er.

Could be worse, Stevo...

Could be Ben, but this is the trivial thread.

Bidon

Ben6899

FatTed wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Chapeau - simply meaning hat.
Like cooking, cycling uses French terminology.
Peloton, grimpeur, rouleur, stagiere, palmarès, domestique...

I know what it means, but it still makes the user sound like a pretentious w***er.

Could be worse, Stevo...

Could be Ben, but this is the trivial thread.

Bidon

No one bats an eyelid at "derailleur", FFS!

Matthewfalle

casquette.

jog on. its a hat.

#hat
#thinkofOxo

Stevo_666

I may have touched a raw nerve with some chapeau-istas

Matthewfalle

this and everyone and everything to do with it. utter, utter bellennds.

https://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/cycling-caps/

#uttertwats
#passthepickaxehandle
#thinkofOxo
#discountcode8

Stevo_666

Matthewfalle wrote:

this and everyone and everything to do with it. utter, utter bellennds.

https://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/cycling-caps/

#uttertwats
#passthepickaxehandle
#thinkofOxo
#discountcode8

It is a form of 'chapeau'...