Is drinking PBR required to be an "urban cyclist"?

So yeah, last night I rode out to meet a buddy for a beer, and a fellow in the bar commented to me how the lack of clipless pedals and the "loud" lighting on my road bike precludes me from being a true cyclist. Also, he mentioned that I ordered a Newcastle instead of PBR, so I wasn't "keeping it real".

I didn't want to get into a whole debate with the guy because since he had obviously had a few too many PBRs, the discussion would go nowhere. I did ascribe the pedals and the lights to the same factor, my almost getting hit by cars in the past. My bike does have SPDs, but I choose to ride with the adapters on them so I don't have to lock my feet to the pedals as doing that makes me nervous about close calls with cars. The lights are somewhat obnoxious I guess, but they have the same effect as that laser bike lane thing, so for me, the tradeoff is a good one.

The one thing I couldn't even counter on, was that not drinking PBR makes me a fraud as a cyclist. Most of my bike-related choices are very pragmatic, I don't drink PBR not to make a political or social statement, I just happen to prefer various other beers. Not to knock anyone who enjoys that beer of course, I just didn't realize it was such a hot button for some people.

So then, should one compromise a bit to be official in the cycling community, or was my next-stool neighbor last night just a blue ribbon snob?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trip C on March 5, 2009 at 1:27pm

Um....as long as you bike and drink....what the prob bob?

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Permalink Reply by Andy Finko on March 5, 2009 at 5:11pm

Uh, well, um, I didn't get that memo either, the one about PBR and all. I do drink PBR, but that's because it's usually cheap. I also wear a really, really bright yellow jacket and have lots of bright, obnoxious lights. I don't have health insurance, so I'm doing everything on my end to make sure I don't get hit. And I don't really give darn what other people think of how I look riding. It works for me, and that's what matters.

So, in my novice biking philosophy way of thinking, it's like the punk rock movement: about individuality and personal expression, to each his/her own.

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Permalink Reply by Stacey E on March 6, 2009 at 5:16am

David said:

Nope, not required - I don't drink!

Me neither, not since I passed out on my bike in 1999 and shattered my wrist, and spent 5 years paying off my surgery bills. My fixie and I ride sober.

I'm also 40 years old and have a really fat ass and can't fit into skinny jeans. So I probably don't fufill the friend's "urban cyclist" requirements. I think I'll cry myself to sleep tonight...

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Permalink Reply by T. Mo on March 6, 2009 at 11:54am

pfffffffff... anyone who judges someone else for doing something different can just get back.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 14, 2018 at 8:50pm

11-13-18

The end of PBR is imminent?!

https://nationalpost.com/life/food/hipsters-lament-does-a-beer-batt...

MillerCoors is planning to cease contract brewing for Pabst Blue Ribbon.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 15, 2018 at 3:42pm

Jennifer on the lake, since you never elaborate, explain, or link,

I Googled Toxic PBR.

https://foodbabe.com/the-shocking-ingredients-in-beer/

No wonder German beer tastes so good.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on November 15, 2018 at 4:22pm

“since you never elaborate, explain, or link“

Ugh. How about we be kind and welcoming when someone joins a discussion?

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 15, 2018 at 4:39pm

Hi Yasmeen, how is the snow in Washington D.C.?

I 'm curious about what a statement means and would like to know more. I'm even trying to find out more by searching it myself. How is that unkind?

I'm always welcoming to an intriguing discussion here.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on November 16, 2018 at 4:27am

Snow is gone now. Thanks for asking.

This is the same thing I've been saying. The Chainlink needs to be just as warm and welcoming to women. Using words like "never" to put someone down for what they wrote isn't awesome. Now put it in the context that many women get that treatment many times a day i.e. treated as "less than" or mansplained to. Please be sensitive to how you respond and understand that when you make comments like "you never" when telling them their post is not good enough, you are making a bigger statement than maybe you realize. I promised myself I won't let it go on CL. This is a site run by a woman and should be a safe, welcoming place for women. I'd love for women to feel comfortable to post and feel welcome to express an opinion or share knowledge. How would I have handled it? I would have asked if this is what she meant and included the link and maybe a quotation to further clarify. Gets the same information shared while also being more neutral/kind.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 16, 2018 at 6:53am

How is questioning a statement that a member makes, 'Toxic PBR', and basically asking what do you mean by that, and do you have any sources to back up your viewpoint, as a put down?!

I'm interested in engaging in thoughtful conversation with all members here and learning their viewpoints through discussion (hopefully). Some members do ocassionally make statements in their replies and have a history of not elaborating and exchanging their thoughts and observations.

I handled it exactly like you suggested. I googled it myself and read a few links.

Yes, I would also like everyone here to express an opinion or share knowledge through open discussion.