What does the "world of cycling" look like to you? - The Chainlink2024-03-28T23:10:50Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/what-does-the-world-of-cycling-look-like-to-you?feed=yes&xn_auth=noI will add that I certainly h…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-28:2211490:Comment:9840962016-04-28T17:39:21.770ZV Whttps://thechainlink.org/profile/vincentwaller
I will add that I certainly have my own biases but I try to be upfront about those if someone asks me for bike advice, and I try to give the pros and con's of all of the traditional styles of bikes.
I will add that I certainly have my own biases but I try to be upfront about those if someone asks me for bike advice, and I try to give the pros and con's of all of the traditional styles of bikes. It's one thing to provide a p…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-28:2211490:Comment:9840952016-04-28T17:02:41.553ZV Whttps://thechainlink.org/profile/vincentwaller
It's one thing to provide a perspective as one's own two cents and it's another to come off as closed minded (such as implying that road bikes are objectively better) . He came off as the latter by implying that road bikes are what all serious cyclists eventually want as soon as they know what's good for them. I did take her to different bike shops and insisted she test ride all kinds of different bikes including a road bike (which she hated), she ended up getting an Electra Ticino.
It's one thing to provide a perspective as one's own two cents and it's another to come off as closed minded (such as implying that road bikes are objectively better) . He came off as the latter by implying that road bikes are what all serious cyclists eventually want as soon as they know what's good for them. I did take her to different bike shops and insisted she test ride all kinds of different bikes including a road bike (which she hated), she ended up getting an Electra Ticino. I agree with you - there are…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-28:2211490:Comment:9841782016-04-28T16:54:33.421ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>I agree with you - there are many perspectives and riding styles with cyclists. I actually had the exact opposite experience with regards to shopping for a bike. Back when I was getting back into riding, I wanted to get a new bike and was pushed into a hybrid low-end bike. I ended up hating that bike. </p>
<p>I do find road bikes much more comfortable for me. There are friends of mine that prefer upright bikes and I respect that. As I mentioned, different riding styles for different people.…</p>
<p>I agree with you - there are many perspectives and riding styles with cyclists. I actually had the exact opposite experience with regards to shopping for a bike. Back when I was getting back into riding, I wanted to get a new bike and was pushed into a hybrid low-end bike. I ended up hating that bike. </p>
<p>I do find road bikes much more comfortable for me. There are friends of mine that prefer upright bikes and I respect that. As I mentioned, different riding styles for different people. So, from my perspective, I would have appreciated the perspective about road bikes rather than being pushed into a hybrid because it was assumed I wasn't serious enough to complete centuries and metric centuries. Brett helped me figure out what kind of road bike to replace my hybrid with and now, years (and thousands of miles) later, I LOVE that bike more than any other I own. I'm sure your friend will be very happy with her new bike too. </p>
<p>I am impressed the sales person did provide the different perspective rather than just quickly making the sale. Sure, he may have a different perspective than your friend but he felt he was providing a valuable perspective and taking your friend seriously as a cyclist. He was probably providing a perspective based on his own riding experience.</p> I wanted to make a thread on…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-28:2211490:Comment:9840912016-04-28T16:41:56.162ZV Whttps://thechainlink.org/profile/vincentwaller
I wanted to make a thread on a related subject that overlaps with Brett's thread as well- but I'll just post about it here: Road Biker Snobbery.<br></br>
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Bret's thread gets sidetracked with the issue of Barrington Hills being unfriendly to cyclists and this thread isn't quite directly addressing the issue either since it's about general worldwide trends over time.<br></br>
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But anyway, I definitely get a sense of elitism from some Roadies. They seem to think that the different ends of the…
I wanted to make a thread on a related subject that overlaps with Brett's thread as well- but I'll just post about it here: Road Biker Snobbery.<br/>
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Bret's thread gets sidetracked with the issue of Barrington Hills being unfriendly to cyclists and this thread isn't quite directly addressing the issue either since it's about general worldwide trends over time.<br/>
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But anyway, I definitely get a sense of elitism from some Roadies. They seem to think that the different ends of the bike spectrum from Beach Cruiser on one extreme to Road Bike on the other (and everything on between) aren't simply different flavors and styles that are each good in their own way and serve their own purpose but are instead on a scale from worst to best. Or least evolved to most evolved.<br/>
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Just last weekend I was helping a casual cycling friend pick out a new bike at Kozy's, and the clerk that was helping us obviously had a huge roadie bias.<br/>
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He tried telling her that road bikes are actually the most comfortable bikes once you get used to them and that anything else becomes very uncomfortable after a few hours (she retorted that she can ride a divvy for hours and she's perfectly comfortable).<br/>
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She ended up picking out a tourer (a hybrid with a much more upright posture) and he said "in a year you'll be back and you'll want a road bike" or something to that effect.<br/>
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Which just is the latest of many examples where I've seen roadies imply that everyone who is not on a road bike just hasn't graduated to their level of enlightenment yet. Ugh! +1tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-26:2211490:Comment:9832612016-04-26T17:57:01.885ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>+1</p>
<p>+1</p> as a father of a newborn and…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-26:2211490:Comment:9833362016-04-26T17:27:23.322ZDan Allisonhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/DanAllison
<p>as a father of a newborn and a toddler, i don't have a whole lot of free time these days to think about what the "world of cycling" looks like to me.</p>
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<p>i'm just glad that i've structured my life to make it easy for me to be a bike commuter. those little 5 mile jaunts to work and back every morning and afternoon constitute about 95% of my saddle time these days, and i'm ever so thankful to have them. </p>
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<p>i don't have enough time/energy to care about how other people…</p>
<p>as a father of a newborn and a toddler, i don't have a whole lot of free time these days to think about what the "world of cycling" looks like to me.</p>
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<p>i'm just glad that i've structured my life to make it easy for me to be a bike commuter. those little 5 mile jaunts to work and back every morning and afternoon constitute about 95% of my saddle time these days, and i'm ever so thankful to have them. </p>
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<p>i don't have enough time/energy to care about how other people choose to ride.</p> What's great about the midwes…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-26:2211490:Comment:9834062016-04-26T03:40:49.273ZAndrew St. Paulhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AndrewStPaul
<p>What's great about the midwest are the changing seasons, the same trail never really feels like the same trail. Last week I played Hydrologist for the ride, even though most of the passing park's water fountains were off, bummer. I'm looking for another adventurer or two for a planned small group ride, plus I'll be rambling off to some local areas this summer. I put together a message with details to ya.</p>
<p>What's great about the midwest are the changing seasons, the same trail never really feels like the same trail. Last week I played Hydrologist for the ride, even though most of the passing park's water fountains were off, bummer. I'm looking for another adventurer or two for a planned small group ride, plus I'll be rambling off to some local areas this summer. I put together a message with details to ya.</p> I've been doing more "ramblin…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-22:2211490:Comment:9828952016-04-22T13:16:03.953ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>I've been doing more "rambling" into new areas I am unfamiliar with. Last weekend I rode a bike route around the Southern unit of Kettle. After more than 20 years of going to Kettle, I saw hiking and horse trail heads I'd never seen before. I also passed two of the campgrounds I've camped at many times over the years. There's something really special about getting out on a bike and taking advantage of the bike routes, checking out new areas. The only thing I regret is that I didn't pack…</p>
<p>I've been doing more "rambling" into new areas I am unfamiliar with. Last weekend I rode a bike route around the Southern unit of Kettle. After more than 20 years of going to Kettle, I saw hiking and horse trail heads I'd never seen before. I also passed two of the campgrounds I've camped at many times over the years. There's something really special about getting out on a bike and taking advantage of the bike routes, checking out new areas. The only thing I regret is that I didn't pack enough water and snacks, assuming I would pass small towns or gas stations. I managed to finish, a little dehydrated and hungry but really happy. I'm really looking forward to plotting my next bike adventure.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35265006?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="590" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35265006?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="590" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35265037?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="590" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35265037?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="590" class="align-full"/></a></p> Very nice. Love the kickstand…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-22:2211490:Comment:9830792016-04-22T13:10:31.459ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>Very nice. Love the kickstands.</p>
<p>Very nice. Love the kickstands.</p> tag:thechainlink.org,2016-04-22:2211490:Comment:9829882016-04-22T11:19:24.149ZAndrew St. Paulhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AndrewStPaul
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35265059?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35265059?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="517" class="align-full" height="310"/></a></p>
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