Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on August 30, 2013 at 3:56am

See, this is the problem, jealous of our bodacious bottoms and thighs of powa! (I kid, I kid)  

I only wear my spandex shorts when on longer rides because it keeps the chaffing down, otherwise some boxer briefs and light gym shorts work well.  In all seriousness I would be in your corner bashing lycra wearers until I bought and tried a pair......its like the pillow for your "boys" made from the back hair of angels.

But I do get a sense of a slight bias or disdain towards anyone who rides a roadie and likes to go fast.  I try to keep my speed on the streets versus paths because if I need to I can speed up, merge into car traffic, and pass someone slower without incident while giving a warning.  But I do know when I am out and get passed by a line of riders going 25-30 mph and I get no warning and little to no room, it is annoying so I understand and can relate to the feeling of disdain towards them.  But then I will just speed up and pull a draft for a while....might as well right?

Now hipsters on single speed 30 year old Schwinns who give me the stink eye for keeping my 82 Continental as a stock roadie drive me nuts.  Had pulled next to a guy once at a light and he looked at me, crossed his one arm and twirled his mustache while eyeing me in my jersey and lycra shorts.  I got a few "Huh!"'s from him since he had the same bike as me.  That was rude....but then he had to enjoy my lycra'd behind.

Josh.E said:

My biggest beef and dislike is of lycra/spandex fabric. That fabric just doesn't look good on ANYBODY. Also its with weight weenies that saved weight by not having (insert important accessories here)on your bike.....you know what else saves weight...having a massive bowel movement.  But regardless if you go to the roadie/fixie/MB forums they are disliking everyone else that is not them. Its not always rainbow farting unicorns running in a field of kittens and puppies it is what it is.  

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on August 30, 2013 at 4:29am

Haters gonna Hate....... 

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Permalink Reply by Drewbacca on August 30, 2013 at 4:34am

I think Mike summed it up for me... I wear what is comfortable. If I'm not carrying panniers, I'm wearing a jersey and bike shorts are a must (but I'll wear non-cotton boxer briefs with gym shorts for a short ride). Nothing wrong with being comfortable. My only problem is the aspiring cat-6 racers ruining everyone else's stroll in the park. 

Chitown_Mike said:

I only wear my spandex shorts when on longer rides because it keeps the chaffing down, otherwise some boxer briefs and light gym shorts work well.  In all seriousness I would be in your corner bashing lycra wearers until I bought and tried a pair......its like the pillow for your "boys" made from the back hair of angels.

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 30, 2013 at 4:44am

Well, well, the thread has drifted here.  Josh opened it up by opining that nobody looks good in lycra. Perhaps this was a bit of an overstatement but he has a point. The wolf pack, tongues hanging, has added that some riders indeed look good in lycra. Anybody who gets posts from Two Wheels Better on Facebook sees that as there is a rotation of gorgeous bikes and better looking riders (both pictured above in this thread).  I'm not one of them and that's why I have a closet full of jerseys that I hardly wear.  I am still waiting for Julie to get a Chainlink bowling shirt. I would wear that. If I am going on a ride over 75 miles I will likely pull one of those things on because the rear pocket will be desirable and function will be much more important to me than form.  For everything else, which means pretty much any ride in the city, I am happy with a tee shirt or golf shirt.

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Permalink Reply by WillG on August 30, 2013 at 6:06am

Sorry Brian, you wear lycra and ride a "roadie" bike, ergo this forum does not like you. Please don't try to use reason here while we're circle jerking.

Brian Schuster said:

I don't really understand the open disdain for road bikes or those wearing Lycra.  I exclusively ride a road bike, wear cycling clothes, and follow the rules of the road to a tee (sometimes being a huge inconvenience).  I wear spandex because it's more comfortable on both long and short rides.  Even when I'm cycling to work, its nice to get there without being drenched in sweat because of how the fabric wicks away moisture.  I like to ride fast but you'll rarely if ever see me pass another rider dangerously or without warning.  To be honest, during my commute, I see many more riders with "beater bikes", divvy bikes, or fixed gears that ride the way that most of you think roadies behave.  Blowing red lights, shoaling, zipping around at 25 + mph with a boombox on the panniers during rush hour on the LFP.  However the main difference is you don't see me or many other roadies bashing on these types on an open forum. 

 

It definitely doesn't support the feeling of an open community and is basically the equivalent of cycling racism. 

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Permalink Reply by Joe M on August 30, 2013 at 7:02am

Aside from speed, the fact that many of these cyclists seem to come out of nowhere adds to the aggravation.  Most are very quiet and tend to startle others when they zoom by.  One second, you're out enjoying a nice stroll or casual cruise, the next, you need to hold your line while some freight train whizzes by within inches of you.

As mentioned, shared paths are just not the place to go fast ... for a variety of reasons.  And if you're coming up on others and really want to end the lycra-hate, slow down to their pace when you pass by.  Problem solved.

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Permalink Reply by Davo on August 30, 2013 at 7:02am

As I said, maybe I want to much, but I do expect professional-looking cyclists to know better and follow the rules.

That, and it is easy to get lumped into a group when you are wearing a uniform. Ive seen posts about complaining about the hipster (fixie) genre of cyclists. Most posts are about an individual wearing that subcultures uniform or riding that subcultures bicycle. If one of you acts like a jerk, it reflects on the whole group, just as if one is a real nice cyclist. If you are offended by others, generalizations, then either set a even better example, call out people who do stupid things, or don't wear the uniform.

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Permalink Reply by Marcus Moore on August 30, 2013 at 9:28am

I'm another roadie like Brian, ride safe like Brian.  This conversation is still happening though.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Brian,

If other roadies were like you, this conversation probably wouldn't happen.

Brian Schuster said:

I don't really understand the open disdain for road bikes or those wearing Lycra.  I exclusively ride a road bike, wear cycling clothes, and follow the rules of the road to a tee (sometimes being a huge inconvenience). [...]

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on August 30, 2013 at 9:57am

I have been riding road bikes while wearing lycra or wool for 35+ yrs. I went through the "it ain't cool" phase from mountain bikers, to the triathletes, to the messengers and then hipsters all who dislike lycra, now it is the commuters. The same folks who argue day in and day out for equality and fair treatment on the roadways. I stop for 99% of red lights, always yield the right of way at stop signs and generally try to not influence the traffic pattern. If cars do not stand on their horns or have to zoom around me I know I did my best to coexist.

The lakefront path is a multi use path,  people in lycra make up a small percent of users (especially in the summer) Everyone just wants to get from point A to point B, and most importantly back home to point A again. No one is breaking any laws by passing you on the lakefront path and ruining your serenity. No one is breaking any laws by not announcing they are about to pass you, or by yelling it too loud. Who made up these "rules"?  Treat the path like you would a highway, you would not drive in the left hand lane unless you are overtaking someone, you wouldn't switch lanes without looking first. and you would not drift from one lane to the next for no apparent reason.

The bottom line is that is just a bike ride, get over yourselves and ride your damn bike.

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Permalink Reply by Eli on August 30, 2013 at 9:57am

To be honest, during my commute, I see many more riders with "beater bikes", divvy bikes, or fixed gears that ride the way that most of you think roadies behave.  Blowing red lights, shoaling, zipping around at 25 + mph with a boombox on the panniers during rush hour on the LFP.  However the main difference is you don't see me or many other roadies bashing on these types on an open forum. 

Nonsense. I see roadies bashing non-roadies all the time. In fact, that is precisely what you are doing in the two sentences preceding the one in which you claim not to do it. (And if anyone has managed to hit 25+ mph on the trail with a boombox attached on a freaking Divvy bike I will eat my hat. Come on, at least try to make your baseless stereotypes at least vaguely plausible.)

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on August 30, 2013 at 10:21am

Take it to your tumblr, shitlib.

Julie Harpring 7.6 miles said:

I think you mistook my meaning. I was calling you a gross dude, but I changed it before your reply to call you a sleazy dude. It's awesome that you like women, but no one likes to be objectified.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

1) I'm not apologizing for liking women.

2) You better watch your grammar, dudette! (See: COMMA [,] dudette!)

Julie Harpring 7.6 miles said:

Gross dude! Keep your male gaze out of my comment replies!

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Permalink Reply by Davo on August 30, 2013 at 10:29am

Im sure that if half of the posters of negative roadies knew that particular persons name, then that person would be called out by name on sites like this. I don't believe that anyone has disdain for all roadies just the few that act like jerks. Those are the ones that make all of roadies and cyclists in general look bad. The more roadies that behave like you three, the more people will not dislike you. Unfortunately, like most things, a single negative far outweighs a single positive. So once again I believe that the majority of posts are about a single occurrence and not the whole group. It just happens that they are wearing a full kit and that is a way to distinguish that particular rider. So yes until all roadies behave like you there will be conversations like this. This isn't about you or this subculture of cycling its about the person acting like a jerk who just happens to be wearing this uniform.

Marcus Moore said:

I'm another roadie like Brian, ride safe like Brian.  This conversation is still happening though.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Brian,

If other roadies were like you, this conversation probably wouldn't happen.

Brian Schuster said:

I don't really understand the open disdain for road bikes or those wearing Lycra.  I exclusively ride a road bike, wear cycling clothes, and follow the rules of the road to a tee (sometimes being a huge inconvenience). [...]

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