Naming Bikes: Normal or Crazy?

[kfergos]

Do you name your bike(s)? :o

Mine named themselves:
Charlotte is the almost 10-year-old Specialized Hard Rock with drop-handlebars, studded tires, fenders, a rack, and serious head- and tail-lights. She's the winter ride.

Davey is the 2007 LeMond Poprad, red, speedy, and fun to ride spring through fall. He's still a functional commuter bike, though, with fenders and front and rear blinky lights.

Is it strange to feel like your bike has a personality, and deserves a name as much as a pet does?

[gnat23]

I don't think it's strange at all. I have Cheddar, my 10+ year old Trek from Wisconsin, and Brie, my strong and smooth Specialized Ruby. I think when I get a mountain bike, it will have to be Chevre, the goat cheese.

-- gnat! (Now, when you realize that some bikes are male and some are female based on their personalities...) :p

[sundial]

Nope, not strange at all. I have Jada the Specialized Roubaix and Carmine, the Rockhopper.

I also give my dogs people names. :)

[rij73]

How about somewhere between normal and crazy, such as "eccentric"?

I haven't named my bike, but my Steinway grand piano is named George. I have no idea why... seemed like a good name at the time! :p

[Tuckervill]

I have a hard time naming inanimate objects, but I enjoy the company of those who can. My youngest son anthropomorphizes everything--when he has to choose one thing over another, he feels sorry for the thing he didn't choose. He names enough things for both of us.

That said, my last red Beetle was named Chigger. :)

Karen

[OakLeaf]

I used to have a cheese grater named Alexander. As in...

Does that count?

[rij73]

I used to have a cheese grater named Alexander. As in...

ROTF! :D:D:D

[csr1210]

My bikes have names AND genders:o.

I don't really feel bad for the things I don't choose -- but I do feel really guilty if I throw away a plant -- even if it's been slowly dying away for months! I finally had to make husband carry one to the trash when I wasn't around:o. I really think it had just lived out its lifespan, but I still felt mean dumping it in the trash.:rolleyes:

Back to bikes; I love the cheese theme!

Christy

[alpinerabbit]

My new ride will be named Rosita. I waited for inspiration and there it was.

[Andrea]

Gnat- love the cheese names!

I haven't named my bike, but considering that I just elevated it to "bike porn" status, I could call it Ron or Jenna :D

[LBTC]

Eccentric. Yeah, that's it! :o

My new CF Cannondale Synapse is "Little Wing" for the Hendrix song "....butterflies and zebras, and moonbeams, and fairie tales, and all she ever thinks about is riding with the wind...."

She's the first bike I've named so far, and I got her just before winter so haven't really been riding any of the bikes yet. I'm thinking my other bikes will need names soon, too, and they will likely come to me as the season gets going. I've got a Norco Torrent that is becoming my bike friday, and a Santa Cruz Juliana Super Light.....and they are all black. Some of the names that came up while trying to find Little Wing's name were:
Desdemona, Lola, Lucille, Portia, Betty, Veronica, Godiva
I'm sooooo looking forward to those early season rides as I get to know each of them again, and finally give them the names they so richly deserve.

oh, yes, I looooove the cheese theme!! And Alexander the....

hahahahaha
Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[horsemom]

My bikes have names - my Gary Fisher Cobia mtbk is Mustang Sally, because she ain't no A-rab (I ride Arabian horses...) My road bike is a Salsa LaRaza and I call her Salsa, which is not really very original, but very fitting - she is bright blue and red, very feminine and very spicy!!!

I loved the story about making your husband take the dead plant out to the garbage!!! I would do that!

laura

[Xrayted]

there are a lot of us here who have named their bikes. My road bike is Zoom and my mtb is Pounce. Of course, when I'm actually riding them it's more like Pokey and Gumby. :p

[crazycanuck]

Am i the only one out there that doesn't name my bikes? My bike is a bike is a bike..

[salsabike]

I don't name my bikes.

[NJBikeGal]

Naming Bikes is Necessary! :)

My hard tail Fuji Tahoe - the Mudpuppy - he always seems to find his way through the largest puddle around, even when I attempt to steer him clear!

My Yellow Felt F70 Road Bike - Athena. Turned out she thought that when we entered triathalons in the Athena category (you know...the one for us gals who don't weight 100 pounds) that we were entering a category where all the bikes were named Athena!

My new Specialized Tarmac SL - Falco. #1 - he descends like a hungry bird of prey after a poor pigeon. #2 - i think there's an 80's German pop star in him somewhere! :)

[IFjane]

Nope, not strange at all. I have Jada the Specialized Roubaix and Carmine, the Rockhopper.

I also give my dogs people names. :)

I have one bike - her name is Godiva - because she is naked (so naked, in fact, that her pink hubs glisten in the sunlight :eek:). I, however, am clothed when I ride her. :D

And two of my four cats have people names; :rolleyes: Robbie and Lucy.

[rij73]

My new CF Cannondale Synapse is "Little Wing" for the Hendrix song "....butterflies and zebras, and moonbeams, and fairie tales, and all she ever thinks about is riding with the wind...."

I had a friend in elementary school named "Little Wing"... All of us kids didn't know the song of course, so we thought it was a Native American name! Poor kid, having to explain that all her life... :p

[MALcontent]

My town bike is Esmerelda, because I hear the Wicked Witch of the West song from the Wizard of Oz in my head when I ride it. I've had my road bike for 8 years now, but a name has never materialized. I just got a new mountain bike and will be trying out names as we become better acquainted. I name cars too. The green Subaru I owned for 10 years was Violet.

[firenze11]

Ever since I went into an LBS and they told me the bike would pick me I knew mine would have to have a name. (Not sure they meant it in the "bikes have souls" kind of way I took it though) Although I haven't found one that sticks just yet. Jake is ok, but Kona named him first. And yes, it's a him. For sure.

My first car was named Felix. Everyone who knew me knew to call him Felix and not the Volvo.

LBTC - I love that name! (And the song, of course)

[sandra]

I love my PedEgg so much that I would name it and marry it if I could.

Oh wait. This is about bikes. :eek: Yes, I named my beautiful Red Lotus Blossom.

(if you don't have a PedEgg, rush right out and get one. Don't spend another day without one :p)

[sundial]

Sandra, LOL!

I think I'll name you the Sweet Potato Queen. :D

[Meaux]

I named my bikes!!
The Specialized Hard Rock is Babe (as in, the blue ox)
the Giant OCR3 is Babette, because it is the diminutive Babe
and the Orbea is the La Nina de Espana. Because that is what she is.

Both of my cats have people names, Annabel Lee (for the Poe poem) and Vladimir (as in the Impaler, although, I think his real full name was Wladislav).

I named my husband's bikes, too, much to his chagrin. (Bevo and the Stormking)

[sandra]

Sandra, LOL!

I think I'll name you the Sweet Potato Queen. :D

I am THE Sweet Potato Queen wannabe. :D

[Zen]

Sandra, LOL!

I think I'll name you the Sweet Potato Queen. :D

Oh I named her that a long time ago.
I have this mental image of Sandra in some small town parade, sitting an one of those old web-type lawn chairs with her tiara and a sash, waving to her subjects from the back of a flat bed pick-up.

[sandra]

You've got it all wrong. It's really more like this. :D

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/47b6dd01b3127cce98548aa2bcb10000001.jpg

[sandra]

or THIS? (and yes, that's panties on my haid.)

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/47b6dd01b3127cce98548a873da40000001.jpg

[Trek420]

or THIS? (and yes, that's panties on my haid.)

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/47b6dd01b3127cce98548a873da40000001.jpg

That's what I pictured. :D

Road bike - Lavender Menace, yes she's lavender.

Commuter-mobile - Bradley (my LBS calls her the Tour de France bike, 'cause she's bright yellow).

Free wheel - yet to officially be named, has several but not settled on one.

Knott's Giant RS940 - Cedar (she's blue and green).

My LBS jokes that they keep track of their clients in files by first name and name of bike. So the bikes have their name and I'm Trek Trek420 - Mondonico - GT- Motobecane - Giant

[KnottedYet]

I picture your mixte freewheel as some sort of flapper-chickie from the age of prohibition. Little minx haircut, flask of booze in her garter, twinkle in her eye.

Cedar might need reddish brown saddle and grips, so she has the red like the bark of a cedar.

[Trek420]

Cedar might need reddish brown saddle and grips, so she has the red like the bark of a cedar.

And a banana slug climbing up a pannier ;)

[Aggie_Ama]

I name mine!

My old Fuji was Fiona, like the princess from Shrek. A little fussy but loyal. ;)
My Cannondale Synapse is Miranda. I imagine her to be a little spitfire like Miranda Hobbs on Sex in the City. :D
My poor Scott Mountain Bike hasn't seen enough miles to name her self.

I also name my cars:
My 1986 Cutlass Supreme was Jezebel. Angry Johnny by Poe was very popular and we just called her that.
My Purple Neon was Delilah.
My Volkwagen Beetle was Venus.
My POS Saturn Vue was named Layla. Cause like the Eric Clapton song I was always begging her (to stay on the road and not in the shop).
My Dodge Caliber is Gretchen because she is anything but cute.
I named our old Dodge truck Gunther. I think I should call the replacement Clifford because it is big and red and doesn't fit in the garage. Clifford the dog never fit in his house on my book cover. :D

[Bad JuJu]

I hadn't named my touring bike, but when I got my Bianchi Veloce I named her Professor Sprout. Then the touring bike--deep forest green in color--decided SHE wanted to be Professor Sprout, so now the Bianchi is Stella. Jeeeez! :D

I, too, tend to hear the Wicked Witch's theme from the Wizard of Oz in my head when I'm riding--mostly when I'm flying down a long hill. Climbing, all I hear are my muscles yelling at me--"Stoppppppp!"

[kfergos]

How about somewhere between normal and crazy, such as "eccentric"?

I like that. It sounds much nicer than "crazy." :D

[Trek420]

I like that. It sounds much nicer than "crazy." :D

Eccentric is when you're rich and crazy, we're just crazy :p that's normal.

[rocknrollgirl]

Good Lordy, I hope not, mine are all named. AND my cycling buddies refer to them by name:

My XC racer is Gidget, small and fiesty
My all mt bike- Bob- tough, dependable, can take a hit
My city bike- Bluebell-she wants to be urban, but just can quite get there...
My new road bike is yet unamed....

The DH has:
Babe, the great blue ox
His new 29er is Gandalf the grey.....

[Melalvai]

Eccentric is when you're rich and crazy, we're just crazy :p that's normal.
Are you sure crazy and normal are mutually exclusive?

[SJCzar]

Absolutely !!!

She even has her name proudly painted on her.

[Becky]

DH and I have, at last count, 6 functional bikes between us. So we need some way to tell them apart in conversation!

My bikes:
Dark pinkish steel Bianchi road bike- "Ruby"
Bright red steel Nishiki commuter- "The Brick"
Black Cannondale hardtail- "Bean"

DH's bikes:
White steel Specialized Allez- "Alley Cat" or "Cat" for short
Cream-colored aluminum commuter- I don't know if this has a name- he just built it.
Black Cannondale hardtail- "Angus"

We name our pets, why not our bikes? :D

[Blueberry]

Some of mine have names - some don't.

My Cannondale Road bike is Blueberry.

My Surly Cross Check has simply been dubbed Surly Girl.

Still waiting for my Trek 520 and Bike Friday to speak to me:D:D

Tandem isn't named either...

If I'm nuts, I don't want to be sane:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[spindizzy]

I have yet to name mine...and I figure if it doesn't have a name by now.

Btw, in my early teens (the "olden" days for you young folks!) my brother and sisters used to laugh at me as I wouldn't let them kick cardboard boxes around just in case they had feelings. I still get ribbed about this...

[kmcmoobud]

Funny...I was thinking about posting this same question earlier this week.

Everything in my house has a name...including the refrigerator (Bucko) and dishwasher (Marge).

My Scott road bike is Zippy the Crankmeister. I haven't named my Surly Cross Check...I just got it on Saturday. My friend called it the Surly B***h...but I don't think that is the name that will stick. I'm sure its name will come to me in the next week or so.

My old truck is Dillon and my car is Baby Ruth.

Dogs: Sargent Slinky (Sarge, aka Sargento, Sargeo, Sargent Sunggles when he's good and Sargent S**t Head when he's bad) and Buddy Good Dog (Buddy, aka budderman, butterbean, beanieweenie, beanerbot...and on and on and on...)

WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME???!!!???

[tc1]

There are many ways one can divide the world into two classes of people. For fun, not for meanness. And one of the ways to divide them is, those who name inanimate objects, and those who don't. I never have. Won't say never will, but doubtful. If I am feeling especially inspired by my tech I start singing.

Living things, I have a hard time sticking to just one name. My poor doggies.:p

[KnottedYet]

My (steel) Surly Cross Check is "Crow Carmelita Cross Check the Disco Queen"
My (steel) Waterford is "Flosshilde"
My (steel) Kona Smoke is "Mitzy G. O. V." (after Missy Giove)
My (steel) Giant SR940 is "Cedar"

(can you tell I like steel? :D)

[blondiebiker]

My Cannondale road bike is Blondie, cause she's yellow. :)

[Popoki_Nui]

My bikes' names:
Gitane TdF: "Geri"
Bianchi Super Grizzly MTB: "Viaggiatore"
Rocky Mountain RC70: "Nahanni"
Bianchi Limited: "Bella Nero"
Kuwahara Sierra Grande MTB: "Wo Fat"
Falcon: "Raptor"

Obviously way too much time on my hands...

[kmcmoobud]

Reading all these posts has made me feel inadequate...I only have two bikes. Guess I'll have to get another to keep up with the crowd.

[rij73]

Living things, I have a hard time sticking to just one name. My poor doggies.:p

Oh yeah... My dog, Hudson, also responds to Hudsie, Poochie, Poopoo, Bubba, and Cutey-Patootey.

[KnottedYet]

Reading all these posts has made me feel inadequate...I only have two bikes. Guess I'll have to get another to keep up with the crowd.

More bikes, more better!
(far be it from us to encourage restraint! :D)

[Trek420]

Reading all these posts has made me feel inadequate...I only have two bikes. Guess I'll have to get another to keep up with the crowd.

Or two great bikes each with multiple names :D

More names, more better. :)

[wannaduacentury]

I haven't named my bike, but my Steinway grand piano is named George. I have no idea why... seemed like a good name at the time! :p[/QUOTE]

I love that- George :) music lover here. Jenn

[wannaduacentury]

My silver road bike is named Casper (like the friendly ghost) and my black mtn bike is named Lava Lake b/c the color is called Lava and I thought of volcanos. kinda cool I think. Jenn

[Di bear]

I don't name my bikes, but I do talk to them. For example: during a race, big hill coming up, hope the chain doesn't skip, "Come on bike! Go, bike, go! Go bike, bike, bike, bike . . ." lol....it's bad.

[Lifesgreat]

My Felt road bike is named Fatty Lumpkin, after Tom Bombadil's sturdy pony in the Lord of the Rings. Tolkien describes Fatty as being "much faster than his girth promised". I have yet to name my 18 yo Bridgestone Mtn. Bike

[northstar]

Perhaps a little crazy, but awfully catching and convenient. My road bike is named Myrtle (started as a joke, but boy did it stick...) and my vintage Schwinn is named Lulu. It's more fun to say "Lulu and I are going to Target."

DH's knockaround road bike is called Omar.

But the rest of my family thinks I'm nuts.

[JennyPi]

My bike is a Schwinn cruiser from the early 80's. I bought her from the local newspaper for $50. I've been riding around for a couple months now but she's so heavy! (This is why I am transitioning into road/commuter biking) Out of frustration I called my bike, who was previously named Panchito, a "Big *****." Afterwards I started laughing and decided that from then on her name would be Big-B. So there it is.

My guitar amp (25 watt Fender) is named Gloria. Funny huh? I seem to think so.

My car (white Scion XB) is named Stormy-T because the car looks a lot like a storm trooper from Star Wars.

The list goes on and on ...

[JennyPi]

Living things, I have a hard time sticking to just one name. My poor doggies.:p


Oh yeah... My dog, Hudson, also responds to Hudsie, Poochie, Poopoo, Bubba, and Cutey-Patootey.




Same here! My Toy-Fox Terrier is the worst one. His name was originally Big-Boi but has somehow transformed into Beepo-Peereepa (Beepo for short). He doesn't even respond to Big-Boi :D

[mupedalpusher]

I just recently got serious about naming my current ride. Her name is Shirley. She's a silver Trek 7300fx with rack, fenders etc., a real pack mule to carry all my stuff.
Her name was selected for two reasons. Here at MU-Vet School, we have had several teams of mules that serve as the Vet school mascots. One set of mules a few years ago were named Jill and Shirley. Since I refer to my bike as my pack mule, she became Shirley. The other reason in corny...I always say she will "surely" get me where I'm going.
My daughter (age 11) just got a new bike (light blue Trek 7.2fx) I'm trying to talk her in to naming the new bike Laverne so we can have Laverne and Shirley. She doesn't see the humor!

[rij73]

My daughter (age 11) just got a new bike (light blue Trek 7.2fx) I'm trying to talk her in to naming the new bike Laverne so we can have Laverne and Shirley. She doesn't see the humor!

That would be hilarious, but you'd have to show her an episode, I think! Then again, I wonder what an 11 year old of today would make of Laverne and Shirley... When I think back to all the shows I was hooked on as a kid, it makes me feel ancient! :p