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[salsabike]

We are all cyclists. Some are more cyclist than others.....



with apologies to George Orwell

Nice one, Snap.

[Deborajen]

I agree, too. We're all cyclists - that's why we're here. We all ride bikes whether it's for commuting, exercise, competition, or whatever.

I think sportsmanship is always important in sports. Winning without gloating and losing without being a "sore loser" make all sports more fun. It keeps everyone in the "circle." Same with not having to define/qualify a person to be a "cyclist." Why go there?

Deb

[Kalidurga]

I like this idea ... should we start a new thread? The question: WHO is a cyclist?! What a great discussion because we obviously have a lot of different opinions! However, if I started it, I think I would get a lot of people mad, so maybe someone else could start it and I could just read it ... I may be enlightened because it is SAFE to say -- I am a BIKE SNOB ... confession is good for the sole, isn't it?!

This is a great article that I read in Bicycling magazine (and I think someone also posted the link here a few months ago): Invisible Riders. If you want enlightenment about "who is a cyclist?", it's possible you'll find some in that article.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think it's OKAY for us to have different definitions of what a "cyclist" is.
It's a definition that likely cannot be agreed upon here. All we can really do is state our various opinions of what it means to us as individuals. No one is Right or Wrong. Unfortunately, it often happens that one person will state their opinion and another will take exception to it and feel compelled to prove them "wrong", or just get angry about it. Language is such that most terms and words have varying definitions to different people- useless to argue about whose definition is more or less correct.

[guest1]

Point of clarification - Since you quoted my text it appears that you're addressing the above quote to me...I'd like to be clear that I am not the person who PM'd you.

yep, you're not and that was NOT the intent of what I wrote! it was a general statement, meaning, I know what I am and if ANYone disagrees, I support you for disagreeing but please don't send me private messages about how you (meaning ANYone) disagree ... tell Everybody!

[guest1]

This is a great article that I read in Bicycling magazine (and I think someone also posted the link here a few months ago): Invisible Riders. If you want enlightenment about "who is a cyclist?", it's possible you'll find some in that article.

I read that article ... good point! THANKS!

[Geonz]

I agree with you, life is full of "circles" to exclude and include -- to elevate and devalue ourselves and others. So, who and what is a cyclist? Is ANYone who rides a bike a cyclist? To me, that is like saying ANYone who throws a football in the backyard with their kids on Sunday afternoons is a football player; ANYone who jumps into a pool and doggie paddles across the pool length is a swimmer; ANYone who shoots hoops in their driveway is a basketball player. OK, I may be wrong, but to me, they are people having fun playing a sport, not necessarily defined by that sport. As for riding a bike, there are times when I am riding a bike and I am a bike rider -- I am goofing around with my kids in the neighborhood, riding my bike to the grocery store, or riding a smooth bike trail with my friends. Other times, I am a cyclist -- I am riding for fitness, endurance, and training. I am working hard and pushing my body to its limits (yep, give me a circle to place myself in), and I am presenting myself and my sport in the highest regard because I am maximizing my efforts and displaying respect for myself and my equipment, other people, automobiles, and the laws of my state. I am no longer "just riding my bike" but I am athlete and a professional (if only in my own mind). Yes, I am a bike rider, having fun and following the rules of the road, but I am also a cyclist because I train and work hard at riding my bike. IN MY OPINION, most everyone can ride a bike, but not everyone can be a cyclist. Ok, call me a snob, or any other form of snobbery ... I will be the first to claim it as truth ... but please don't PM me just because my "circle" is different from yours. Life is full of "circles" and that will never change.

So, you have a logical issue with saying ANYBODY who throws a football... I have that problem with your global ANYONE who ever uses a sidewalk not being "an athlete" "maximizing my efforts" etc. etc. The rather obvious implication is that I don't train, don't work hard, and don't follow the rules of the road because I get on a sidewalk when it makes sense - since you say that you are a cyclist because you train and work hard at riding your bike. If I am not a ;cyclist, that woudl imply that I don't.

However, i am simply positive that you work harder and train harder than I ever will. *That's* what makes you 'More" of a cyclist... at least a certain kind... *not* that you never cross off the road to go slower for a little while.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Instead of people being "more" or "less" of a cyclist, how about just saying there are different kinds of cyclists?: Professional cyclists, competition cyclists, fitness cyclists, and purely recreational cyclists. One could be more than one type too, like a competition mtn bike racer who rides in the park with their kids on the weekend! (maybe even going on the sidewalk! )

[CycleChic06]

Ok, I really really really didn't mean to set off that discussion of "what is a cyclist" It was meant rhetorically. I though it was clear when I listed the definition from websters that anyone who cycles is a cyclist. My point was we that we shouldn't bother categorizing and giving a name to what we are and what we do. We are all on this board becuase we share an interest in riding bicycles. We are all different levels of experience and invovlement, but all with one purpose. Please try to remember this and lets get back to discussing the relevant things like how far we've ridden today or how many scars we have from falling with clipless pedals or if we prefer sports beans over bananas...

[LBTC]

hmmmm.....all those circles, and I'm not exempt.

I am a beer snob. Yes, it's true. I just won't drink it if I just don't love it. No Bud, Labatt's, Canadian, Miller, etc in my house! If it isn't Sleeman's, Granville Island, Bowen Island or some micro brew that the average person has never heard of, I just won't drink it. Thanks for the offer, but, uh, no thanks.

heh.

I'm also not a photographer. I'm a photo enhusiast.

What the heck, everything else is labeled!!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[pooks]

This reminds me of something I read on another site. A bunch of cyclists stopped at a small grocery out in the country to buy water, and had to walk by a bunch of guys with Harleys to go inside.

They all started talking and laughing, and the guys on Harleys were a lot more accepting of the guys in spandex than they feared, until one of the cyclists referred to himself as a "biker."

One of the big Harley guys growled, "Son, WE'RE the bikers. YOU'RE the bikEEs."

Badabing.

[ribbit_zap]

I just have to say that the last part of CycleChic's post from above made me grin I agree with Lisa's post from above. I think there are just different types of cyclist. Good point Lisa!

[five one]

Not tech savvy enough to insert the image, but this is one of my favorite comics that addressed biker/cyclist issue.

http://rhymeswithorange.com/home.php?date=20020507

[guest1]

So, you have a logical issue with saying ANYBODY who throws a football... I have that problem with your global ANYONE who ever uses a sidewalk not being "an athlete" "maximizing my efforts" etc. etc. The rather obvious implication is that I don't train, don't work hard, and don't follow the rules of the road because I get on a sidewalk when it makes sense - since you say that you are a cyclist because you train and work hard at riding your bike. If I am not a ;cyclist, that woudl imply that I don't.

However, i am simply positive that you work harder and train harder than I ever will. *That's* what makes you 'More" of a cyclist... at least a certain kind... *not* that you never cross off the road to go slower for a little while.

the sidewalk thing: if it is ILLEGAL to ride on the sidewalk, then I say don't do it because it is a TERRIBLE way to represent the sport of cycling! if it is LEGAL and the BEST METHOD to get from point A to point B, then use it because that makes you a VERY WISE cyclist!

[stacie]

I listen to the evening news while cooking dinner. Reports of a cyclist hit by a car stop me in my tracks. I find myself hanging on every word trying to identify, is this a cyclist or someone on a bike? Without thought I try to identify if this was someone who was aware of the laws and following them. Yes, I try to identify if it is someone in "my group" or not. I am struck harder if someone I consider a cyclist has been injured. It's not that I care less for the other person it's just that it feels more like it could have been me. I can relate to this person and their level of risk more.
At my work, we are in the process of creating small groups of people with related interests. We have groups who like to work out before daylight in the morning. We have a tri-athlete group. We have a group of seniors, people who like to cook, a book club, a group of attorneys who drink wine and ride bikes......The goal is not to exclude people but to create a sense of family, community. We are pack animals. We like to belong. We enjoy being around people who have something in common with us. We enjoy meeting people with shared interest. Why must we feel that creating communities is excluding someone who doesnt share our interests? I belong to so many different communities. I rarely blend these groups together. I enjoy hanging with my cyclists friends on some occasions and my foodie friends on others. If you are not part of this group it just means we don't share this interest.
Don't let your emotions get in the way of healthy debate. Isn't the idea here to get together a bunch of people from different places with different ideas. Isn't it more interesting if we disagree, argue and debate? One group you can exclude me from is the one where everyone agrees with everything I say.
Just my 2 cents.