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Why Does Cycling Attract So Many Snobs?
The Telegraph ^ | 30 Jun 2014 | Jamie Fewery

Posted on 06/30/2014 8:38:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A new breed of cyclist is infecting our roads and destroying the inclusive nature of bike riding. Jamie Fewery introduces 'sportive snobbery'

It was inevitable that with the rapid growth in cycling, factions would emerge. Sub groups of cyclists who define themselves by how seriously they take the sport, their kit, their observance of cycling’s heritage; gangs and coteries who jostle to adopt the lifestyle to a greatest degree. Reach a critical mass of humans who enjoy a shared interest and lines will inevitably be drawn. The peloton rarely sticks together.

For the most part, this is fine. As with any pastime there will be those who are content with occasional participation and those who immediately look to emulate the pros. But there’s a downside as well: snobbery. The idea that some are not only better than others, but that those at the lower end of the commitment and ability scale shouldn’t really be there at all.

I’ve noticed it a few times in discussions about the professional side of cycling, where commentators have a disdain for the popularisation of their sport since Bradley Wiggins won the Tour in 2012. It's as they hold Wiggins personally accountable for allowing the ‘great unwashed’ in on the secret. Or in forums and articles, where self-defined guardians of recreational cycling denigrate those who have the gall to wear a yellow jersey, as if doing so aligns the amateur with Eddy Merckx. And then there's the articles about whether people should or shouldn't wear Lycra (I do, in case you’re wondering).

But cycling snobbery at its worst is on the road.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Hobbies; Sports
KEYWORDS: cycling; elitists; exercise
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

That sounds very uncomfortable


81 posted on 06/30/2014 10:09:06 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Tigerized
One of the worst couple minutes of my life involved a squadron of Kamikazes on the Dual Highway.

They came screaming up behind, passed us and all pulled wheelies.

I have already seen bikers die in front of me and I felt sick, fearing I'd see a whole pack of them blow apart when they hit the pavement.

I swung off on the I70 exit so I didn't have to see them anymore.

Yet another Kamikaze died in that spot a couple weeks ago.

82 posted on 06/30/2014 10:11:33 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Recumbent bikes.

I see them here, too.

The weird part is when they stop and try to put their feet down.

Center of balance must be wonky.


83 posted on 06/30/2014 10:12:56 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: Husker8877; Salamander
don't get yer spandex in a twist...
84 posted on 06/30/2014 10:14:51 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: Chode

Spandex = disco.

Disco sucks.

:)


85 posted on 06/30/2014 10:16:34 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: Salamander

I use to have this 68’ tr6r Triumph with drag pipes. Every time the local seven dogs in my neighborhood got to much to bear, I would fire it up. Instant quiet for 2 hours after that. I think they thought it was a dragon. It did spit fire, lol.


86 posted on 06/30/2014 10:20:28 PM PDT by OftheOhio (never could dance but always could kata - Romeo company)
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To: Salamander
"You know the rule.

Without pics, it never happened.

:)
"

Sorry. That was the '70s. There weren't many pics, and those were left behind along with the rags. And truth is, if I had it to do again, I wouldn't. Not even going to post the motto here.

Well, there is the Triumph from nicer times a few years later--not bad times, really. I worked security in a club 'till late and drove school buses after work there. And there were some classes. I'll scan it in when time allows and get a free site to post it on.

"Not that anyone cares for “history”, these days, but, the original MCs rode more Limey bikes than Harleys.

A Triumph, Norton or a BSA was a righteous ride.
"

Before the '70s, maybe? I didn't know that and didn't see it, where I was. Triumphs were kinda rare where I was, except for a stock one here and there. There were lots of nerds on rice burners around the city, but we were snobs of a kind, too, you know.

I don't even think about those times often. "It never happened?" That would be nice. Little hint: I couldn't ride slow and easy, ever, or ride without it being a way of life.

Going for initial training later on (Army, for the Guard) was the next best thing I ever did. The best is trying to learn more about G-d and trying to live more right.


87 posted on 06/30/2014 10:23:11 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
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To: OftheOhio

Oh no!

Where was YouTube when I needed it?

That sounds badazzzzzzz.

:)


88 posted on 06/30/2014 10:27:31 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: familyop

My response is more toward the direction of this thread. Most of my friends ride Harleys, and quite frankly, I wish my Triumph had that level of workmanship. But at the same time, I generally ride between 2500 and 3500 miles per year on my bicycle. I am one of the so called lycra clad homosexual liberals, even though I have been married (to a woman) for 34 years, and although I didn’t officially join Free-Republic until the early 2000’s, I was lurking here during the Clinton deposition. I have spent a good amount of money on my bicycle, and even when I tell myself I am going on an easy ride, I find myself pushing to improve my performance. I know roads that aren’t friendly to riding, and I avoid them as much as I can, but I also know I have as much right to the roadway as any other vehicle. (All motor vehicle laws apply to bicycles) When I ride outside a bike lane it is because it is littered with car parts, saw blades, broken bottles, ...etc. I know it irritates motorists when they have to slow for a cyclist, and I try to minimize my interference as much as possible, but I am also really annoyed with “Freepers” who classify people the same way liberals do.


89 posted on 06/30/2014 10:34:20 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: nickcarraway

It’s been like this in Boulder County now for decades. Boulder County is practically the bicycle capital of the U.S., and while the vast majority of bikers are pretty much just regular folk, there’s a significant percentage who are professional or semi-professional, and a rather large part of these latter groups are obnoxious pricks.

Every year or so one of these pricks so enrages a motorist the motorist decides to run the prick over on purpose. I think many of us silently sympathize with the poor bastard who ends up in prison because of this. The sad thing is that the dead biker isn’t hung up on a fence as a warning to the others.


90 posted on 06/30/2014 10:36:12 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: nickcarraway

Cyclists, the Jews of FR.


91 posted on 06/30/2014 10:36:35 PM PDT by gura (If Allah is so great, why does he need fat sexually confused fanboys to do his dirty work? -iowahawk)
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To: Salamander

A hamster, running really fast?


92 posted on 06/30/2014 10:37:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: familyop

I love 60-70s era bikes.

The glory days of real choppers and those outrageous “sparkly” king and queen seats with the 4 foot tall sissy bars and big metal flake paint jobs.

If you have Netflix, search for “biker” and lots of the old exploitation movies show up like Devil’s Angels, etc.

Study the bikes and you’ll see a lot of Limeys.

In early MC culture, Brit bikes were considered entirely acceptable.

In some clubs, they still are.


93 posted on 06/30/2014 10:38:05 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: Yogafist

I guess no waves to Moto Guzzi or Beemer riders either.


94 posted on 06/30/2014 10:39:06 PM PDT by RitchieAprile
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To: Yogafist

“I am one of the so called lycra clad homosexual liberals”

Say what?


95 posted on 06/30/2014 10:39:37 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: nickcarraway

*4* hamsters.

On meth.

With rabies.


96 posted on 06/30/2014 10:40:32 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: RitchieAprile; shibumi

Stop right there!

Shibumi, meet RitchieAprile


97 posted on 06/30/2014 10:41:30 PM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: gura

If we were liberal neo nazis, but we’re neither.


98 posted on 06/30/2014 10:42:54 PM PDT by JSDude1
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To: Salamander

Maybe you should go back to the top and review this thread.


99 posted on 06/30/2014 10:44:31 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: Yogafist

If you’re a considerate cyclist who attempts to cooperate with automotive traffic you’re fine by me. But, being in California I’m certain you’re aware of the sort of cyclists who have FReepers riled up. Riding four abreast blocking a whole lane during rush hour, blowing through red lights, arrogant and intentionally disruptive. They aren’t conservative, they hate cars and want to cause problems. I’ve tangled with them in the Bay Area myself, they were whistle-blowing prissy control freaks who attacked merely because of the car I had rented to drive down to Monterrey, no other reason at all.


100 posted on 06/30/2014 10:48:01 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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