I've always been a "to each their own" kind of person when it comes to bikes, and whatever gets anyone out riding and enjoying their bike(s) is a very good thing. However, all of this discussion centering around the controversies and drama of club rides just further cements my antipathy towards club riding.
On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 8:27:14 AM UTC-4 ascpgh wrote: > It really boils down to manners and the realm of empathy, which is > something I have seen dwindling in the subsequent ranks of roles in my > healthcare workplace. Any activity one participates in has certain > participant etiquette, even bar room brawls. In group bicycle rides I have > even had my randonneur drop bars questioned by a new to cycling cyclist > because of my bar end shifters. "Those are dangerous, you have to take your > hand off the brake levers to shift them". There is a whole lot egocentrism > in that sort of projection. I refer to that as a bilateral thumb disease: > .[image: Screen Shot 2022-07-27 at 8.20.37 AM.png] > > What is dangerous is being a new rider thinking that your proceeds from a > Peloton at the gym and anything you bought make you a good rider. If your > brakes are the control you want most, you are still NIB as a rider. > > I invite all riders to cycling and joining group rides but new cyclists > need to be less self-focused and more outwardly observant to absorb from > experienced riders, passively or actively. Overtaking me on an upgrade then > cutting back in front of me by inches only to pull a bottle and take a > drink while wavering is newbie obtuseness. That sort of exuberance put a > rider (that one) on the ground last night on a beautiful fast downhill on > brand new asphalt. Another went down because of a very poor condition > section of concrete with eroded open joints and fist-sized rocks that have > evulsed from them. > > I was the only rider with fenders and on one downhill stretch all others > around me were in their wobbly tucks "to go faster". I overtly sat up as > high as I could in the air and only then was able to stop continuous > braking to keep from needing to cross the center line and pass while > coasting on my big gushy 650Bx42s amongst all their rock hard 700x<28s. > > What things that make my bike faster? I realize green comes after red and > the cross street turns yellow just before that progression. I can clip into > my pedal without looking, before I want to start moving and momentarily > track stand until I'm clear to pedal onward. I can remember that if I come > to a stop when pushing a heroic gear that I will have to begin pedaling > from a standstill and downshift into a gear that makes that possible. Those > three things alone contribute to put me off the front, regardless of how > "fast" those new riders' bikes are or how slow they think mine is. > > Experience counts more than hardware, which long time riders change with > some frequency. Knowing when someone else had made a conscious decisions > about their bike gear should be clue enough for one to keep their opinion > to themselves. Especially when their "OTC crotch rockets" (that's awesome > Marc!) have not been altered from the box, even bar tape or tires. > > Andy Cheatham > Pittsburgh > On Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 1:22:27 PM UTC-4 Wesley wrote: > >> Agree with Bones. Everyone should ride the bike that makes them happiest, >> but based on my experience experimenting with all different kinds of bars, >> I can''t imagine that every single roadie would prefer drop bars if they >> gave other options a chance. >> -W >> >> On Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 6:09:20 AM UTC-7 Bones wrote: >> >>> I think that's the whole point. Drop bars are the only option on many >>> over the counter crotch rockets. Many people are not aware of the "endless >>> way(s) to ride." >>> >>> Bones >>> >>> On Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 8:52:55 AM UTC-4 jo...@chilmarkresearch.com >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Garth, couldn’t have said it better myself. >>>> Whatever works for YOU is all that counts… >>>> …though I have been known to give pointers to relatively new riders on >>>> form, cadence, gearing etiquette, etc. to help them maintain pace in a >>>> paceline. >>>> >>>> Johnnysmooth >>>> >>>> On Jul 26, 2022, at 8:44 AM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I've ridden many a mile and raced with quite low drops bars. I've >>>> ridden many a mile with with quite high Albatross bars. >>>> >>>> I've ridden many a mile with "regular/street" clothes. I've ridden many >>>> a mile with "cycling specific" clothes. >>>> >>>> Day/night/up/down and all around . >>>> >>>> Who/what is to say one "position/way" is better than any other ? >>>> >>>> That "who/what" is but the given position trying to justify itself ! >>>> Not the rider, the one riding. These "positions" take many forms, be it >>>> formations of size and shape or thoughts/opinions/attitudes inwards and >>>> outwards towards "others". Sometimes the rider seems to "lose themselves" >>>> in these "positions" and seem to believe they ARE the "position". They are >>>> not, ever. One is not "what they say", One is That They IS" .....BEING ! >>>> ((( laughing ))) >>>> >>>> Such is the "egomania" of such "positions" ! ((( laughing heartily ))) >>>> Always seeking validation, a pat on the ol' back, a status up high or even >>>> down low... and a ho-ho-ho ! >>>> >>>> >>>> Nevertheless.... There's endless way to ride ! As you ride 'em all you >>>> clealy see that they all have thier place/time/space/etc, that there is no >>>> valid basis for comparing/raising/lowering one to any "other" one as there >>>> is only The-One-ALL ..... This Presence called "Here/Now/This/The-IS" ! >>>> >>>> Just Ride sunshine ! >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/93f45206-861c-4576-97c8-2440d527fe19n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/93f45206-861c-4576-97c8-2440d527fe19n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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