Define "Cyclist"

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J

J4CKO

New Member
Is anybody who swings a leg over a Bicycle automatically a "Cyclist", is an unlit pavement Ninja a "Cyclist", I personally think that Cyclist should be reserved for those who do it well, or at least make an effort to do so, I feel kind of aggreived when people who know I ride regularly moan at me about unlit cyclists and other transgressions.

Dont know where I am really going with this but the Eskimos have multiple words for Snow and Audi forty words for what is basically silver paint so why does anyone with a push bike become a "Cyclist", shouldnt there be some other words in general use by the public for describing certain types of cyclist rather than slagging us all off because a Cannabis addled teenager on a BMX ?
 
upsidedown

upsidedown

Waiting for the great leap forward
Location
The middle bit
I suppose we are all cyclists, the same as all people who get about in cars are drivers. Some car drivers are better than others, some cyclists are better than others.

The difference is that as a minority, cyclists seem to have to represent themselves to others, in a way that car drivers don't.
 
M

magnatom

Guest
Someone who cycles a bike is a cyclist, just as someone who drives a car is a driver. Anything else is just snobbery IMO.

There are good cyclists and bad cyclists, just as there are good drivers and bad drivers.

Simples.:laugh:
 
M

magnatom

Guest
upsidedown said:
I suppose we are all cyclists, the same as all people who get about in cars are drivers. Some car drivers are better than others, some cyclists are better than others.

The difference is that as a minority, cyclists seem to have to represent themselves to others, in a way that car drivers don't.
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It is only after I wrote my post above that I read your reply. Not quite word for word, but not far off! :laugh:
 
L

Lazy-Commuter

New Member
Location
Bottom Right Corner
J4CKO said:
Is anybody who swings a leg over a Bicycle automatically a "Cyclist", is an unlit pavement Ninja a "Cyclist", I personally think that Cyclist should be reserved for those who do it well, or at least make an effort to do so, I feel kind of aggreived when people who know I ride regularly moan at me about unlit cyclists and other transgressions.

Dont know where I am really going with this but the Eskimos have multiple words for Snow and Audi forty words for what is basically silver paint so why does anyone with a push bike become a "Cyclist", shouldnt there be some other words in general use by the public for describing certain types of cyclist rather than slagging us all off because a Cannabis addled teenager on a BMX ?
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I don't get too much of that. In fact, I don't think I've ever had it. Come the day it happens, I think I'll just point out to the person concerned all the problems ever caused by someone who drives the same type of car as them and enquire as to how they like carrying those other people's transgressions.
 
OP
OP
J

J4CKO

New Member
Nah, all drivers arent drivers, they get categorised and people know what you mean

"BMW Driver", "White van Man" etc.

Magnatom, I thought for you, instead of cyclist how about "Righteous two wheeled master of the camera, scurge of the taxi driver and bain of the bus driver" but it doesnt trip of the tongue really.
 
N

Norm

Guest
J4CKO said:
Nah, all drivers arent drivers, they get categorised and people know what you mean.
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I was thinking on this one this morning after driving my wife's car yesterday. It is quite amazing the different reaction from fellow road users (in terms of being let out, being cut up etc) when driving a differently perceived (because of size, class, age or whatever) vehicle.
 
M

magnatom

Guest
J4CKO said:
Nah, all drivers arent drivers, they get categorised and people know what you mean

"BMW Driver", "White van Man" etc.

Magnatom, I thought for you, instead of cyclist how about "Righteous two wheeled master of the camera, scurge of the taxi driver and bain of the bus driver" but it doesnt trip of the tongue really.
Click to expand...


Ah but your asking for our opinions, and my opinion is that labeling drivers just because of what car they drive isn't useful. It is the same logic that is used by (some) drivers when refering to 'bl**dy cyclists'.

We are all road users, some on bikes, some in cars etc.

As for my label.....glad you think I am a master of something!
 
B

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
magnatom said:
Someone who cycles a bike is a cyclist, just as someone who drives a car is a driver. Anything else is just snobbery IMO.

There are good cyclists and bad cyclists, just as there are good drivers and bad drivers.

Simples.:laugh:
Click to expand...

+1

Simple snobbery otherwise.
 
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