Define "Cyclist"

[Crackle]

Aye it was. No damage to the bike and a couple of minor scratches to the car. Just my pride that was injured!

I've done it: As I accelerated into the traffic stream, it all stopped. Cue me smearing myself over the rear windscreen of a metro. In the mirror I saw the horrified look of the woman driving, as this weirdo pressed his face against her back screen. Then she hit the accelerator and allowed me to tumble gently into the road.

 

[benborp]

I think anyone capable of an extremely minimal standard of riding and using a bike is a cyclist. In the same way that the terms motorist, driver, bus driver, pedestrian, pilot, passenger apply to other forms of transport. The circumstances tend to be quite extreme before you would consider whether the person at the wheel of a car was a driver or not, no matter their level of ability. I've still been a passenger on a car despite no intention of being so, dressed in lycra and clinging to the windscreen wipers.

The way forward would be for people to discern that there are different ways of performing any activity and different reasons for doing so. If someone attaches a label to any group and attempts to use that label to define the beliefs, behaviour and desires of an individual within it they're likely to come unstuck and probably find that a couple of unpleasant labels apply to themselves. I think being specific and constantly refining one's perceptions of those around you is preferable to lazily assigning a label and then making assumptions, especially on the road.
We have a rich enough language to define what we see and know to a fair level of accuracy, the challenge for many of us is to think about it first.

As an aside I have a very clear memory of a fat man in jeans and t-shirt, pedalling squares on his lumpen BSO. He possessed far more dignity and grace than many of those around him, who would doubtless consider themselves excellent cyclists, who behaved like arses in their attempts to crest the top of a pyrenean Category 1 pass in 35 degree heat.

 

[jimboalee]

I wrote an article for a local rag about fifteen years ago about different types of cyclists.

One description of 'NOT a cyclist' was "Dressed in a black hoodie at night on a black spraypainted bike with no lights".
I wrote this guy was riding a bike which is probably stolen and either looking for a house to rob or car to steal.

The article wasn't published.

Another description of 'NOT a cyclist' was "Wearing full replica lycra on a team replica bike, but not carrying a puncture repair kit or tyre pump".

 

[jonredhornet]

I think anybody who rides a bike is a cyclist, but I can understand why you would want to disassociate yourself from the bad cyclists out there.

I've had plenty of conversations with people who have moaned at me about other cyclists, like I am some how responsible for other people's actions (family, friends, work colleagues). I simply agree with them, point out how many bad road users are out there in general, and add that I go out of my way to try and ride as correctly and safely as possible. Sounds a little self righteous I know but it is an honest response.

 

[jonny jeez]

I may have hit a car this morning. Oops!

you MAY of hit a car?

Thats like being a "little" bit pregnant.

Mag, in case your not sure, take it from me, you definatley hit it (trust me I've seen the video!!!)

(sniger)

 

[jonny jeez]

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 ?

Slippery slope if you ask me.

Wasn't there a German cyclist (in the 40's) who had similar views that extended to the point that all true cyclists' (actually all true humans) had to be blonde with blue eyes? Every one else got a different title (and associated lifestyle)

 

[Hacienda71]

I agree if you ride a bike you are a cyclist. I think though you could categorize cyclists i.e.
Recreational Road Cyclist
Mountain biker
Commuter
Working Cyclist
Cyclist out of necessity
Ninja

There will be other categories and they are not exclusive so you have a recreational cyclist who also commutes and on the same tack you have your drug dealer on a council estate who is a working ninja.

 

[HJ]

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.

+1

a cyclist is someone who rides a bicycle, it doesn't make you a better person...

 

[threefingerjoe]

I get so tired of hearing "bad cyclist" stories from the motorists at work. I tell them, "OK, so you saw a cyclist run a stop sign, illegal turn, or whatever. Let's go to any intersection that you choose, and watch CARS do the same thing, all day!" I'll admit, that I hate to see ninjas, RLJers, filterers, etc, because I know that they're pissing off motorists, who will then take out their rage on ME. But, even though it's unfair to stereotype all cyclists by the standard of the idiot cyclist, people are going to do it, anyway. I've come to the conclusion that the guy who rides a bike like an peanut, probably drives his car like an peanut, too.

 

[jimboalee]

Three types of cyclist.

Wannabe.
Dunnit.
Nevawozzer.

 

[brokenbetty]

I've done a taxonomy for you

 

[jonny jeez]

I've done a taxonomy for you

And there's you...all alone in the middle.

I have a psychiatrist friend who would have fun with that!

 

[Arch]

Try as I might, I can't shift my inner snob, so I offer the following:

There are cyclists, and Cyclists. Within the former category, there are all people on bikes, but they are sub-divided into numpties and ordinary cyclists. Numpties are the no-lights, rlj, hoping on and off the pavement sort, whatever bike they ride. Ordinary cyclists are the rest, the ones who ride in an appropriate manner in the appropriate place (road or cycle path, depending on convenience and safety, but not on pavements, unless officially shared). Obviously, I'm in the second group.

Then there are Cyclists. These are a subgroup of Ordinary cyclists. They are the people who define themselves by their cycling. So not those who just use a bike to get about, and don't really mind much what sort it is, as long as it works, but those of us (and yes, I'm in this subgroup) who understand n+1, and that bikes can have different specialities, and who go on holiday on their bikes, and cycle for fun - but serious fun. People who see bikes as more than just transport - although they are transport as well of course.

The edges of these groups are fuzzy of course, as is all human classification. And people can move from one group to another, if they choose to.

 

[hackbike 666]

I remember when my dad bought me a bike and let me ride it for the first time.

I was shocked when he suddenly called me a cyclist as I thought you would need some sort of qualification before you could be classed the same.

 

[brokenbetty]

And there's you...all alone in the middle.

I have a psychiatrist friend who would have fun with that!

It's true - I feel so alone every day, sitting at a red light while cyclists stream past on either side and leave me behind ...