The secret codes of the "brotherhood"

[G3CWI]

I have discovered the question that real cyclists ask noobs to assess their worth. It's something like "is that a 53-37?".

As if I have all day to spend counting teeth.

Are there any other questions that I need to be able to answer?

 

[stephec]

Just counter questions like that with a shrug of the shoulders and, "I don't know, why do you ask?"

 

[G3CWI]

"I don't know, why do you ask?"

I have been asked this three time in four outings with the Wheelers so it must be important to some folk! I tend towards a high cadence so maybe it's that. Or my flat pedals and trainers on a very cheap road bike. Who knows? Anyway I am sure it's being asked in a friendly way so no problem.

But your response is a good one!

 

[TVC]

Another good one is to look at their bike and note with a pitying frown 'Oh, you still have the dust caps on your valves'

 

[ShipHill]

I enjoy calling the front chain rings "Clangers". The guys at work call them clangers now because we're all a bunch of clowns but "normal" cyclists find it irksome and annoying...

You can have big and little clanger or big. middle and little clanger. It's fun for the whole cycling fraternity.

Unless you have only one clanger... than it's just... clanger.

 

[youngoldbloke]

"normal" cyclists find it irksome and annoying...
because you are using it wrongly - it is a front changer
"In the late 40's/early 50's new fangled devices appeared which became known as 'Clangers', due to the noises often emitted by inexperienced users."

 

[ShipHill]

"normal" cyclists find it irksome and annoying...
because you are using it wrongly - it is a front changer
"In the late 40's/early 50's new fangled devices appeared which became known as 'Clangers', due to the noises often emitted by inexperienced users."

I call them clangers because an old mate of mine used that word back in the 80s. He sadly died many years ago and I've used the word ever since and never known that they were actually called clangers.

I just thought it was a stupid word he invented for them (he invented loads of stupid words that our circle of friends still use now) rather than the popular kids TV show of the same name.

Cheers youngoldbloke

 

[Dayvo]

I have discovered the question that real cyclists ask noobs to assess their worth. It's something like "is that a 53-37?".

As if I have all day to spend counting teeth.

Are there any other questions that I need to be able to answer?

Just look condescendingly at them and reply 'Is that 6 kilos of lard around your gut or 8'?

I'm only carrying 4, if anyone wants to know.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I was riding a charity ride in the spring, about 67 miles, and had a rider look down his nose at me and take the p*** because I was riding it on the fixed, complete with mudguards and carrier, the fixed is my commuter and my winter bike, and I'm not a newbe at this I've been riding over 40 years.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Just look condescendingly at them and reply 'Is that 6 kilos of lard around your gut or 8'?

I'm only carrying 4, if anyone wants to know.

I dream of that

On the original question..

just tell the time..

'Eh nah its 12.50'

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I have discovered the question that real cyclists ask noobs to assess their worth. It's something like "is that a 53-37?".

I was asked that years ago on one of my first club outings, and said "I have no idea, I'm new to this" which then led to me learning a lot about gears, and other bike parts in a very short space of time as the other rider explained it to me.

It's a fairly standard discussion starter for cyclists who are riding with people they don't know. Along with "bugger of a wind, eh?" "I bloody hate this hill..." "How do you like your bike? I was looking at them a while back..." etc.

 

[ufkacbln]

I had a couple of roadies looking at the trike and asked me about the front ring, with a supercilious comment that it was rather small for a 20" wheel.

My reply was that I found an 85t / 34t more than adequate

They then replied that I had only one ring.......... at which point I just tapped my nose and replied "yes it does- doesn't it" and cycled off

They looked bemused

 

[jazzkat]

I was riding a charity ride in the spring, about 67 miles, and had a rider look down his nose at me and take the p*** because I was riding it on the fixed, complete with mudguards and carrier, the fixed is my commuter and my winter bike, and I'm not a newbe at this I've been riding over 40 years.

What a numpty. I hope you gave as good as you got Dave.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I was riding a charity ride in the spring, about 67 miles, and had a rider look down his nose at me and take the p*** because I was riding it on the fixed, complete with mudguards and carrier, the fixed is my commuter and my winter bike, and I'm not a newbe at this I've been riding over 40 years.

If that was the Jag ride, I and my father in law very much thought the opposite and gave you much kudos to ride that route on a fixed!

 

[smokeysmoo]

If you haven't seen the rules yet, and it's sounds as though you haven't, they are HERE*


*and of course should not be taken seriously