When is a cyclist not a true cyclist?

[MontyVeda]

I said that

you did! half the time i don't read the other posts until after I've stuck my oar in

 

[MontyVeda]

A true cyclist is someone who loves their bikes and gets a kick out of riding them.

A cycle rider is someone who wobbles to work on an Argos special, probably with no lights, and probably detests every moment in the saddle and would really like a car but can't afford one.

I think you've summed it up perfectly there... maybe take the plural off 'bikes', but...

thread locked!

 

[Drago]

Why thank you kind Sir.

Any true cyclist would also aspire to own bike's' but sometimes the evil Gods console to prevent this, but it never stops a true cyclist dreaming.

 

[doug]

A "true" cyclist is a cyclist that knows how to true a wheel, the rest are just buckled cyclists

 

[totallyfixed]

On my daily commute to work I have to go through three main roundabouts on the journey the first one of these is within a few hundred yards of where I live.

While waiting for traffic to come on my right I noticed a cyclist amongst the traffic. This guy really look the part. Clad entirely in black apart from his silver helmet. Black shorts, black tights, black jacket and a super looking bike. He must have been at least 6' tall and really looked the part, Slim, athletic, powerful, in other words, everything I was not.

As he drew level with me things went into slow motion like they do in the telly adverts. His head turned towards me as he drew level and I saw a barely detectable nod, I nodded back. Then things returned to normal speed again as he effortlessly powered away. One more car to go past and I followed in the hope of catching him up.

Some hope, he was doing fifty yards to my five, puffing and wheezing I stopped trying but continued to watch this vision of poetry in motion rapidly disappear into the distance.

Sulking, I finally arrived at work and locked my bike in the cage. Why is it that some people have everything and others, well, what do they have? I took the lift up the two floors to where my office was still thinking of this cycling Adonis that had so easily left me behind. How can it be that I couldn't get near to keeping up?

Sadly, the mirrored wall in the lift gave me the answer I was looking for. Before me stood a five foot nine, in all directions, 61 year old bloke with a rucksack full of junk on his back and a big, thick fleece lined walking coat that weighed more than that blokes bike.

I was never going to get into his shape but, just for a second, in slow motion, that immaculate cyclist gave me a barely detectable nod. Just for that split second he acknowledged me as a fellow cyclist.

Actually I did raise a finger as well as I wasn't in a rush that day.

 

[Rob3rt]

Actually I did raise a finger as well as I wasn't in a rush that day.

Which finger was it?

 

[youngoldbloke]

All cyclists ride bicycles, but not all bike riders are cyclists.

 

[fossyant]

Anyone who turns their bike upside down to fix a puncture isn't a propper cyclist ! There said it !

 

[dan_bo]

Anyone who turns their bike upside down to fix a puncture isn't a propper cyclist ! There said it !

Ach! the thought of it!

 

[Rob3rt]

Anyone who turns their bike upside down to fix a puncture isn't a propper cyclist ! There said it !

LOL, this is bound to confuse many and many will argue otherwise, but those of us who take the wheel out with the bike right way up will always know we are doing it right!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

On my travels, either by car or cycling, I see many people riding bikes in all sorts of gear. Some ride old decrepit MTBs with jeans and anorak on, others are dressed "properly", by that I mean wearing proper cyling gear, with or without helmet, others get off and walk as soon as they come to some sort of incline, etc... So what is the criteria for being a "proper cyclist"?
I regard the former ( old decrepit MTBs) as only occasional cyclists who use their bikes only as a mean to get from a to b , but have no other real interest in cycling really.
What do you think?

Today I'm clipped in and lycra'd up to the gills on a drop bar skinny wheel beast, tomorrow I'm off to see a pal and will be in 'normal' clothes and shoes on a big heavy urban load lugger that has duck tape on the bars and frame and a little teddy bear zip tied to the front fork.
My last MTB cost me £40 to buy and get running nicely again and it looked like it was only worth £40, but it was a hoot for hooning round on with the dogs and kids and commuting over the fields. Despite looking like a piece c**p it still got nicked.

I've got a profile on here and other cycling forums and a lot of my twittering is cycle based, am I only allowed those on the days when I've been on what would be considered a proper bike by the snobby types?

criteria for being a proper cyclist you have legitimate access to and can ride a bike.

 

[400bhp]

On my daily commute to work I have to go through three main roundabouts on the journey the first one of these is within a few hundred yards of where I live.

While waiting for traffic to come on my right I noticed a cyclist amongst the traffic. This guy really look the part. Clad entirely in black apart from his silver helmet. Black shorts, black tights, black jacket and a super looking bike. He must have been at least 6' tall and really looked the part, Slim, athletic, powerful, in other words, everything I was not.

As he drew level with me things went into slow motion like they do in the telly adverts. His head turned towards me as he drew level and I saw a barely detectable nod, I nodded back. Then things returned to normal speed again as he effortlessly powered away. One more car to go past and I followed in the hope of catching him up.

Some hope, he was doing fifty yards to my five, puffing and wheezing I stopped trying but continued to watch this vision of poetry in motion rapidly disappear into the distance.

Sulking, I finally arrived at work and locked my bike in the cage. Why is it that some people have everything and others, well, what do they have? I took the lift up the two floors to where my office was still thinking of this cycling Adonis that had so easily left me behind. How can it be that I couldn't get near to keeping up?

Sadly, the mirrored wall in the lift gave me the answer I was looking for. Before me stood a five foot nine, in all directions, 61 year old bloke with a rucksack full of junk on his back and a big, thick fleece lined walking coat that weighed more than that blokes bike.

I was never going to get into his shape but, just for a second, in slow motion, that immaculate cyclist gave me a barely detectable nod. Just for that split second he acknowledged me as a fellow cyclist.

Where was this? I don't remember nodding to you.

 

[400bhp]

Anyone who turns their bike upside down to fix a puncture isn't a propper cyclist ! There said it !

Anyone who spends more time cleaning bikes than riding them isn't a proper cyclist.

 

[400bhp]

I'm a C word.

 

[Rob3rt]

Anyone who spends more time cleaning bikes than riding them isn't a proper cyclist.

Fossy is a preservationist!