Irrational bike snobbery.

[iLB]

Any mountain bike: they're just so naff. care to back this comment up?

Probably any road bike as well cos they all look the same and the people riding them never look as though they're actually enjoying it. you've clearly not seen many people riding bikes then?

Tandems - I should imagine they cause the most terrible rows and wreck relationships.

not a cyclist then?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'm the proud owner of three from the list of doom.
Only my yet to be built up Elswick Hopper is 'safe'.

I'd add -

Unicycle
Paperboy delivery bike c1975 - esp. On a Thursday!
Trick cycle on a high wire
Menstrual cycle
Anything Mickle's got!

 

[allen-uk]

There are certain brands I wouldn't be seen dead on. This is not to say that there is anything remotely wrong with them but, like Nike, Matalan and Vauxhall, however good an individual product they're just not for me.

Enlighten me. I thought Nike made overpriced plimsols, Matalan similar for clothes, and Vauxhall Astras etc. Do they really make bikes, too? Or is Mickle just showing off how young he is?

A

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I don't really mind what I ride (cheapandnasty pretend bikes excepted), but I do like it to be personal to me in some way. For instance, I built Ms RT's first tourer up from a Claud Butler MTB frame I found in a bin and a load of bits from my bits box. It's never going to be the best bike in the wotrld, but it's a good workhorse and no one else has got one like it.
Otherwise, we've got two old Dawes Galaxies, a Kona and a Cannondale. And a Freddie Grubb.

 

[Velobiker]

Well I quite like specalized, plus love the new Boardman bike range which I bet will get a few backs up as its sold only via halfords
but take a look http://www.halfords.com/boardmanbikes I mean for the money, if i had millions i might go higher but as i dont at the mo!

 

[Andy in Sig]

not a cyclist then?

Of course I'm glad to back the first comment up although it is pointless as my judgement of mountain bikes is purely aesthetic, in that they just look incredibly naff to me. No doubt to others they can be works of beauty.

You must also realise that not everything posted is meant in deadly seriousness. I've just noticed that roadies tend to be grim faced and hell bent on achieving whatever task they have set themselves. There must be loads of cheerful and happy roadies but I've no doubt that there are a few sports bores amongst their ranks.

Perhaps I'm not a cyclist: my Sunday route is only 90 km long and my record is 200 km in a day. I don't suppose that qualifies me for the label either. Never mind ... (slinks off, head hung in shame).



And it might be worth remembering that the thread is called irrational bike snobbery.

 

[MichaelM]

There are certain brands I wouldn't be seen dead on. This is not to say that there is anything remotely wrong with them but, like Nike, Matalan and Vauxhall, however good an individual product they're just not for me.

In no particular order (and excluding the obvious like Emmelle and Universal);

Dawes
Raleigh (except the 1979 Raleigh Transit. In metalic brown)
Any Claude Butler built after the death of Claude Butler
Cannondale
GT
Marin
Specialized
Saracen
Thorn
Dahon
Merida
Giant
Trek
ICE

What would you not be seen dead on?

When choosing a new bike last year, I ruled out Trek/Specialized and Giant due to them being Trek/Specialized and Giant!

Went for an Orbea instead - the only one in the club

 

[Hilldodger]

I don't like riding anything built later than 1900.

I wouldn't be seen dead on a Brompton

 

[swee'pea99]

The only bike I really really wouldn't ride would be a Bickerton. Absolute bleedin' nightmare - like riding a bamboo bike.

I'm too ignorant about brands to be snobbish, and too poor to be picky. When I'm buying, I'm usually looking at 531 +/-, 20 years old +/-, £100 +/-. Anyone who looks down on me because of a name can kiss my skinny white ass - then go in search of a life.

 

[johnnyh]

I have my old Raleigh Hardtail, my Giant Boulder and my Carerra Virtuoso...

It isn't a problem to me, I happily live with them and enjoy riding them, if someone has a problem with it then they really need to get out more and get a life.

 

[Kirstie]

Anything 'for women' with swirly flowery decals - clothing or bike. Yeuch.

I also have two bikes from the original list:
Specialized - a Big Hit downhill bike. I've also owned an Allez and my other half has a Tricross and an Enduro SX. He also used to own a Demo 9. All great bikes
I have a Dawes Ultragalaxy which is excellent and, despite some initial bike snobbery I have ridden a Trek Fuel EX9 and was very impressed with the ride.
I don't think i'd be seen dead on mickle either.

 

[yello]

Nothing wrong with irrational bike snobbery, so long as you know that is what it is and laugh at yourself for it. I think the clue is the use of the word "irrational".

Me? I can't stand Specialised or Trek.... bikes that is... I have a Spec saddle and gloves so obviously they're ok... you won't find me being irrational

But just to illustrate muddled thinking and further irrationality... I like Cannondale. What it is to be human!

 

[Bug]

Woo! My Focus obviously passes Mickle's snobbery list. I can sleep easy at night!

 

[Hilldodger]

And I wouldn't be seen dead on ANY bike made in Nottingham

 

[tyred]

And I wouldn't be seen dead on ANY bike made in Nottingham

You'd love my Raleigh 20 then. It was built in Dublin