Just joined the roadie cult

[zizou]

Long time mountain biker but just got my first dropbar road bike at the weekend... didnt have the chance to take it out for a ride until this morning, soon as i saw the forecast being decent put all my work to one side and find a spare couple of hours

So far no clipless moments. To be honest the first mile or two i was pretty nervous after reading all the stories about mishaps etc and i was sure i was going to be falling off but after that relaxed a bit and could then enjoy the benefits. I've been using toeclips for years so im hoping that is going to help out with remembering im attached to the bike when coming to a stop! But i imagine my own stories of clipless moments are still to come!

Only negative is my bum! i had assumed that the mountain biking would have meant the sit bone area was toughened up. But jeez i was mistaken! First hour was ok but the second hour, ouch. Hope that its just a matter of a few rides to toughen up and get used to the new saddle.

 

[Dan B]

You realise you'll have to stop waving at other cyclists now?

 

[mr Mag00]

welcome to the darkside

 

[lit]

You realise you'll have to stop waving at other cyclists now

heh.

 

[TVC]

One more of us, one less of them.

 

[gbs]

Only negative is my bum! i had assumed that the mountain biking would have meant the sit bone area was toughened up. But jeez i was mistaken! First hour was ok but the second hour, ouch. Hope that its just a matter of a few rides to toughen up and get used to the new saddle.

Since september last year and with no significant prior history of cycling I have used 3 different saddles for periods of not less than 4 hours and fortunately had no discomfort.

Surely, there can be only a few outcomes/solutions 1) correct size ie width 2) appropriate gel padding in yr shorts (not the saddle) and chamois cream or 3) there is no solution. Good luck.

 

[lit]

One more of us, one less of them.

We are all cyclists.

 

[jimboalee]

We are all cyclists.

Those whose bikes cover more miles tied to a bike rack on a car, are NOT cyclists.

A LOT of Mountain bike owners fall into this category.


The other crowd are those who congregate at purpose built 'cycle trails'.

Their 'bikes' are mechanical devices which make walking a bit faster.

 

[I am Spartacus]

Those whose bikes cover more miles tied to a bike rack on a car, are NOT cyclists.

A LOT of Mountain bike owners fall into this category

I shudder when I feel a pristine Audi with 3 pristine MTBs on the roof passes me by
Just status symbols in this sad sad Britain .
Why the ** ck my ancestors had to move here 400 years ago is beyond me.

 

[lit]

Those whose bikes cover more miles tied to a bike rack on a car, are NOT cyclists.

A LOT of Mountain bike owners fall into this category.


The other crowd are those who congregate at purpose built 'cycle trails'.

Their 'bikes' are mechanical devices which make walking a bit faster.

A LOT don't and if they are way too far from where they ride, what is the problem?

Roadies in looking for one upmanship again.

 

[darkstar]

Those whose bikes cover more miles tied to a bike rack on a car, are NOT cyclists.

A LOT of Mountain bike owners fall into this category.


The other crowd are those who congregate at purpose built 'cycle trails'.

Their 'bikes' are mechanical devices which make walking a bit faster.

Surely there's nothing wrong with purpose built cycle trails? I was bought up around xc racing and loved it, after all roadies use purpose built surfaces as well... and i'm pretty sure quite a few roadies transports their bikes to the start of races, audax, sportives etc
Being a 'cyclist' is just about riding a bike and having fun imo, nothing to do with the use of cars... Someone like you makes me embarrassed to say i ride a bike.

 

[Norm]

Those whose bikes cover more miles tied to a bike rack on a car, are NOT cyclists.

A LOT of Mountain bike owners fall into this category.

What a strange assertion. My bike has covered plenty of miles on the rack, taking it and the kids' bikes down to Cornwall on holiday for instance. How bizarre, that we are NOT cyclists because we took them and spent three days cycling across and around Dartmoor, for instance (yes, I know it's in Devon, we just went there a lot!), rather than walking everywhere.

Strange also, IMO, to denigrate purpose built cycle trails. I was at Swinley Forest with my 10 year old daughter yesterday, we had a couple of hours of great traffic-free, giggle-filled fun, I was showing her how to use the gears properly, how to ride over roots, how to lean back on the descents... etc all in a car-free environment.

I can't see any reason that cycle trails are a bad thing. Horses for courses for me (especially the main course). If people want to have different experiences, there's no reason for me to try and stop them or for me to think any less of them.

 

[MajorMantra]

Those whose bikes cover more miles tied to a bike rack on a car, are NOT cyclists.

What a load of bollocks. What can possibly be gained by this kind of snobbery?

Matthew

 

[jimboalee]

There is also the brigade who buy really expensive roadrace bikes, all the team replica kit and flashy shades.

They sit outside Starbucks all morning watching people look at their really expensive roadrace bikes.

They are not cyclists either.

 

[jimboalee]

A bike shop man once said to me,,, ( when I did some Sat morn work ).

"We charge £5 to repair a puncture. I wish the lazy b*****ds would learn to do it themselves. Then I'd call them 'cyclists'".