Racing bikes - not road bikes please!

[Ludwig]

I've noticed a current trend where the bike which has been known as a racing bike for as hundred years is now referred to as a road bike. If you have a lightweight bike with drop handle bars and no suspension it is a racing bike. "Road bike" is just so bland , general and dull. It is another example of how the middle class marketing muppets have infected the world of cycling with their silly terminology.

 

[dodgy]

You can also race on a Mountain Bike, that doesn't have drop handlebars. Put it this way, when someone on here refers to a road bike, I know exactly what they're talking about.

 

[Tynan]

a road bike is exactly that, the other are accurately named although there's plenty of overlap

everyone knows what a real racing bike is

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

Racing Bike?

'Racer'

Pron. Ray-sa as in "Oooo you've gone and got yer sen a ray-sa"

 

[stoatsngroats]

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/complete-bikes/road-bikes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/Cycle/7/Road_Bikes/

http://www.awcycles.co.uk/category/Bikes/Road_Bikes/8/index.aspx

...to show just a few, where there are many....(Google - Road bikes..)

or wikipedia.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_bicycle

Road bikes....gotta luv 'em...eh...?

 

[bonj2]

they're not necessarily used for racing, but they are used ont he road.

 

[yenrod]

The term road bike has simply evolved to make it so that its more widely available whereas racing bike is far more hardcore.

 

[mickle]

I've noticed a current trend where the bike which has been known as a racing bike for as hundred years is now referred to as a road bike. If you have a lightweight bike with drop handle bars and no suspension it is a racing bike. "Road bike" is just so bland , general and dull. It is another example of how the middle class marketing muppets have infected the world of cycling with their silly terminology.

It's not a trend Ludwig and, despite your suspicions, it has nothing to do with middle class marketing muppets. The general population might refer to them as 'racers' or 'racing bikes' but for a hundred years they've been known as 'road bikes' by actual cyclists. Not silly terminology, simple historical fact.

 

[domtyler]

Ludwig. You are, quite simply, a fascist.

 

[Moonlight]

I do not race my bike to college, it is designed for the road though, and I use it on the road. Racing bike sounds like I'm trying to make up for something

 

[Maz]

Racing bike sounds like I'm trying to make up for something

Would that something be...lost time?

 

[mr Mag00]

pass him a thistle

 

[Yorkshireman]

Wonder what happened to 'Roadsters' (designed for road/path - but definitely not 'racers') ... Hybrids, City bikes ?

 

[remking]

20 years ago I had a "Racer" and so did everyone else who had a bike that looked like mine. I had never heard the term "Road Bike" and neither had my friends. We all cycled quite long distances. I really dislike the term "Road Bike".

 

[mickle]

20 years ago I had a "Racer" and so did everyone else who had a bike that looked like mine. I had never heard the term "Road Bike" and neither had my friends. We all cycled quite long distances. I really dislike the term "Road Bike".

This is really interesting. 'Racers' are called road bikes in the cycling world and have been forever. It's not marketing speak and it's not snobbery. It just is. Why do you dislike it so much?