being comfortable or being uncomfortable - discuss.

[DCT]

My take is that cycling became the new golf for a while because to most people it is easy. They don't push themselves enough to make it truely hard. We are still seeing the cause and effect in the industry form this. Handlbars are still getting higher, gears are becoming lower. Hell I just got an internal memo saying the new standard weight for americans accoridng to a recent survey is now considered 275lbs and we will be accomodating this with newer internals on our suspension forks. America is fat and lazy!

hey good points here.

the hills around here are pretty good. nothing like d2r2 or vermont or litchfield, but descent. what if i run a compact with a 28 and get used to that gearing and then go to vermont where the hills and way longer or d2r2 where the hills are way steeper? im pretty much screwed.

hopefully this makes sense after having a pint of ipa.

[DCT]

The OT is a little misleading, I took it he was talking about suffering, not so much whether you have a cushy saddle. Clarify Darren!

this is a free-for-all

go nuts

[maunahaole]

I'll posit a waistline of over 34" does not make cycling an athletic endeavour.

It becomes bike riding.

I'm glad you set me straight on the fact that I've only been bike riding for so long.

[jitahs]

I'm glad you set me straight on the fact that I've only been bike riding for so long.

No comment on your shape. It's a posit - refute it.

PS You can't hang w/Maunahaole w/a 30" waist going up Mauna Kea.

PPS That pizza recipe I spent 15 min. typing out for you will give you Schleckjets if eaten regularly.

[Badonkadonk]

anything that can be done in flip-flops is probably bike riding.

i'd posit anything that is never uncomfortable is bike riding. all this other shit we do is cycling, doesn't matter what size you are.

bike riding is exactly why i keep a beach cruiser around - sometimes it's more fun to go bike riding, esp. when a drink or two are involved. in college i got a bit tipsy and cruised a northern michigan vacation town at about 1am on a 1970s schwinn tandem with flat tires looking for girls. bike riding, man, bike riding.

[DCT]

anything that can be done in flip-flops is probably bike riding.

i'd posit anything that is never uncomfortable is bike riding. all this other shit we do is cycling, doesn't matter what size you are.

bike riding is exactly why i keep a beach cruiser around - sometimes it's more fun to go bike riding, esp. when a drink or two are involved. in college i got a bit tipsy and cruised a northern michigan vacation town at about 1am on a 1970s schwinn tandem with flat tires looking for girls. bike riding, man, bike riding.

get a good sleep. tomorrow we're going cycling. you pussy.

[mimbresman]

As a mountain biker since the mid-80s I've always ridden a rigid fork. I balked at the early suspension forks because, like computers, new designs kept coming and I didn't want to be caught up in a technology race. I stuck with simplicity. Is it uncomfortable? Not really...Now the bike is configured as a 1x9. Uncomfortable? Not at all...I feel its a good range of gears for where I ride right now.
In 2008, I resurrected my old 15-speed touring bike for a Katy Trail tour with Nierman. Riding 5-speed friction and half-step gearing was odd for a few minutes, but it quickly came back to me and I still love that bike (it was my only bike and sometimes my only form of transportation from 1981 - 1986). Turned out to be the perfect bike for the Katy.
I'm just a weirdo.

(btw, my two mtn bikes in storage in NM have suspension forks which I still find weird)

[WayneJ]

I'm most comfortable when i'm reasonably prepared, and riding with people who are slightly fitter than i. Challenging, but within my limits if i focus.

I have tried compacts and i have mixed feelings. A 50 to 34 shift on a road bike is too much of a change for my tastes, but i Really like the 50 on a lot of terrain. When riding alone, it's not bad, but in groups at speed it doesn't work for me. i use a 39/52 combo. A 53 always felt too heavy and the slightly faster cadence with the 52 suits me better. What does this all mean? Probably not much. We're all different and something that works for me, may not be right for others.

I'm really comfortable on my bikes, but no comfort matches the one that comes AFTER a good hard ride.

[dhoff]

I'll posit a waistline of over 34" does not make cycling an athletic endeavour.

It becomes bike riding.

Huh?

nothing personal, but that is a f%^king stupid comment. OK, I take it back, it's personal.

[jitahs]

Huh?

nothing personal, but that is a f%^king stupid comment. OK, I take it back, it's personal.

No, it's a fucking accurate comment that offends those over the arbitrary threshold.

You are/were a better athlete when you were younger/lighter.

We all were - the rest is delusional.

[dhoff]

No, it's a fucking accurate comment that offends those over the arbitrary threshold.

You are/were a better athlete when you were younger/lighter.

We all were - the rest is delusional.

PM sent, sorry for taking this thread off course. I will voice my opinions privately.

[robin3mj]

Just another example of Americans (and others, doubtless) buying into the image without putting in anywhere near the effort commensurate with what you'd expect to see.

To highlight one Salonista I've met, for every Saab with a top-shelf, but thoughtfully built-up custom bike that actually gets, ya know, sweated and snotted upon, there are three dozen doughy bank managers toddling along once a week on a fasterbackwards Madone/Cervelo that cost more than his Zank.

I think the reason most of us like this here corner of the inter webs is because there are way more of the former than the latter.

[jitahs]

Evidently I've offended everyone on the planet with an over 34" waistline. Me mailbox is fillin up.

Darren, see what you did?

Anyway, what I said is true. I did not call anyone fat. You looked in the mirror and made your own decision.

PS Anyone who's offended by my comments let's do this in public so others may understand the thought process. I don't want to hand hold everyone who sends me a PM.

[Shinomaster]

Evidently I've offended everyone on the planet with an over 34" waistline. Me mailbox is fillin up.

Darren, see what you did?

Anyway, what I said is true. I did not call anyone fat. You looked in the mirror and made your own decision.

PS Anyone who's offended by my comments let's do this in public so others may understand the thought process. I don't want to hand hold everyone who sends me a PM.

Didn't you mean 31" not 34"?

[DCT]

Evidently I've offended everyone on the planet with an over 34" waistline. Me mailbox is fillin up.

Darren, see what you did?

Anyway, what I said is true. I did not call anyone fat. You looked in the mirror and made your own decision.

PS Anyone who's offended by my comments let's do this in public so others may understand the thought process. I don't want to hand hold everyone who sends me a PM.

i agree with you.

people lets be realistic about this :)

cheers

[PJN]

I did not call anyone fat. You looked in the mirror and made your own decision.

OINK OINK.

It's easier to touch your toes without a spare tire in the way.

[Saab2000]

Just another example of Americans (and others, doubtless) buying into the image without putting in anywhere near the effort commensurate with what you'd expect to see.

To highlight one Salonista I've met, for every Saab with a top-shelf, but thoughtfully built-up custom bike that actually gets, ya know, sweated and snotted upon, there are three dozen doughy bank managers toddling along once a week on a fasterbackwards Madone/Cervelo that cost more than his Zank.

I think the reason most of us like this here corner of the inter webs is because there are way more of the former than the latter.

I'm very flattered! But I'm also fat apparently. Zanc is working my my walker for next year's Baller's Ride. Hopefully I can make it to the first feed zone. Oh, wait.... There ain't one.

BTW, the price was right on the Zanc. Mega bargain. Even at his more realistic prices (for his business purposes) they're still a bargain.

Call before the waiting list is too long.

[airedale]

Which brand 34s though?

I've got 32 Gstar through to 36 Evisu.

Should I hang it up?

[DCT]

I'm very flattered! But I'm also fat apparently. Zanc is working my my walker for next year's Baller's Ride. Hopefully I can make it to the first feed zone. Oh, wait.... There ain't one.

BTW, the price was right on the Zanc. Mega bargain. Even at his more realistic prices (for his business purposes) they're still a bargain.

Call before the waiting list is too long.

bingo.

im first in on his tig frames

zank rules

[jitahs]

Got another email. I'm not welcome here, evidently, too un-PC. Sorry fatties.

Let's get this back on track: y'all can't ball with a spare tire. I certainly can't.

Discuss.

PS Names called thus far:

Angry little boy
Illiterate
Stupid