IdeJongh Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Scanned through the thread and just laughed. Thanks for the Friday morning humour guys A correction ... Dangle you hethen. Repeat after me: You not a runner until you have ran comrades.You are not a cyclist until you have cycled Argus EPIC. We need to stop all this "timed races" bull and return to riding. And a question ... Yes in SA everyone's a pro... Everyone's car is faster, house is more expensive, has more money, has a sexier girlfriend has a bigger penis, knows better etc. Tipiese klein mannetjie sindroom... Here's what brian lopes has to say in his book mastering mountain bike skills: http://books.google.co.za/books?id=_2wkch1SE3QC&pg=PA15&lpg=PA15&dq=brian+lopes+on+29ers&source=bl&ots=u3T4kCiQuE&sig=2hI9nFtdX2zroZKdjXE4ZekvZvo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HdUFT-C-E4jU8QOF8IWaAQ&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Who's sexy girl has a big penis??
GrumpyOldGuy Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Some hubbers have completely lost track of the topic,but it is clear to see that are some deep seeded social issues at play. We live in a very competitive/materialistic society, heavily based on the american model, which explains why so many shopping malls,and BMW drivers are popping up all over the place.It is sad to see so many mountain bikers that are more concerned about what they ride, than how ride.The last race I attended, I noticed the amount of status some riders attached to their equipment,and leaves me concerned for the future of the sport, with the average joe being forced out, due the increasing cost involved.Last thing I want to see is a Little rich boy club.On the topic of 29ers, its huge in America, and even George W. Bush rides one. Says it all I think. An interesting point outoftowner, and not especially unique to cycling, its in everything today, cars, housesholds, sport, even employment. The strange part is that the American model is shifting away from rank consumerism very quickly and is evident in people now buying a Hyundai when five years ago no self respecting yank would be seen in anything but a US manufactured Ford. The luxury market in the USA is under immense strain as is the American consumer so today the "Buy American" logo has all but disappeared as the consumer looks to foreign imports for better value, you are unlikely to find new immense malls been constructed like Sawgrass Mills or "The mall of the America's" where you need to drive from one side to the other and the move is more to strip malls in local muncipalities, people are moving back to smaller houses and apartments in affordable areas and the aim is very much not "having what you want" but more "wanting what you have" However S.Afric's economy is fueled by consumer spend, remove the consumer spend on luxury cars, houses etc and we would collapse as an economy, so its unlikely the media or manufacturers will stop promoting this "culture of shopping" where you are judged by your clothes, cars, house, suburb you live in and in this case your bicycle. Sad but very true.
Tumbleweed Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Who's sexy girl has a big penis?? Mine, if she behaves herself.
EZRider Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Mine, if she behaves herself. Depends who you have over after she behaves...
pastapouch Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 However S.Afric's economy is fueled by consumer spend, remove the consumer spend on luxury cars, houses etc and we would collapse as an economy, so its unlikely the media or manufacturers will stop promoting this "culture of shopping" where you are judged by your clothes, cars, house, suburb you live in and in this case your bicycle. Sad but very true.Hey, you need all those fools to run the economy on, the only sad part about that is, I haven't figured a way to take their money away from them yet.
EZRider Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Hey, you need all those fools to run the economy on, the only sad part about that is, I haven't figured a way to take their money away from them yet. And if you do you might become one
Eldron Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Personally I think all of you have it wrong. In my experience it's the size of the sport that has caused the impersonal racing poepol who will happily ride over little girls and housewives to up his ego. Sure the rampant consumerism thing exists but when a sport reaches a critical size it's gets impersonal/anonymous which allows said egomaniac to get away with being a tjop. I've been racing/riding etc for long enough to have seen road racing go from a few okes gathering at the start, trying to kill each for 100km then shaking hands and quaffing beer at the end. Hell - I even remember being given little cardboard cutoffs with your race finish on it. It was fun, cool and friendly. Then the sport grew and now we have nameless faceless events like the 94.7 and the Arrrrghust. Mtb - years ago it was guys in cut off jeanpant with 50/50 coke water mixes in their bottles and no suspension riding courses that were made by foot and cattle. Trying to kill each other then shaking hands and quaffing beer afterwards. Now we have multithousand person races where very few people outside of their own friendship circle who each other. I've taken up offroad duathlon for two reasons - 1) I travel a lot an have been forced to run to stay fit and 2) It's still nice and small - 90% of people know each other at the start - there is not much elbowing and jostling for position. We try and kill each other then shake hands and quaff beer afterwards. There seems to be some critical mass for a sport that turns people from humans beings into anonymous jerks. Next I'm taking up naked Siberian ice jukskei. I don't think that will ever become mainstream. Oh and for the purpose of the original thread - 29ers are huge in the US, tiny in the UK/Europe and about 50/50 in SA if you take the "what biek do you ride" poll.
outoftowner Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 The only way the average joe could be forced out is if the entry fee and transport to events becomes prohibitive.No one is forced to observe any kind of status or care what others think about them or their bikes. If someone works hard enough and is passionate enough about his gear to be able to afford a high end bike than why should he not enjoy it? And if he insecure enough to define himself by his bike and looks down on the guy with an entry level machine then that, truly, is his own problem.I have been called a racer boy when I am neither racer nor boy, just someone who likes competing, at my own level, likes good bikes and is tired of Internet warriors on soap boxes babbling on about how cool everything used to be when it was all chilled man.Go out. Ride your bike. Compete, don't compete. Ja, whatever. But don't think your fart smells like lavender just because your bike is cheap or you hate the fact that timed rides are called races or that someone may get a kick out of beating you.I have no issue about being competitive and race and all the chest pumping that goes with it, But how do grow the sport and make it accessible for more people across the economic spectrum with the exceeding costs involved? So no need to get your knickers in a twist,I also enjoy racing, have a decent bike,but the underlying issues will not go away, unless it is being addressed. Ja, whatever...
Tumbleweed Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 I have no issue about being competitive and race and all the chest pumping that goes with it, But how do grow the sport and make it accessible for more people across the economic spectrum with the exceeding costs involved? So no need to get your knickers in a twist,I also enjoy racing, have a decent bike,but the underlying issues will not go away, unless it is being addressed. Ja, whatever... Is cycling just a sport? For some it is recreation.
BushGoblin Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Mine, if she behaves herself. hahaha classic.
SwissVan Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Next I'm taking up naked Siberian ice jukskei. I don't think that will ever become mainstream. Oh and for the purpose of the original thread - 29ers are huge in the US, tiny in the UK/Europe and about 50/50 in SA if you take the "what biek do you ride" poll. 1. Dont - unless you like quaffing really cold beer on your own. 2. The mall theory is true, mall culture is not as big here as in USA or SA.
TNT1 Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Is cycling just a sport? For some it is recreation. Better check that with Dangle
outoftowner Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 An interesting point outoftowner, and not especially unique to cycling, its in everything today, cars, housesholds, sport, even employment. The strange part is that the American model is shifting away from rank consumerism very quickly and is evident in people now buying a Hyundai when five years ago no self respecting yank would be seen in anything but a US manufactured Ford. The luxury market in the USA is under immense strain as is the American consumer so today the "Buy American" logo has all but disappeared as the consumer looks to foreign imports for better value, you are unlikely to find new immense malls been constructed like Sawgrass Mills or "The mall of the America's" where you need to drive from one side to the other and the move is more to strip malls in local muncipalities, people are moving back to smaller houses and apartments in affordable areas and the aim is very much not "having what you want" but more "wanting what you have" However S.Afric's economy is fueled by consumer spend, remove the consumer spend on luxury cars, houses etc and we would collapse as an economy, so its unlikely the media or manufacturers will stop promoting this "culture of shopping" where you are judged by your clothes, cars, house, suburb you live in and in this case your bicycle. Sad but very true.Have to agree,and the american formula is changing, not by choice I have to say, but makes for a very interesting next couple of years....
outoftowner Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Is cycling just a sport? For some it is recreation.It is want you want it to be,but remember chess and knitting is also recreation!
BushGoblin Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 It is want you want it to be,but remember chess and knitting is also recreation! I like to race my knitting
HowellingWulf Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 I'm not a racer and have been accused of not having a competitive bone in my body. But racing is inherent in the DNA of the sport of mountain biking. To quote Charlie Kelly: "Now that downhill racing is a mainstream sport, there will never again be anything remotely like the Repack Downhill, a pivotal event in the development of what we now call mountain biking." Scanned through the thread and just laughed. Thanks for the Friday morning humour guys A correction ... And a question ... Who's sexy girl has a big penis??Mine, if she behaves herself. Tumbleweed, reading the highlighted text above - is your "girlfriend" perhaps of Thai or Cambodian origin...?
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