Dear ELITE biker

[vvill]

@KLizotte 26542 wrote:

Whoa, I just looked him up on Wikipedia. Quite a character. He definitely should have gone into figure skating instead. And I thought this year’s LiquiGas kit on the TdF was bad (contrast stitching around the chamois is always a bad idea).

Can’t believe some folks considered Cipollini to be a sex symbol. Yuck.

Haha, yeah I also thought the contrast stitching was a bit too attention grabbing.

But Cipollini’s stuff was awesome! It was unique, and supposed to be over the top, and he had the results to pull off the look. Pro cyclists train as hard as figure skaters; nothing wrong with dressing like one.

Also, it was the 80s.

(aka awesome)

[vvill]

Actually 90s I guess. Same difference.

/old

[krazygl00]

@pfunkallstar 26395 wrote:

I really enjoy slowing down, allowing the L337’s to pass me, and then safely passing them again on a straightaway. Also, if you are going to pass me at least TRY to keep up a your pace, otherwise it goes yo-yo-esque pretty quickly – i.e. me stopping for reds and then having to pass you again.

The BikeSnob refers to this as “shoaling”. Cat 6 racers group up at red lights, but instead of lining up behind the other riders, they collect like a shoal or horizontal bicycle stalactite of douchebaggery, encroaching further and further into the intersection in some kind of weird game of one-upsmanship, until the light turns green and they all race to the next red light. They are fun to pass but they drive me nuts.

[eminva]

@KLizotte 26542 wrote:

Can’t believe some folks considered Cipollini to be a sex symbol. Yuck.

Actually, I think “some folks” includes only Cipo himself, and possibly his minions who were well compensated to perpetuate that notion. I think there was an element of campy fun to it, too. And the best “personalities” become the media favorites.

@krazygl00 26562 wrote:

The BikeSnob refers to this as “shoaling”. Cat 6 racers group up at red lights, but instead of lining up behind the other riders, they collect like a shoal or horizontal bicycle stalactite of douchebaggery, encroaching further and further into the intersection in some kind of weird game of one-upsmanship, until the light turns green and they all race to the next red light. They are fun to pass but they drive me nuts.

Sigh. One thing I like about winter . . . the die hard regulars line up first come, first served at the W&OD/Gallows crossing during that 2.5 minute red light. Then sort themselves out on the other side.

Liz

[pfunkallstar]

Well, now that we have a word for it, I was heavily shoaled this morning at Lynn and Lee Highway, only to have the two really intense looking dudes crap out on me just a half mile down the trail on the MVT. I can’t wait for the ULTRA sweat eLite time on the way home.

[DaveK]

@eminva 26566 wrote:

Actually, I think “some folks” includes only Cipo himself, and possibly his minions who were well compensated to perpetuate that notion. I think there was an element of campy fun to it, too. And the best “personalities” become the media favorites.

He’s a character, larger-than-life, etc. See Tommy Voeckler, Marco Pantani, and what Filippo Pozzato wishes he was. Cycling needs riders like that, polarizing characters than really get people’s interest going.

[Terpfan]

@pfunkallstar 26574 wrote:

Well, now that we have a word for it, I was heavily shoaled this morning at Lynn and Lee Highway, only to have the two really intense looking dudes crap out on me just a half mile down the trail on the MVT. I can’t wait for the ULTRA sweat eLite time on the way home.

I’m going to call everyone cycling by me with no call “ELITE” today and see what comes of it. No more of my sarcastic “yes, I’m on your right” or “nice call,” but it will be total, “ELITE!” This will be awesome. Watch out MVT ELITES!

[MCL1981]

@Jason 26255 wrote:

Dear ELITE biker,

Thanks for passing me this morning and calling out AND ringing your ELITE bell not before you passed, but as you were already next to me. Thanks also for riding an ELITE stealth bike that is impossible to hear so there was no warning that you wanted to make an ELITE pass at the same time as I was passing a jogger. I know you had to beat your ELITE time to work or whatever it was that you were doing that made it so important to ELITE pass me at the same time as I was passing a pedestrian. Really appreciated you not only nearly causing me to crash, but scaring the hell out of me by calling your ELITE pass as it was not only too late, but as we were about to head into a fast corner. I am sure that your ELITE nerves allowed you to just cut me off as I was trying to carefully pass a jogger. Maybe you don’t know at all what its like to have normal nerves that get undone by somebody trying to pass you with only 2″ to spare on your left. I need to learn from your example so I too can be ELITE someday.

Normal commuter,

Jason

Sadly, there are people who would read this and say “You’re welcome”.

[KelOnWheels]

@Terpfan 26578 wrote:

I’m going to call everyone cycling by me with no call “ELITE” today and see what comes of it. No more of my sarcastic “yes, I’m on your right” or “nice call,” but it will be total, “ELITE!” This will be awesome. Watch out MVT ELITES!

I vote for a nice non-sequitur like “CHEESE!” or “WALRUS!”.

[rcannon100]

Different types of riders – people are pubble – and why cant we all just get along?

Thinking about it…. there seems to me that there really are big differences between cyclists.

* ELITE riders drive in cars in order to go to races to ride bikes;
* Commuters ride bikes in order to avoid driving in cars.

I mean…. I am just saying…. :p

[pfunkallstar]

@rcannon100 26729 wrote:

Different types of riders – people are pubble – and why cant we all just get along?

Thinking about it…. there seems to me that there really are big differences between cyclists.

* ELITE riders drive in cars in order to go to races to ride bikes;
* Commuters ride bikes in order to avoid driving in cars.

I mean…. I am just saying…. :p

I race my bike and commute – HYBRIDS ARE AMONG US!

[KelOnWheels]

@pfunkallstar 26760 wrote:

I race my bike and commute – HYBRIDS ARE AMONG US!

So do you ride your commuter bike to the race & carry your race bike? :confused:

[dasgeh]

@KelOnWheels 26768 wrote:

So do you ride your commuter bike to the race & carry your race bike? :confused:

My husband rides his road bike to races unless they are too far and/or me & toddler are coming with. He, and plenty of his teammates, would prefer never to drive. But some races are far enough away that it only driving will allow them to sleep in their own beds or bring their cheering section, or stop by Ikea afterwards, etc.

Even when I’m no preggo, I don’t like racing, but I like riding. I also LOVE driving (but hate having to drive, if that makes any sense). Our toddler used to always ask for the bike. Lately, it’s been the stroller, and if that’s not possible, the bike. She’s gone back and forth. (Though the car has always been her least favorite option).

There are many makes and models. Personally, I think ELITE is so ridiculous is funny. But I really don’t want to offend any of y’all. Just that elephant in Dirt’s photo.

[dasgeh]

@KelOnWheels 26768 wrote:

So do you ride your commuter bike to the race & carry your race bike? :confused:

My husband rides his road bike to races unless they are too far and/or me & toddler are coming with. He, and plenty of his teammates, would prefer never to drive. But some races are far enough away that it only driving will allow them to sleep in their own beds or bring their cheering section, or stop by Ikea afterwards, etc.

Even when I’m no preggo, I don’t like racing, but I like riding. I also LOVE driving (but hate having to drive, if that makes any sense). Our toddler used to always ask for the bike. Lately, it’s been the stroller, and if that’s not possible, the bike. She’s gone back and forth. (Though the car has always been her least favorite option).

There are many makes and models. Personally, I think ELITE is so ridiculous it’s funny. But I really don’t want to offend any of y’all. Just that elephant in Dirt’s photo.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dasgeh 26780 wrote:

Personally, I think ELITE is so ridiculous it’s funny.

That’s why it must live on, in its ALL CAPS glory.

[Author]

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