I am not a cyclist.

[jrenaut]

I’ve heard many people make a similar point without being such a turd about it. Also, he’s lying about how perfectly he follows the rules.

[mstone]

He comes across as a schmuck. He also seems unaware that humans put people into boxes. He’s a “cyclist” because he’s on a bike. Someone who walks to work is a “pedestrian”. Someone who drives to work is a “car” (e.g., “a car was blocking the crosswalk this morning”, “that car almost killed a bus full of nuns”, etc.). If he doesn’t want to be classified, he shouldn’t interact with humans.

[cyclingfool]

I bet his poop smells like lavender and his favorite hobby is helping elderly women cross the street, that is when he’s not rescuing kittens stuck in trees.

[Greenbelt]

I have some sympathy for this line of argument, but agree that the turdly presentation isn’t very helpful. Artificial divisioning of bike riders doesn’t help. We have room for all types.

That said, I more of a bike commuter than a stereotypical sport cyclist, although I do prefer stretchy clothes and curved handlebars. I have no interest in riding with cars in traffic.

In my opinion, the bike industry would do well to embrace the utility cyclist as much as the sport cyclist, and concentrate on protected and safe routes to everywhere as the industry’s top priority.

[lordofthemark]

@Tim Kelley 65814 wrote:

From Twitter:

http://hushmagazine.ca/culture/i-am-not-a-cyclist/

Thoughts?

too much in there to unpack quickly. As one of the least elite riders on the forum ( I think), I would love if I had a commute (or even a local utility ride) where I did not need at all to mix with cars, or to ride up hills. But thats not my reality. I really do like the Dutch cycling model of biking integrated into ordinary life – and I have (and expressed earlier) some concern about the implications of terms like cyclist (though IIRC I was trying to reclaim “cyclist” from racing.) But if biking is an ordinary activity, then its silly to poke at people who do things that are purely functional. I certainly dress more carefully for the weather for a long walk than for a drive, and there are shoes I will ride the subway in, I would not wear for a long walk. And I would hardly discourage someone walking where I do from wearing reflective clothing.

Not all of the US (or Canada) is like central Vancouver – or like Amsterdam. We may try to change that but that is the reality we face. To pretend its not, is as much an escape from reality, as someone riding the Custis Hills and pretending they are in the Tour de France.

[NicDiesel]

@Tim Kelley 65814 wrote:

Thoughts?

Makes some decent points but comes across as an insufferable windbag in need of a serious dressing down by Don Cherry. His comments on helmets and performance wear are really misguided and bizarre. He reminds me of this schmo I used to work with that didn’t see the purpose of helmets and wore his sweaty commuter clothes the entire day instead of deigning to the level of the rest of us and showering and changing at work.

[TwoWheelsDC]

It’s like a hipster Poe.

[acc]

I don’t like labels. I really don’t like being pushed into a category. If it comes to that I’ll become a naked cyclist just on principle.

However, when you’re talking to people who haven’t been on a bike in a quarter of a century but are “curious” and want some ask some questions, then fine, call me a cyclist.

In that situation I’ll be happy to be whatever you want to call me if it means you’ll feel free to ask questions.

[Riley Casey]

Tried so hard NOT to reply to this post. Really did . :rolleyes:

@acc 65851 wrote:

I don’t like labels. I really don’t like being pushed into a category. If it comes to that I’ll become a naked cyclist just on principle.

[jhr]

It’s not like you need to wear special bike clothes all the time and consider yourself as being an ELITE cyclist, but I think there’s a point where working really hard to make a statement that you aren’t making a statement becomes slightly contradictory.

[oldbikechick]

While I can relate to the sentiment (I also see myself as a person who uses a bike for transportation, rather than a cyclist per se), he seems to think there is something wrong with the fact that there are people who see themselves as cyclists, and even avid cyclists. This is where I think his argument falls short. What’s wrong with avid cyclists? The more, the better. These are the people advocating for better infrastructure that we regular people then get to use. These are also the people inventing (or at least buying, and therefore encouraging the invention of) really cool new gear and gadgets, that eventually, even regular people find handy. Go cyclists!

[Vicegrip]

I see his small and simple point that if seen on a bike you are equated to it. I don’t follow that it denotes something negative to most and the equation is basic human nature. Even in urban conditions most people don’t use a bike to get around all the time and the less common is easer to see.

Can you be both a cyclist and a person who rides a bike? I commute to work and run errands as well as ride for fun. I see nothing wrong with people that enjoy and go about something that is harmless to others. His comments about having lights but no helmet while “cyclists” have helmets but no lights is off putting as I see just the opposite. The no helmet folks tend to also have the least equipped bikes as well. Seems he is guilty of committing the primary thrust of his article, pigeonholing. Ride a bike and cut down on smog. Live and let live and cut down on smug.

[acc]

@Riley Casey 65853 wrote:

Tried so hard NOT to reply to this post. Really did . :rolleyes:

Yep. And I laughed the entire time I wrote it.

[culimerc]

I am;
an avid cyclist
an avid eater
an avid beer drinker
an avid hiker
an avid traveler
an avid voter
etc
etc
etc

You know what else I am? Someone who doesnt really care about what others think of me. You want to call me XYZ? Enjoy that. Me and my friends are going for a bike ride. Wanna come?

[PeteD]

@culimerc 65893 wrote:

You know what else I am? Someone who doesnt really care about what others think of me. You want to call me XYZ? Enjoy that. Me and my friends are going for a bike ride. Wanna come?

^– Truth… And Bicycling. Or.. Bicycling is Truth…

[Author]

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