Riding Clothes - In Praise of Clown Suits

[Djangodog]

i'm closing in on 10,000 miles this year and last, and i think i've had two snide comments about e-bikes. none too horrible, just a little annoying. i think one was "turn that thing off!!" and the other was "you're too young for an e-bike." one guy jokingly asked if i wanted to "motor pace him" on the flats. 10,000 miles - around 600 hours in the saddle - in what may the roadie and MTB capital of the western hemisphere, and no seriously rude or snide comments from a roadie or MTB bro. yes, there's occasionally friction on very crowded paths, particularly with MTBs, inexperienced tourists, and inattentive pedestrians. i really wonder what's wrong with the places where all the e-bike riders here that have such big chips on their shoulders ride. is everyone a dirtbag or something!?!?

i also seriously wonder if roadies elsewhere are all just dickheads or something, because the vast majority out here (and i mean 99%+) are totally fine other than occasionally riding two or three abreast when they really shouldn't, IMO. never once seen a dude in a superhero suit blow into an old lady or kid, or me, or, well, anyone or anything. i did see one guy crash hard in a pack, but that's once in 10,000 miles and he hit a small pothole unprepared. one guy yelled at me at the bridge to "watch my line" when in my opinion i was just fine, on my half of the path, but that's about the extent of the roadie hostility i've experienced.

it seriously makes me wonder if people are just jealous of those in better shape or with more money to spend on bikes or something. or roadies are just assholes outside of the west coast? or because i ride 90% of the time on roads with bike lanes or shoulders and not MUPs?

I am in the North East, NH/Vermont border, 52 miles North of the Massachusetts border. I have been a roadie and mountain biker for most of my life. I bought an e-bike this year so that my wife and I could enjoy cycling together again, (she bought hers first). After nearly 40 years in this area, I have never seen, heard of or experienced any form of elitism regarding cycling.

The common enemy are distracted and hostile drivers. Except for the rail trails, we have no bicycle infrastructure and there is no crowding. I think that most cyclists around here tend to see each other as comrades, (us against potholes and bad drivers).

There may be a few “elitists “ out there, but if they are, that’s their hang up. They have my sympathy. Life is too short to get hung up on status.

 

[jabberwocky]

Three years later, there are four Turbo Creos in the group and two other ebikes in the group and the rest freely admit that there is an ebike in their future.

Love your whole post. I will add that I have a lot of riding friends who are firmly not interested in an ebike, but have tried mine and commented that they will likely get one as they get older. One (very fit) friend has jokingly said he'll buy one the day his son finally bests him on the climbs.

i also seriously wonder if roadies elsewhere are all just dickheads or something, because the vast majority out here (and i mean 99%+) are totally fine other than occasionally riding two or three abreast when they really shouldn't, IMO. never once seen a dude in a superhero suit blow into an old lady or kid, or me, or, well, anyone or anything. i did see one guy crash hard in a pack, but that's once in 10,000 miles and he hit a small pothole unprepared. one guy yelled at me at the bridge to "watch my line" when in my opinion i was just fine, on my half of the path, but that's about the extent of the roadie hostility i've experienced.

it seriously makes me wonder if people are just jealous of those in better shape or with more money to spend on bikes or something. or roadies are just assholes outside of the west coast? or because i ride 90% of the time on roads with bike lanes or shoulders and not MUPs?

I do think you get more idiot roadies on the MUPs, mainly because serious roadies avoid paths like the plague if they are riding seriously. Which makes sense (at least to me), because MUPs are awful places to try and go fast. Too narrow, too much slow traffic, intersections galore, etc. So you get more wannabes who think they are hot s*it but are scared of the roads.

That said, I ride (and walk dogs) on the major path through town all the time and rarely have problems. I've seen plenty of idiots, but they are firmly a tiny minority.

 

[mschwett]

…After nearly 40 years in this area, I have never seen, heard of or experienced any form of elitism regarding cycling.

The common enemy are distracted and hostile drivers. Except for the rail trails, we have no bicycle infrastructure and there is no crowding. I think that most cyclists around here tend to see each other as comrades, (us against potholes and bad drivers).

exactly. makes you wonder what the real reason or cause of the “anti-elitism” voice on forums like this is….

 

[Alaskan]

exactly. makes you wonder what the real reason or cause of the “anti-elitism” voice on forums like this is….

its a form of reverse snobbery where making do with less is an absolute virtue while having enough resources to afford more select products makes you part of the evil ruling class.

 

[mschwett]

its a form of reverse snobbery where making do with less is an absolute virtue while having enough resources to afford more select products makes you part of the evil ruling class.

or the even more insidious version where being ignorant is better than being informed … because only “elitists” rely on science!

 

[Mr. Coffee]

exactly. makes you wonder what the real reason or cause of the “anti-elitism” voice on forums like this is….

I am all for elitism.

Extraordinarily gifted individuals, and those who inherit extraordinary privilege, should be allowed to get on with the work of building a better world.

 

[pmcdonald]

Thank you @Rás Cnoic, @Jason Knight, @Stefan Mikes, @jabberwocky, @PDoz and @PedalUma for the great advice. It's wonderful to draw on the decades of experience here.

I'll work through what I can immediately address at no cost (posture, angle, breaks) and step it up to looking at saddles and underdacks if that doesn't resolve things

In a quote I believe attributed to a hipster recreational sporting association, you'll have to pry my skinny leg jeans from my cold dead hands though!

 

[Mulezen]

I am all for elitism.

Extraordinarily gifted individuals, and those who inherit extraordinary privilege, should be allowed to get on with the work of building a better world.

And yet elitism is too often, to everyone’s detriment, wielded by money and the notion THEY know what’s best. And they utilize the levers of media and politics to keep my country teetering. Off the top of my head Peter Thiel and his buddy Musk (the clown of the duo, and now John Malone overlord of CNN.
Real talent find it hard to breathe. In the last month I’ve read biographies of two undeniably elite men. Both had serious handicaps to overcome but remained At an elite level their whole lives and we are all the better for it. At a time we should assist this trend we have the culture wars (CRT) and attacks on libraries. Maybe I’ve said too much…but I did order a clown suit jersey today.
The books were Sporting Life/ Harker about the life and times of the great dancer John W. Bubbles. Also Scientist/Rhoads…E.O. Wilson

 

[PDoz]

, I'd look for a liner you can wear like underwear all day (bike shorts with a thin chamois; look at triathlon shorts, they are generally designed to be run in so the chamois is a lot more minimal than normal bike shorts). At least get something between those jeans and the saddle. Or just run normal bike shorts under and change into your normal underoos when you get to work. I might try a different saddle than the Brooks too; I have a B17 on my touring bike and its comfortable enough, but its not what I'd choose for an hour ride in street clothes. Try something with a traditional shape but more padding to let those jean seams sink in a bit instead of just being ground against the skin.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some decent triathlon shorts? Preferably something that wicks and ventilates really well but has the thinnest padding possible. For public safety, they would be under my loose fitting but VERY flexible / tear resistant MTB shell ( troy lee ace) , I currently ride without a pad because I prefer feedback through the saddle re traction / what the bike is doing etc when I am mtb riding. Having pondered everyones posts, a minimal chamois sounds promising.

 

[Jason Knight]

I will say (and I genuinely don't say this as a dig), you seem pretty wound up.

I'm not just a New Englander, I'm a back-woods Yankee. This is how we talk... about everything. Yah cahnt geht theyah frum heeyah isn't a catchphrase, it's a way of life. I'm from a generation of yanks where you give us the false smiles, empty platitudes, and "thoughts and prayers" of the bible-belt and we assume you're trying to steal our wallet.

That was a joke. Kind-of. As our friends to the south from Joysey would say, "Yah gaht a freekin problem wit dat?"

My manner of speech is driven by multiple rhetorical devices, comes from both OCS and having had to lead -- not boss -- at many the job. It's like what Patton said.

"When I want my men to remember something important, to really make it stick, I give it to them double dirty. It may not sound nice to some bunch of little old ladies at an afternoon tea party, but it helps my soldiers to remember. You can’t run an army without profanity; and it has to be eloquent profanity. An army without profanity couldn’t fight its way out of a piss-soaked paper bag.

As for the types of comments I make, sometimes I just, By God, get carried away with my own eloquence."

And me? I have to be very careful online not to get carried away with my own eloquence, particularly since I do not find "dirty words" offensive. At least not compared to the things a lot of people seem to casually say in terms of racism, bigotry, sexism, or just plain ignorance. I think that's a difference we're seeing more in the younger generations, they don't give a s*it if you drop a few F bombs, but drop a racial slur and they'll bite your head off. The polar opposite of my parent's generation! Well, except my old man who would casually use both.

Doesn't help the internet strips tone; a lot of what I'm saying is a mix of venting and sarcasm... and it seems sarcasm goes right over the heads of many people. More so regional colloquialism.

There's a reason these SNL skits crack me up no end. As someone from Southie's suburbs (specifically Plymouth), I can own this is who WE are.

This is SO my father :

Go bahk to stahbuks!

Both of those videos are comedy gold for the "Bostonians" alone... with the midwest accents, fake "kennedy" accents that nobody but the Kennedy's ever used, clothing Bostonians wouldn't be caught dead in... That's the biggest message in there, how fake most "Boston accent" stuff on TV is.

As my paternal grandmother once joked "what's the point of life if you can't complain about it?"

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Is that attitude really that common? I ride with the local gravel group on my ebike occasionally and they've generally been welcoming (I ride with them on my non-electric as well, so they do know me). I also ride my eMTB with some of the local groups and almost everyone has been cool with it. You get the occasional sneer or head shake, but I'm not losing sleep over it.

If I'm riding with a mixed group, I try and avoid dusting everyone on every climb. I just adjust assist until I'm hanging with the pack and getting a good workout and ride. A few times the gravel group has pushed me to attack a climb just to see what the ebike can do and I'm happy to oblige, but its not something I go out of my way to do.

I'm sure the hardcore roadie groups aren't as into the idea, but honestly those groups are unwelcoming in general and have been since before ebikes were a thing. Some of it is elitism, some of it is just that riding at speed in a pack takes a lot of knowledge and skill and someone who doesn't know what they are doing can be dangerous, so you gotta prove you aren't an idiot and know what you're doing before groups really warm up to you. Saying that, I live on a road that is a popular opener for the big roadie rides on weekends so I see them ride by as they had out of town, and over the past few years I'm seeing increasing amounts of creos and e-domains mixed in, so inroads are being made even there.

My gravel group rides are very similar to yours Jabeerwocky only I don't ride a trad bike. People on group rides are aware I'm an ailing person and are impressed with my assisted performance. The guy who had inducted me into the sport is currently testing my Vado SL to understand e-bikes. He knows he's too young for an e-bike but considers buying one for his wife so they could go together on longer and faster rides as opposed to their current "family snail trips".

My "keirin" experiences are similar to the ones of Alaskan. Trust me, any cycling group will appreciate a member who can pace them upwind for a long distance.

I love showing off and make traditional group riders smile or laugh. They are perfectly aware a "grandpa" as I am is no match for them, and they are fascinated with e-bike capabilities.

There is a steep climb to get onto the Maria Curie Bridge in Warsaw. When on a group ride there, I always put my e-bike in the Turbo mode and in low gear. Then I yell "On yer left!" and then am waiting for the group in the middle of the bridge. How they laugh!

Or, on Sunday afternoons when the group is already tired, I'm often initiating a little race. I cannot maintain high speed for long and gladly let the sprinters (including females!) win. It is perceived as even more fun!

Although I am typically one of the slowest group riders (economizing on the batteries is vital), I managed to cross the finish line first twice. We're not in the race, and the traditional riders are even more impressed!

These people are no ignorants. Gravel cycling is a fun sport, adventure cycling. Many of my buddies have already tested e-bikes such as Creo.

 

[PDoz]

Stefan, there is no such thing as " too young for an ebike"!!!

One of the guys leading my group is a 30 ish athlete ( national level) , he rides his merdi e160 for the adrenaline rush, but definitely gets a workout tossing that thing around the trails!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stefan, there is no such thing as " too young for an ebike"!!!

One of the guys leading my group is a 30 ish athlete ( national level) , he rides his merdi e160 for the adrenaline rush, but definitely gets a workout tossing that thing around the trails!

Mountain biking is another sport and I agree some MTBer are more apt to adopt the assistance.

With gravel cycling, the bike weight is crucial. Strong younger people won't trade their lightweight bikes for something 4-5 kg heavier. Also, they do ride fast. While 25 km/h in the forest requires not only the power but also skill, the road part is ridden at 34-35 km/h. With a legal 25 km/h e-bike, the gravel cyclist would have to pedal their heavier Creo or Cannondale Topstone unassisted. If derestricted, the battery would not last for long. A spare battery? Even heavier e-bike...

And these people participate in races including ultramarathons. No place for e-bikes there!

 

[PDoz]

Mountain biking is another sport and I agree some MTBer are more apt to adopt the assistance.


And these people participate in races including ultramarathons. No place for e-bikes there!

Such a strange sport....MTB racing is becoming eclusive as well - eg our local club always has an emtb fleet, even on their shuttle assisted down hill races!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Such a strange sport....MTB racing is becoming eclusive as well - eg our local club always has an emtb fleet, even on their shuttle assisted down hill races!

These people cannot depend on the battery. A daily ride of 230 km is the norm. Here, a shorter ride of a friend.

 

[pmcdonald]

I have a friend who competes in these 500km gravel events. He toyed with an ebike for a little while but ended up selling it. He said it was too slow. It was derestricted Huge respect for his endurance and ability

 

[jabberwocky]

Stefan, there is no such thing as " too young for an ebike"!!!

One of the guys leading my group is a 30 ish athlete ( national level) , he rides his merdi e160 for the adrenaline rush, but definitely gets a workout tossing that thing around the trails!

Hah, agreed! I'm 44 and don't need an ebike (in the last year I put more miles on my non-electric bikes than the ebikes) but its just more fun. I got the e-gravel mainly for solo riding. If I head out for a few hours, I can cover 30-35 miles on the non-e or 50+ on the ebike (at similar efforts) so its nice to be able to cover more ground and expand my loop options. The eMTB, well, I got it because these days I ride gravel/road for exercise and the MTB for fun, and the eMTB is just more fun. Since getting the eMTB my non-electric MTB has been used very sparsely (only really to ride with friends who don't want me bringing the electric). Definitely my dustiest bike.

I have a friend who competes in these 500km gravel events. He toyed with an ebike for a little while but ended up selling it. He said it was too slow. It was derestricted Huge respect for his endurance and ability

I have some friends who are super into long distance touring. I think the issue with any electric for those folks is theres no realistic option to handle those sorts of ranges beyond carrying 50 pounds of batteries or stopping to charge. But they don't need it. One of them passed me on a ride last year; I was on the gravel-e in 100% assist, and he rode by, said hi and walked away from me. When his ride hit strava later that day I saw that he was at about mile 120 out of 150 when he passed me. Dude doesn't need an ebike, it would just hold him back.

 

[Jason Knight]

Lassies faire ? British dog show ? How about

Laissez-faire​

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a quay and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
It's rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
It's letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

 

[TForan52]

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a quay and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
It's rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
It's letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

Wow, haven’t seen that in years.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

But they don't need it.

They absolutely don't need it.

A female effort called "Female Cranks" at Warta Gravel Race 2022. Ola rode for 255 miles with 3,740 ft of elevation gain in 21 hours 13 minutes net. She took 10 hours of rests total during the race.