Re: Cycling editorial

On 4/11/2024 5:57 PM, AMuzi wrote:

"Whatever you like sucks. The bike I ride is best"
 https://bikerumor.com/op-ed-bike-industry-toxic-racing-culture/
 I found that needlessly divisive. YMMV.

I didn't see it as divisive. It's main point seems to be that we should accept various styles of bicycling, and that not everyone wants to be a racer. Other details are that non-racers should be able to have equipment that functions well and clothing that's comfortable for riding. That's fine with me.
I may quibble about the "functions well" point, in that ISTM the expectations or standards have gotten extreme in recent decades. I mean, reviews now seem to discuss shifting action the way guitar aficionados describe the feel of guitar necks, action and strings. But we're not playing Bach; we're just shifting gears. How good does it have to be? I like the engineering maxim "Good enough is perfect." I don't think top tier components have really been necessary for most users.
But for decades I've said I prefer bikes that are versatile, that can carry loads when desired, that can be tuned and fixed by their owners, that accept wider tires and fenders, etc. Oh, and that most of the "go fast improvements" make no detectable difference. I think he's agreeing with me.
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- Frank Krygowski