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.

ISTM Mr. Frazelle is looking to create controversy where there is none...really.
My first clue was when he wrote "the majority of cycling-specific apparel that’s available is lycra and cut to fit the athlete’s body,"
The majority of cycling clothing is fit to what is known as a 'club cut'. This clothing is designed to be larger in the midsection, specifically allowing for 'regular size'. There are very few cycling clothing manufacturers that sell what is known as the 'race cut' by default. The issue here is that Mr. Frazelle is the stereotypical American. From his pics I can surmise that even when he was fit he was a husky gentleman, these days he's probably carrying more weight than he should. BTW - I see plenty of and baggy clothes on the trails by me, worn by hipster types as a protest to the lycra dogma, and many of these guys can drop me on a technical trail like a stone.
I think it's unfortunate that he claims _every_ time he rides he witnesses snobbery. That isn't my experience, and when I've been with riders who treat non-competitive cyclists like that, I don't ride with them  any longer. At least in my area, recreational cyclists aren't treated any differently. In fact, I've seen more disdain towards _my_ ilk than the casual rider out for enjoyment, especially when they have kids in tow.
I don't know where Mr. Frazelle lives, but ISTM he's riding in the wrong places.
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