Sad overtaking cyclists thread: Cars and Bikes…
Discussion
Slightly dismayed at the Overtaking Cyclists thread here on Pistonheads at the level of hostility between the two – the point of this thread is to share our appreciation for both bicycles and cars. I’m interested to know if there’s anyone like me that is obsessed by both.
Bikes first: the sheer joy of a pared down, lightweight road bike is a thing to behold – I love the experimentation with materials and have 12 different bikes – custom thin walled steel with brazed connections, old school steel lugs, aluminium, carbon and 2 titanium ‘daily drivers’. I’ve got track bikes, cross bikes and road bikes (never really been a mountain biker as never lived riding around on a tractor – but delighted that other people do). I’ve got frames hanging from the ceiling as art. I obsess about ceramic and carbon rims, the latest and also classic Italian componentry. I love tinkering with my bikes, tweaking, adapting, testing… More than ever – I love the sheer thrill of riding. It makes me feel alive – riding a 15lb race machine on a perfect road, each in tune with the other, and ideally, the rider…
And cars? Well, car was my first word. I’ve obsessed about pretty much every type of car and bave been through Caterhams, Elises, every type of M3 including an original E30, V8 S4s (daily driver now), Landrovers of every age, minis of every age and modification, track cars, race cars, 4x4s, iconic cars (2cv, beetle) frugal cars (Smart roadster), and have driven everything from Countachs, Uraccos, Integrales, Stratos, 037 race cars, 911s, Ferraris. I love the technology, use of materials, ergonomics, research, components, design, car culture from every angle from track days through to (dare I say it on pistonheads) urban design and future transport technology. And, of course, I love driving – I love the noise, the poise, the sheer visceral delight of a well designed machine and a great road… the act of driving is not dissimilar to any creative act – the stuff of life.
So – please none of the hate as on the Overtaking Cyclists thread on here (Scary as all hell that there are drivers like that) – interested to hear if there’s anyone like me that loves both.?
Bikes first: the sheer joy of a pared down, lightweight road bike is a thing to behold – I love the experimentation with materials and have 12 different bikes – custom thin walled steel with brazed connections, old school steel lugs, aluminium, carbon and 2 titanium ‘daily drivers’. I’ve got track bikes, cross bikes and road bikes (never really been a mountain biker as never lived riding around on a tractor – but delighted that other people do). I’ve got frames hanging from the ceiling as art. I obsess about ceramic and carbon rims, the latest and also classic Italian componentry. I love tinkering with my bikes, tweaking, adapting, testing… More than ever – I love the sheer thrill of riding. It makes me feel alive – riding a 15lb race machine on a perfect road, each in tune with the other, and ideally, the rider…
And cars? Well, car was my first word. I’ve obsessed about pretty much every type of car and bave been through Caterhams, Elises, every type of M3 including an original E30, V8 S4s (daily driver now), Landrovers of every age, minis of every age and modification, track cars, race cars, 4x4s, iconic cars (2cv, beetle) frugal cars (Smart roadster), and have driven everything from Countachs, Uraccos, Integrales, Stratos, 037 race cars, 911s, Ferraris. I love the technology, use of materials, ergonomics, research, components, design, car culture from every angle from track days through to (dare I say it on pistonheads) urban design and future transport technology. And, of course, I love driving – I love the noise, the poise, the sheer visceral delight of a well designed machine and a great road… the act of driving is not dissimilar to any creative act – the stuff of life.
So – please none of the hate as on the Overtaking Cyclists thread on here (Scary as all hell that there are drivers like that) – interested to hear if there’s anyone like me that loves both.?
I like both, but I have to admit to being very biased towards the car. I have a couple mountain bikes for off roading and a BMX for having fun on. For the road I have a practical car that can be fun to drive at the right time. I just find cycling on the road so F'in boring. Hurtling through woods getting lashed by branches and dodging felled trees or jumping big things is much more fun.
It's just the nature of a forum - most people are reasonable, but the few idiots dominate. Who are you going to reply to, someone saying 'some cyclists are knobs, some motorists are knobs, let's just get along' or 'cyclists/motorists should all be shot'? The fact that there are ANY cyclists on the roads shows that, whilst things could be better, they're not all that bad.
Don't let the idiots get you down
Don't let the idiots get you down
paranoid airbag said:
It's just the nature of a forum - most people are reasonable, but the few idiots dominate. Who are you going to reply to, someone saying 'some cyclists are knobs, some motorists are knobs, let's just get along' or 'cyclists/motorists should all be shot'? The fact that there are ANY cyclists on the roads shows that, whilst things could be better, they're not all that bad.
Don't let the idiots get you down
Don't let the idiots get you down
billywhizzzzzz said:
Oooh, hate already. Show off? About what? Total value of combined bikes less than a 2nd hand focus, so it can't be money. Enthusiasm? Isn't that why we're here, sharing a passion, whether we've got a ferrari or a 2cv?
Don't want to tarnish the thread already but there's no way the 12 bikes add up to a 2nd hand focus if you've got two ti builds, at least 1 carbon roadie & track bikes and cyclo bikes!I love cycling, and have to say its nothing to do with the bike! Fair enough, on a mountain bike you need something that works well (decent suspension, brakes, wheels so it'll last) but for the road, I have a £120 steel racer and it's just as fun as riding around on my friends carbon bike. Still manage to get KOMs on popular roads/hills at a fraction of the cost, and in no way is the cycling diminished by the fact i'm riding a £120 bike instead of a £5k carbon sub 15lb machine.
billywhizzzzzz said:
Oooh, hate already. Show off? About what? Total value of combined bikes less than a 2nd hand focus, so it can't be money. Enthusiasm? Isn't that why we're here, sharing a passion, whether we've got a ferrari or a 2cv?
Hate? I think you need to reassess your own personal definition of hate, maybe that's why you're getting carried away with your upset at words on a screen. Having just bought, and then sold a bike again as an experiment recently, I can only say...
Cars > Bikes.
Cars much more fun, FACT.
Unless you get your kicks from being nearly run over every day. I didn't see the appeal. I always try and make space for them on the road though, and it did give me an insight into just HOW vulnerable they are.
Cars > Bikes.
Cars much more fun, FACT.
Unless you get your kicks from being nearly run over every day. I didn't see the appeal. I always try and make space for them on the road though, and it did give me an insight into just HOW vulnerable they are.
Commute by bike and drive for fun at weekends, which is the best of both worlds.
Both have their sense of fun and adventure. The bike for the ability to push speed to the limit legally and without risking life and limb. The car for the freedom, adrenalin and search for the perfect country road.
Both have their sense of fun and adventure. The bike for the ability to push speed to the limit legally and without risking life and limb. The car for the freedom, adrenalin and search for the perfect country road.
oyster said:
The bike for the ability to push speed to the limit legally and without risking life and limb.
Don't know if I agree with that, I'd say the risk of death on a bicycle is probably higher than that than for driving a car, given the latter tends to afford some protection in the form being in a big metal cage, having 4 wheels and airbags etc.Share the OP's views and understand the obsession with both bikes and cars as objects of fascination and desire in their own right, as well as means to an end (fun, fitness, transport, whatever)
I assume Papa Hotel was joking with the first show-off comment. If he wasn't, well, he and I read the OP in different ways.
I know I'm not offering much fresh insight by observing that many threads on PH end up flavoured by black and white, with us or against us, all vs none, sample of one, type discussions. Its part of the charm, and is quite entertaining. Until you realise some of the people posting actually mean what they're saying, when it becomes somewhat worrying.
I assume Papa Hotel was joking with the first show-off comment. If he wasn't, well, he and I read the OP in different ways.
I know I'm not offering much fresh insight by observing that many threads on PH end up flavoured by black and white, with us or against us, all vs none, sample of one, type discussions. Its part of the charm, and is quite entertaining. Until you realise some of the people posting actually mean what they're saying, when it becomes somewhat worrying.
Flook said:
I assume Papa Hotel was joking with the first show-off comment. If he wasn't, well, he and I read the OP in different ways.
Are talking to me or some third party? Anyway, yes, I was giving him a light-hearted poke in the ribs, he took it too seriously. I found it another example of his tendency to take things too seriously; see the original post of this thread.
Papa Hotel said:
Flook said:
I assume Papa Hotel was joking with the first show-off comment. If he wasn't, well, he and I read the OP in different ways.
Are talking to me or some third party? Anyway, yes, I was giving him a light-hearted poke in the ribs, he took it too seriously. I found it another example of his tendency to take things too seriously; see the original post of this thread.
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