BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I used to say biker, but I realized that sometimes, people would get confused and think that I was on a motorcycle. So I switched to cyclist or "riding a bike" or something like that.

After realizing the problem whre I would say "biker" and then air-pedal to demonstrate which I meant, I switched to 'cyclist' because emphasis on letter in 'bicyclist' compared to the words 'bicycle' and 'cyclist' seems weird.

Yeah, "biker" means "motorcycle" to a lot of people. I used to say "bicyclist", but after I started reading this site, I realized that I was short-changing the one-wheel folks (hi Stu!), so I started saying "cyclist".

'biker' was a bit too self aggrandizing and should be left to the guys in leather on hogs - it carries a certain connotation that honestly, the lycra crowd haven't earned.

I'm sorry, what? I moved my own self 300 miles this week, while that dentist on his expensive toy might have moved his ass 300 yards. What's this about "earning", again?

People riding twenty lb bikes in traffic with 4,000 lb vehicles have earned the right to call themselves whatever they want.

Loner. Rebel.

I tend to use cyclist, most people seem to get it.

Plus, I seem to the same things over, and over, and over...

I'm sorry, what? I moved my own self 300 miles this week, while that dentist on his expensive toy might have moved his ass 300 yards. What's this about "earning", again?

yeah, but did you run concert security at altamont?

Ah, point taken. However I don't think Sons of Anarchy would have the same effect if it were based on a "bike punk" gang...

Bicyclist sounds clunky to me. I don't feel that I'm really a cyclist though. I'm a person who rides a bike, and a bus, and walks, too.

I've started occasionally making the titles longer and using 'people who drive cars' instead of driver and 'people who ride bikes' instead of biker. I want to emphasize the people aspect of each mode of transportation, rather than the transportation.

By calling people "driver" or "biker" it seems to make one "the other" and easier to dismiss, at least it has been for me in the past.

The star-belly sneetches have stars on thars.

I get the distinction between what to call a person riding a motorcycle, and what to call a person riding a bicycle. But I'm not sure what to make of the "lycra crowd" comment.

ehh i was just trying to be creative by making a mass generalization based on attire. hmm.

bikeist

bikeism

Bikester

Bikologist

Bikeneticist

Road toad.

I also agree with Lolly... I tend to say "people who ride bikes" or "people who drive," because similar to what she said, I subconsciously (and sometimes consciously) like to emphasize people.

I used to say biker, but have consciously tried to stop because I have heard non-cyclists use it negatively many times.

Also, I say "bikey people" a lot, or use bikey to describe something.

"That bikey girl went to the bikey event in her bikey clothes.. there were a lot of bikey people there."

"Velonaut"

Velonaut, I like it

http://www.velonaut.net/blog/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja-nxqopBFQ

song isn't that great but the bikey people are.

Not sure why this ill-conceived pattern popped into my head, even less sure why I felt compelled to share it. Anyway.

Trotskyist, Trotskyite.

Socialist, Socialite.

Cyclist, Cyclite?

Cycologist?

bikers drive their bicycles while cyclists ride them.

Does a cycologist work with people with cycling problems and then overmedicate them?

My name is ALMKLM, and I have a bicycle problem...

@Lolly Does a cycologist work with people with cycling problems and then overmedicate them?

Sort of. But a cycologist can only recommend medication. You have to be a bikeiatrist to actually prescribe it.

You're in good form Mick.

This is reminding me of a Fraiser episode called "Fraternal Schwinns". I can't find video of it online (from a source I trust anyway) but there's a funny scene where Fraiser and Niles go into a bike shop and try to sound like they're not clueless.

"You're in good form Mick."

-agreed.

Does a Cardiologist treat problems related to problems with car usage?

@lolly: Yes. It's often related to obesity.

I don't like to use the term 'biker' because I feel that those are the real bad-ass bikers & messenger-type people -not newbies & commuters like me. Also, I love the show "Sons of Anarchy" , and would probably get a hit in my head if I compare myself to them..... so, I use cyclist.

And yes... bikeygirl thinks that bikey is a good bike-verb/adjective too

@Mick. Bikeiatrist. Epic.

Bikeiatrist = Bicycle and bipolar.

A nod to South Park:

"bike-curious"

arrested development no?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDSqcCPRsW0

Cyclist. or, "Rides a 10-speed everywhere guy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1PgHXKdJJM

Nick: bikers drive their bicycles while cyclists ride them.

This really intrigued me. Really, folks who operate bicycles are driving their vehicles - drive in the same sense that "drive train" means, viz. transmit power, viz. provide power via the legs, &c. &c.

Folks who "ride" their vehicles would more accurately describe those who operate motorized vehicles - they are conducting their vehicle, but they're really riding it (and controlling it) as some other power source does its thing.

Anyway, it's definitely true that most people say ride a bike and drive a car/motorcycle. It just seemed interesting to me that the verbs seem to be sort of flipped from what seems to make more snese.

No, you ride a motorcycle, or bike, horse, skateboard, snowboard, riding lawnmower, outside, un-enclosed by the thing. You drive a car, bus, tank, etc. enclosed. I think.

It's about being astride the thing, mostly. You can ride a horse and you can drive a team of horses (or oxen) -- even if you're not enclosed. You also drive cattle to market while riding herd on them. But it's also sometimes about being in control. You might ride a rocket to the moon (more likely fly, or pilot) but you never drive one. You ride the bus unless you're the driver. And sometimes commercial airline pilots talk about driving their rigs. But. Language is a game, it doesn't have to be logical.