Cycling = Un-American???

allanw said:

Is it just me or does cycling seem inherently un-American?

When you look at cycling you see:

-Small guys (<6ft 180-190lbs)

-Wearing tights

-Racing predominately in Europe

-Most pros are European

-Endurance event

-Shave their legs

-Understand tactics & strategies of the sport

The American typecast is usually:

- Big guys (>5'10 180lbs)

- Laugh at the thought of spandex shorts

- Driving big trucks

- Have '0' knowledge of cycling (peleton??)

- No appreciation for endurance sports (only football,baseball,basketball)

- Have little to no strategic understanding of the sports they love (when to roll out a nickel vs dime package in football)

It just seems as though they are diametrically opposed. With out Lance the gap would probably be even more significant, but hey, he's just a ity bitty guy from the soft spot in Tex, that spends most of his time in Europe.

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Can't really comment on this, but I guess it is, since you people are mostly fat and want to do everything in your bloody cars.

allanw said:

Is it just me or does cycling seem inherently un-American?

When you look at cycling you see:
-Small guys (<6ft 180-190lbs)
-Wearing tights
-Racing predominately in Europe
-Most pros are European
-Endurance event
-Shave their legs
-Understand tactics & strategies of the sport

The American typecast is usually:
- Big guys (>5'10 180lbs)
- Laugh at the thought of spandex shorts
- Driving big trucks
- Have '0' knowledge of cycling (peleton??)
- No appreciation for endurance sports (only football,baseball,basketball)
- Have little to no strategic understanding of the sports they love (when to roll out a nickel vs dime package in football)

It just seems as though they are diametrically opposed. With out Lance the gap would probably be even more significant, but hey, he's just a ity bitty guy from the soft spot in Tex, that spends most of his time in Europe.

You may have a point. But then again, maybe in europe there are just a lot of malnurished homosexual guys who like to shave their legs so they are pretty for their lovers and are forced to ride bikes by their socialist governments.

It's a possibility...

Um, didn't a texan just win a 6th TdF?

I think saying there's anything un-american about cycling is like saying football (soccer) is un-brazilian. Yes, there is smaller fan base for cycling in the US vs. Europe, that we can probably call a fact.

allanw said:

Is it just me or does cycling seem inherently un-American?

When you look at cycling you see:

-Small guys (<6ft 180-190lbs)

-Wearing tights

-Racing predominately in Europe

-Most pros are European

-Endurance event

-Shave their legs

-Understand tactics & strategies of the sport

The American typecast is usually:

- Big guys (>5'10 180lbs)

- Laugh at the thought of spandex shorts

- Driving big trucks

- Have '0' knowledge of cycling (peleton??)

- No appreciation for endurance sports (only football,baseball,basketball)

- Have little to no strategic understanding of the sports they love (when to roll out a nickel vs dime package in football)

It just seems as though they are diametrically opposed. With out Lance the gap would probably be even more significant, but hey, he's just a ity bitty guy from the soft spot in Tex, that spends most of his time in Europe.

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Cycling is just counter-culture in the U.S. The American mentality seems to be that you arn't anybody if you don't own a car, just ask a high schooler. Bottom line is that American's see bike as mere toys and nothing more. They don't get why anyone would want to use a bike for commuting when they can use a car. And Americans don't typically understand why someone would want to use a bike for exercise when you can go to the gym and exercise in airconditioning/comfort.

Simply put, Americans don't value health until it's too late and usually blame someone else for their poor choices, for example the cigarette companies, fast food restaurants or their busy lives. Perhaps if more people are educated about the benifits of cycling then more people might change their perspective and respect cycling for it's health benifits and as a sport. Until then I suspect Americans will never appreciate the sport of cycling.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Dan.

[quote="Dijital"]You may have a point. But then again, maybe in europe there are just a lot of malnurished homosexual guys who like to shave their legs so they are pretty for their lovers and are forced to ride bikes by their socialist governments.[QUOTE]

Brilliantly stated. 😄

Dijital said:

You may have a point. But then again, maybe in europe there are just a lot of malnurished homosexual guys who like to shave their legs so they are pretty for their lovers and are forced to ride bikes by their socialist governments.

It's a possibility...

That's logical, eating burgers and freedom fries is healthy, but makes you fat. Eat healthy foods, stay slim and you're malnurished?

allanw said:

Is it just me or does cycling seem inherently un-American?

When you look at cycling you see:

-Small guys (<6ft 180-190lbs)

-Wearing tights

-Racing predominately in Europe

-Most pros are European

-Endurance event

-Shave their legs

-Understand tactics & strategies of the sport

The American typecast is usually:

- Big guys (>5'10 180lbs)

- Laugh at the thought of spandex shorts

- Driving big trucks

- Have '0' knowledge of cycling (peleton??)

- No appreciation for endurance sports (only football,baseball,basketball)

- Have little to no strategic understanding of the sports they love (when to roll out a nickel vs dime package in football)

It just seems as though they are diametrically opposed. With out Lance the gap would probably be even more significant, but hey, he's just a ity bitty guy from the soft spot in Tex, that spends most of his time in Europe.

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Un American? No but not as popular as in Europe and there are a lot of more popular sports here. As far as having a car the distances between destination make it absolutely necessary to have speedier transportation.
Riding a bike to work for me would be impractical and darn near impossible.

fixit said:

Can't really comment on this, but I guess it is, since you people are mostly fat and want to do everything in your bloody cars.

Sex in the back seat of a car is a hell of a lot easier than sex on the seat of a bicycle.

Trekker2017 said:

Sex in the back seat of a car is a hell of a lot easier than sex on the seat of a bicycle.

Yes but how do you know that!

jhuskey said:

Yes but how do you know that!

In my younger days I was foolish enough to.... but we won't go there. 😄

Trekker2017 said:

Sex in the back seat of a car is a hell of a lot easier than sex on the seat of a bicycle.

Isn't having sex in public illegal in the US?
I know most of you have their first experience in the backseat of a car, but why? Why not in a comfy bed or couch or something, a nice drink (you can't even have a drink on street, as I had to experience) and maybe some food?
I know this sounds old fashioned but hey, I'm european.

fixit said:

Can't really comment on this, but I guess it is, since you people are mostly fat and want to do everything in your bloody cars.

Damn! Where's the love? Cycling doesn't fit the mold of mainstream sports here. Personally, in addition to my love for cycling, I love Football - the contact, the speed, etc. Now Cycling could hit it big here if they put in Full Contact Cycling... now that would bring in some ratings! Husky can attest to our sports interests, especially here in the South. It's College Football and nothing else, until College Basketball kicks in. It's basically SEC Football, and ACC Basketball (and both are making inroads on the others' "territory"!!).

fixit said:

That's logical, eating burgers and freedom fries is healthy, but makes you fat. Eat healthy foods, stay slim and you're malnurished?

Just about as logical as

fixit said:

I know most of you have their first experience in the backseat of a car

and

fixit said:

since you people are mostly fat and want to do everything in your bloody cars

🙄 🙄

Sorry, had to point it out. No one appreciates being judged by the society in which they live.

Jeff

Americans, let's face it, are fat, lazy and stubborn. 😄

martin_j001 said:

No one appreciates being judged by the society in which they live.

Jeff

I hear you. 🙂

fixit said:

Isn't having sex in public illegal in the US?
I know most of you have their first experience in the backseat of a car, but why? Why not in a comfy bed or couch or something, a nice drink (you can't even have a drink on street, as I had to experience) and maybe some food?
I know this sounds old fashioned but hey, I'm european.

That's great when your 21 or over (legal drinking age in US). But when you're 18 or younger and you have to sneak your first around your parents and her parents and when it's over and you discover she's 17 and not 18 and you're looking at a charge of statutory rape if her parents find out.... the backseat of a car is the safest place.

fixit said:

Isn't having sex in public illegal in the US?
I know most of you have their first experience in the backseat of a car, but why? Why not in a comfy bed or couch or something, a nice drink (you can't even have a drink on street, as I had to experience) and maybe some food?
I know this sounds old fashioned but hey, I'm european.

Hey I'd have to agree with you there, when I was a teen the only sex in a car was because the she insisted, cause it was so racy?! Hell I was 15, on my own with enough money in my pocket to go to any hotel in town, but whatever, we can be uncomfortable.

Redneck said:

Damn! Where's the love? Cycling doesn't fit the mold of mainstream sports here. Personally, in addition to my love for cycling, I love Football - the contact, the speed, etc. Now Cycling could hit it big here if they put in Full Contact Cycling... now that would bring in some ratings! Husky can attest to our sports interests, especially here in the South. It's College Football and nothing else, until College Basketball kicks in. It's basically SEC Football, and ACC Basketball (and both are making inroads on the others' "territory"!!).

Full contact cycling = Keirin
and we're trying! It'll happen

BanditManDan said:

Cycling is just counter-culture in the U.S. The American mentality seems to be that you arn't anybody if you don't own a car, just ask a high schooler. Bottom line is that American's see bike as mere toys and nothing more. They don't get why anyone would want to use a bike for commuting when they can use a car. And Americans don't typically understand why someone would want to use a bike for exercise when you can go to the gym and exercise in airconditioning/comfort.

Simply put, Americans don't value health until it's too late and usually blame someone else for their poor choices, for example the cigarette companies, fast food restaurants or their busy lives. Perhaps if more people are educated about the benifits of cycling then more people might change their perspective and respect cycling for it's health benifits and as a sport. Until then I suspect Americans will never appreciate the sport of cycling.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Dan.

i agree, but i would just as soon keep it out of the mainstream. if everybody cycled would it mean as much to you? for me the answer is no. i like being the only kid at my school who cycles, i like the fact that it's not football or baseball becuase it makes it that much more personal