Comments on: The Core Team http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/ It's like reality TV. Except it's real. And there's no TV. Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: matt http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24685 matt Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:41:29 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24685 Fatty, The other "Core Team" members should tell the one "Core Team" member to get rid of the Hummer with the Bling-Bling wheels. C'Mon! Way to be a "cyclist" and drive a Hummer to the trailhead. Fatty,

The other “Core Team” members should tell the one “Core Team” member to get rid of the Hummer with the Bling-Bling wheels. C’Mon! Way to be a “cyclist” and drive a Hummer to the trailhead.

]]> By: Boz http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24157 Boz Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:17:55 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24157 One thing I see on my return to competitive cycling, both road and mtb, is MTB riders are more about the fun while being competitive. Roadies, on the other hand, are more serious and in the zone. Chasing down a break or hammering in a pace line preculdes goofing around and trying new moves, so the game face needs to be on. If a guy on another team flats and has no tube, I'm not too likely to toss him my spare in a road race, unless I know him well and he's no threat in the sprint. OTOH, I'd help out some one in an MTB race, because he might have a good, crisp pilsner in his cooler to pay me back after the race. I think Al M and the Jack Mormon Malitia would agree, sometimes, it's all about the beer. At least I think so. One thing I see on my return to competitive cycling, both road and mtb, is MTB riders are more about the fun while being competitive. Roadies, on the other hand, are more serious and in the zone. Chasing down a break or hammering in a pace line preculdes goofing around and trying new moves, so the game face needs to be on.
If a guy on another team flats and has no tube, I’m not too likely to toss him my spare in a road race, unless I know him well and he’s no threat in the sprint. OTOH, I’d help out some one in an MTB race, because he might have a good, crisp pilsner in his cooler to pay me back after the race. I think Al M and the Jack Mormon Malitia would agree, sometimes, it’s all about the beer. At least I think so.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24066 Jeremy Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:21:06 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24066 First rule of bike club... First rule of bike club…

]]> By: Al Maviva http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24061 Al Maviva Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:29:41 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24061 >>>>As a generality, I think mtbers, when riding together, ride differently than roadies, for instance, stopping after a hard climb, fast descent or rocky area to talk about it (read as “talk smack” or “commiserate”) or go back and do the same section while your buddies watch to see if you can top them (see fatty’s moab video as an example). Or occassionaly stop to take in the view. You can then talk about your victories/defeats after the ride. I think this creates more of a bond. Roadies, on the other hand (from my limited experience), seem to ride with less stopping and talking (i.e. less of a bond) Yeah, it's a different dynamic entirely among roadracers. Instead of friends who ride, it's riders who are friends. It's all about the suffering and the competition for roadracers, even on "easy" group rides, which never turn out to be easy, ever ever ever. I am starting to understand why people consider it the 'purist' version of bicycling, it's all about the bike and the ride and all of us who participate are just there gathered around the rolling altar. Don't get me wrong, I've made some great friends through road cycling, and the journey's young yet... just that if you're looking to make friends, buy an MTB, don't join a velo club. You'll make friends at the velo club, but it's a bug, not a feature. MTB'ing is the other way around. Cyclocross may actually be a better example of that type of thing, BTW... you find elite riders hoisting beers with novices, and everybody is relatively supportive. Around 'cross, eople who are merely polite and sorta friendly are kind of the lowest common denominator... This is probably why so many roadies love to 'train' in the off season doing cross - our emotionally starved inner selves enjoy the experience. Once a week for two months, anyhow. >>>>As a generality, I think mtbers, when riding together, ride differently than roadies, for instance, stopping after a hard climb, fast descent or rocky area to talk about it (read as “talk smack” or “commiserate”) or go back and do the same section while your buddies watch to see if you can top them (see fatty’s moab video as an example). Or occassionaly stop to take in the view. You can then talk about your victories/defeats after the ride. I think this creates more of a bond. Roadies, on the other hand (from my limited experience), seem to ride with less stopping and talking (i.e. less of a bond)

Yeah, it’s a different dynamic entirely among roadracers. Instead of friends who ride, it’s riders who are friends. It’s all about the suffering and the competition for roadracers, even on “easy” group rides, which never turn out to be easy, ever ever ever. I am starting to understand why people consider it the ‘purist’ version of bicycling, it’s all about the bike and the ride and all of us who participate are just there gathered around the rolling altar.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made some great friends through road cycling, and the journey’s young yet… just that if you’re looking to make friends, buy an MTB, don’t join a velo club. You’ll make friends at the velo club, but it’s a bug, not a feature. MTB’ing is the other way around. Cyclocross may actually be a better example of that type of thing, BTW… you find elite riders hoisting beers with novices, and everybody is relatively supportive. Around ‘cross, eople who are merely polite and sorta friendly are kind of the lowest common denominator… This is probably why so many roadies love to ‘train’ in the off season doing cross – our emotionally starved inner selves enjoy the experience. Once a week for two months, anyhow.

]]> By: Born 4 Lycra http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24059 Born 4 Lycra Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:50:05 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24059 I get the feeling that due to the time difference Kenny's picture was mainly seen Down Under which seems quite appropriate. Big Mike in Oz is about right with his observations and censorship rating but my thought was that it was never really going to be a crowd puller. However the story on why Kenny needs to rebel (see Bob's bit) by wandering around in his jocks while the rest of the riders are clothed appropriately might be of more interest. Bob surely you didn't mean to say that FC is not a leader in his Core Team did you. He's the only one with his name on your tops. I get the feeling that due to the time difference Kenny’s picture was mainly seen Down Under which seems quite appropriate. Big Mike in Oz is about right with his observations and censorship rating but my thought was that it was never really going to be a crowd puller. However the story on why Kenny needs to rebel (see Bob’s bit) by wandering around in his jocks while the rest of the riders are clothed appropriately might be of more interest.
Bob surely you didn’t mean to say that FC is not a leader in his Core Team did you. He’s the only one with his name on your tops.

]]> By: Tim D http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24046 Tim D Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:10:53 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24046 TRW, "lifting fish"? Is that some special weights regime or just a euphamism? TRW, “lifting fish”? Is that some special weights regime or just a euphamism?

]]> By: Bob http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24044 Bob Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:06:10 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24044 Fatty, you failed to include the dynamics that keep a core group together. A lot of people think that a bunch of similar guys can just hang around and get along, but that isn't the case. Guys need to fit into predictable roles. In our group, Dug is the Appointed Leader, Gary is the Clown, Kenny is the Rebel, I am the Covert Leader, Rick is the Enforcer, and the other guys plays various Follower roles that involve providing information and offering support to one of the leaders or to the Rebel, if change is necessary. Think "12 Angry Men." I'm the Henry Fonda characcter. As long as we follow our roles, we can continue to achieve successful group interaction through the medium of mountain biking. Fatty, you failed to include the dynamics that keep a core group together. A lot of people think that a bunch of similar guys can just hang around and get along, but that isn’t the case. Guys need to fit into predictable roles. In our group, Dug is the Appointed Leader, Gary is the Clown, Kenny is the Rebel, I am the Covert Leader, Rick is the Enforcer, and the other guys plays various Follower roles that involve providing information and offering support to one of the leaders or to the Rebel, if change is necessary. Think “12 Angry Men.” I’m the Henry Fonda characcter. As long as we follow our roles, we can continue to achieve successful group interaction through the medium of mountain biking.

]]> By: Big Mike In Oz http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24042 Big Mike In Oz Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:18:58 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24042 Kenny - I wasn't going to say anything, but since the photo's gone I'm gonna use it as leverage for all those who were too slow to see it. It wasn't too provocative, yet it wasn't too bland. It wasn't too revealing, yet it showed quite an area. I think the censorship board would give it a PG13. Thoughtful, without pushing the envelope. Tasteful, without inciting a riot. Kenny – I wasn’t going to say anything, but since the photo’s gone I’m gonna use it as leverage for all those who were too slow to see it. It wasn’t too provocative, yet it wasn’t too bland. It wasn’t too revealing, yet it showed quite an area.

I think the censorship board would give it a PG13. Thoughtful, without pushing the envelope. Tasteful, without inciting a riot.

]]> By: bikemike http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24028 bikemike Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:07:50 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24028 anymore than three really good core friends is like chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles on top. oh, wait, nevermind. anymore than three really good core friends is like chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles on top. oh, wait, nevermind.

]]> By: BotchedExperiment http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/comment-page-1/#comment-24026 BotchedExperiment Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:59:47 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/07/04/the-core-team/#comment-24026 Does this mean we all have to hug before our next ride? Bob: Why doesn't Bob move back to Utah? Bob's funny. Bob went from 0 feet of elevation in Seattle to 9-11K feet of elevation during the Fish Lake trip. And he didn't die. I really hate Bob's bike. Does this mean we all have to hug before our next ride?

Bob: Why doesn’t Bob move back to Utah? Bob’s funny. Bob went from 0 feet of elevation in Seattle to 9-11K feet of elevation during the Fish Lake trip. And he didn’t die. I really hate Bob’s bike.

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