http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "I'm/he's/she's a Cyclist" en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:35:15 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259332 Tue, 05 Sep 2017 03:45:44 +0000 Tulyar 259332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm might be the place to comment on the &lt;***&gt; who had a bike shoved in the back of his small car (and could not close the hatchback door) who undertook me heading down to the mound - I was riding in the traffic lane becuase of a van parked in the bike lane right on the corner - a pity I didn't quite have enough speed up to cut him off trapped in the bike lane behind that van. Got him nowhere as he turned into Market Street in front of me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259327 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 22:45:02 +0000 Greenroofer 259327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Morningsider +1 to that. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259325 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 22:25:33 +0000 Morningsider 259325@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's really just a cycling related "I'm not a racist, but..." I've only ever heard people say this who are clearly not on a bike, generally to a person on a bike who they are about to criticise or to make some sweeping negative generalisation about all cyclists. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259323 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 22:08:11 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 259323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Well, there is that distinctively American road trip / driving holiday where you drive a particular route or region."</p> <p>Like the North Coast 500 for 99%+ of people? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259322 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:58:08 +0000 SRD 259322@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"When people go on holiday with a car it's just a holiday.<br /> With a bike it must be a cycling holiday as it's a special activity etc."</p> <p>Well, there is that distinctively American road trip / driving holiday where you drive a particular route or region. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259321 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:51:39 +0000 LaidBack 259321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When people go on holiday with a car it's just a holiday.<br /> With a bike it must be a cycling holiday as it's a special activity etc.<br /> Driving is default setting and means you can empathise with other shop and cafe owners and customers worried about wardens and traffic delays. Drivers generally stay in long lines so are in a constrained (hard done by) form of transport. Bold ones will risk fines driving bus lanes just to move up five spaces. The stakes are high. 'Cyclists' just don't get it. (Although many here drive and do 'get it') </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259319 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:58:56 +0000 Snowy 259319@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll put the <a href="https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/19/Appeal_to_Accomplishment">appeal to accomplishment</a> in this thread too as I think it seems to explain a lot.</p> <p>This only seems to appear with out groups. </p> <p>You never hear, "Sorry I burgled your home, but you can't complain about it, because I'm a home-owner myself" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259317 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:47:40 +0000 wingpig 259317@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've only had a chance to try it once so far, but it was quite pleasing to counter "I'm a cyclist too but..." with "you're not THIS cyclist, being physically threatened with two tonnes of Beemer" a few months back, though the way some drivers drive they are threatening themselves as well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259316 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:45:53 +0000 chdot 259316@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Neither mean that you are an expert on all (or indeed any) aspects of cycling."</p> <p>That's certainly true and part of the 'extra complex spectrum' I mentioned. </p> <p>So in the context of the rubbish driving thread it probably demonstrates a lack of knowledge/expertise! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259315 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:43:08 +0000 chdot 259315@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The point I was trying to make at the start of the thread was how easy it is to be a 'cyclist'.</p> <p>It means nothing."</p> <p>I think we have now said the same thing in different ways. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259314 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:40:39 +0000 chdot 259314@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Missing the whole point that people who cycle are a wide spectrum."</p> <p>Not disagreeing with your general points, but I think that in recent years the "wide spectrum" has become "a very wide spectrum" or perhaps a spectrum with many more segments or (maybe more accurately) many people who ride bikes no longer <em>just</em> ride for transport or sport or leisure which used to be, pretty much, the only sorts of 'cyclists'. </p> <p>I wonder if drivers are easier to categorise as 'to work', 'shops' or 'weekends/holidays'. </p> <p>So perhaps people who describe themselves or others as "cyclists" don't actually understand how things have moved on and the simple word no longer conveys any relevant, coherent, meaning(?)</p> <p>NOT that I'm suggesting that people shouldn't call themselves cyclists if they want to. </p> <p>Some people call themselves drivers, but (I assume) most consider themselves as occasional/frequent users of cars - for a variety of purposes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259313 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:33:48 +0000 SRD 259313@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think it's instinctive to be a bit skeptical when outsiders come and tell you how to do things, but don't necessarily understand the local dynamics and challenges. I see it everywhere, and do it myself.</p> <p>Of course, this can also turn into 'we're not Europe...' </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259312 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:32:32 +0000 HankChief 259312@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The point I was trying to make at the start of the thread was how easy it is to be a 'cyclist'. </p> <p>It means nothing. You can have a rusty BSO that last saw action at Centre Parcs in the 80s or you can be an Olympic medal winner. Neither mean that you are an expert on all (or indeed any) aspects of cycling.</p> <p>So why do people say it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259310 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:20:13 +0000 chdot 259310@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"or gets paid a lot to fly aroundthe world and spend donor money"</p> <p>Aha, I suspect that sort of thing is quite common, but probably not something <em>you</em> actually do! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259306 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:14:59 +0000 SRD 259306@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot depends on the individual; often shorthand is 'white' but that tends to stand for a particular type of white/western person who either 'understands our blacks' (in the words of Ian Smith) or gets paid a lot to fly aroundthe world and spend donor money. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259305 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:12:00 +0000 chdot 259305@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"So, occasionally people question my expertise"</p> <p>Which of the above do they think compromises your judgement most? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259304 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:08:08 +0000 wishicouldgofaster 259304@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I got into an argument one time and got called a militant cyclist I laughed and told the guy I had been driving for 30 years. I was therefore deemed a good guy because I drive ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259303 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:04:28 +0000 SRD 259303@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I get the converse a fair bit in my profession. I write about politics (and other stuff) in a country that I do not belong to in terms of my passport/race/ethnic ties, and in which I was not born. So, occasionally people question my expertise. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18098#post-259228 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:06:01 +0000 HankChief 259228@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is there any other group where an elevated sense of knowledge on a subject is considered from such a low barrier to entry?</p> <p>From today's bad driving thread we have "I'm a cyclist" being used as an excuse for endangering a forumnite.</p> <p>From the CEC election, we have the inference that a candidate is a good egg because they cycle.</p> <p>In Roseburn we had an individual making a lot of him "being a cyclist" and not wanting the cycle route.</p> <p>Is it because cycling is seen as an out group that makes people feel they can connect easily by saying they are part of the out group. Missing the whole point that people who cycle are a wide spectrum. </p>