5 Taboo Cycling Topics
Jul 20th 2018
Let's get down to the nitty gritty taboo topics about cycling. We'll address the 5 most common misconceptions about cycling and get real with you.
Cycling is Expensive
A true musician is able to make music from the finest instruments in the world as well as commonly found random objects not meant for music making. Same thing with cycling. When it comes down to it, it's you, your bike, the road. There are highly engineered finely tuned bikes out there that will get you there the same as a used beater you've found on craigslist. The difference is the ride and to get a good ride out of a decent bike, not expensive at all.
Let's say you buy a bike for $600. If you're a recreational cyclist, let's say you use the bike 1/3 of the year for the first year, roughly 120 days. That comes out to $5 each time you ride it for the first year. Same price as a metro rental, except this bike is yours forever. This is only for the first year! If you decide to keep the bike for two years, and still only ride it 1/3 of the year? That $600 bike costs you $2.50 each time you take it out. Cycling is not expensive. #wedidthemath
Nowhere does it say "Lube" on the can
Lubing with WD-40
WD-40 is not a lubricant. It is a "penetrating oil and water displacement spray". WD-40 has a bike specific product line, which includes a completely separate product called "chain lubricant". The traditional WD-40 is NOT GOOD FOR YOUR BIKE CHAIN, PEOPLE. At first, spraying your chain with it will temporarily lubricate your chains, but it is not meant to last and will gunk up and create a dirty glob of mess in your chain. Get yourself some actual bike chain lube. Step. Away. From. The. WD Spray.
Jamis - Zenith Comp Femme 2017 (on sale)
Does gender matter to this bike?
Women Should Ride Women-Specific Bikes
We are of the "Do You" mentality. Does your bike know what gender you are? Exactly. Ride what works for YOU. JUST RIDE. Many bikes are labeled "women specific, ladies bikes" and many step-through bikes are seen as "girls only". No. If you are a woman and you want to ride a bike, choose any d*mn bike you like. If you are a man and you want to ride a bike, choose any d*mn bike you like! Don't judge the bike, judge the ride.
ONE THING. We're gonna give you funny looks if you're not riding an age appropriate bike. If you're not a child and you're riding children's bikes, you're gonna get a funny look. But still, do you.
#ThickThighsSavesLives
Cycling Makes Thick Thighs
Only if you're specifically training to be a sprinter. Cyclists training to be sprinters train specifically for sprint work and lift weights with their thighs to purposely build muscle. You know the old joke about skipping leg day? Well leg day takes place in the gym and you're gonna have to train and lift weights with your legs in order to build muscle.
Any other type of cycling will not give you tree trunk thighs, rather it will tone your legs and build muscle endurance.
Roads Were Built for Cars
Let me introduce you to the "League of American Wheelmen" (LAW), currently known as League of American Bicyclists. Established in 1880, These fine cyclists came together Marvel Avengers style and pushed for states to fund paved roads so they could safely cycle. A Leage of American Wheelmen president, Horatio Earle, the "Father of Good Roads", was elected to Michigan State Senate and created the State Highway Commission, which led to the first concrete mile-long road. Paved roads in the United states were built for cyclists.