Terminological Inexactitude

[David T.]

There seems to be a notion that a bike frame can be “sprightly” or
“lively”. On the other hand, a frame can supposedly be “sluggish.” I
assume this means that the tubing is more or less flexible. Does
flexible tubing make a bike more sprightly? Couldn’t you just as well
call it “floppy” or “saggy?” Can a bike even be sprightly, after all
it just sits there unless someone gets on it and pedals. Does flexible
tubing even make a bicycle faster, or more efficient to pedal? If it
does then why do the sprinters use bikes that are as stiff as
possible?

There are words used to describe bicycles that are starting to lose
their meaning.

“Comfy” gets used a lot, to describe handlebars, tires, handlebar
tape, saddles; even whole bikes probably. I think it has come to mean
upholstered or padded in some way, but that isn’t always the most
comfortable. For example I find a single wrap of cloth tape with a
single coat of shellac to be the easiest on my hands…but that wouldn’t
be “comfy” would it? It brings to mind the dreaded “comfort bike”
which is maybe comfortable to sit on inside the bike shop, but not to
ride from point A to point B if point A and point B are more than
about half a mile apart.

“Relaxed Geometry”: This has some basis in reality, but can a geometry
really be relaxed? If you push it too far, it isn’t relaxing. ( I
actually like how it gets expanded as “slack” geometry, “forgiving”…or
is that “forgiving” steel tubing? It bet it’s not too forgiving if
someone get whacked on the forehead with it. Would you be forgiven for
that?) You could turn it around and call it “acute angle” or “sharp
angle” geometry, but that doesn’t sound very relaxing. Plus for
someone riding a time trial bike, they may be more relaxed with a more
“open” geometry ( i.e. a steeper seat tube angle. ) I guess the
ultimate “relaxed” geometry is the recumbent bike, which indeed is a
relaxed position, until the first time you try to ride up a hill and
you immediately want to go back to your more uptight upright bike.

“Quick” geometry, which tends to be another way of saying a short
chainstay. This makes the bike turn quicker, but it tends to get
muddled with thinking that the bike will go quicker or faster, which
of course makes no sense at all. ( Just think of boats and drag racing
cars, the fastest ones are long and narrow, so instead of “quick”
geometry you could call it “slow” or “meandering” geometry…once again,
how can geometry be “quick?” ) Oh, I almost forgot about "quick"
steering...why do I always want my steering to be as slow as
possible?

If you read the reviews of some bicycles they are almost as bereft of
meaning as one of those fine wine descriptions..."eager",
"aggressive", " responsive", "nuanced", what's next, "insouciant?"

“Supple” tires….no comment.

There are lots more of these, does anyone know what I am talking
about? It’s a holiday…

[colin p. cummings]

I love it. All of it. Especially the part about quick steering; I
myself have never had a good experience where "quick" steering is
required.

As far as supple tires go...in my mind, this term is reserved only for
describing leather and, well, let's just say "skin." I have a friend
who used to cringe at two words: supple and moist. I still cringe a
little when a tire is described as supple. It's a little too sexy for
a bike tire.

[jpp]

The words are weird.  The one that always gets me is the widespread use of the word "bombproof".  People like everything on their bike to be bombproof, frame, tires, wheels, etc.   I have been riding a long time but have yet to ever run over a bomb.

[David T.]

I forgot about bombproof. This is often used in reference to tents as
well, although if I were being bombed I think a tent would be the last
place I would go.

And I forgot one of my favourites, the laid-back seatpost. It sounds
like the hippy of seatposts, relaxed, non-aggressive. Probably quite
forgiving too. ( I actually have one of these on my bike, just knowing
it is there puts me in a mellower mood. )

:-)

[jimD]

Well, I may know or think I know, what you are talking about, but most importantly do you?

You left out the PLUSH handling off the Bosco!

-JmD

My theory is that great bikes are pretty much magic. Start throwing terms like that around and the real trouble will start.

[Steve Palincsar]

On Mon, 2012-02-20 at 13:55 -0800, jimD wrote:
> Well, I may know or think I know, what you are talking about, but most
> importantly do you?
>
> You left out the PLUSH handling off the Bosco!

Now there's a name that brings back memories!

Oh, I love Bosco!
That's the drink for me!
Chocolate flavored Bosco
Is mighty good for me.
Mommy puts it in my milk
For extra energy.
Bosco gives me iron
And sunshine vitamin D.
Oh, I love Bosco!
That's the drink for me!

But that's not the way /we/ sang it, oh no! Our version went like this:
+
I hate Bosco
It's not the drink for me
My mommy put it in my milk
To try to poison me
One day I fooled Mommy
I put some in her tea
And now I have no mommy
To try to poison me!

[Tim McNamara]

On Feb 20, 2012, at 12:43 PM, David T. wrote:

> There seems to be a notion that a bike frame can be “sprightly” or
> “lively”. On the other hand, a frame can supposedly be “sluggish.” I
> assume this means that the tubing is more or less flexible. Does
> flexible tubing make a bike more sprightly? Couldn’t you just as well
> call it “floppy” or “saggy?” Can a bike even be sprightly, after all
> it just sits there unless someone gets on it and pedals.

One person's "springy" is another person's "noodle."

> Does flexible tubing even make a bicycle faster, or more efficient to pedal? If it does then why do the sprinters use bikes that are as stiff as possible?

Sean Kelly won almost all of his classic victories and Tour jerseys on Vitus 979s, widely considered to be one of the noodliest bikes you could find under pros at the time. Obviously didn't hamper him. Others want the stiffest frame they can find.

It's a matter of personal preference.

[jimD]

For my bicycle I demand 'stiff but compliant'!
Now if that isn't horse manure I don't know horses.
-JimD

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
>

[dougP]

Some the writers for bike mags went to the school where wine
descriptions are taught, and have applied the same weird ideas to
describing the characteristics of bicycles. Hey, if you're paying the
big bucks, shouldn't you get some ecstatic experience?

Loving the plush ride of my Atlantis, as it glides over every ripple
with nary a bobble...

dougP

[rob markwardt]

...it's fruity with hints of soil, tobacco and saddle leather!

> > about? It’s a holiday…- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[jimD]

Well Doug,

Let me tell ya, if you're after ecstatic gliding with nary a ripple you must try the 2011 Rosco Bubbe.

It presses gently on the behind and delivers a PLUSH ride with a lingering aftertaste of a well aged Schwinn Newsboy.

It will only get better with age (both the bike's and the rider's)!

The Rosco Bubbe clearly expresses that distinctive Rivendell terrior and all of the distinctive twists and turns to
be found there upon. One can detects the distinctive influence of Walnut Creek and Mt Diablo in the bicycle's
provenance.

-JimD

[CycloFiend]

Extra points for sneaking in "terrior"... ;^)

--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net

Three T-shirts Now Available - Now with FREE Shipping:
"I've Got Downtube Shifters..." S/S T-shirt
Cyclocross - "More Cowbell" L/S T-shirt
"One Cog - Zero Excuses" L/S T-shirt
http://www.cyclofiend.com/stuff