>>>There are other kinds of cycling than on roadbikes<<<<
>>>Don't get caught in the "us" vs. "them" battles in cycling<<<<
As much as this discussion borders on being "off topic", I think it still has some relevance, and I agree with MM in that the sport and all that goes along with it, needs to be "inclusive" rather than "exclusive". The thinking that all that's new or different is marketing hype, and the thinking that "we're" right and "they're" wrong, are both fostering an exclusionary perspective. That's the last thing this sport needs, there's too much already. An inclusive perspective promotes sustainable enthusiasts. People who adopt a long-term (life-time?) involvement with bicycling will, by their very nature, probably have a better understanding, appreciation, respect (and involvement) with whatever may be regarded as "classic" at any given moment in time. BMXers turn into MTBers, and the current resurgence in the road bike market is fueled (at least in part) by kids (now no longer kids?) who grew up with mountain bikes, not road bikes. We (the average CR 'we') grew up with road bikes. Kids today grow up with BMX and MTB, and MAYBE transition into road bikes. The question is, how do we get this latest generation of enthusiasts to appreciate the "old" stuff, the history, and the art of the bicycle? Certainly not by discounting them.
Just couldn't resist.
Wayne Bingham
-----Original Message----- From: Monkeyman [mailto:monkey37@bluemarble.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 9:33 AM To: Jerry Moos; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Fwd: CR folks on issue of the "free press"---FYI
>Of course, in the 70's, Bicycling! was also focused on a youthful
>audience, but I think it was >probably more like a 16 to 35 age group they
>were targeting then. Most of us old farts fit that >group back then. To
>be honest, there was probably at least as much male bias then as now.
This is an OT topic I think, but I need to make a little stand for youmger cyclists. I've got to say I agree 100% on your thinking here but woiuld like to add that the writers for Bicycling are close to the same age as they were in BICYCLING!. It's not that the magazine writersa or audience has changed it's that 99% of CR members are no longer part of their "target audience" as they once were. They haven't changed, you have.
> It would be nice if we could find a way to transition more of those
>BMXers into lifelong tourists and >ommuters, rather than see them discard
>the bikes as soon as they get a car and a real job.
Jerry's thought I'm rure reflect many others on the list but it's 100% wrong. There are other kinds of cycling than on roadbikes. Almost every young MTBer out there came from BMX. Also if you look at the resume of most professional cyclists today, including Lance, you'll see BMX roots. Don't get caught in the "us" vs. "them" battles in cycling. Insted of asking, "Why don't more of these kids get into "classic" bikes" ask "Why don't I got to the local BMX track or buy a MTB." As any teacher will tell you learning has to go two ways to work.
enjoy, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
Brandon and Mitzi's-- "Wurld uv Wunder"
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/
Monkeyman's on going bicycle part garage sale <<<NEW LISTINGS>>>
http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/
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