Cycling Forums UK : www.veloriders.co.uk :: View topic - Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'?

Home FAQ Register Usergroups Search Memberlist Gallery StatisticsForum Sponsors •  Photo RequestProfile • Links Log in to check your private messagesLog inBC Eastmidlands

Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'?
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Cycling Forums UK : www.veloriders.co.uk Forum Index -> Polls
View previous topic :: View next topic  

Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'?
Yes
57%
 57%  [ 41 ]
No
42%
 42%  [ 30 ]
Total Votes : 71

Author Message
MartinC
Cat 1 Groupie
Cat 1 Groupie


Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 130
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh Bol oxs I find myself agreeing with John.

I believe cycle sport to be pretty class less nowadays. Which is great.

Except: It probably excludes that underclass: the children who really are growing up in poverty, which is sadly a large group in this country.

But then they are excluded from many things in life: happiness being the main one.
_________________
www.crotchguard.co.uk Crap name brilliant product!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
shrinkingman
Cat 2 Groupie
Cat 2 Groupie


Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 63
Location: dorset

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

KJ wrote:
martin smith wrote:
John McC wrote:
As far as I'm concerned, it is a classless sport.


yes but few chavs would be seen dead on a bike once they have a car. and it takes a reasonable amount of disposable income to take it seriously unless you are sponsored.

I think most competitive sports will tend to be middle class, purely on the basis that someone who can take a sport seriously enough to be competitive probably isn't going to spend the rest of their life stood in a dole queue. competitive sport, like capitalism, suits those who are prepared to make an effort. I bet even running, which has virtually no expensive kit required has a base of mostly professional people. certainly those i see out training look more like accountants than dole scum.


How does an accountant look?


Following last night's club run this accountant looks just like this.....

[img][/img]
_________________
Garages do not sell food; Garages do not sell food; Garages do not sell food; Garages do not sell food; Garages do not sell food; ........ and on and on until my body believes me
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dockeca
Div 2 Pro


Joined: 27 Feb 2002
Posts: 4741
Location: halfway up the South Downs - or halfway down the South Ups!

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And i thought he'd just told a client what their tax bill would be!
Cycling tends to be spread through all kinds and types of people, and has a common theme. It still hurts to go fast regardless of how much is in your wallet. And for the helpers, officials, organisers, they have to be motovated by a wish to help and support, again through all kinds of people.
But if you want to talk class....
If someone is born in a council house, does cack jobs for a few years, gets a good break, ends up in their 30's as a manager in a big international company, takes a chunky package to leave, gets into a national outfit and ends up manager again, lives in a decent house (*CENSORED* free) in a village, then what class is that person?
Apart from joining De Rosa's lot, everything is on offer (they couldn't afford the wine bill!).
Yes I'm London born, and still identify with that little terraced house where my parents worked their socks off to provide a decent upbringing and subsidise me when I was (almost) competing. Yet some idiot would say "middle class" on the financial and location basis. What a load of nonsense.. If you want to define "class", then if you work what class is that? Employment is employment, and is work!
For me, class is about how you treat other people.
_________________
Doc

"Any views expressed are entirely my own and not representative of any organisation of which I may or may not be a member. Unless I say otherwise."
"A Libertarian Crackpot" H.Peel
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Max Drury
E, Silver


Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 1542
Location: Drury Lane

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In our club we've got a Surgeon a G.P an IT Consultant (whatever the chuff that is) a Nurse a P.T a Web Designer a Miner a couple of lay abouts and a couple of ex-cons....so I'd say it's not exclusively a middle class sport. Very Happy
_________________
Women are like dog doo
The older they are, the easier they are to pick up.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
John McC
Moderator
Moderator


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 24510
Location: Leafy Barnet

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Max Drury wrote:
In our club we've got a Surgeon a G.P an IT Consultant (whatever the chuff that is) a Nurse a P.T a Web Designer a Miner a couple of lay abouts and a couple of ex-cons....so I'd say it's not exclusively a middle class sport. Very Happy

Quite impressive for Donny Wink
_________________
John McClelland's victory in the motor paced event with Derek Marloe on the derny was a thing of beauty (Oldmanof)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Max Drury
E, Silver


Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 1542
Location: Drury Lane

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

John McC wrote:
Max Drury wrote:
In our club we've got a Surgeon a G.P an IT Consultant (whatever the chuff that is) a Nurse a P.T a Web Designer a Miner a couple of lay abouts and a couple of ex-cons....so I'd say it's not exclusively a middle class sport. Very Happy

Quite impressive for Donny Wink


Yeah, you thought all the mines had closed, didn't you? Wink
_________________
Women are like dog doo
The older they are, the easier they are to pick up.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pete Mooney
E, Silver


Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 811
Location: Hanging on to Dudley Busser Halfway between Hell and back!

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Class is easy, the working class do the simple easy jobs that do not require any brain power. Jobs like running a fish stall on a market or a laundry that does not lose or mix up customers washing, while the upper class concentrate their brains on the financial side making our banking system as solid as a rock.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
John McC
Moderator
Moderator


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 24510
Location: Leafy Barnet

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Upper class has very little to do with occupation (unlike working and middle class) but basically denotes one's membership of the aristocracy.
_________________
John McClelland's victory in the motor paced event with Derek Marloe on the derny was a thing of beauty (Oldmanof)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Scalatore
E, Gold


Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 2484

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know what class I am and I don't know what class the fella who recently came to where I work do clean through the water cooler is but when he saw I had a Giro d'Italia jacket on we were totally on the level as we chatted about our many mutal acquaintances.

Quote:
It still hurts to go fast regardless of how much is in your wallet.


Which is why, the odd group who've been stood on an Alp drinking all day aside, I reckon cycling is almost devoid of the insane tribalism you see in sports like football.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
harry g flatters
E, Bronze


Joined: 25 Nov 2006
Posts: 433
Location: coming up so we'd better get this party started

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

my first (*CENSORED*) race bike was a raleigh banana i bought from the tip for a fiver. New wheels & cables from LBS for £100, I rode it around for 6 months, doing the mileage.

then i scoured the local paper, found a reynolds 531 race frame for £15, added a load of hand-me-down campag parts from a mate and entered my first race.

then i scoured the comic till i found a 2nd hand pinarello (veloce groupset) for sale in my area for £500 and raced it for the next five years

i'm still racing on a combination of stuff that is ex-cyclejumble, blagged and new acquired at cost price.
my income bracket, by uk standards, could be described as 'low'.
_________________
Gordo's World of Zoom
http://zoom-gordo.*CENSORED*/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
harry g flatters
E, Bronze


Joined: 25 Nov 2006
Posts: 433
Location: coming up so we'd better get this party started

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

(CENSORED) should say a dul t. dunno why they blip that one Confused
_________________
Gordo's World of Zoom
http://zoom-gordo.*CENSORED*/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Plurien
E, Silver


Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Posts: 1966

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hear, hear on the great leveller that is the international community of people who do cycle sport!

Cyclists all:-



Down with the tribalism and long live people wanting to be recognised as individuals.

"If everybody looked the same, we'd only be tired of looking at each other"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
harry g flatters
E, Bronze


Joined: 25 Nov 2006
Posts: 433
Location: coming up so we'd better get this party started

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

in fact, to surmise me earlier post, being able to afford stuff takes all the fun out of blagging it.
_________________
Gordo's World of Zoom
http://zoom-gordo.*CENSORED*/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
martin smith
World Champ


Joined: 09 Jun 2003
Posts: 12187
Location: shoehorning kittens into jars

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Plurien wrote:


"If everybody looked the same, we'd only be tired of looking at each other"


ahh, wise words from those bastions of philosophy, Groove Armada Wink
_________________
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
martin smith
World Champ


Joined: 09 Jun 2003
Posts: 12187
Location: shoehorning kittens into jars

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

harry g flatters wrote:
in fact, to surmise me earlier post, being able to afford stuff takes all the fun out of blagging it.


no it doesn't. just because you can buy it at full price doesn't mean you shouldn't try as hard as you can not to Very Happy
_________________
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
KJ
T de F Winner


Joined: 18 May 2005
Posts: 26400

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah...although my living with a framebuilder to get free frames is taking blagging to extremes Laughing

Last edited by KJ on Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
billyam998
E, Gold


Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 3103

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'? Reply with quote

Fritz wrote:
Following on from that 'Vicki' article it seems that now cycling is classed as a 'middle-class sport' along with sailing & rowing.

Do you consider cycling now as a 'middle-class sport'?


answers to the origonal question seem to have got a bit blurred Confused
But if you had asked, is cycling full of snobs? you might have got a totally different response Wink Very Happy
_________________
Users browsing this forum: None
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
KJ
T de F Winner


Joined: 18 May 2005
Posts: 26400

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:29 pm    Post subject: Re: Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'? Reply with quote

billyam998 wrote:
Fritz wrote:
Following on from that 'Vicki' article it seems that now cycling is classed as a 'middle-class sport' along with sailing & rowing.

Do you consider cycling now as a 'middle-class sport'?


answers to the origonal question seem to have got a bit blurred Confused
But if you had asked, is cycling full of snobs? you might have got a totally different response Wink Very Happy


Equipment rather than performance Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Plurien
E, Silver


Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Posts: 1966

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, well spotted MS!
I just realised the refrain in that Groove Armada song goes on: You know the man is good for the moolah, which seems apposite.

Snobs are just elites with attitude.
- And there's nothing wrong with elites in a competitive sport....

....it's just the attitude I can't stand!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
billyam998
E, Gold


Joined: 29 Mar 2007
Posts: 3103

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Is cycling now a 'middle-class sport'? Reply with quote

KJ wrote:
billyam998 wrote:
Fritz wrote:
Following on from that 'Vicki' article it seems that now cycling is classed as a 'middle-class sport' along with sailing & rowing.

Do you consider cycling now as a 'middle-class sport'?


answers to the origonal question seem to have got a bit blurred Confused
But if you had asked, is cycling full of snobs? you might have got a totally different response Wink Very Happy


Equipment rather than performance Confused

" I mean carbon is so yesterday"
"will you look at him on that 2006"
"discovery channel who?"
"that 70 year old on a steel framed fixed wheel just beat me by 3 minutes" LOL

Exactly. Wink
_________________
Users browsing this forum: None
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Cycling Forums UK : www.veloriders.co.uk Forum Index -> Polls All times are GMT
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
Page 5 of 6

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Important Notice: VeloRiders copyrights all images appearing on this website and in the Gallery. Images are displayed for viewing only, and commercial or personal use of any of these images without the written permission of VeloRiders is prohibited under international copyright law. Copyright 2002/2013 VeloRiders. All rights reserved.


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

E-mail VeloRiders. Comments, questions or send your photos to , Order your photos@

RSS News Feed
aegishosting