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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Have I become a Hipster? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1499714819 Message started by Gary_in_NJ on 07/10/17 at 12:26:59 |
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Title: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 07/10/17 at 12:26:59 I've always ridden with appropriate gear; whether dirt or street. For the street this always included (as a minimum) helmet, gloves, leather jacket & motorcycle specific boots. I also have kevlar reinforced jeans that get used a lot (but not all the time). I live in a rural area, a 25 sq/mi township with only 3,000 people (that's only 5 people per acre). My wife owns the local cafe and it's less than a mile from my house. On the weekends I tend to jump on my cafe racer in the morning a grab some coffee and then do this again at lunch time. When I do this I'm usually just wearing shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers. Rather then get all geared up for a 1 mile ride I just strap a 3/4 to my head and head to the cafe. I occurred to me this weekend that I probably look like one of those city Hipsters - dressed completely inappropriately on a purchased custom of some sort (but usually a cafe racer). Of course, if I'm going any further then the cafe I gear up. Question: do you gear up if you are staying close to home or in your neighborhood? Heck, there isn't a single place where someone could make a left turn in front of me. It's a right out of my driveway, 1/2 mile to a T intersection and then 100 yards down the road. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Dave on 07/10/17 at 12:53:08 That is something I wrestle with on occasion....most of the time when the thermometer heads over 85 degrees. I never ride without a helmet, boots and jeans, and I can count on one hand the number of times I ride without an armored jacket in any single year...and that is generally just a lap around my country block to dry the bike after a washing. (I almost never wear shorts even if I am not on a bike). I can understand the scenario you describe, and you are not very likely to ever have a problem on that ride. I cringe every time I see the young man weaving through traffic at 80 mph on a sportbike while he is wearing slip on tennis shoes, shorts and a T shirt. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by verslagen1 on 07/10/17 at 13:19:40 Quote:
I believe this is a catch 22, you are questioning your "Hipsterism" therefore you are not a hipster... unless you went for covfefe. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by ohiomoto on 07/10/17 at 13:21:27 I built my bike for the sole purpose of riding to and from work as often as I can. I've put 1600 miles on it so far this year and less than 16 of those miles were used for anything other than commuting. Before buying my LS650 I considered smaller thumpers, DS bikes and even scooters. I don't wear anything special when I ride to work. If it's a shorts and golf shirt day, I simply add my 3/4 helmet and sunglasses and I'm on my way. On cold mornings I might throw on a pair of gloves, goggles and maybe a pair of softshell hiking pants to keep me from freezing on my commute. I'm doing the minimum, because that's all I want to do. I never intended to go with a full set of gear. Doing so would turn the simple process of going to work into something more than I want to deal with. I'm banking on my skills and attention to my surroundings to keep me reasonably safe. I am hoping nobody takes down out there. I hoping if I do go down, my helmet will do it's job and understand the rest of my body might feel pretty bad. I fully understand that I might pay the price for my decisions and I'm willing to take that chance IF I ever go down on the road. My plan is to never crash on a road bike and not be brain dead if I do. So I'm dressing "appropriately" for that plan. When I raced motocross, I wore a full set of gear. When I raced, the question wasn't IF was going to crash, it was when and how hard. Hitting the ground was part of the sport and I dressed accordingly for that plan. If this makes me a 49 yr old hipster, then I'm cool with that. I'm never going to smoke, get tattoos, or wear designer clothing, but I would consider removing the visor from my helmet. :) |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Dave on 07/10/17 at 13:38:49 This is a bit of an "off topic" comment - but when I had my Sherco trials motorcycle you absolutely had to wear the full height boots at all times. The pegs had very sharp metal cleats so your feet wouldn't ever slip off at a critical moment - and they could remove meat from your shins in an instant....even through jeans. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Serowbot on 07/10/17 at 16:14:19 Just don't wear a tie with your t-shirt and it'll be okay... :-? |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by cygnet on 07/10/17 at 16:51:38 I always ride with a motorcycle jacket full face helmet gloves and boots. The reason is back in the day I was run over, I was going down the highway and a drunk hit me from behind I was doing 140kph. If I had not had all the gear on that I did I would have been very seriously injured, my point is you never know when disaster will strike, so be prepared, I have several 100 thousand KM's on motorcycles and have been on the ground more than once so just be as prepared. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Ruttly on 07/10/17 at 19:25:57 On occasion you might catch me in shorts & tee with tennis shoes & my favorite cool of fingertip gloves. But last time I did that , something happened , just got a chill up my spine looking down at my bare legs remembering the road rash from almost 40 years ago. Turned around and went home to suit up. It was the strangest feeling like something bad was going to happen , a bad omen you could say ! Just suit up guys , don't be stupid , bad things happen and happen fast ! Hipsters , Squids all the same don't be one !!!! |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by MMRanch on 07/10/17 at 20:17:03 I had to quit sitting on a wallet years ago to help get rid of the Back ache , so now I take my leather vest to have pockets , its good protection too. I saw a feller in shorts , tennis shoes and Tee shirt , ridding down a curvy mountain road ... loose control and slide till he stopped from 40 ish mph. It wasn't pretty ! |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by jcstokes on 07/10/17 at 21:34:43 I wear high vis jacket, full face helmet, stuffed gloves and stuffed m/c boots. If I'm doing over fifty miles, I'll probably wear proper m/c over trousers. As some may have gathered I could care less about hip, or cool. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by IslandRoad on 07/10/17 at 23:02:37 I'm tempted to do a short trip occasionally without the gear, but it's just tempting fate. If I remember correctly, most accidents occur on short commutes ... and after watching a couple of videos on YouTube of guys have a minor fall at 50km/hr in a t-shirt ... well the image of the roadrash is ingrained! I just suit up all the time. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 07/11/17 at 05:04:20 6B786F6E717C7A78732C1D0 wrote:
This gives me great comfort. Regarding the ride to the cafe - the only curve is in my driveway so I'm not at all concerned about a loss of control, and the entire tip takes place in a 25 mph zone. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Dave on 07/11/17 at 05:47:09 373D39333831353C626460500 wrote:
The trip and related traffic are obviously not enough of a safety risk that makes you believe you are "unsafe" - however you are uncomfortable with the biker fashion faux pas you are presenting. Perhaps there is a need for a calming chant as you make the short ride: "I am not a hipster, I am not a hipster, I am not a hipster"....repeat as necessary! Would a pair of these tattoo sleeves make the hipster image better...or worse? :-? |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 07/11/17 at 06:38:38 6E55584F5E52494F545C514E3D0 wrote:
It depends. Do they provide protection against road rash? |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Dave on 07/11/17 at 06:48:19 Probably no road rash protection - but they do provide a sun block. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by engineer on 07/11/17 at 08:43:21 Quote:
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Serowbot on 07/11/17 at 09:07:20 Don't knock the tattoo sleeves,... I wear them in summer as sunblock... You can also wet them down for extra cooling... I wear them inside out so the tattoos aren't so gaudy... We had the most days over 110'f in our history last month... ...but. it's a dry heat... ::) |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Dave on 07/11/17 at 09:26:09 687E69746C79746F1B0 wrote:
Do they make smiley face tattoo sleeves? |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Serowbot on 07/11/17 at 09:31:13 DON'T I WISH!!! ;D ;D ;D |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by prechermike on 07/11/17 at 11:45:28 Well, I was going to work and this was how I dressed. I work at a funeral home and was going to a funeral. I did put my helmet on. Admit it guys, I look good! |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by jcstokes on 07/11/17 at 13:30:13 I have a friend with far more bike miles under his belt than I will ever achieve, a lot of them on girder fork hard tail stuff. He wanted to do a trip wearing a "ONESIE", I'm not sure how you spell that. However, the idea never got off the ground. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by SALB on 07/11/17 at 14:00:50 Not sure I'd call them Hipsters, but when it get's hot, I see a lot of guys on sport bikes wearing nothing more than swim trunks and tennis shoes (and occasionally flip flops), heading for the river or local reservoir. :o |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by gizzo on 07/11/17 at 16:04:41 ^ Squids |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/11/17 at 17:09:42 424057515A57405F5B5957320 wrote:
Yeah, Mike, you're looking Good,, |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by batman on 07/11/17 at 19:52:11 One mile to the café! why don't you walk? I'm sure everyone in the area has already seen your bike ,you hipster! :) |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by ohiomoto on 07/12/17 at 05:17:57 Batman has a point. You may as well do the arm sleeves at this point. :) |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 07/12/17 at 05:33:38 4447524B4748121E260 wrote:
I'm not a hipster - just a show off. If I make the walk it's usually through my field then along hedgerow - only about 100 yards. But I'd much rather ride. Here's a photo of this dangerous ride (or walk). |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by batman on 07/12/17 at 07:45:11 My God! Now it's a 100 yds!I hope your heart can take the strain. :) ( those short trips on the bike may be stretching your cam chain). |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by ohiomoto on 07/12/17 at 09:25:29 Looks like it's a little more than 100 yard from your estate! Not only is Gary a hipster, he's a rich hipster! :D |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by IslandRoad on 07/12/17 at 14:30:43 A rabbit or a dog could still bring you unstuck. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by SoC on 07/12/17 at 20:28:58 Gary, I think back to the days when young, I would jump on my dirt bike in the summer to ride the mile and a 1/2 down to the creek for a swim, wearing cut-offs, t-shirt and Converse Chuck's (with a helmet). Was I young and foolish, Stupid or a country boy bon vivant? Thing is, you can never take things for granted, but at the same time you have to live life. The question would be how would you dress to ride a bicycle, that's the rule I abide by. I always wear a helmet, though I don't wear shorts on the motorcycle (though I do on my bicycle) and a long sleave shirt. A short ride around the corner (though statistically very dangerous) needs to have some allowance for fun. I can't tell you how many times I get passed on interstate by a guy doing 75 in shorts, t-shirt and sneakers. Makes me cringe. But a quick dash around the corner for coffee, it doesn't make you a hipster. It's kind of like, how did we all grow up and survive without child safety seats or walking to the bus stop by ourselves to go to school. I grew up riding around in a Ford Pinto. It's all relative, if you feel safe and are confident you do what you gotta do. Let's be honest, how many times have we all worked on something on our bikes until late in the evening to get a job done, only to fire it up and take a quick ride out the driveway and up and down the street to test it out, sans helmet and full gear? Not advocating that type of behavior (it is the express intent of the writer to state this is not advisable (legalise)) but it is a part of the culture of those who work on their rides. Enjoy your coffee run. |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by IslandRoad on 07/13/17 at 01:32:06 SoC, your last post really got me thinking. My approach to riding gear is derived from a combination of experience and 'sage advice'. A friend once said to me "no-one trips over a boulder, it's always a pebble". And I've had my fair share of physical pain over the last few years to make me want to avoid it if I can. When I get ready for a ride, even a short one, while I'm getting suited up, I sometimes imagine someone asking me "is it worth the effort?" My response would be "Is it worth packing the car to go to the beach, or go camping?" Well, every time I get on the bike it feels like that. However, I'm new to riding so maybe I still get that 'new' buzz. However, experience, from other areas of life, tells me I'll kick myself (hard) if I get laid up for 6 months because one day I thought "What the hell, it's just down the road." |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by Ruttly on 07/13/17 at 10:17:39 IR , Your smart to think that way , cause the one time you don't is when it happens ! |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by gizzo on 07/14/17 at 03:44:26 And when you're a bit of an old hand, getting kitted up to whatever level you settle on will become part of the routine and you won't even notice it. (I rarely squid it but darn it feels nice rolling down to the beach in jeans and a t shirt on a hot summer evening. Worth the risk now and again). |
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Title: Re: Have I become a Hipster? Post by SoC on 07/14/17 at 08:41:15 You guys are all correct in being cautious. I didn't mean to imply that when riding I am as casual as it sounded. When actually going anywhere, it is full on with gear. It was a bit of mis-statement with the bicycle analogy, I was just saying that for a quick trip around the corner, on less than busy roads, I use the bicycle rule. In the end you can never be too safe and protective gear is part of the whole program. It's one of the reasons I have a full face helmet and a yellow jacket. If you want to see something scary, travel the interstates in Conn. where helmets are optional if over 18. Watch some guy blow by you at 70mph with nothing more than a backwards baseball cap and sunglasses. But to the point of is it Hipster to go full gear, my thought is too many hipsters decide to buy a bike as it would be cool, take a driving class and think the 8-10 hours of instruction have taught them everything they need to know. They don't take it seriously enough. Those are the guys in shorts and tank tops, trying to look cool. On another note, a good friend with a performance sport bike just had a collision with a guardrail at a fair rate of speed. It was the full on protective gear that saved his life. Full face helmet, padded jacket, ripstop padded pants. He didn't walk away, bunch of broken ribs, sternum, collarbone, punctured lung and what would have been a hole through his leg (instead a big dent) if it were not for the pants. He will have a full recovery but has a stint in rehab before he goes home. If you are wondering if you should gear up, you probably should. |
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