Calling bikes "she"

One that's popped back into my head about twenty years after first hearing it; "Dripping in..." in reference to a bike with multiple components from a boutique manufacturer.

When I was a kid, it often got used if you had a lot of Hope parts on your MTB.

if you had a lot of Hope parts on your MTB

Usually seat clamps and skewers in my experience :)

Link

I think I need to unsub this thread, it just makes me sad and sick in my mouth.

What percentage of the people complaining about this are blokes?

Is it ok for women to call their bikes "she"?

Is it better or worse than calling bikes things like "killer", "weapon", "KOM slayer" or whatever?

shrugs

"The fucking red one" is how I usually name my bikes.

For me, it's not just "she", it's any gendering or talking about a bike like it's a person. It's just a bit cringe.

Is it ok for women to call their bikes "she"?

Yes

Is it better or worse than calling bikes things like "killer", "weapon", "KOM slayer" or whatever?

Worse

"The fucking red one" is how I usually name my bikes.

Racist.

I dunno. I see a lot of people do it.

It doesn't bother me if someone has shared experiences with a bike and do stuff like "we're gonna get through this Betty" or whatever.

We've been around that block on this thread before. I'm personally bored of the constant and extreme anthropomorphism; I have a theory that as a species we're just lonely on this planet, so we're desperate for every little thing to have a 'personality'. Don't get me wrong anthropomorphising can be great, particularly for play and fun, but making it a part of your everyday, like an object is a friend or a pet also feels cringey and strange to me.

No, the OTHER red one!

Anyway, needs merging with all the other whinge threads.

I'm going to try and include anthropomorphising in work chat today.

It might feel cringey and strange to you but it seems to be a very common human trait, as you seem to allude to. It's like people with inflated lips or massive biceps and skinny legs - I don't think it's harming anyone but it makes me feel a bit sick looking at them :D

anthropomorphising can be great, particularly for play and fun

furry thread >>>>>>>>>>>>

Can we also file this under people that refer to wheels as hoops, really makes my skin crawl when I read it.

Dripping in Dura Ace, with hi modular carbon hoops...

I did chuckle at ‘KOM slayer’. I hope it’s a Brompton.

I really must try harder with the Strava names I give my bikes

1 Attachment

This is my extremely creative list from RWGPS

Gear
Stanton Sherpa Mk3
89,951.1 km
Kinesis 4S Disc
5,052.4 km
Stealth
4,698.5 km
Shiv
3,518.8 km
Tripster
2,083.8 km
S-Works Tarmac
1,649.3 km
Mason Resolution
508.7 km
Kinesis 4S
425.6 km
Inbred
0 m
Inbred 853
0 m
Add Bike
Add Accessory

and no I don't ride MTB that much, I guess RWGPS has that as default

You people have too many steeds bikes

They're just the ones I bothered to add to RWGPS. Some of them have moved on now.

it's missing at least the Scott, Cervelo, Avanti, Focus, the Voodoo 26er in Poland, Bowery and all the ones I no longer own :)

And those hoops are usually shod with rubber from the German tyre giant etc etc

anthropomorphising can be great

Don't anthropomorphise bikes.

They hate it.

Mines only a selection as well. I probably need an intervention.

I've intervened on myself.

Sold 2, gave away 1, sending the Tripster to Poland to swap with the Focus and then will get rid of the Focus. Will get rid of the Bowery and then I want to consolidate the Mason and Tarmac with something like a Crux.

I’ve got 4 I should take to the bike coop. Maybe over the summer.

Mine are all $$ except the Bowery and the Focus. I mean, the Tarmac is worth fuck all now but its replacement value is like £8k or something ridiculous. I can't believe people pay that much for a Spesh but I also don't know what else to do with it. I did ask Masaka if I could donate it to their racers but Russ said sending individual bikes there is risky, stuff tends to go missing at customs..