I don’t have any valid reason to dislike “Cannondale” road or triathlon bikes, but, for some reason, I do. For all I know, they are the best made bike frames in the world. I am certain this ridiculous prejudice dates back to the time when one of my friends went on a “Cannondale Binge,” for 2 years—and all he talked about was “Cannondale this, Cannondale that…Cannondale makes a better this…what about the new Cannondale…look at that Seven Up Cannondale, look at the Seven Up Frame…>Wow! Sweet!”
Cell phone call…“Simoni is winning…check it out…OLN”
Some of you complain about the Cervelo “mob” here, a mob here more powerful than anything exept maybe the growing Vitruvian shoe mob but I digress. Well, go shake a stick at some Cannondale fans. Go rattle their cage. They are quiet at first but attack their weight, and look, and they will make the Cervelo fans look like Mother Teresa. They aren’t violent like the Vitruvian shoe people here, but Cannondale fans are rabid and can argue with you all day about the virtues of their Cannondale.
For thirty minutes, my friend would talk about the Cannondale’s seemless, spotless welds, the Cannondale’s unsurpassed frame qualities, cold water something (whatever…they’ll correct me in this very thread), the CAAD this, the CAAD that. Here’s a link to their website. Look at that picture. That’s how they do it, right there. What I needed to buy was a Cannondale. Hell, what the world needed to buy was a Cannondale. He would have given his right ear to get yet another new Cannondale. He could spout off for 55 minutes on what the difference was between a CAAD 5 frame and a CAAD 6.
Does anyone else know Cannondale people like this?
I resolved right then never to buy a Cannondale. He ruined it for me.
How about a Ford Vs. Chevy discussion.
I don’t know any Cannondalers llike that. Heck, I don’t think I know anybody period that is that fanatical. (About a bike company.)
The other cults to watch out for are the Rotorcrankers, De Sotomotos, the Trekies, and the much dreaded aero-don’t-matta-worth-squat lunatics.
I’m not a fanatic, really, I’m not.
I LOVE my Cannonadale. That being said, bikes are like religion: you shouldn’t impose your views on everyone else (unless they ask). I personally don’t give a rat’s ass if anyone thinks my bike looks cool (it does)or has the most expensive components (it doesn’t). Its comfy and fast. End of story. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, ie: don’t limit your choices because someone else is obnoxious.
us who ride litespeeds, as of 2 weeks ago ; ), know our bikes are the best made and dont need to spout off about how theyre the best, its just accepted. hahaha, jk… not really
Ze Gopha, that’s a pretty good list of Slowtwitch Cults. The Cerveloistas are certainly the strongest faction and I am informed right now they are making laminated cards and have sent around a newsletter about some kind of secret handshake. I dare not insult them. They are not a fringe cult.
Let’s just state the obvious: the Trekies are lurkers.
I see you did not list the Vitruvians and the BFR’s (Bare Foot Runners). I made one crack about the “Vits” buying a pair of Dexters instead, and I was beat down in a thread to a pulp. The next morning all of my shoes were gone and they were all replaced with Vitruvians. Needless to say, I gave them all to the guy at the Salon who cuts my wife’s hair. He liked them. (okay…couldn’t resist…back down Vits, back down, now!)
Other Fringe Cults, you may or may not know about on Slowtwitch (and I’m not including the Total Immersion people, Pose Method people—talking about fringe cults):
The Sweedes—goggle users. Do not underestimate the “Sweedes” here. Throw out some post about using those big Ironman Goggles, and out they come with their 1:05 per 100 yards rate. They are purists in every sense of the word. They hate flippers and total immersion posts.
The Yaquis —Yaqui bike users. A proud and pioneering fringe group. They are ready to go in response to posts with titles like: “About to buy a new Tri Bike…Suggestions,” “Check out Yaquis…”…Second that to Yaquis. Yeah, call Wes. “Yeah, check out yaquis.com…” Third, Yaquis.
Foam Rollerists —Yes. You might not know this is a fringe cult on Slowtwitch but in fact it is. Everything and anything can be solved by a “Foam Roller,” including, if you forced them to admit it, hemmorhoids and head lice and mental retardation. If you just roll over the affected area with a foam roller, whalla, its FREAKING GONE!
how about the abhorred “Transition-campers”… the people take up 6-feet of rack and set up multiple towels, coolers, buckets of water, everything but a friggin la-z-boy, in their transition area.
“…you’re ruining all our lives and you’re eating all our steak!”