What's a "Bob"??

[Irby]

I know I ought to know, but exactly what is a "Bob" and how do I know if I'm one? Is being a "Bob" an OK thing?  thanks, Dan

[Matno]

I have a feeling it's akin to being a "Fred" in the roadie world... Basically means whatever you want it to mean.

From Roadbikereview: "Fred" is a semi-pejorative term used a lot of different ways, but always connoting the uncool. For example, spandex on a mountain bike might be considered uncool. Same goes for a Camelbak on a road bike. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with either one (except for the spandex).

Note: A Fred or a Bob is not the same thing as a poser. Again, from RBR: Poseur is a pretender. All the gear, none of the knowledge/ability/dedication, whatever. Plenty of us are posers (or poseurs, if you want to get all fancy). I talk about riding way more than I actually ride. Unfortunately, that's the way it is for this married-with-kids med student. My dedication is pretty high though, which makes up for other deficiencies...  (I like to think that I can ride pretty well though. When in doubt, I compare myself to the average non-biking biker, and that makes me feel a little better).

Whatever term you use, it's socially acceptable to refer to yourself as one, but not very nice to call someone else by that name.

Of course, being a "Bob" could also mean you just have a really poor pedal stroke...  

[kiwi]

yes Dan you ought to know cos YOU started the post in which OP defined A BOB(not for the first time either(his previous fame relates to his prodigous errrrrr VO2 max),and NO matt!!!.fer to this thread and OP said

got a chance to ride my neighbor's (Bob - and I hope we all remember Bob) new santa cruz blur -  



maybe i'm just a little dense (don't all jump in here and agree with me) but i can't see spending that kind of money for the same kind of travel and same kind of feel and experience that i get on my carbons with a $200 used psylo sl on the front and an upgraded shock on the back end.



my travel is longer and smoother and most importantly, set up properly to function fully.  



"AND THE BIKES FEEL BASICALLY THE SAME!

(sorry, dont mean to yell)

EVEN WITH HIS VIRTUAL PIVOT POINT TECHNOLOGY!"  

what's that all about anyway?



Bob, is a typical rider who now, after years of frustration, does a lot of his own minor bike maintainence, cleaning, repairs

...etc etc
now PAY ATTENTION [smiley=laughing.gif]

[StoereVent]

What is wrong with spandex in combination with mountainbiking? I would like to wear spandex all day, but mainly only wear it on my mountainbike and in the disco ofcourse.

Jeroen.

[tmaybee]

I don't see anything wrong with spandex and mountainbiking.  Almost everyone I know or ride with wears it, and I used to work in a bike shop so I know quite a few riders.  There were a few that made fun of it but I never could figure out why.  I never made fun of them for not wearing spandex.

For me, it is just more comfortable and I find that spandex is less of a problem when you are flicking the bike around or shifting your weight back off the saddle and over the rear tire... very little chance to get hung up.  

Maybe people think spandex is not "cool" or whatever, but I say just use whatever works best and is most comfortable for you..... and for me, that is spandex.

Peace,
Trevor

[Old Proflexer]

have to go with matno on this one - 'cept for maybe the spandex
(in fact, i maybe wearing some spandex at this very moment tho i just got out of bed and grabbed some coffee- - - - i'll never tell)

my next door neighbor "BOB" spends all his 401k money on top end equipment, the latest in technology just to keep up with his 'friends' bikes.

when it comes to effective use of his components, basic simple maintainence like adjusting brakes, truing a wheel etc., lubing, turning a screw on a derailler, pedal or pumping a shock, lengthening or adjusting the compression or rebound on his fox talas rlc shock or  - he hasn't a clue.  he does have all the manuals tho'.  until recently when we put a new fork on his now old bike, every little quarter turn of a barrel adjuster had to be done by a bike shop.  i have to admit, "BOB" is making progress, he's changed tires, worked on his brakes and derailler cables etc. and is genuinely making an effort to understand his bike, physics and most importantly, his brakes and the effects of momentum and gravity.

"BOB" is a human lung, has tremendous strength, excellent endurance, rides completely reckless and goes down more than anyone i know - he's a 6' 4" downhiller on an xc bike with no regard for his aging body except when he's out with injury and can't figure out why it happened.  he needs to meet and exceed every challenge put up by every 'straight off adolf' kid that passes us.  
(he wears spandex road shorts)

i've been razzing "BOB" for years, it started the first time i rode with him, he flatted, got off the bike and just starred at it, turned to me and said,
"Oh man, what do i do now?"

he used to ride with his pomerainian dog "sammy" on his back in a small child carrier.  he thought it was cool and was very much the chick magnet, until the day we went, i slowed and he passed me at speed, around what is now, "Sammys Corner".  "BOB" went down (again), sammy went flying and his attached lease snapped sammys neck but released when it broke, sammy had a near death experience and spent a good deal of time in the hospital - "BOB" still carries the scars and sammy now stays home.

that's my neighbor, your neighbor, a lot of the guys on the trail that haven't a clue - "BOB"
a true mtb version of a "FRED"

he's a good guy tho', i just wish he'd return all the stuff he's borrowed from me over the years.

OP

[Scott]

OP, when's the "Bob chronicles" column going to start?  Sounds like you have enough good material already

[jimbo]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bob

[Matno]

Just to set the record straight, I do wear spandex on every ride. Usually, but not all the time, I wear shorts over the spandex when I'm on the MTB, but that's only since I've lived in NYC (at my wife's insistance). I much prefer plain spandex for a variety of technical reasons, but I'll fully admit that I look terrible in it. Way too skinny to wear black, if you know what I mean. I'll also admit to having shaved my legs more than once in the past. I'm even still waiting for my wife to let me do it again... (I promised her 6 months after the last time. I can't figure out why she hates it so much. Probably getting back to the whole skinny thing again!)  


As for OP's original "Bob," I'd say riding with a Pomeranian (or even having one) ought to be qualification enough!

[StoereVent]

Whow! I think we can all agree that there is nothing wrong with Spandex, but shaving your legs (being a mountainbiker) is a serious Bobisme!

Jeroen.

[Old Proflexer]

true confessions are good for the soul -
(i can see that i have not been alone as a secretive spandex wearer)

as for sammy - he now runs and hides every time "BOB" puts his bike on the stand to get it ready for a ride - go figure

OP