Where Are You On The #Cycling Venn Diagram?

You Can’t Beat A Good Venn Diagram About Cycling

… and this is nothing like a good Venn diagram.  It about cycling though. One out of two ain’t bad (to quote Meat Loaf on a forgetful day).

What Type Of Cyclist Are You?

What Type Of Cyclist Are You?

This Explains Everything!

  • Some MTB riders are also roadies (but not many)
  • Many bad and/or inexperienced riders own MTBs (because they’re accessible, can be cheap and easy to sit on)
  • If you have a roadie, the chances of you being a good cyclist are higher, but it’s not guaranteed
  • MTBs transcend all abilities. Some MTB riders are hopeless; some are genius

It also offers a few theories about why roadies view MTBs with such disdain (some of them do, don’t try to deny it).

The MTB fraternity includes everyone from the “bought a bike from Halfords, ride it on 2 sunny days a year” to “got a Ti boutique model imported from the USA for £7,000 and ride it, or one of its stablemates every other day“.  The roadie group is smaller and better at riding, to make a gross generalisation.

I’m in Marketing, gross generalisations is what I do.  Otherwise I’d never promote anything cost-effectively.

So:

On the basis that people are basically lazy and presumptuous, all MTB riders often get tarred with the same brush by the smaller, more elite, roadie community.

By the way, I see myself as a good MTB rider, towards the bottom left of the “good riders” ellipse, just within the “MTB” one.  Where are you?

Discuss…. 😉

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18 comments on “Where Are You On The #Cycling Venn Diagram?

  1. John Berry

    I’m confused….

    Where does my Cross bike fit in?

    Does good mean fast? or does good mean don’t fall off? or even good means go along way?

    The simple venn diagram has raised so many questions for my little head to cope with…

    I must stop thinking about it all and go back to coding…

  2. Phill

    That’s why you’re a coder and I’m a Marketing Manager, John.

    I do generalisations, you do specifics. Life’s rich tapestry and all that. I suggest that you do more thinking, then illustrate it in a diagram on your blog!

    On the cross issue, I think they go in the obvious roadie/MTB overlap zone. You’ll be glad to see that there’s almost no room for bad riders there.

    Finally, good = not dangerous; competent. Not necessarily fast or capable of humongous mileage.

  3. Phill

    If I was clever, I’d make it an editable picture and let you have a little special circle all of your very own, Austin.

    But I’m not, so you’re a roadie. A pretty good one though.

  4. lost

    Okay smart arse, where do track bikes fit in the diagram? 😉

    Asides from being a trackie I’m a ruddy good roadie who’s getting very good at falling off!

  5. John Girvin

    Medium experience and ability, mostly roadie but rode a lot of MTB in a past life and have nothing against them. I think I’m right in the middle there.

  6. lost

    Defo got nowt against the mtb lot either. My bro has got one and I’d love to get one again given the chance. Nowt like getting real muddy 😉

  7. One Loose Nut
  8. Gareth Rowbotham

    Er…. So many questions, where to begin? What are the good and bad riders who aren’t in the Roadie or MTB sections riding? What about my Hybrid and TT bikes – where do they go?

    However, I can see what you’re trying to say, but perhaps it comes back to something else – I reckon roadie’s tend to be bike snobs. They don’t like getting muddy, care more about fashion, colours of their kit, following road teams etc. Whereas MTB’s want to get dirty by nature, so aren’t so bothered!!! As a result, they appear elitist – which isn’t always the same as being a better cyclist!

    There you go, another generalisation for you!!!

  9. Matt

    Well I like it. Im firmly in the middle of good roadie rider 🙂 Most of the time. Ahem. T-shirt material? Id buy one.

  10. Marian McMichael

    I am a mountain biker, a roadie and a triathlete – but this year have been quite good at falling over the MTB, but will still go for good rider in the roadie/MTB crossover bit.

  11. @phillconnell

    I’m loving the comments.

    TT, cross, Dutch, trikes, recumbents… They could all have little elongated skinny ellipses but I’m not apologising for my Marketing Manager generalisations: if you want to go niche, go for it but you’ll have to be good at it. Oh hang on, I’m not actually trying to sell anything here, am I?

    Unless anyone else wants a Cycling Venn Diagram T-Shirt. Anyone? I know a guy who could do them for us at very reasonable prices….!

    p.s. Lost, you’ll have to fal off less to move into the “good” group 😉

  12. lost

    Only fell off three times in the past twenty-odd years of riding (twice really cos one was an attack by a twat) so I can still be in the good roadie bit.

    But I do sway towards mtb as I take my roadie off-road and into mud too. And don’t forget the track racing.

    I’m a little cycling mutt 😀

  13. Clive Chapman

    Nope, completely lost simple old me with that diagram. But if it’s any help I consider myself a MTBer who unfortunatly rides mainly on the road… 🙁

  14. @phillconnell

    Some of us do pictures, some prefer words. I’m a pictures man myself, Clive. You’re evidently a wordsmith, from your very eloquent blog.

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