While listening to the (occasionally) snooty NPR, I heard an interview with a woman talking about biking in Chicago. More specifically about how bikers who don’t spend upwards of $3k on a carbon-framed road bike or refuse to ride in the rain aren’t serious about cycling.

WHATEVER. Why must I conform to your idea of what serious is to be dedicated to cycling?

My father is a wine lover and has been for quite some time. He reads up on it all, the current crops and vineyards and enjoys it daily. He notes what he likes and doesn’t like and keeps track of it all. By all accounts, my father is serious about wine. Although he has imposed a $25 a bottle cap on himself and that, if you take the snob’s definition of serious, would make him less serious about it or not even serious. Well, that’s really just some serious bullshit.

I have a sub-$1000, relatively heavy mountain bike that I ride 10+ miles on pretty much everyday. It has taken me from about 212 pounds to 197 in about three months and given me a definite need for daily physical activity. I take very good care of it, seriously good care. I wipe it down after every ride and do a pre-ride check before going out. I love my bike and my wife refers to it as “my girlfriend.”

So really, the objection here is to the word serious as it pertains to how much money I’ve spent on my bike over how much I ride it or how well I take care of it because that is, frankly, crap.

I did do a 10 mile ride in the rain and got completely soaked today though, is that serious enough for you or just half serious? I’ll see you on the trails, serious bike lady.