'Pro' racers VS Weekend 'Warriors'

[RNair]

Anyways I have a flight to catch. See you all tomorrow or unless BOM has internet.

[cheewachai]

Buy jumpsurf.

Sorry. That was shameless.

[ramkumar]

Where's Venky? (the curator behind this thread) ?

Guys, it's time to close the exchange of words (I don't know much about you and what has happened in the past, as I am just another newbie fat bellied rider ).

Mods, isn't time to put this thread to sleep?

[cheewachai]

Come on. This kind of run away threads is what BZ is all about. I have checked BZ more today than the first 3 months of this year combined.

[hitanshu]

Ramkumar,

Young jedi (figuratively - i dont know you)

You have a lot to learn. Welcome to BZ.

[vkalia]

Mods, isn't time to put this thread to sleep?

Sorry, Ram, *YOU* (or anyone else, for that matter) don't get to decide when other people should stop having a discussion. If you are not interested in the discussion, stop following the thread. Don't presume to speak for everyone - you are not the arbitrator here.

[ramkumar]

Sorry, I withdrew!

[knmurthy]

This is the first thread I have followed from the beginning, I wonder when it will end, if at all it ends.
Murthy

[cheewachai]

Threads don't end at BZ. They go OT and gets Split. Then it lives on in its new avatar. Cycle
Repeats.

[alphazed1]

finished 2 pack golden sizzle.. 1 pack chilli paneer and some other flavour as well (ACT II)... *burp*.. onto some caramel now..
- another ex-6-pack-going-to-be-beer-bellied-biker..

[Minkey Chief]

Sitting way out here, I'm not going to comment on the incident. But I can say this, that I HATE those posts that go: Come on guys, let us think of the humanity, let us make this world a better place and just leave this issue alone. No more, let's move on.

Moving on isn't about pretending everything is okay and hoping it'll all work itself out in the end. This is the huge problem with a passive-aggressive culture. People are either smiling and hugging (even if not sincerely), or they're screaming, name-calling and generally getting very very upset. There's no space in between given for people to politely, but firmly, disagree with each other, or express contradictory views without being treated as if they are troublemakers or negative influences.

Happens in families all the time as well.

[stalker]

let us think of the humanity, let us make this world a better place and just leave this issue alone. No more, let's move on.

Save humanity century ride!
Let's make the world a better place!!
Go GREEN!!!

This is a fun thread

[Minkey Chief]

I was thinking of the BBC exchange more than this, actually.

[linuxtechie]

Why did all this go into the personal space? Almost nudging each other out?

At that race, whatever happened, happened due to some issues, that's there issue to resolve. But the repercussions here are amazing. Some small quirks are fine, but, what happened guys?

[RNair]

As long as we are talking cycling I am fine however heated it is. What I don't like is when it gets personal and people are more interested in my job, my household and other details. Not one person here actually provided a solution but just sat with popcorns or attacked with personal remarks. Says a lot about their own knowledge about things.

If I spend a lot of time on the internet after riding just 40kms/day then why the hell are you guys on here reading it? LOL. Don't you have anything worthwhile to do?

I have said whatever I had to say and I still don't get in my head what went wrong here.I had 2 hours and 40 mins in the flight to think of it. People like to call themselves everything but if someone shows them the mirror then they get offended or upset. The biggest problem here everyone feels like they belong to some community and it is forbidden to point out facts in danger of hurting one's sentiments etc and I am sorry I don't not belong or wish to be part of such communities. I love my freedom to talk and express my views. As long as it is not illegal I don't give a shit. Happy to ride my bike and have 2 friends instead of pleasing a thousand unknown

[rpok]

You had it coming since a long time man. You have been provoking a lot of people on many occasions. From you saying things like ''i think the team jumped the gun by going with the sponsorship, the media'', to ''roopak is a great guy but he's yet to beat me'', to trying to teach me on FB of who amateurs in your Italy are, to making fun of me months back publicly on FB in Oct BBCh race when you said ''roopak you got dropped faster than a Paris Hilton's panties''.

It all started on 1st April when you started taking digs at my team constantly like ''If you want to be professional athlete move to the subcontinent. No resume req'd, No results req'd''. Past few days you've been posting similar ignorant remarks about my team on this thread things like ''BBCH and HCC as resumes'', ''no results at national champsionships''. I tried to clear the air very patiently once and for all today even speaking most of our results, but it continued with making fun of a team member who's highly respected - Darren, mocking him as ''becoming pro at 35 years - only in India''. I again tried to clear that he's been racing as UCI pro for many years and he started racing when he was 12 and he has even raced against Robbie McEwen in Australia. He's been part of Rapha CX teams, won Japanese Cyclocross National Championships, been part of Trek Marco Polo and many other professional teams. Again this is not digestable by Rnair and he comes back with ''i know 50 year old guys who can drop Darren''.

You like to prove that you know what's the best out there, what a pro team should have "A team should have 10 Cat Pro level riders ( Mind you not even Cat 1 ) to get this in USA and EU or even Australia", what a pro rider should be expected to do and what undeserving other riders are there in our team ''Even your hero Cat 1 from Aussieland will not get this deal if he rode back in Aussieland today".
You forget that Specialized sponsors a lot of regional and domestic pro teams as well with equipment.

Then you also again come and hit us with a completely ignorant blanket statement like ''i'll call them pro once they're racing on the wheels of Tom Boonen''. I didnt' expect this statement to come from you. Going by this rule only 600 odd World Tour Pro riders are pro. I've clarified with everyone in the thread earlier that there are levels of being pro. In the end, if calling us elite, gives you a better night's sleep, go ahead - i dont care.

Few days back you even started saying ''Anyone who calls himself a pro will not get invited into TFN". You should know that there are other people attached to TFN and that its a big brand and that making such statements will hurt TFN's future only. I agree that having any race fights in any race/tour is not tolerable, but not allowing riders to race coz they are professionally sponsored? Isn't that again a blanket statement?

You sit on the internet and this is what you do daily and you provoke people with your supposed acts of wisdom and your show of superiority! That's all. You like to show that you're superior to everyone else around in knowledge, in your cycling wisdom and even in cycling. And if you can't drop any one, you will come out with a defeated argument saying ''i know who can drop you''. How can that be called any mature.
Are you trying to kid our innocence? What did Specialized sponsoring one of the Indian cycling teams do any wrong to you? There is no hug all community which we live in. We're struggling cyclists and we're trying to grow.

But if this constant internet ridicule keeps happening, this is one of diversions. I'm the only team mate who even reads all these forums, coz i've been part of this forum since a long time and i care for what others say especially abt me or my team.

I personally do not even care whether you can drop me or not. Even if i did drop you i wouldn't brag to everyone on FB and BZ about it like its some achievement. For me you're a 38 year old cyclist that i once used to respect and had 2 days of riding, but i never knew those 2 days you were trying to gather your superiority complex over Roopak Suri which you could then share on the internet over next few years to come!

And lastly i'd like to share what you're being called in Bangalore cycling circles nowdays - FIGJAM - its an acronym for ''f^<k i'm Good (God), Just Ask Me''

This is my last post and no matter what you say on this thread, i dont have the time or energy to reply or defend. Truth is you will continue to come back and i have many other committments including a lot more cycilng to sit on BZ whole day and trying to defend what you say against me or my team or try to clarify the air.
I've been told by my team earlier as well to not reply because it leads to endless debates, but for the purpose of everyone viewing this and wondering how the personal attack started and what was the reason for it, i'm saying this.

[RNair]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/

This is a site where people read news, opinions and reports about cycling, teams and athletes. It is fine to talk about cyclists. If you read my comments carefully I have never questioned anyone's character or personal life. It leasts interests me. You are still taking a dig at me personally. I squarely focused on cycling. There is absolutely nothing wrong in writing or talking about cycling or cyclists. If you don't like it then quit and stay with your job.

You like to be a pro but you don't like people talking about you or your rides or results or your team. Next what your team is going to put a gag order on the public and we are all forbidden from discussing anything? You want the media, you want the limelight, you want the support but no one should ever say anything that you don't like? I am confused.

Grow up. And you keep coming up with these long justifications when I am not asking for it. No one here is asking of it. You are just cheapening yourself and your good team.

A lot of those things you wrote or rather quoted me in the last post was in good gesture or humor in times when I thought you were a friend. I guess I was wrong.

[RNair]

I read your post thrice and you keep jumping at me consistently while quite honestly I don't even care to know your justifications. Not sure why you feel you should "clear some air"? You can call yourself whatever you want, race where ever you want. I don't need to hear about all these explanations. Back in DC we had 4 teams like yours and we often spoke about them and their cyclists. It was considered routine. They never came to any forum to provide such lengthly explanations or resumes. If one races then people talk. It is natural. Remember I don't belong to Bangalore or Hyderabad and my thinking is a little different and so is my influence. People maybe forget that. Like you said I am almost 40 year old amateur who rides so I can stay in good health. I am not bound to any sponsors or team gags or orders.

[SexJihaad9/11]

Btw not sure why you took that bait! It was not yours.

Obvious troll is obvious.

[cheewachai]

Woow Roopak : You replied at 1:30am ... No training on Thursday mornings ?

[photon]

I think that the 'fat bellied' expression is a manner of speaking. I dont think it is derogatory towards the rest, but like Rajesh said it's a mock at 'pro's' building resumes from these races.

I think it has been taken out of context, but hey just my opinion.

Absolutely Doctor, I saw Rnair's message in the same light as well. Venkat and Shankar please do not get offended.

Regards
Aravind S

[sumitpal]

Woow Roopak : You replied at 1:30am ... No training on Thursday mornings ?

He trains in the evenings. How many hours do you get though, SSR?

[SexJihaad9/11]

I thought you were a friend. I guess I was wrong.

Awwww....

Now you've gone and made him cry..

[raknair]

Katti Ho Ya Batti, Barabaje Bhatti !!!!

[brijnair]

Sitting way out here, I'm not going to comment on the incident. But I can say this, that I HATE those posts that go: Come on guys, let us think of the humanity, let us make this world a better place and just leave this issue alone. No more, let's move on.

Moving on isn't about pretending everything is okay and hoping it'll all work itself out in the end. This is the huge problem with a passive-aggressive culture. People are either smiling and hugging (even if not sincerely), or they're screaming, name-calling and generally getting very very upset. There's no space in between given for people to politely, but firmly, disagree with each other, or express contradictory views without being treated as if they are troublemakers or negative influences.

Happens in families all the time as well.

completely agree, I guess we all need to read this 2-3 times there is an ounce of medicine for everyone here thanks Minkey!