@raphael, was that you on the South Side trail around 12:45 or so, on a flat-bar bike with rack and fenders? The Pitt regalia caught my eye.
I was the dude in the brown sport coat and jeans on the Bianchi.
/unrelated
2012-01-09 18:41:23
31
Strategy for not dying
I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but here's the story. Went on a ride through Carrick and Mt. Oliver today wearing my sweet Pitt kit (http://arevtech.com/pittcycling/2012-kit-order/) I got at least 6 people yelling "go pitt" as I passed. All of a sudden, a car pulls up close to me, rolls down his window and I was expecting the worst. He says "go pitt" and speeds off.
I know that many on this board think that the city's obsession with the steelers is idiotic (myself included).... BUT, would a little selling out (aka wearing steelers stuff while cycling) result in less negative altercations? Has anyone else had similar experiences?
2012-01-09 18:29:28
Yup! rack and fenders and all today... just went for the dorkiest combo possible
2012-01-09 18:45:00
brown sport coat
Did you finally break down and get one of these for your epic rides along the stormy river?
2012-01-09 18:48:50
2012-01-09 18:57:04
Swanky.
2012-01-09 19:30:09
You do have to watch out wearing Pitt stuff though - you might get rear-ended by a Penn State fan.
2012-01-09 19:41:45
I wonder if PennState DuBois sells cycling jerseys...
2012-01-09 19:44:49
I'm not sure about that but I heard they're having a sale - boys pants are half off!
2012-01-09 19:45:34
If only they made a Steeler cycling kit. Cars would love us...... maybe
2012-01-09 20:17:36
oh my.
2012-01-09 20:21:26
Today is probably not the best of days to be sporting Steelers gear as a "stay alive" strategy.
Or Penquins.
Or Pitt for that matter.
Rough weekend.
2012-01-09 20:36:16
If you choose the right cycling jacket (I think the Shower's Pass yellow is close) you can pretty easily match Steeler's colors with black tights Then I guess all you would have to do is paste a Steeler's logo on the jacket and you'd be set.
2012-01-09 20:48:25
You might be able to make do with something here: http://www.shopwiki.com/steelers-jacket?sb=1
2012-01-09 20:57:24
So why is the city's obsession with the Steelers idiotic yet you being decked out in Pitt gear isn't? Just wondering.
2012-01-09 21:07:46
@Edmunds59 Today is probably not the best of days to be sporting Steelers gear as a "stay alive" strategy.
So, I should wear my Broncos/Tebow jersey?
2012-01-09 21:12:43
"So why is the city's obsession with the Steelers idiotic yet you being decked out in Pitt gear isn't? Just wondering."
There's nothing wrong with one person showing some spirit. However, I've yet to bring one person to Pittsburgh from out of town who wasn't blown away by the ridiculous amount of Steelers paraphernalia on display. I don't think the individual display is idiotic, but the level to which the community embraces it might be?
I assume that is where Raphael is coming from?
Either way, I'm sure Velocity makes a Steeler's rim LOL, so just custom order that and wear a terrible towel as a cape and you're set! 
2012-01-09 21:44:36
Wear anything that is Pittsburgh sports related or a slayer T-shirt. People love it.. Cburch got the slayer complement last year when we were out for a ride
2012-01-09 21:45:59
Damnit Stef, I just lost half a can of red bull out my nose!
2012-01-09 21:48:24
I think one of the things you are missing is that it isn't just about the gear or the sport. When this town was down when the steel industry collapsed we had the Steelers to keep us together as a community and give us pride in the city despite being in such a mess.
It's more than a team and a jersey, it's something that keeps us together as a "community". Other cities may have their sports teams and fans but the Steelers help to define this city.
2012-01-09 21:49:50
Granted, calling it idiotic is a bit harsh.
Still, a city should be defined on the many things that it has to offer, not just a football team. I like that Pittsburgh has reinvented itself and has much more to offer today than it did thirty years ago. I'm also thankful for the moral boost that major league sports have always brought to the city...
That said, I'm still going to roll my eyes a lot! :p
2012-01-09 22:11:33
@ headloss I agree we are so much more than just a football team, and do you have another Red Bull I'm really dragging.
2012-01-09 22:41:31
I have a USA Cycling jersey, which keeps the angry drivers quiet. Maybe because they think I'm some hotshot Cat 1 racer, or maybe because honking at me would = hating America.
Probably the latter.
2012-01-09 22:46:37
No, unfortunately the last of my cache ended up all over my team slayer jersey. I'm going to have to restock on my way to class!
2012-01-09 23:05:17
SLLLLAAAAYYYYEEERRRRRR!
2012-01-09 23:31:15
@ lou M I think one of the things you are missing is that it isn't just about the gear or the sport. When this town was down when the steel industry collapsed we had the Steelers to shake us down for a few hundred million by threatening to leave town.
Fixed it for ya!
Puzzles me why the people tolerate NFL behavior (other than the Packers, owned by the people of Greeen Bay).
2012-01-10 01:47:59
I hear that if you order in bulk you can get a group discount, anyone in?
2012-01-10 04:00:46
and furthermore...
2012-01-10 05:02:15
I was in Trek Shadyside Thursday and they had Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirate cycling jerseys that looked pretty cool.
2012-01-14 16:58:54
This past weekend I was just thinking I'd been feeling crafty enough to make a retro-reflective steelers logo to affix to my black/gold bike police style coat for added 'Stillers protection while riding/running.
And yes, showing visual proof of Steelers Pride will increase the likelihood that drivers in Pittsburgh area will both see you and avoid driving into you (and perhaps even verbally insult you less). Too much anecdotal evidence posted here and that I've experienced personally to convince me.
The main problem I have with Steeler Nation is that it is exclusive. If somebody doesn't particularly care about football, while it is slightly forgiveable since they don't actively root for a different team, they can never be a true Pittsburgher. In the past 20 mumble years that I've lived in this city, I've come to love the rivers and bridges, the museums, the parks, the universities, the neighborhoods, the pierogies, the robber-baron and working class history, and the best October-fest at a micro-brew ever. There's still some things I hate about this town, but there's now a decent amount that I actually love. But I'm not a Pittsburgher because I only care about the Steelers' schedule for its effect on traffic and potlucks at work (I do love a potluck lunch).
There's a huge swath of our population that, if you don't talk about the Steelers, there won't be a conversation at all. THAT's what bugs me. But I'm not a real Pittsburgher, so my opinion matters very little.
Ok, it also bugs me that die hard Pirates fans insist on continuing to provide enough money to the owners so that they have no incentive to build a winning team, and then they complain that they never win. I figured this out when I was 15. Not sure what's taking everybody else so long to reach the same conclusion. And I don't even like baseball.
2012-01-16 14:54:39
"So why is the city's obsession with the Steelers idiotic yet you being decked out in Pitt gear isn't? Just wondering."
Because not everyone went to Pitt or even likes college sports.
2012-01-16 15:08:42