Today's debate: Ultra Romance

[thenorthwind]

We seem to have had quite a few more philosophical threads recently, and I thought this would be an interesting one.

I first came across this chap a few years ago in a newspaper article and started following him on [takes deep breath and runs at the swear filter...] Instagram. (No, come back, where are you going?!) He posts some interesting pictures. I don't know much about him otherwise. I gather he's sponsored by Specialized to spend his life riding bikes and producing "content" for the consumption of hipsters everywhere.
https://www.instagram.com/ultraromance/

I came across this short video this morning which gives some idea what the guy's about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9XA8xNcgZg He's certainly got an interesting approach.

So, what does the forum make of him? He's pretty far removed from the world of Welsh tussock racing.

Do you envy him? He gets paid to spend his life bikepacking. Or do we pity the fact that this life is a shallow lie existing ultimately to sell an unsustainable fantasy lifestyle and, ultimately, product.

Is he even a "bikepacker"?

Discuss.

[GregMay]

Bloke rides bikes a lot.
Bloke gets bikes and opportunity to ride said bikes more.
Bloke looks happy.

I am happy for him and his interpretation of what riding a bike is about.

It's a nice form of advertorial that I am unbothered about otherwise.

[AlasdairMc]

You are Ultraromance and I claim my five pounds

While we're on the subject, I think he's harmless as it just seems to be some nice photos in nice places.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Strangely, I don't really feel or think anything about what he does. If Specalized think he makes a good ambassador and throw him a crust, I don't have a problem. He seems a switched on, articulate sort of chap who loves his bikes and what they enable him to do .................. but sort the name out FFS. Ultra Romance? It might be something people remember but wouldn't it be better to have people remember you for your actions, not because you've given yourself a made-up twatish name?

Norman 'Super love story' Wright.

[GregMay]

You are Ultraromance and I claim my five pounds

Straight out of the STW playbook.

[Ray Young]

Bicycles sometimes make me cry too. Not from some deeply meaningful philosophical bollocks about their purity of design. No, It's because they can be so damn infuriating at times .

[thenorthwind]

Pretty much sums up what I think as well I guess. Fair play to him but could have come up with a less annoying name.

You lot are tough to get a rise out of, maybe I should go and try this on STW (Seriously, though I'm heartened by the lack of arguments this has caused thus far).

And no I'm not him

My bicycle made me cry recently when I took off its expensive single-ring crankset with bosses on a 48mm BCD to fit another expensive ring and realised that the bosses were just that: lumps of metal masquerading as something to attach a chainring to

[GregMay]

You lot are tough to get a rise out of, maybe I should go and try this on STW (Seriously, though I'm heartened by the lack of arguments this has caused thus far).

It's almost like we've better things to GAS about.

[whitestone]

No wonder drivers get mad at cyclists - he's riding on the wrong side of the road!

[voodoo_simon]

Man rides bike and gets paid for it. Nothing unusual there.

Angry? Certainly not

Jealous? Hell yes

Specialised? Well, we'll all sell our soul to the devil at the right price

Fair play to him, he's worked out a way to get sponsorship without racing and it's refreshing to see.


I have a friend who was a pro-snowboarder for about a decade or so. He was good but not the best. He had many firsts as a Brit but realised that he needed to get the media on his side, so he made good friends with the magazines and was a regular feature on the front covers etc, something that kept his manager and sponsors very happy and something that kept him in the sport he loved too.

[Single Speed George]

the name is silly ... sounds like a dating website for bikepackers etc haha ,

but fair play to the guy for monitising his hobby

[ZeroDarkBivi]

I suppose there are two ways to get paid for doing your hobby. Be really good at it, at a competitive or artistic (eg Danny Mac) level, or be good enough and have a unique gimmick/angle that generates interest. This fella has clearly gone done the latter route, and the 'twatish' name is surely part of that attention grabbing thing that fuels his ability to sell stuff for his employer.

Best of luck to him; but I am not in the demographic that wants to buy into that lifestyle or have any further interest in what he does.

[Bearbonesnorm]

and the 'twatish' name is surely part of that attention grabbing thing that fuels his ability to sell stuff for his employer.

True but a twatish name is still a twatish name regardless of the reason behind having it and besides ... he doesn't look too romantic

[ScotRoutes]

I watched the video. Kinda liked it. Maybe because he wasn't in a rush to get anywhere.


Someone else making a living out of riding a bike. Jealous - yeah, a bit. I'm always a bit wary of turning a hobby into a job though.

[Teetosugars]

This fella has clearly gone done the latter route, and the 'twatish' name is surely part of that attention grabbing thing that fuels his ability to sell stuff for his employer.

Best of luck to him; but I am not in the demographic that wants to buy into that lifestyle or have any further interest in what he does.

Hang on, you say he has a twattish name??

Oh, the ironing etc, etc..

[Bearbonesnorm]

Hang on, you say he has a twattish name?

No, it was me who said he had a twatish name

[BigdummySteve]

Twatish name maybe but I spend all day fixing lifting gear and he rides bikes in nice places. I'm so think he might have one up on me.

[Chew]

Ultra Romance sounds like it should be a Steven Seagal film.......

Seems like a cool guy who you'd have a laugh riding with, and he's living the life he wants to lead.
Quite like the 'Spinal Tap' video.

Theres some other good videos linked as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h-VuiWwxjM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW_mZVJ1Xr4


Perhaps the bigger debate should be why people feel the need to question other peoples lives?

[Ian]

Perhaps the bigger debate should be why people feel the need to question other peoples lives?

And/ or other people's opinions of other peoples' lives...

And, for that matter, why people need to question the opinions of other people questioning other peoples' lives?

I think..

[Bearbonesnorm]

Perhaps the bigger debate should be why people feel the need to question other peoples lives?

Bloody hell, you've gone all Zen on me.

[johnnystorm]

Can we have hipster added to the swear filter as it gets thrown at anything now. I'm happy to follow him on Instagram and he doesn't seem to be on Spesh for 90% of the time. I even forgive him his name as it's clear he doesn't take himself remotely seriously.

[psling]

He probably wanted to be Ultra Roaming Man or something. Damned predictive text...

[GregMay]

Can we have hipster added to the swear filter as it gets thrown at anything now. I'm happy to follow him on Instagram and he doesn't seem to be on Spesh for 90% of the time. I even forgive him his name as it's clear he doesn't take himself remotely seriously.

Quite agree with you. Looks like a happy chap to me.

[ton]

liked his little film. like his lifestyle, lucky lad.
names don't bother me.

[ton]

also, I would love to know what make the mega wide dropped bars are that he uses. not the flared bars, but the rando style ones.

anyone have a clue?