The best cyclist ever? Merckx? Armstrong? Wiggins? Or Nigel Sylvester?

[prototoast]

The idea that you can apply a total ordering across trick cyclist and racing cyclists is ridiculous. A physicist and a philosopher might both use a pencil, but nobody is getting into argument over whether Richard Feynman was a better pencil user than John Rawls.

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by prototoast

The idea that you can apply a total ordering across trick cyclist and racing cyclists is ridiculous. A physicist and a philosopher might both use a pencil, but nobody is getting into argument over whether Richard Feynman was a better pencil user than John Rawls.

Who is the intended audience for the drawing? For me, this is the most epic cycling performance I’ve seen: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA

[vespasianus]

None of the above.

Anne-Caroline Chausson.

[Mike V]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

Who is the intended audience for the drawing? For me, this is the most epic cycling performance I’ve seen: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA

Looks like all about location and marketing. I didn’t see much that most pro mountain bike riders couldn’t do.

[kiwisimon]

She is most definitely Anne-Caroline Chausson.

that men gatekept women out of the sport for decades automatically disqualifies any male.

[redir]

Well, I'm a cycling fan and I had to look up who Nigel Sylvester so he's not exactly well known. Of course road and cyclocross is my thing. I never have even been on a BMX course before. He might be the GOAT in BMX but it's just plain wrong to compare that to Merckx and God no! No! Not Armstrong. He's not even in the top 100.

IMHO "best" is all round and that of course is Merckx and today those who are giving Merckx a run for his money like, Wout, and MVdP, Pog and even Jonas even though he's a bit more of a specialist.

[Davist]

He's not the goat in BMX, as above, he's mostly an "influencer" and I had to look him up, looked kinda familiar but couldn't place him. For the "tricks"/freestyle portion, I'd put Mat Hoffman as the goat. Haven't seen a specialized BMX bike since the 90s either, but I don't pay too much attention anymore..

[Elefantino]

The title of this thread should be adjusted to remove a couple of names.

[Mark McM]

Greatest cyclist? None of the above. The greatest cyclist is the one who has has had the most influence on cycling, and that is none other than John Starling, the inventor of the safety bicycle*. Before the safety bicycle, bicycles were impractical and largely left to the the most skillful and daring. After the safety bicycle was introduced, cycling became both practical transportation, and an activity that anyone could do without risking life and limb.

*Honorable mention goes to John Dunlop, developer of the pneumatic tire. The combination of the safety bicycle and the pneumatic tire led to the first bike boom, and the worldwide acceptance of the bicycle as the everyday device we know today.

[Ttx1]

"The Best Ever" and the like are shallow, populist equivocations.

These discussions always devolve into context and whataboutism.

e.g., What about the elevation in Mexico City?

The topic sells so the media always concocts new lists, but in the end it's pointless and boring.

It's far more interesting to celebrate many greats with their individual gifts and unique circumstances rather than attempt to contrive superlatives which are, ultimately, abstract at best - and generally false.

[bicycletricycle]

Wrong, the answer is easy
Lance Armstrong

Originally Posted by Ttx1

"The Best Ever" and the like are shallow, populist equivocations.

These discussions always devolve into context and whataboutism.

e.g., What about the elevation in Mexico City?

The topic sells so the media always concocts new lists, but in the end it's pointless and boring.

It's far more interesting to celebrate many greats with their individual gifts and unique circumstances rather than attempt to contrive superlatives which are, ultimately, abstract at best - and generally false.

[Nomadmax]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

Wrong, the answer is easy
Lance Armstrong

Awwwww, now ya done it

[Spaghetti Legs]

We haven’t defined our criteria yet, so here ya go

[benb]

Originally Posted by Ttx1

"The Best Ever" and the like are shallow, populist equivocations.

These discussions always devolve into context and whataboutism.

e.g., What about the elevation in Mexico City?

The topic sells so the media always concocts new lists, but in the end it's pointless and boring.

It's far more interesting to celebrate many greats with their individual gifts and unique circumstances rather than attempt to contrive superlatives which are, ultimately, abstract at best - and generally false.

Good point, this is just as lame as "Who is the best guitarist?" discussions.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

Wrong, the answer is easy
Lance Armstrong

Everyone gets an opinion, no matter how ridiculous it might be