Low Gears and Internet Shaming

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

Yes. Exactly this. He’s in the business of getting clicks - be they negative or positive. “Gear shaming” is a clickbait term meant to evoke sympathy for a condition that doesn’t really exist.

But here we are discussing it. So kudos to him.

I mean, yes, Russ is running a YT channel that he makes a living off of, so he is trying to make content to get clicks, like any other content creator on YT, IG, or TT.. BUT, do you really believe if you show up at certain group rides in SF with a certain set-up, you won't get some comments? maybe not to your face if in person, but likely loud enough for you to hear at times..

it certainly makes you wonder why someone who wouldn't ride lower gears would ever watch the PLP videos, but there also seems to be plenty of folks on Paceline who don't care for his or Grant's content who sure seem to be somewhat up on it, so..

I don't doubt for a second that folks are talking crap to him or anyone else about running low gears or about the gear he uses in general (online as noted is the norm now).. I have no doubt he's been called "not a real cyclist" based on what he wears or rides.. why do I think that? I've been called that before myself.. by family members.. because I didn't fit a certain view of what they thought a "real cyclist" was, which is ironic as they don't necessarily fit the mold, but that's cool..

there are so many trolls on the net that love to talk crap to people.. I can only imagine if you have the reach that PLP does (currently 187k subs, who knows how many viewers), it's turned up to 11 at times.. I could imagine it gets to you..

Fianally, I'll leave you with this- if you are really passionate about your career, you really love it and you have a passion project that is a multi-year thing.. you put it out there for 10s of thousands of folks to judge it and you start getting all kinds of negative comments back on it.. how are you going to feel? I get this may not be same same, but I also don't think it's that different.. Russ isn't making tons of cash off his channel like Hoovies Garage or some others, he's not really living large.. his channel, while his business, is really more like a small independent bike shop hanging on.. a passion project.. IMHO..

YMMV