What does 'snap' mean?
09-11-24, 01:52 PM
#26
Senior Member
In most of those uses, I think the author was just trying to use some words and phrases to get ones attention. You can't just say its a great bike all the time and expect people to be automatically motivated to read the rest of the article.
So the meaning of snappy to the author was probably buried down in the review with other descriptive terms. Not any necessarily terms unique only to cycling. Nor terms that specifically have one meaning. And despite the use of the term in those articles, I wasn't motivated to keep reading.
But thanks for finding those for us terrymorse !
So the meaning of snappy to the author was probably buried down in the review with other descriptive terms. Not any necessarily terms unique only to cycling. Nor terms that specifically have one meaning. And despite the use of the term in those articles, I wasn't motivated to keep reading.
But thanks for finding those for us terrymorse !
09-11-24, 02:13 PM
#27
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09-11-24, 02:15 PM
#28
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09-11-24, 02:51 PM
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In most of those uses, I think the author was just trying to use some words and phrases to get ones attention. You can't just say its a great bike all the time and expect people to be automatically motivated to read the rest of the article.
So the meaning of snappy to the author was probably buried down in the review with other descriptive terms. Not any necessarily terms unique only to cycling. Nor terms that specifically have one meaning. And despite the use of the term in those articles, I wasn't motivated to keep reading.
But thanks for finding those for us terrymorse !
So the meaning of snappy to the author was probably buried down in the review with other descriptive terms. Not any necessarily terms unique only to cycling. Nor terms that specifically have one meaning. And despite the use of the term in those articles, I wasn't motivated to keep reading.
But thanks for finding those for us terrymorse !
09-11-24, 03:45 PM
#30
Senior Member
Perfect.Like "snap," apparently meaningful, but unfruitfully vague. And yet arguably true.
The curse of modern life: all that is not demonstrably (I.e., quantifiably) valuable is held to be valueless. That the arts are disappearing from school curricula is only one result among many.
The curse of modern life: all that is not demonstrably (I.e., quantifiably) valuable is held to be valueless. That the arts are disappearing from school curricula is only one result among many.
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09-11-24, 11:05 PM
#31
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If one says a car has ‘snap’ it means it is performance oriented. It is quick to respond, accelerates quickly and handles well. Same for a bike. Not rocket surgery.
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09-12-24, 01:58 AM
#32
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My first bike with snap was a Trek 560. Press on pedals, eyes get big. "Oh!"
Much later I acquired a vintage Motobecane Grand Jubile. It didn't have snap, but it had something else that felt exquisite, noticeable within the first ten feet of riding. The Trek didn't have it, nor has any bike I've owned since. I'll just say it felt lovely. I should get another one.
Much later I acquired a vintage Motobecane Grand Jubile. It didn't have snap, but it had something else that felt exquisite, noticeable within the first ten feet of riding. The Trek didn't have it, nor has any bike I've owned since. I'll just say it felt lovely. I should get another one.
Last edited by downtube42; 09-12-24 at 02:03 AM.
09-12-24, 05:44 AM
#34
It means it’s on public assistance.
09-12-24, 07:20 AM
#35
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As John M Flores alluded to, it's a descriptive term used to denote the sensation of immediacy in energy retrun of the energy expended. Likewise, some bikes when ridden may feel "dead" in that it feels like your energy expended isn't being returned very well. I think it has much to do whether or not one likes how a bike feels/rides, there's just some bikes that you feel terrific riding, others not so much. So in a sense the term can also be used to describe the sensation the rider feels in-putting their energy into the bike. Is it the bike or the rider ? Both as it takes both for "the ride", neither the bike nor the rider can ride by themselves.
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09-12-24, 12:06 PM
#36
Senior Member
*Nimble = carbon road bike (has snap)
*Ponderous = fully loaded steel touring bike (doesn't have snap)
*Sorta extreme description in both cases but it gets the idea across because in the end.............................................it all depends on the motor.
*Ponderous = fully loaded steel touring bike (doesn't have snap)
*Sorta extreme description in both cases but it gets the idea across because in the end.............................................it all depends on the motor.
09-12-24, 12:19 PM
#37
Cantilever believer
Some of us prefer the terms "predictable", "stable", and "comfortable", although that may start getting into "walllowing". 
To each their own, but quite correct that this type of bicycle behavior is anything but "snappy".
To each their own, but quite correct that this type of bicycle behavior is anything but "snappy".
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09-12-24, 01:13 PM
#38
I’m on tour right now. Snap is the sound your leg would make if I were to run into it.
09-12-24, 05:10 PM
#40
Full Member
So much onomatopoeia...
09-13-24, 08:08 AM
#42
Senior Member
09-13-24, 08:10 AM
#43
Senior Member
after "planing", "snap" is all you have
09-14-24, 11:59 AM
#44
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09-15-24, 06:59 PM
#45
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that Humpty Dumpty was no George Carlin, eh?
09-16-24, 03:58 PM
#46
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I foolishly attempted to assist a turtle stopped in the middle of the road across the road once. I tired giving it a scoot with my foot, out came the head in flash and SNAP ! Missed me but scared the heck out of me. So there's a kind of "snap" you don't want to experience. Just let the little fella be.
