# Why Bike not Bice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725 "2018-05-06T23:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/41 "2018-05-09T09:38:53Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > If there was still any doubt, I’ve now confirmed that most of you have me set to Ignore. 😕 I don’t ignore you but I sure am puzzled by you. AFAICT, none of the remarks you quoted from yourself and **JKellyMap** and **naita** about “gender and PIE” occur anywhere in this thread, and I don’t see what relevance they would have if they did. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/42 "2018-05-09T09:54:13Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 😕 I don’t ignore you but I sure am puzzled by you. AFAICT, none of the remarks you quoted from yourself and **JKellyMap** and **naita** about “gender and PIE” occur anywhere in this thread, and I don’t see what relevance they would have if they did. There is another GQ linguistics thread in progress (and I assume many who read one thread read the other as well). What it has in common with this one is that, just as here, I made a point and was ignored; someone else later made the same point and was applauded. Do I have bad breath? Is it just my stupid username? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/43 "2018-05-09T13:34:06Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > There is another GQ linguistics thread in progress (and I assume many who read one thread read the other as well). What it has in common with this one is that, just as here, I made a point and was ignored; someone else later made the same point and was applauded. > > Do I have bad breath? Is it just my stupid username? 😛 Maybe “primus” would have garnered more authority… ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/44 "2018-05-09T20:57:14Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > That’s one Pokie I don’t want to collect, mon. There are some very beautiful ones. [https://www.google.com/search?q=poecilotheria+metallica&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjj3qrhwfnaAhWswFkKHYvLDAoQ\_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=859](https://www.google.com/search?q=poecilotheria+metallica&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjj3qrhwfnaAhWswFkKHYvLDAoQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=859) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/45 "2018-05-09T23:22:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > While we’re at it, “bike” can refer to either one, but seems to more often mean a motorcycle, even though “motorcycle” doesn’t have a B anywhere in it, but a “cycle” is always the pedal-powered one, even though both words contain “cycle”. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Not around here … Especially in American cities where bicycles are becoming more prevalent, “bike” always means bicycle. Depends on the crowd you [del]run[/del] ride with. And note that a biker is someone who rides a motorcycle, while a cyclist is someone who rides a bicycle. Also, note Richard -\> Rich, Rick or Dick. Francis –\> Frank. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/46 "2018-05-10T00:10:38Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Depends on the crowd you [del]run[/del] ride with. I think I accounted for that when I said “Only for people who are part of the tiny motorcycle subculture does “bike” default to motorbike.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725/47 "2018-05-10T01:08:14Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I think I accounted for that when I said “Only for people who are part of the tiny motorcycle subculture does “bike” default to motorbike.” I’m a cyclist, never even ridden a motorcycle much less owned one, but I’m always surprised how many people use “bike” to mean motorcycle even without any context. But if you have some data to show us, I’d be happy to change my mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-bike-not-bice/813725.md?page=2)