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Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:15 pm
by sli123
Not that there's anything wrong with this, but some cyclists have heaps of talent and ride pretty average bikes while other cyclists with average ability are riding dream machines.

I'm thinking I'm reasonably well matched with my ride, which was probably considered a mid/decent range spec road bike in 2009 (Bianchi 928 B4P Mono Q full carbon with Ultegra/FSA components).

So, how do you rate yourself and your bike?

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:03 pm
by Crowz
I'd rate myself on par with my bike. 1989 Repco Eurosport rockin' Shimano 105.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:09 pm
by roller
i like my bike, my bike likes me

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:14 pm
by sogood
My bike is more faithful to me than I am of her. So yes, my bike is better than me.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:31 pm
by Postieboy
I ride and race in C grade on a Giant Defy 2011 with 105 running gear and fulcrum race 7's (more like training 7's). In the racing world it is rubbish machine but I love it and the only thing still slowing it down is me....

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:29 am
by richbee
I'm a MAMIL with all the grear and no idea

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:43 am
by ausrandoman
I like your question.

When I was shopping around for a new road bike 2 - 3 years ago, I saw a MAMIL easily 30 kg over weight decked out in lycra :shock: wheeling a Pinarello Dogma out of the shop. Fine, I hope he is still enjoying and I wouldn't dream of telling anyone how to spend their money to enjoy themself. But a little light went on over my head and I decided to make sure that my bike wasn't better than me - good enough but not better. I went from a 13 kg steel bike to an 8 kg titanium bike. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's more bike than I need :roll: but, like that man-mountain with his Dogma, I have fun on it.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:46 am
by cyclotaur
Interesting question .... At my age (retired, no commuting) it's more about enjoying the ride (which includes 'performance' sometimes) and getting home in good enough shape to be able to do 3-4 good rides per week.

My strength is still building after 2.5 years of consistent riding and overall ride times/averages are still improving, even on rides where I feel it's 'easy' rather than 'hard'. I figure as long as they do my bikes are not limiting me in any way.

I don't race or compete per se, so it's only me that cares anyway. I guess I'd like a schmicker new road bike, but I'm not a big spender and I'm also sentimental about the two bikes I do ride so that's enough for me .... for now.

So ... no :wink:

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:54 am
by richbee
The idea is that you ride the bike you're comfortable with. Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist. If he can afford the bling bike and is happy riding it, what right have we to tell him he can't because he doesn't fit our idea of what type of cyclist can ride what type of bike.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:56 am
by YouAgainstMe
My bike is better than me :lol:

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:03 am
by roller
richbee wrote:The idea is that you ride the bike you're comfortable with. Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist. If he can afford the bling bike and is happy riding it, what right have we to tell him he can't because he doesn't fit our idea of what type of cyclist can ride what type of bike.
that sort of attitude won't allow people to trott out their grievances/chips-on-shoulders/jealousy about other's peoples bikes.

so, please cut it out.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:05 am
by brett.hooker
My bike is better than me.
I started back riding again 18 months ago on my 1993 shogun metro se. After 12 months and 4000km, I upgraded to a sora equipped Merida aluminium frame road bike. It is fantastic for where I am... I have lost 23 kg so far, and when I lose another 10kg I am going to make the leap to a carbon framed ultegra bike.
The bike will always be better than me, but I do want to respect the bike I am riding by matching myself as best I can...

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:07 am
by outnabike
My bike with all the crap I carry weighs in at 20 kg. One big BSO, but it is a touring bike. All I wanted was some thing strong with decent gears. The VWR does all that I need and I can get up any hills I need to. It gets my heart rate up and is good exercise.
I couldn't see the point of getting a whippets machine when I am 90 kg, and any one can beat me in a race anyway.

I really am thinking of getting some street cred, with a nice expensive Colnago with probably a nice giro hat hanging off it , throwing it on the ute and parking around the corner of the coffee shop. Just wheel it around the front and park it. Sort of make me feel like a real cyclist.
I honestly reckon a bloke should have two good bikes and the training machine should be the heavier model. Then in racing terms the rider will feel like super man on race days. And its all about feel.
I am not trying to be offensive here. :D

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:13 am
by cyclotaur
richbee wrote:The idea is that you ride the bike you're comfortable with. Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist. If he can afford the bling bike and is happy riding it, what right have we to tell him he can't because he doesn't fit our idea of what type of cyclist can ride what type of bike.
ausrandom certainly did not say that.

I think he was pointing to the fact that, in that particular case, the bike certainly was better than the rider.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:14 am
by westab
Good question - but I have no idea which is better myself or the bike as : "WE ARE ONE". :mrgreen:

I am an average speed commute on a 21 year old Repco Superlite; and it is a pleasure to ride. I realy don't thinks it matters what you as long as you enjoy it and do it. :D

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:28 am
by sogood
cyclotaur wrote: I think he was pointing to the fact that, in that particular case, the bike certainly was better than the rider.
On what basis?

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:34 am
by Howzat
richbee wrote:Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist.
I would have thought that having all the fat old slow guys riding all the light new fast Pinarello Dogmas is a near-enough definition of elitism... :D

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:43 am
by Mulger bill
westab wrote:Good question - but I have no idea which is better myself or the bike as : "WE ARE ONE". :mrgreen:

I am an average speed commute on a 21 year old Repco Superlite; and it is a pleasure to ride. I realy don't thinks it matters what you as long as you enjoy it and do it. :D
YESSS!!! Knows and loves the whole cyborg thing. :D

/thread

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:50 am
by gdt
My bike is better than all of you. It's a cheap aluminium frame road bike with a euro label and 105. The frame was ridden in the Tour de France ten years ago, and how many of us here are in the same class as TdF pros?

My point is that you'd have shop shop very contrarily not to get a bike which is better than you. Maybe something from a supermarket.

I'd make an exception for pre-suspension MTBs: you can definitely do better on a MTB course with suspension at quite a low level of skill and fitness.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:58 am
by brentono
you and your bike are one.
:mrgreen:

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:33 am
by sogood
Howzat wrote:
richbee wrote:Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist.
I would have thought that having all the fat old slow guys riding all the light new fast Pinarello Dogmas is a near-enough definition of elitism... :D
It's not elitism, it's legitimate compensation.

Reverse the question, what's a barely out into the work force 20-something, total net worth barely climbing over 5 figures, doing on a $6000 bike? Irrespective of the lean muscle definition, the definition of "too good" needs to be redefined. ;)

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:50 am
by AKO
My bike is most definitely better than me. And I ride a Malvern Star so..... But honestly just about anything I ride would be equal to or better than my ability.

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:04 am
by Howzat
sogood wrote:It's not elitism, it's legitimate compensation.
Yep, this makes more and more sense to me every year. :D

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:24 am
by twizzle
Function over form for me.

IMHO, a $15K bike with a 30kg overweight rider is going to be more fragile than a $3k bike, because the former is effectively specced for a sub 80kg rider, ie. the groupset sacrifices durability for weight. I was the odd-person-out still running 105 back in my C-grade days because others were on DuraAce and some on Di2., but I'm not replacing worn out cassettes and chain rings or breaking bits very often.

On the other side, if you are wealthy and want to buy nice toys - go for it, but people who don't have as much spare cash WILL hold it against you, it's built into us to be competitive (males, anyway).

Re: Am I better than my bike?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:30 am
by george-bob
my bike is waaaayyyy better than me, but that is exactly what i wanted, i never wanted to be out training or racing and think "if only my bike was a little lighter/faster/stiffer". i ALWAYS want to be the weak link, it gives me something to strive for.

for reference my bike is a trek madone 4.5 with a set of braccianos. i am not super slow, i average 31-33km/h on solo rides. but everytime i ride that bike i KNOW i want to get faster to do it justice.