Am I better than my bike?
- sli123
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Am I better than my bike?
Postby sli123 » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:15 pm
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?
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby Crowz » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:03 pm
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby roller » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:09 pm
- sogood
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby sogood » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:14 pm
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby Postieboy » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:31 pm
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby richbee » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:29 am
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby ausrandoman » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:43 am
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 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 but, like that man-mountain with his Dogma, I have fun on it.
- cyclotaur
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby cyclotaur » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:46 am
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
My old blog - A bit of fun
"Riding, not racing...completing, not competing"
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby richbee » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:54 am
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby YouAgainstMe » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:56 am
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby roller » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:03 am
that sort of attitude won't allow people to trott out their grievances/chips-on-shoulders/jealousy about other's peoples bikes.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.
so, please cut it out.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby brett.hooker » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:05 am
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...
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby outnabike » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:07 am
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.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby cyclotaur » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:13 am
ausrandom certainly did not say that.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.
I think he was pointing to the fact that, in that particular case, the bike certainly was better than the rider.
My old blog - A bit of fun
"Riding, not racing...completing, not competing"
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby westab » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:14 am
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.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby sogood » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:28 am
On what basis?cyclotaur wrote: I think he was pointing to the fact that, in that particular case, the bike certainly was better than the rider.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
- Howzat
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby Howzat » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:34 am
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...richbee wrote:Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:43 am
YESSS!!! Knows and loves the whole cyborg thing.westab wrote:Good question - but I have no idea which is better myself or the bike as : "WE ARE ONE".
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.
/thread
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby gdt » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:50 am
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.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby brentono » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:58 am
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby sogood » Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:33 am
It's not elitism, it's legitimate compensation.Howzat wrote: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...richbee wrote:Saying that a 30kg overweight man cannot ride a Dogma is a bit elitist.
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.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby AKO » Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:50 am
Malvern Star XCS 5.0 MTB (2012)
Malvern Star Path Racer 1 (2015)
ProLite Cuneo
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby Howzat » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:04 am
Yep, this makes more and more sense to me every year.sogood wrote:It's not elitism, it's legitimate compensation.
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby twizzle » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:24 am
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).
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
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Re: Am I better than my bike?
Postby george-bob » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:30 am
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.
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