|
Author |
Message |
Mondeo Man |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Mondeo Man Trackday Trickster
Joined: 21 May 2011 Karma :
|
Posted: 11:55 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: Cyclists - y so serious? |
|
|
Cyclists - y so serious?
When I was a youngster, people had bikes. They got on the bikes and rode them. Often these bikes had passed through the generations, many chains, and many tyres. That was that. Everyone understood a cycle was basically a useful children's toy. If the wheel was buckled, you often carried on regardless, becuase, well, why care?, it's a pushbike...and the wheels still turn.
Nowadays, every other cyclist thinks he's Chris Boardman. The skinny tyres, the full lycra. These are the equivalent of BMW tourers ridden a few miles down a carriageway. I cycle to work - on a mountain bike which is too small for me(!) - in a old sweaty t-shirt, and any old pair of shorts, and often leave these lycra lads for deads.
Nowadays, no one can spend less than £500 on a push bike - some spend £2000+ - on what is, basically, a useful children's toy. There is no need to spend more than £100 on a pushbike. If you're ctually competiting, different story. But for gettig to work, or recreation on a Sunday, more than £100 is showboating (the further you get away from £100, the more your head is up your arse).
People actually pay to have a pushbike "serviced". What are these monkeys playing at? Unless, you're female, there is no excuse for paying someone to service a pushbike. It is more of a mechanical challenge to wind down a window on a car than it is to service a pushbike.
I have had my humble Raleign Mustang for about 7 years, have covered several thousands of miles, paid around £108 for it, and have spent maybe £15 on keeping it going. I wager I can get where I am going much faster and with fewer problems than any regular cyclist riding any bike. (5 miles in little over 12 minutes is my average. Have yet to have a puncture)
I think pushbikes, like anything else, have became a bit of a consumer con. Much like people pay over the odds for Rebox when QD's 4.99 trainers actually satisfies their needs,people are paying for the name. I see at work bikes worth ten times mine - I should say priced at ten times mine, not worth - and I think, why, what's the point? Cycling is about saving money surely, not wasting it. If you want to waste money, there are better options to do so than on over sized toys. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
KDub |
This post is not being displayed .
|
KDub Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 04 Sep 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
The Shaggy D.A. |
This post is not being displayed .
|
The Shaggy D.A. Super Spammer
Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :
|
Posted: 12:19 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: |
|
|
When I was looking for a new bike, I just wanted something I could slide my fat arse over, have a rack on the back, and just use. I wasn't after millions of miles a day, nor was I going to try to keep up with traffic on the A45.
As I looked at the 40 speed, full suspension behemoths, I asked where the town bikes with Sturmey Archer 3 speed gears were, and was told "no-one wants them anymore".
Sad ____________________ Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5 |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Drew |
This post is not being displayed because the poster is banned. Unhide this post / all posts.
|
Drew Banned
Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
J4mes |
This post is not being displayed .
|
J4mes World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Karma :
|
Posted: 12:41 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry, but what a load of bollocks.
My Trek bike was by no means expensive at £300, but do you know why I bought a £300 bike? Because the £89 apollo bike I had from halfords before it was shit.
The front sproket wore to the point the chain skipped over it, the chrome began to rust after 6 months in the garage, it was heavy, the ferules broke off the brake cables on the front, the gearshift was inaccurate and clunky, the handle bar grips were hard and uncomfortable, the seat was rock solid, the wheels began to rust and the rear one buckled after dropping down a curb. The crank bearings went in under a year.
I ride my current bike in all weathers on all surfaces and I haven't had any issues with it, and I've owned it for 3 years. I haven't even taken it for a service yet
As Kdub said, it's a bit like saying "anyone who buys any motorcycle other than a chinese YBR replica is a head up their arse flash bastard show off"
No, it's just some people prefer to buy quality that performs and lasts.
Last edited by J4mes on 12:56 - 12 Aug 2012; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Drew |
This post is not being displayed because the poster is banned. Unhide this post / all posts.
|
Drew Banned
Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Benno |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Benno World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 May 2012 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Ayrton |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Ayrton World Chat Champion
Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Nai |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Nai World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Nai |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Nai World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Bendy |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Bendy Mrs Sensible
Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Mondeo Man |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Mondeo Man Trackday Trickster
Joined: 21 May 2011 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Mondeo Man |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Mondeo Man Trackday Trickster
Joined: 21 May 2011 Karma :
|
Posted: 13:46 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: Re: Cyclists - y so serious? |
|
|
Eh? What does this prove? The bike had a problem and I fixed it for less the price than the Boardman wannabe spends on his "special aerodynamic cycling glasses". Now it rides like new.
You can't just unroot something related to a topic and hope it somehow undermines the argument made. It doesn't. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Nai |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Nai World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Quirky |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Quirky Scooby Slapper
Joined: 31 Jul 2011 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Nai |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Nai World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Quirky |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Quirky Scooby Slapper
Joined: 31 Jul 2011 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
JonB |
This post is not being displayed .
|
JonB Afraid of Mileage
Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :
|
Posted: 14:41 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: Re: Cyclists - y so serious? |
|
|
Mondeo Man wrote: | I wager I can get where I am going much faster and with fewer problems than any regular cyclist riding any bike. (5 miles in little over 12 minutes is my average. Have yet to have a puncture)
|
Genuinely. If you were ever inclined to take cycling seriously, go and have a go at your local cycle clubs 10 mile Time Trial. They are usually once a week and a 22 minute 10 mile will have you in the top 25. If you are doing that on an old shitter, you will be able to afford more than a mondeo after Rio 2016. You don't need membership as they usually have open entries. I must say I am pretty impressed as my fastest 10 mile time trial is only around the 25 minute mark.
That of course is if you aren't: -
A) Bullshitting
B) Cycling downhill with a tailwind.
As for punctures, that is all down to luck. If you are riding an Argos £100 superbike then you are probably riding on MTB knobblies which are less susceptible to punctures. I've had 2 this year on my 23mm road tyres, but to be fair they only take 10 minutes to sort out on the roadside.
------
I don't really want to take the bait with this thread as it's obvious Mondeo Man, is either a troll or a monumental dullard with boring preconceptions about life and why people have desires to own anything more than a Ford Mundaneo.
If people were at all interested. Cycling is about marginal gains. A £1000 road bike is going to have a much bigger advantage over a £100 bicycle in theory than a £5000 bike will have over a £1000 bike. Although at the end of the day if the person riding it is not putting in training and is only a doing a 2 mile commute to work there is not much point spending that sort of money on a bike.
Cycling is all about marketing, for some reason the early 90's made MTB's really massive. Despite the fact that 90% of purchases are not needed. See that £75 full suspension bike in Tesco. Why would you ever want that? It offers nothing to someone wanting a bike to potter about to work on. The suspension will weigh a ton and will slow you down.
For people who view cycling as more as a mode of transportation; as a hobby say. Like Motorcycling for example, there are advantages to be had. Miniscule, but they are there.
I have probably spent in the ball park of £1000+ in the last 12 months on cycle related clothing alone. I have a £125 Gore jacket that is excellent, the sleeves are zippable, but mostly it is water resistant, keeps me warm, but is also breathable when it is warm. I have a £10 waterproof jacket and a £85 one. When I wear my £10 one I am wetter than without it as they are like boil in a bag suits.
Carbon Fibre frames. They are only marginally lighter than Aluminium frames, but we don't buy them for weight purposes, they offer cushioning on the UK raod surface as they absorb vibration through the material and are not so jarring. They also don't rust at all.
Lycra. Excellent wicking properties and also they have padding in the shorts. Although a lot of newbies aren't told that you shouldn't wear underwear with them as they have bio-pads which make them more comfortable.
I agree on the maintenence front. I have a haynes manual which has every operation I would ever need to do in it. I've done 4,500 miles on my best bike and have done all maintanence myself, including bottom brackets, cassettes, chains etc etc. But to be fair I bet there is a lot I could do on a car in theory, but it is much easier to bang it into a garage and get it done quicker.
At the end of the day, people enjoy cycling. They like to spend money on things they enjoy. Whether they need it or not. Cycling has become the middle-aged man's Golf. It is all about one-upmanship in some cases. But people who do actually take it seriously; like myself find that you can make gains just by buying over-priced gear. What is so wrong with that? ____________________ Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Im-a-Ridah |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Im-a-Ridah World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Ayrton |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Ayrton World Chat Champion
Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Karma :
|
Posted: 14:59 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="Mondeo Man"
a 50cc moped is all that is needed for 99% of journeys bikers actually do.
[/quote]
I cant quite tell if your being a troll or are just a blatent idiot. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Raffles |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Raffles World Chat Champion
Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
janner_10 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
janner_10 World Chat Champion
Joined: 26 Sep 2011 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
carlosthejack... |
This post is not being displayed .
|
carlosthejack... World Chat Champion
Joined: 16 Aug 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Im-a-Ridah |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Im-a-Ridah World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Al |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Al World Chat Champion
Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Karma :
|
Posted: 16:42 - 12 Aug 2012 Post subject: |
|
|
He could have bought himself a cycle computer for a tenner. It might seem like a waste of money but if he is going to claim average speeds it will stop him looking silly.
I enjoy cycling, it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Going out straight away and spending a fortune on a bike is stupid as are the kind of people that need to have the best of everything, cars, motorbikes, TV's, phones, computers, cameras ect.
But if its a genuine interest and not just a passing fad I don't see the problem in spending a bit of money on your hobby whatever it is. ____________________ Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 11 years, 260 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
|
|
|