Buying expensive bikes and parts...
11-28-20, 08:32 AM
#626
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12-02-20, 11:06 PM
#627
Grupetto Bob
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A friend of mine filled my bike tires with helium . Boy did that make a difference in my singing. Tires, not so much. 
As for the original thought about expensive versus inexpensive... All of us see the world through our prism of experience and life circumstance. What each of us prefer is what works best for that individual. There’s no right or wrong answer. However what I find objectionable are the judgements when one person’s preference doesn’t match another’s and they express it negatively. However that can usually be chalked up to trying to temporarily build one’s self worth by tearing down some else. Not a healthy way to develop a positive self-esteem, but it’s all too expedient.
I may not play a psychologist on TV, but I do in real life.
As for the original thought about expensive versus inexpensive... All of us see the world through our prism of experience and life circumstance. What each of us prefer is what works best for that individual. There’s no right or wrong answer. However what I find objectionable are the judgements when one person’s preference doesn’t match another’s and they express it negatively. However that can usually be chalked up to trying to temporarily build one’s self worth by tearing down some else. Not a healthy way to develop a positive self-esteem, but it’s all too expedient.
I may not play a psychologist on TV, but I do in real life.
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12-03-20, 08:05 AM
#628
Recusant Iconoclast
A friend of mine filled my bike tires with helium . Boy did that make a difference in my singing. Tires, not so much.
As for the original thought about expensive versus inexpensive... All of us see the world through our prism of experience and life circumstance. What each of us prefer is what works best for that individual. There’s no right or wrong answer. However what I find objectionable are the judgements when one person’s preference doesn’t match another’s and they express it negatively. However that can usually be chalked up to trying to temporarily build one’s self worth by tearing down some else. Not a healthy way to develop a positive self-esteem, but it’s all too expedient.
I may not play a psychologist on TV, but I do in real life.
As for the original thought about expensive versus inexpensive... All of us see the world through our prism of experience and life circumstance. What each of us prefer is what works best for that individual. There’s no right or wrong answer. However what I find objectionable are the judgements when one person’s preference doesn’t match another’s and they express it negatively. However that can usually be chalked up to trying to temporarily build one’s self worth by tearing down some else. Not a healthy way to develop a positive self-esteem, but it’s all too expedient.
I may not play a psychologist on TV, but I do in real life.
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12-03-20, 11:40 AM
#629
Grupetto Bob
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- Treat others as you wish to be treated
- If you have nothing good to say then say nothing
- Discretion is a virtue or Better to be a (fill in the blank) in silence rather than opening one’s mouth and removing all doubt.
I consider myself very fortunate to have parents with such rich cliches. They are now in their late 80s and I still thank them for being good parents.
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12-03-20, 07:49 PM
#630
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Discuss with civility, y’all, please. 
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12-03-20, 08:45 PM
#631
Grupetto Bob
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Sorry HD3 but I have chosen not to read your responses because you are on my Ignore List. Don’t worry, you are with some very esteemed company.
P.S. My parents also taught me to not waste my time with people consumed with negativity.
Have a better day and happy cycling.
P.S. My parents also taught me to not waste my time with people consumed with negativity.
Have a better day and happy cycling.
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10-26-21, 07:33 AM
#632
Old newbie
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I turned 65 this past August. I also lost about a third of my weight, down to 180 from 270 since early 2020. I'm about to go over 5,000 miles this year. I just bought a new 2022 Trek Emonda SL 5 as a reward to myself about a month ago. My wife was completely on board. I hope to add carbon wheels in the spring. They won't be in stock until then. The bike she wants wont be in stock until March 2023. I was lucky to snag mine.
I've never owned a boat, or a motorcycle, but I do play about 95 rounds of golf each year.
You can't take the money with you, and besides that, it will probably be the last bike I ever buy.
I've never owned a boat, or a motorcycle, but I do play about 95 rounds of golf each year.
You can't take the money with you, and besides that, it will probably be the last bike I ever buy.
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10-26-21, 02:16 PM
#633
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I used to ride beautiful custom-built lugged steel bikes from boutiquey builders. Now I get as much or maybe even more pleasure from late '80s Asian bikes with early 105 and Exage parts hung on Tange no. 2 framesets. It's kinda like how I used to play exotic vintage guitars worth more than our family cars and now I play a Guitar Center-special Gibson acoustic from right before they started creating a zillion signature models for collectors to compulsively purchase. The experience is more than the material item.
10-26-21, 02:32 PM
#634
Old Boy
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I'm just glad that, with the occasional Craigslist or eBay find, I can snag a deal on classic lugged steel. Then I can build it up however I want, and still spend less than they want for new bikes. I certainly understand the appeal of a 16 lb bicycle, I get passed by them all the time. 
It's just not my thing.
However, if I did find a hundred grand at the side of the road, I'd have to seriously consider this: Jetson - Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle (jetsonaero.com)
Perfect for my 6-mile commute!
*
*
It's just not my thing. However, if I did find a hundred grand at the side of the road, I'd have to seriously consider this: Jetson - Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle (jetsonaero.com)
Perfect for my 6-mile commute!
*
*
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
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10-26-21, 02:57 PM
#635
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I'm just glad that, with the occasional Craigslist or eBay find, I can snag a deal on classic lugged steel. Then I can build it up however I want, and still spend less than they want for new bikes. I certainly understand the appeal of a 16 lb bicycle, I get passed by them all the time. It's just not my thing.
However, if I did find a hundred grand at the side of the road, I'd have to seriously consider this: Jetson - Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle (jetsonaero.com)
Perfect for my 6-mile commute!
*
*
It's just not my thing.However, if I did find a hundred grand at the side of the road, I'd have to seriously consider this: Jetson - Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle (jetsonaero.com)
Perfect for my 6-mile commute!
*
*
10-26-21, 05:38 PM
#636
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I turned 65 this past August. I also lost about a third of my weight, down to 180 from 270 since early 2020. I'm about to go over 5,000 miles this year. I just bought a new 2022 Trek Emonda SL 5 as a reward to myself about a month ago. My wife was completely on board. I hope to add carbon wheels in the spring. They won't be in stock until then. The bike she wants wont be in stock until March 2023. I was lucky to snag mine.
I've never owned a boat, or a motorcycle, but I do play about 95 rounds of golf each year.
You can't take the money with you, and besides that, it will probably be the last bike I ever buy.
I've never owned a boat, or a motorcycle, but I do play about 95 rounds of golf each year.
You can't take the money with you, and besides that, it will probably be the last bike I ever buy.
.
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10-27-21, 06:37 AM
#637
Old Boy
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(Bikes, Gary, bikes...) Um, never mind.
*
*
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
10-27-21, 08:15 AM
#638
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Whoa, a six year old thread comes back to life! Glad it did, because I actually went and read the NYT article from the OP.
I am in complete agreement, which is why I recently decided to splurge on a new custom Hampsten. Got tired of dealing with old and busted (I'm a horrible mechanic, anyway), went with the new hotness.
I am in complete agreement, which is why I recently decided to splurge on a new custom Hampsten. Got tired of dealing with old and busted (I'm a horrible mechanic, anyway), went with the new hotness.
10-27-21, 09:15 AM
#639
Old enough, hmmm?
Whoa, a six year old thread comes back to life! Glad it did, because I actually went and read the NYT article from the OP.
I am in complete agreement, which is why I recently decided to splurge on a new custom Hampsten. Got tired of dealing with old and busted (I'm a horrible mechanic, anyway), went with the new hotness.
I am in complete agreement, which is why I recently decided to splurge on a new custom Hampsten. Got tired of dealing with old and busted (I'm a horrible mechanic, anyway), went with the new hotness.
I bought a less expensive Devinci Stellar (Made in Canada) last year and a RBSM e-MTB this year Those should keep me 'til the end of my days (presently 76 and counting).
Work just fine on anything from pavement to easy single track.
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10-27-21, 09:46 AM
#640
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My choice didn't really have anything to do with keeping the economy going, it had to do with getting a bike I really wanted, built for me. Having recently turned 55, and riding bikes since I was 5, it is worth it to me to get something that will last me until the end of my riding days. Unlike the many used vintage bikes I have owned over the years, I won't have to fix it or replace anything before I can ride it.
10-27-21, 11:15 AM
#641
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I sometimes have to remind myself that just because someone reads and posts on BF doesn’t mean they do their own bike maintenance, repairs and modifications, and that’s perfectly ok.
I build and maintain my own bikes and they pretty much always work perfectly because I keep them in good working order. So I’m relatively indifferent to the prospect of buying a new bike, none of which is exactly what I would build.
OTOH, that has absolutely nothing to do with how other people relate to bikes and what they buy. Most other riders I see out and about here have a much newer bike and seem perfectly happy with it, just as I am with mine. We do have several quality bike shops in town, which is quite nice.
Who knows? At some point I may even want to buy a new bike, or at least a new frame.
Otto
I build and maintain my own bikes and they pretty much always work perfectly because I keep them in good working order. So I’m relatively indifferent to the prospect of buying a new bike, none of which is exactly what I would build.
OTOH, that has absolutely nothing to do with how other people relate to bikes and what they buy. Most other riders I see out and about here have a much newer bike and seem perfectly happy with it, just as I am with mine. We do have several quality bike shops in town, which is quite nice.
Who knows? At some point I may even want to buy a new bike, or at least a new frame.
Otto
10-28-21, 11:21 AM
#642
Old enough, hmmm?
Perhaps I would have looked at my purchases from a similar angle with so many years of riding ahead of me.
The reason I went for a considerably lower price point ..... how many years will there be left?
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10-28-21, 03:55 PM
#644
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10-28-21, 07:35 PM
#646
Banned.
$5k on a bike? Sure!
If I was an avid cyclist who would use the bike routinely, earned $250,000+ / year, had low debt and there was undeniable value inherent to that bike at that price point, then yes why not.
(This comes from a guy who rides a bike all year, on a (just recently deceased) 1986 Raleigh Elkhorn with a milk crate on the back)
I just recently discovered a bike brand I'd never heard of and they make a heck of nice bike which is practical for the type of riding I do. I'd love to have one. It's priced at about 3500 euro. This is about 35 times out of my current price range, BTW.
If I was an avid cyclist who would use the bike routinely, earned $250,000+ / year, had low debt and there was undeniable value inherent to that bike at that price point, then yes why not.
(This comes from a guy who rides a bike all year, on a (just recently deceased) 1986 Raleigh Elkhorn with a milk crate on the back)
I just recently discovered a bike brand I'd never heard of and they make a heck of nice bike which is practical for the type of riding I do. I'd love to have one. It's priced at about 3500 euro. This is about 35 times out of my current price range, BTW.
10-30-21, 08:38 AM
#647
well hello there
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Life's too short to ride a crappy bike or drink cheap wine.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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10-30-21, 02:33 PM
#648
Full Member
I turned 65 this past August. I also lost about a third of my weight, down to 180 from 270 since early 2020. I'm about to go over 5,000 miles this year. I just bought a new 2022 Trek Emonda SL 5 as a reward to myself about a month ago. My wife was completely on board. I hope to add carbon wheels in the spring. They won't be in stock until then. The bike she wants wont be in stock until March 2023. I was lucky to snag mine.
I've never owned a boat, or a motorcycle, but I do play about 95 rounds of golf each year.
You can't take the money with you, and besides that, it will probably be the last bike I ever buy.
I've never owned a boat, or a motorcycle, but I do play about 95 rounds of golf each year.
You can't take the money with you, and besides that, it will probably be the last bike I ever buy.
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10-30-21, 03:37 PM
#649
Made it to 84 WHOOPIE
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10-31-21, 08:31 AM
#650
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I have been around this forum for about a year or so, and it seems like people get a lot more criticism for buying expensive bikes than cheap bikes. It appears at times everyone is fine with $200 complete bikes but find the $5,000+ bikes pure insanity.
I-Like-To-Bike posted a link to this article in a thread in the general biking section. I believe it makes a lot of sense.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/yo...-you-love.html
In part, I wonder if this crowd, the older crowd, sees things any differently than the younger crowd. Many folks, by this age, have some extra cash in their pocket. Also, if you have gone through other hobbies (sports cars, boats, motorcycles) a $5,000+ bike no longer sounds expensive.
When I got back into biking seriously, my first bike was an expensive bike. I did not want any excuses about the bike being limiting (whether real or imagined), and I wanted something that I thought was so cool that I was motivated to ride it. Things worked out well going this route.
Thoughts?
And, please, do not make this into some tangential debate on a thinly related topic. I am a bike loving kind of guy who is also always thinking and wondering about human behavior, not good, not bad, just curious.
I-Like-To-Bike posted a link to this article in a thread in the general biking section. I believe it makes a lot of sense.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/yo...-you-love.html
In part, I wonder if this crowd, the older crowd, sees things any differently than the younger crowd. Many folks, by this age, have some extra cash in their pocket. Also, if you have gone through other hobbies (sports cars, boats, motorcycles) a $5,000+ bike no longer sounds expensive.
When I got back into biking seriously, my first bike was an expensive bike. I did not want any excuses about the bike being limiting (whether real or imagined), and I wanted something that I thought was so cool that I was motivated to ride it. Things worked out well going this route.
Thoughts?
And, please, do not make this into some tangential debate on a thinly related topic. I am a bike loving kind of guy who is also always thinking and wondering about human behavior, not good, not bad, just curious.