What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?
#501
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I have ridden some rough roads and have never lost a bottle (on pavement) except during a wreck. I use lightweight D=CF cages from Nashbar and Performance Bike, and less secure traditional metal cages which are also fairly inexpensive. The metal cages can be net to be tighter. The CF cages are just good fits .... and cost $15-$20 which was already an extravagance (but I am worth it.)
If someone spent $70 on a cage ... part of me will laugh snarkily while the other part will recognize that value is perception. if the cage was worth that much money to that person ti was .... Not to me, I don't care whose name is on it.
Whatever. if I have to pick a hill to die on it won't a hill of cheap bike parts or a hill named after a BF poster.
If someone spent $70 on a cage ... part of me will laugh snarkily while the other part will recognize that value is perception. if the cage was worth that much money to that person ti was .... Not to me, I don't care whose name is on it.
Whatever. if I have to pick a hill to die on it won't a hill of cheap bike parts or a hill named after a BF poster.
#502
Senior Member
That may be a key factor. I never lost a bottle on pavement, aside from very early on, when I was using very cheap alloy cages and went blasting over some RR tracks. Now I mostly ride gravel roads, some of them very rough. I only had to lose one bottle during a race in order to upgrade my cages.
Last edited by Koyote; 09-14-22 at 09:05 PM.
#503
#504
Senior Member
It's certainly possible. They could make both identically and print different names, Bontrager may have ordered 10,000 and the factory made 15,000 and rebranded the extra ones.
I'm not saying the Bontrager one is notable better than the Chinese one, just that you can't necessarily tell they are the same. They'll presumably both work fine, but I bet if the Chinese one fails you'll have a harder time getting a replacement.
Personally, I've never paid more than $20 for a bottle cage anyway, but I tend to avoid no-brand Chinese stuff for stuff I care about failing.
#505
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Same internal structure, factory line, quality assurance process and after care?
It's certainly possible. They could make both identically and print different names, Bontrager may have ordered 10,000 and the factory made 15,000 and rebranded the extra ones.
I'm not saying the Bontrager one is notable better than the Chinese one, just that you can't necessarily tell they are the same. They'll presumably both work fine, but I bet if the Chinese one fails you'll have a harder time getting a replacement.
It's certainly possible. They could make both identically and print different names, Bontrager may have ordered 10,000 and the factory made 15,000 and rebranded the extra ones.
I'm not saying the Bontrager one is notable better than the Chinese one, just that you can't necessarily tell they are the same. They'll presumably both work fine, but I bet if the Chinese one fails you'll have a harder time getting a replacement.
I have never heard of Bontrager or any other manufacturer replacing a broken bottle cage anyway.
All we know .... is subject to fundamental analysis. Is this all a solipsistic reverie? Whose, then?
It's just bottle cages .... it's just bicycling ... but we attach so much stuff to it .....
#507
Senior Member
Anyway, I have the same ones, ordered from Aliexpress, on my gravel bike, and wife on her road bike. They're light and pretty, but they do eject bottles when going fast downhill over potholes and crap (and I lost a bottle on my first and only gravel race I did on it), to the extent I don't really trust them. Of course I'm far less miffled when a random aliexpress purchase turns out to be a bit crap then if I paid Trek branded pricing for my cheap chinese stuff. On my road bike I've got a set of Decathlon CF cages which are fully reliable, and were something like 18 Eur or such, which I found to be fair - they're consistently the manufacturer which offers the most "value for money".
One broke after my kid climbed on it while the bike was sitting in the trainer, which I don't think the Bontrager branded one would've endured, either.
#508
Senior Member
Entirely possible - I couldn't see a difference at all.
Anyway, I have the same ones, ordered from Aliexpress, on my gravel bike, and wife on her road bike. They're light and pretty, but they do eject bottles when going fast downhill over potholes and crap (and I lost a bottle on my first and only gravel race I did on it), to the extent I don't really trust them. Of course I'm far less miffled when a random aliexpress purchase turns out to be a bit crap then if I paid Trek branded pricing for my cheap chinese stuff. On my road bike I've got a set of Decathlon CF cages which are fully reliable, and were something like 18 Eur or such, which I found to be fair - they're consistently the manufacturer which offers the most "value for money".
One broke after my kid climbed on it while the bike was sitting in the trainer, which I don't think the Bontrager branded one would've endured, either.
Anyway, I have the same ones, ordered from Aliexpress, on my gravel bike, and wife on her road bike. They're light and pretty, but they do eject bottles when going fast downhill over potholes and crap (and I lost a bottle on my first and only gravel race I did on it), to the extent I don't really trust them. Of course I'm far less miffled when a random aliexpress purchase turns out to be a bit crap then if I paid Trek branded pricing for my cheap chinese stuff. On my road bike I've got a set of Decathlon CF cages which are fully reliable, and were something like 18 Eur or such, which I found to be fair - they're consistently the manufacturer which offers the most "value for money".
One broke after my kid climbed on it while the bike was sitting in the trainer, which I don't think the Bontrager branded one would've endured, either.
#509
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#510
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Same internal structure, factory line, quality assurance process and after care?
It's certainly possible. They could make both identically and print different names, Bontrager may have ordered 10,000 and the factory made 15,000 and rebranded the extra ones.
I'm not saying the Bontrager one is notable better than the Chinese one, just that you can't necessarily tell they are the same. They'll presumably both work fine, but I bet if the Chinese one fails you'll have a harder time getting a replacement.
Personally, I've never paid more than $20 for a bottle cage anyway, but I tend to avoid no-brand Chinese stuff for stuff I care about failing.
It's certainly possible. They could make both identically and print different names, Bontrager may have ordered 10,000 and the factory made 15,000 and rebranded the extra ones.
I'm not saying the Bontrager one is notable better than the Chinese one, just that you can't necessarily tell they are the same. They'll presumably both work fine, but I bet if the Chinese one fails you'll have a harder time getting a replacement.
Personally, I've never paid more than $20 for a bottle cage anyway, but I tend to avoid no-brand Chinese stuff for stuff I care about failing.
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#511
My strongest cage is also my heaviest, it is made from carbon. I use in behind the seat position. IIRC, they were $75 each. Few things irritate me more than someone losing bottles. Back in the day, one only drank after taking their pull at the front and when on the back of the pack. The cost is a consideration to others. Not a place to skimp.
#513
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#514
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#515
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#516
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#517
Full Member
If you're doing relaxed riding, relaxed clothing makes sense. If you're riding at speeds where aerodynamics don't matter, relaxed clothing makes sense. If you don't mind clothing flapping about when you're riding at higher speeds, relaxed clothing makes sense. If what you're wearing is what you prefer, keep on keeping on.
However, be aware that not everyone has the same preferences, or wants the same results.
Over the last couple of years, my weight has fluctuated within a range of about 12 lbs. All of my cycling clothing has continued to fit me. Maybe you gained more than a "few extra pounds"?
However, be aware that not everyone has the same preferences, or wants the same results.
Over the last couple of years, my weight has fluctuated within a range of about 12 lbs. All of my cycling clothing has continued to fit me. Maybe you gained more than a "few extra pounds"?
#518
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What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?
Titanium weights to bring your bike up to the 6.8 kg UCI limit.
Titanium weights to bring your bike up to the 6.8 kg UCI limit.
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#519
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You had a significant change in your body shape, caused by your own shift in activities, and somehow expensive bike clothes are the problem?
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Platypus gravelus.
Platypus gravelus.
#521
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#522
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#523
The biggest waste of money is old, fat guys purchasing high end road bikes. 90 percent of these old fat guys will quit within a couple of years - because riding in the same position as a Tour de France guy is not comfortable.
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#525
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