tomato coupe

A $40 water bottle? There's no way I'd be caught drinking out of a bottle that didn't cost at least $100. I'd die of dehydration before I drank out of a $40 bottle.

livedarklions

I.will only use a water bottle I found in a dumpster.

I think the only way this thread could avoid being a stupid pointless argument is you can only discuss items you've actually purchased yourself that you later decided were wastes of money.

I predict that will result in crickets, though.

CAT7RDR

I cannot fathom dropping $100+ for a gran fondo when i can ride the same route without the crowds for free.

csport

Could not resist.
Of course Moneygone does not mean that it is a waste of money.

rydabent

I like the old saying------------------------a fool and his money are soon parted.

terrymorse 

Ceramic bearings.

wolfchild

I have a strong preference for good quality stainless steel bottles and insulated vacuum bottles. Some of them aren't cheap, maybe not exactly $40 but still more expensive than some cheap plastic cycling bottle.

rsbob 

Oversized pulleys

tomato coupe

Undersized pulleys. Even a bigger waste of money than oversized.

3alarmer 

.
...performance enhancing drugs. What a waste of money. My performance remains the same.

koala logs

I've had the same $2 water bottle for 3 years now. I use it all the time, both as ride bottle and when I'm just at home so I always have water at my side, no need to run to the fridge.

The biggest waste of money in cycling is crashing. It can both cost you lots of money in medical bills, destroyed equipment or worse, permanent damage to your body or even death. 2nd waste of money in cycling is buying equipment on credit or installments or breaking the bank. If you can't easily afford something in cash and the price puts a dent on your savings, then don't buy it.

Not wasting money is simply avoid crashing and avoid stretching your budget.

rsbob 

Probably the biggest waste in cycling or anything else is buying cheap products that later break and have to be replaced usually by a higher priced product which should have been purchased in the first place

Maelochs

What is the most subjective thing you can claim is objectively analyzable?

Koyote

You've never used one, so you might want to soften your (uninformed) opinion. Oh, and you've demonstrated an almost complete disregard for safety, so...

I'm willing to bet that you've never seen a $16,000 bike on the MUP. And don't claim otherwise, because we all know that you make things up.

fify.

You're buying the wrong drugs.

Ding Ding Ding!

TurboTrueno

Bontrager carbon bottle cage
I bought one at a local bike store. Picked the least-exciting, cheapest looking cage, and took it up to the counter. I was surprised when they told me $90. I said do you have a cheaper one, to be told "that is the cheaper one". I'm sure many riders are at the level where single-digit grams matter, but I am not.

Worst part is they've painted over the carbon (adding weight?) so it just looks like a $3 black plastic cage

Anyway I am the proud owner of it now

Polaris OBark

Electrolyte water.

Koyote

So, you don't like its appearance, you find it overpriced, and you don't care about saving a few grams...And you bought it.

You're basically outing yourself as foolish.

Polaris OBark

We are talking about bicycles.

Polaris OBark

The two I have purchased were two of the best purchases I have made.

TurboTrueno

had a reply typed up but it didn't go through. hopefully this does not post twice

I do like how it looks, I wanted something low-key
it was either this cage, or bike another week without water, and go to another store the following weekend. the stores here all close early and i can't make any of them during weekday evenings after rush hour. no brainer decision

base2 

Wait?!
What? Oh...
Whew!
It's not my bike! Ok!




You had me scared for a minute.

livedarklions

I'm nominating this thread as the biggest waste of time on the internet.

Spoiler alert: the worst buy is whatever you bought. Anything I have bought is justified and reasonable.

biker128pedal

I’d not pay $40 for a water bottle but $20 since it is reusable and stays in the $12 water bottle cage. I got a free bottle from Voler when I bought a jersey and shorts on sale. Anyway. Unlike buying a water bottle with water that will fling out leaving dehydrated at the side of the road. Oh yes you can refill the bottle with the cumbersome screw on cap but they tend to be hard to clean.

Now things that I bought that were a waste of money. SRAM derailleurs pulleys for the wrong derailleur is one.

Another was the Blendr mount for a Garmin GPS. Sits out front but the GPS vibrates too much to focus on when on a rough road. Slick fit but not worth it.

Buying ahead of time two pair of 23mm GP5000 tires to replace a worn pair. Hey they were on sale. When I broke my Madone 5.0 and replaced it with a Domane SL6. Narrow tires were a little too stretched on the 25mm rims. Ah but gave them to my cousin for his older Cervelo.

rydabent

When you talk about $40 water bottles, in actuality if you ride the MUPS in town you dont even need a water bottle. Lot of water fountains are along the way.

big john

Anyone who thinks cycling is expensive should try motorcycling, boating, or divorce.

Anything you want to buy with your own money is fine, even if it's a million dollar bike to cruise the m.u.p. It's fine if you just want to hang it on your wall and look at it.

Anyone who judges you for what you spend on things needs to stfu.