What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?
#1201
Steel is real
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If these old bikes are so good and equal in performance why is nobody riding them? Go to any mass participation event or ride the popular local route and they are nowhere to be seen. The only market for them seems to be 55 or older collectors who are hoarding them like toilet paper at the onset of COVID. Even those who have these vintage bikes never seem to ride them on those long or challenging days. But as always if you want to ride a difficult century on a 5 speed straight block tubular bike, pumped to 140 psi, you be you.
#1203
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Jeff Neese
Thanks for letting us know that bikes have not been getting much faster since the mid nighties. I am still loving my early 2000s carbon bikes (Trek Madone 10 speed, Look KG385). The look's frame is semi aero but bike frame aerodynamics hardly makes any difference I think.
Speed is relevant to me. I never do road racing but always in a sort of TT in the sense that I ride against myself and the clock, on roads with traffic. I very rarely see riders riding in groups but perhaps the solo riders are training for race day.
Thanks for letting us know that bikes have not been getting much faster since the mid nighties. I am still loving my early 2000s carbon bikes (Trek Madone 10 speed, Look KG385). The look's frame is semi aero but bike frame aerodynamics hardly makes any difference I think.
How about looking at relevant data? Review TT and Hour Record stats where the bike itself plays a much larger role than in road racing. Once again, absolute speed doesn't matter in road racing. Only relative speed matters. On the other tand, the TT and the hour record are all about absolute speed.
#1204
Grupetto Bob
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The biggest waste might be very expensive cycling glasses. There are many low and middle end brands with the same UV protection, coverage and looks as the designer labels. Pay over $200? Homey don’t play dat.
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#1205
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I have lots of sunglasses, costing from $20 up to $250. There’s no question the $250 glasses have better optics than the others.
#1206
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But they were with prescription photochromic lenses. Haven't regretted them a single time.
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He tested a competitor's sunglasses (taken off our shop's display) and an Oakley pair. After passing through the competitor's lens, the beam was soft and diffused. The beam from the Oakley lens was still sharply defined.
The difference was like that seen with flashlights that are designed to allow both diffuse and pinpoint light patterns.
#1209
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Non prescription glasses are no different than prescription glasses - they are just made to a prescription of zero diopters. Any imperfections will be just as detrimental.
#1210
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I use a $15 pair of DeWalt safety bifocal sunglasses for all my rides and I cannot see a major difference in optics.
YMMV
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#1212
Grupetto Bob
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#1213
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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Back in the late 1990s I had a pair of those Bolle wraparound sunglasses, and I got a prescription insert for them. I ended up with twice as many lenses to fog up and then have to clean. Luckily for me, even today my vision is good enough that I don't have wear glasses to drive or ride.
Reading is a different story. On the plus side, it keeps me from ever bothering to read texts I receive while riding!
Reading is a different story. On the plus side, it keeps me from ever bothering to read texts I receive while riding!
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#1214
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I'm with you. I'm to the point where any more than 4 data fields on my Wahoo and I'm having trouble reading the numbers with just a quick glance. I have to be much more selective about what order I set my data fields.
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#1215
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On the 1040, I can run 7-8 data fields, and each one is still significantly larger than the Bolt's data fields. Aside from the sheer size, it also works perfectly in every other way -- it's fantastic. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
#1216
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I had the same problem with my Bolt. I was recently offered a great deal on a Garmin Edge 1040, so I got it -- and it makes the Bolt look like a little baby computer. Like something the Garmin ate for breakfast and s**t out for lunch. Like a real computer that stunted its growth by smoking as a child. You get it.
On the 1040, I can run 7-8 data fields, and each one is still significantly larger than the Bolt's data fields. Aside from the sheer size, it also works perfectly in every other way -- it's fantastic. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
On the 1040, I can run 7-8 data fields, and each one is still significantly larger than the Bolt's data fields. Aside from the sheer size, it also works perfectly in every other way -- it's fantastic. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
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#1217
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Yeah, the Bolt is svelte. But man, the 1040 is niiice. The huge screen, combined with the fact that it's a touchscreen, is a real winner.
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#1218
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Have you had issues with the touchscreen when it's wet? This was mentioned by a friend who uses the same one.
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#1220
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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Mrs. GeneJockey occasionally needs reassurance that I'm still moving and not lying in a ditch somewhere while I'm out on a ride, so I leave mine on. Generally I in silent mode, but I find I don't hear it anyway.
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#1221
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#1222
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No, I haven't had issues - but I think I've only ridden in the rain once with that computer, at least so far. It shouldn't be much of an issue, for me anyway, as I really don't need to swipe much -- I can fit so many data fields that I don't need another screen, in most circumstances.
#1223
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#1224
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#1225
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On the MTB I have my phone on the handlebar. Garmin cycling units aren't great for wilderness navigation. On the phone I can get accurate topographic maps with GPS (for free! Yay Finland!).
On the road bike I typically have a garmin explorer for navigation and the phone for... things..
On the road bike I typically have a garmin explorer for navigation and the phone for... things..