Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?

Old 09-14-22, 08:24 PM
  #501  
Maelochs
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times in 1,823 Posts
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.
Maelochs is offline  
Old 09-14-22, 08:47 PM
  #502  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,767
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
Originally Posted by Maelochs
I have ridden some rough roads and have never lost a bottle (on pavement) except during a wreck.
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.
Koyote is offline  
Old 09-14-22, 09:27 PM
  #503  
I_like_e_bike
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 33
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by CheGiantForLife
I then thought how people waste $40 on a water bottle. Not just bikers, but in general.

What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?
I think people should be free to spend their work money and buy whatever they want.
I_like_e_bike is offline  
Likes For I_like_e_bike:
Old 09-15-22, 01:19 AM
  #504  
Herzlos
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 501

Bikes: Way too many

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 827 Post(s)
Liked 584 Times in 345 Posts
Originally Posted by prj71
Nope. Exactly the same. The Bontrager one is just a rebranded chinese one. And I've never had a water bottle cage fail or break ever.
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.
Herzlos is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 05:36 AM
  #505  
Maelochs
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times in 1,823 Posts
Originally Posted by Herzlos
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.
Assumptions and presumptions.

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 .....
Maelochs is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 08:35 AM
  #506  
prj71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,601
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2965 Post(s)
Liked 1,167 Times in 763 Posts
Originally Posted by Herzlos
Same internal structure, factory line, quality assurance process and after care?
but I bet if the Chinese one fails you'll have a harder time getting a replacement.
Replacement not hard to find on amazon or e-bay. And at 1/3 of the price.

However...don't think I will need to worry about that.
prj71 is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 09:00 AM
  #507  
Branko D
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 786
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 338 Post(s)
Liked 408 Times in 252 Posts
Originally Posted by prj71
Nope. Exactly the same. The Bontrager one is just a rebranded chinese one. And I've never had a water bottle cage fail or break ever.
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.
Branko D is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 09:05 AM
  #508  
prj71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,601
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2965 Post(s)
Liked 1,167 Times in 763 Posts
Originally Posted by Branko D
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.
The girl originally bought the black Bontrager cages for her Purple Flip Trek Domane but then she wanted Purple ones to match her bike. Surprisingly she found the exact color matching purple flip ones on Amazon. And when they arrived...same damn thing as the Bontrager ones.
prj71 is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 09:13 AM
  #509  
Maelochs
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times in 1,823 Posts
Originally Posted by Branko D
Entirely possible - I couldn't see a difference at all.
LOL you bought a knockoff of a knockoff .....
Maelochs is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 09:38 AM
  #510  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by Herzlos
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.
Again, bottle cage--there's not a lot of capacity there for hidden defects or subtle but relevant differences. The likelihood of failure is nonzero, but paying $47 more to get a Bontrager because you think they might be more likely to replace is some really disproportionate insurance on the purchase.
livedarklions is offline  
Likes For livedarklions:
Old 09-15-22, 09:58 AM
  #511  
jema123
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by GhostRider62
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.
Well if you paid 6k for a bike this is not really going to seem like much to you, but I can't see a $15-20 water cage not doing the trick. But to each his own.
jema123 is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 11:01 AM
  #512  
rydabent
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924

Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times in 634 Posts
Bottom line here is it is their money, but a fool and his money are soon parted.
rydabent is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 11:35 AM
  #513  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
Bottom line here is it is their money, but a fool and his money are soon parted.
'Tis better to give than receive.

The grass is always greener on the other side.

Never pay retail.
livedarklions is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 11:39 AM
  #514  
genejockey 
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
 
genejockey's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,662

Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10247 Post(s)
Liked 11,599 Times in 5,945 Posts
Originally Posted by WhyFi
So maybe it's fair to say that, for you, the biggest waste is a bigger waist?
A waist is a terrible thing to mind.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."

"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
genejockey is offline  
Likes For genejockey:
Old 09-15-22, 12:05 PM
  #515  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,843 Times in 4,113 Posts
Hi! What's this thread about?
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 09-15-22, 12:15 PM
  #516  
seypat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,758
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3192 Post(s)
Liked 2,460 Times in 1,489 Posts
I think magnesium is the way to go.

https://www.amazon.com/Skadler-Magne.../dp/B09HRJ6W6Y
seypat is offline  
Old 09-16-22, 02:33 PM
  #517  
b88
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 215

Bikes: Specialized

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by Eric F
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"?
No. Actually I stepped back into the gym for the first time in 2 years since covid. Weighed in, lost 4 lbs since then. What happened was lost all my bulk from weight training and gained in the waist. lol
b88 is online now  
Old 09-16-22, 02:47 PM
  #518  
tomato coupe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,879

Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3906 Post(s)
Liked 7,182 Times in 2,905 Posts
What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?

Titanium weights to bring your bike up to the 6.8 kg UCI limit.
tomato coupe is offline  
Likes For tomato coupe:
Old 09-16-22, 02:56 PM
  #519  
Eric F 
Habitual User
 
Eric F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,801

Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4839 Post(s)
Liked 7,828 Times in 3,708 Posts
Originally Posted by b88
No. Actually I stepped back into the gym for the first time in 2 years since covid. Weighed in, lost 4 lbs since then. What happened was lost all my bulk from weight training and gained in the waist. lol
You had a significant change in your body shape, caused by your own shift in activities, and somehow expensive bike clothes are the problem?
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Eric F is offline  
Likes For Eric F:
Old 09-16-22, 03:06 PM
  #520  
cyclist2000
Senior Member
 
cyclist2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Up
Posts: 4,695

Bikes: Masi, Giant TCR, Eisentraut (retired), Jamis Aurora Elite, Zullo, Cannondale, 84 & 93 Stumpjumpers, Waterford, Tern D8, Bianchi, Gunner Roadie, Serotta, Serotta Duette, was gifted a Diamond Back

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 305 Post(s)
Liked 2,038 Times in 604 Posts
Originally Posted by Maelochs
I have ridden some rough roads and have never lost a bottle (on pavement) except during a wreck.
I have with a crappy profile design seatpost double bottle holder. Got back from my ride and one of my bottles was missing.
cyclist2000 is offline  
Old 09-16-22, 03:13 PM
  #521  
b88
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 215

Bikes: Specialized

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by Eric F
You had a significant change in your body shape, caused by your own shift in activities, and somehow expensive bike clothes are the problem?
Ya they are. I gotta blame the clothes. lmao
b88 is online now  
Likes For b88:
Old 09-16-22, 03:34 PM
  #522  
Eric F 
Habitual User
 
Eric F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,801

Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4839 Post(s)
Liked 7,828 Times in 3,708 Posts
Originally Posted by b88
Ya they are. I gotta blame the clothes. lmao
Makes as much sense as some of the other conclusions posted in this thread, so you might as well.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Eric F is offline  
Old 09-19-22, 06:48 PM
  #523  
Highcad
Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 44
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
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.
Highcad is offline  
Old 09-19-22, 06:50 PM
  #524  
SpedFast
Just Pedaling
 
SpedFast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 958

Bikes: YEP!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 313 Post(s)
Liked 491 Times in 325 Posts
Originally Posted by Highcad
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.
But then us old thin guys can buy their unused high-end bikes for cheap and it's a win-win!
SpedFast is offline  
Likes For SpedFast:
Old 09-19-22, 09:01 PM
  #525  
tomato coupe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,879

Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3906 Post(s)
Liked 7,182 Times in 2,905 Posts
Originally Posted by Highcad
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.
Maybe it was still worth the money to them.
tomato coupe is offline  
Likes For tomato coupe:

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.