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What are the biggest wastes of money in biking?

Old 09-19-22, 09:05 PM
  #526  
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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.
You're a real ray of sunshine. You're also incorrect.

Originally Posted by tomato coupe
Maybe it was still worth the money to them.
Ding ding ding! If someone knows what they are getting, and willingly plunks down the money, the purchase is by definition "worth it" to them. How could it be anything else?
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Old 09-20-22, 07:05 AM
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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.

And you know this how?
HINT--you don't.
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Old 09-20-22, 07:14 AM
  #528  
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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.
Purchased 1 in 2005 and again in 2006. Old as hell, a little less fat, but still having loads of fun.
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Old 09-22-22, 02:13 PM
  #529  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
And you know this how?
HINT--you don't.
Because I know more than a few. And big surprise, the old fat guys w/ the light weight bike ($carbon/aero wheel sets) are still slow, and most of all, are uncomfortable on their $6000+ bike. But not a total waste. This was disposable income, and the bike shop/industry made money, and someone will get a nice bike at a much lower cost. The old fat guy will go back to more comfortable sports - like golf w/ his buddies.
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Old 09-22-22, 02:29 PM
  #530  
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If you are old enough and fat enough Everything is uncomfortable.

Hint: those fat old dudes didn't think they were going to suddenly "get fast" because they bought hot bikes, any more than thought they would get laid or even drive fast when they bought their expensive exotic sports cars---some of which are equally uncomfortable likely, and absolutely painful to enter and exit.

And since you know them and they are still riding ... seems they will golf with their buddies And ride their hot bikes, drive their hot cars, and laugh about jealous little-minded people who scorn people who have what the small-minded people cannot have.

I do not envy you the burden of knowing everything, but I admire the way you can be simultaneously omniscient and ignorant. That kind of flexibility must take years of stretching.

My hot bike is set up to be pretty comfortable, by the way. And I am still slow.
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Old 09-22-22, 02:42 PM
  #531  
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The only wastes of money I've discovered are the things I bought ignoring the "buy once, cry once" dictum. Pumps, stands, shoes, jerseys, shorts, tools, all stuff I went cheap on the first go-round. Except I learned a valuable lesson, so maybe not a waste. Yeah, yeah, I'm going with that.
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Old 09-22-22, 03:51 PM
  #532  
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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.
So if you think someone has wasted their money they must have, regardless of what the person who spent the money thinks. Got it. NOT!
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Old 09-22-22, 04:03 PM
  #533  
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Originally Posted by phedge
The only wastes of money I've discovered are the things I bought ignoring the "buy once, cry once" dictum. Pumps, stands, shoes, jerseys, shorts, tools, all stuff I went cheap on the first go-round. Except I learned a valuable lesson, so maybe not a waste. Yeah, yeah, I'm going with that.
I've certainly wasted a lot of money buying stuff to cheap to begin with. I normally dabble a bit to see what I like/need, but it hasn't been cheap or good value.
I'm on my 3rd mountain bike in 2 years - a $400 bike, replaced with a $700 bike and finally a $1500 bike. Each one had under 100 miles on it
Ditto with road/gravel bikes - a $300 bike, replaced with a $600 bike and finally replaced by a $2000 gravel bike and a $1000 road bike.

And that's not including all of the upgrades. I must have lost about $1000 in the first year alone on upgrades and trades to get to something I like. And even then, my $2000 gravel bike has only done 200 miles so it's still sitting at $10/mile which is terrible value.
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Old 09-22-22, 04:17 PM
  #534  
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Originally Posted by phedge
The only wastes of money I've discovered are the things I bought ignoring the "buy once, cry once" dictum. Pumps, stands, shoes, jerseys, shorts, tools, all stuff I went cheap on the first go-round. Except I learned a valuable lesson, so maybe not a waste. Yeah, yeah, I'm going with that.
Now this is an answer I can relate to. lol
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Old 09-22-22, 04:59 PM
  #535  
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
So if you think someone has wasted their money they must have, regardless of what the person who spent the money thinks. Got it. NOT!
LMAO - Read my post again genius. Take your time. If someone buys a $6000 bike and doesn't ride it because it's uncomfortable, do you think that they think it was a good purchase decision? Got it. NOT!

Last edited by Highcad; 09-22-22 at 05:11 PM.
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Old 09-22-22, 05:12 PM
  #536  
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Originally Posted by Highcad
If someone buys a $6000 bike and then sells it in two years, do you think that they think it was a good purchase decision?
They're the only one that can answer that question, not you.
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Old 09-22-22, 05:17 PM
  #537  
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Originally Posted by tomato coupe
They're the only one that can answer that question, not you.
No, I can answer the question, and I did.
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Old 09-22-22, 05:27 PM
  #538  
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Another newbie telling others how they should spend their money ... how original.
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Old 09-22-22, 06:22 PM
  #539  
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Originally Posted by Maelochs
If you are old enough and fat enough Everything is uncomfortable.

Hint: those fat old dudes didn't think they were going to suddenly "get fast" because they bought hot bikes, any more than thought they would get laid or even drive fast when they bought their expensive exotic sports cars---some of which are equally uncomfortable likely, and absolutely painful to enter and exit.

And since you know them and they are still riding ... seems they will golf with their buddies And ride their hot bikes, drive their hot cars, and laugh about jealous little-minded people who scorn people who have what the small-minded people cannot have.

I do not envy you the burden of knowing everything, but I admire the way you can be simultaneously omniscient and ignorant. That kind of flexibility must take years of stretching.

My hot bike is set up to be pretty comfortable, by the way. And I am still slow.
You know, my post was about some people I know - but it seems to have resonated with you.
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Old 09-22-22, 06:33 PM
  #540  
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Originally Posted by Highcad
You know, my post was about some people I know - but it seems to have resonated with you.

Enjoy your stay, you won't be here long.
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Old 09-22-22, 06:35 PM
  #541  
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Originally Posted by tomato coupe
Another newbie telling others how they should spend their money ... how original.
And another person that spends way too much time on bike forums - and thinks he's special - how original.
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Old 09-22-22, 07:02 PM
  #542  
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Originally Posted by Highcad
You know, my post was about some people I know - but it seems to have resonated with you.
Lol yeah .... I have worked hard for a while, and I have some nice bikes, nice cars, nice homes, a good wife, and I keep getting better at life.

I am old and fat but I am living pretty well ....

Just pointing out that you didn't really seem to know much, even though you thought you did. A wise person would make good use of that information.

Also ... i take pretty much everything everyone posts here as a joke or material for more jokes. Welcome aboard.
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Old 09-22-22, 07:04 PM
  #543  
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Waste of money? Aero gloves. Not the biggest and maybe the smallest, but still a waste.
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Old 09-22-22, 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by phedge
The only wastes of money I've discovered are the things I bought ignoring the "buy once, cry once" dictum. Pumps, stands, shoes, jerseys, shorts, tools, all stuff I went cheap on the first go-round. Except I learned a valuable lesson, so maybe not a waste. Yeah, yeah, I'm going with that.
Or in a similar vein, parts that were bought for form over function. I've unfortunately done that a few times recently, not least of which was in pedals, where I wasted money not once but twice getting pedals that colour matched my bike rather than going for ones that actually worked. I have just purchased a set of Shimano M520 pedals which are said to be close to bulletproof and which work FAR better than either of the colour matched pedals I bought did even when new - this is what I should have done in the first place.
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Old 09-22-22, 09:22 PM
  #545  
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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.
Please substantiate your claim. I’d also like to see where that 90% figure came from. Also what is your cut off age for old?
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Old 09-22-22, 09:45 PM
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what are the biggest wastes of money in biking?
Riding that chrome three-wheeler, making that first mistake, wearing gypsy leathers, all the way to Fire Lake.
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Old 09-22-22, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
Waste of money? Aero gloves. Not the biggest and maybe the smallest, but still a waste.
If you're doing a time trial, maybe not a waste. They cost about as much as regular gloves, and they can reduce drag when in a time trial position. Especially if you have hairy hands.
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Old 09-22-22, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
If you're doing a time trial, maybe not a waste. They cost about as much as regular gloves, and they can reduce drag when in a time trial position. Especially if you have hairy hands.
So what you are saying is that for a very small subset of the cycling population they are of great value. I get that. But for the rest…
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Old 09-23-22, 05:06 AM
  #549  
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Originally Posted by Highcad
Because I know more than a few. And big surprise, the old fat guys w/ the light weight bike ($carbon/aero wheel sets) are still slow, and most of all, are uncomfortable on their $6000+ bike. But not a total waste. This was disposable income, and the bike shop/industry made money, and someone will get a nice bike at a much lower cost. The old fat guy will go back to more comfortable sports - like golf w/ his buddies.
So you personally know 90% of old fat guys who buy expensive road bikes? Cool story, bro.
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Old 09-23-22, 05:09 AM
  #550  
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
If you're doing a time trial, maybe not a waste. They cost about as much as regular gloves, and they can reduce drag when in a time trial position. Especially if you have hairy hands.

Are you cueing up a "do you shave your hands?" thread?

Expect a bunch of hairy palm jokes.
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