Ride to please yourself
04-25-17, 04:36 AM
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Ride to please yourself
My “bag” as you say is to ride to show off my (near $10,000) bike to my fellow real cyclists.
I guess I don’t get the point of this thread…is it don’t ask for advice, or don’t believe everything you read?
IMO everyone that bikes should ride the way it pleases themselves. In so many of the threads, the "real" cyclist try to dictate how, what, where, what to wear, what saddle, and what bike is acceptable to ride.
To begin with not everyone has $10,000 to spend on a bike, so price is the prime point of what one can ride. Then there road bikes, mountain bikes, fat bikes, fixies, bents, and trikes, and gravel bikes. Pick the type or types of biking you like and buy the bike that works best for that style of biking.
Then-------------- ride at the speed and cadence that feel right to you. If you want to train for and race that is fine too. Just remember if that is not your bag, as I say, ride to please yourself. Cycling should be fun first.
To begin with not everyone has $10,000 to spend on a bike, so price is the prime point of what one can ride. Then there road bikes, mountain bikes, fat bikes, fixies, bents, and trikes, and gravel bikes. Pick the type or types of biking you like and buy the bike that works best for that style of biking.
Then-------------- ride at the speed and cadence that feel right to you. If you want to train for and race that is fine too. Just remember if that is not your bag, as I say, ride to please yourself. Cycling should be fun first.
The fact is on the really high priced bikes, there is an old saying that applies. "There is a sucker born every minute."
IMO so many of the really high priced bikes are bought by people with lots of money just for the snob appeal.
IMO so many of the really high priced bikes are bought by people with lots of money just for the snob appeal.
The funniest part is that in another thread a week ago we were discussing an old article from The Guardian or somewhere about how cycling had been taken over by middle-aged buys in spandex with fat bellies and fat wallets, hyper-competing everywhere because they were unwilling to accept mid-life crises?
General consensus was: it hadn't.
And we held up as an example: Mr. Rydabent.
(yeah, we all get it.. but if you didn't think this as going to start and argument ... you wouldn't have posted. You're a veteran here. (You could post"I like cycling" and get a fight on these boards.) heck yeah ... I'd throw the first punch just see the hilarity unfold for 17 pages.
Nicely said.
General consensus was: it hadn't.
And we held up as an example: Mr. Rydabent.
(yeah, we all get it.. but if you didn't think this as going to start and argument ... you wouldn't have posted. You're a veteran here. (You could post"I like cycling" and get a fight on these boards.) heck yeah ... I'd throw the first punch just see the hilarity unfold for 17 pages.
…Sure these are price ranges that may be out of reach for some but there is going to be a vast majority of us who will eventually get to those prices ranges. And I feel many, also like me, spend money of those lower levels only to find I should have spent more once than working my way there in steps leaving a surplus of cheap items in my wake.
I disagree with the premise of this thread. Who advises anyone to spend $10,000 to get started? Almost nobody. And as for what to buy, what to wear, or how to train or ride, people give advise in response to questions from other people. It is sort of the point of forums like these.
If the answer to every question is, ride what you like, spend whatever you feel you can afford, and wear whatever you feel like, it would make for very short discussion threads.
Nicely said.
If the answer to every question is, ride what you like, spend whatever you feel you can afford, and wear whatever you feel like, it would make for very short discussion threads.
+1 
Agree wholeheartedly with this. As someone that got back into cycling just a relatively short time ago, it's rather aggravating to start a thread asking for advice, only to get.. "do what feels good to you" or "buy what you like." If I knew what felt good to me, or what I like, I wouldn't be asking for advice. It's nice to lean on other's vast experience and knowledge when trying to shorten the learning curve.
To get a generic response like some give, doesn't help at all. I realize a lot of things in cycling are personal preference, but until you get that experience to develop a preference,you rely on help.
Agree wholeheartedly with this. As someone that got back into cycling just a relatively short time ago, it's rather aggravating to start a thread asking for advice, only to get.. "do what feels good to you" or "buy what you like." If I knew what felt good to me, or what I like, I wouldn't be asking for advice. It's nice to lean on other's vast experience and knowledge when trying to shorten the learning curve.
To get a generic response like some give, doesn't help at all. I realize a lot of things in cycling are personal preference, but until you get that experience to develop a preference,you rely on help.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 04-25-17 at 05:03 AM.
04-25-17, 04:56 AM
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Ride to please yourself ----- why else would a person ride?
I enjoy cycling long distances on road bicycles dressed in cycling attire.
I enjoy cycling long distances on road bicycles dressed in cycling attire.
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04-25-17, 05:40 AM
#54
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Nobody sees this as a major concession/olive branch coming from the guy who, just a month or so ago, was advocating that everyone should ride recumbents?
04-25-17, 06:47 AM
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04-25-17, 06:49 AM
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I noticed the shots directed towards me for riding a bent. But then I really dont care. Again I am riding to please myself as I suggest (not demand) others should do.
BTW in a way I am a "serious cyclist" since while I am 78 and if the weather is ok, I ride about 35 miles every other day, plus ride my bike club events.
BTW in a way I am a "serious cyclist" since while I am 78 and if the weather is ok, I ride about 35 miles every other day, plus ride my bike club events.
04-25-17, 07:33 AM
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Riding a bent is, by definition, not serious riding. Just sayin'.
04-25-17, 07:34 AM
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I think it's good common sense advice to ride what you want, however you want to ride it. But I wonder if the
majority of bicycle riders in America are just riding whatever they have, and however that bike lets them.
majority of bicycle riders in America are just riding whatever they have, and however that bike lets them.
04-25-17, 07:40 AM
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Dude ... first off, if you don't have a sense of humor by now, I guess you never will ... but I think by now you would have at least seen a few times when it might help.
If You are insecure about riding a recumbent ... well, get counseling or get a diamond-frame. If it was me, i'd just smile and read on, but I am not trying to live your life.
Second ... protesting that you are indeed a "serious" cyclist undermines everything you said in your opening post.
Besides that, the really "Serious" cyclists won't think you ride enough (ever) and the not-so-serious cyclists will think you are excluding them.
Let me offer a word of advice: just ride to please yourself.
If You are insecure about riding a recumbent ... well, get counseling or get a diamond-frame. If it was me, i'd just smile and read on, but I am not trying to live your life.
Second ... protesting that you are indeed a "serious" cyclist undermines everything you said in your opening post.
Besides that, the really "Serious" cyclists won't think you ride enough (ever) and the not-so-serious cyclists will think you are excluding them.
Let me offer a word of advice: just ride to please yourself.
04-25-17, 07:48 AM
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I noticed the shots directed towards me for riding a bent. But then I really dont care. Again I am riding to please myself as I suggest (not demand) others should do.
BTW in a way I am a "serious cyclist" since while I am 78 and if the weather is ok, I ride about 35 miles every other day, plus ride my bike club events.
BTW in a way I am a "serious cyclist" since while I am 78 and if the weather is ok, I ride about 35 miles every other day, plus ride my bike club events.
The fact is on the really high priced bikes, there is an old saying that applies. "There is a sucker born every minute."
IMO so many of the really high priced bikes are bought by people with lots of money just for the snob appeal.
IMO so many of the really high priced bikes are bought by people with lots of money just for the snob appeal.
I have no criticism of ‘bents, and took such a cyclist on a few rides around Boston.
I use both left and right rearview mirrors, in my case Take-a-Look eyeglass mounted ones…This past weekend I rode with a companion on a low-riding recumbent three-wheel trike.
I just deflected my right-hand mirror slightly downwards so I didn’t have to crane my neck upwards to see him.The left-hand mirror was still in place to monitor rearward traffic.
I just deflected my right-hand mirror slightly downwards so I didn’t have to crane my neck upwards to see him.The left-hand mirror was still in place to monitor rearward traffic.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 04-25-17 at 08:21 AM.
04-25-17, 08:55 AM
#62
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Guys it's obvious you're all missing the point of cycling. When I open my news feed every day, there is a new top ten best bikes of the week story. Clearly there are new game changing revelations in bicycle technology every month coming out that are "must-have". As in you must submit so your legs don't quit. Clearly it is our duty as members of the pedal power crew to keep buying high dollar bikes in order to keep these top ten lists going and keep these important bicycling publications in business.
04-25-17, 09:05 AM
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04-25-17, 10:35 AM
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Tell that to the 4 guys that rode Rans bents in the 2010 RAAM race and won.
They rode in the 4 man team category, an increased their lead riding up the west side of the Rockies.
They rode in the 4 man team category, an increased their lead riding up the west side of the Rockies.
Last edited by rydabent; 04-25-17 at 10:42 AM.
04-25-17, 10:39 AM
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The self-described non-racer boy turns to racers to try to make a point. Oh the irony. Nice try, but you know what I meant. And if you were faster you would gain more time to post on BF. Wait. Maybe that would be a bad thing.
Last edited by indyfabz; 04-25-17 at 10:52 AM.
04-25-17, 10:49 AM
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There are two things to think about when a beginner is choosing a bike.
1: Fit
2: Style
#1 can be commented on by us successfully. If you're 6' tall you won't be riding a 48 cm road bike. But #2 is mostly personal preference, which we all have opinions for. However, even some of that can be commented on by us. If you're going to be riding primarily on roads, why by a mountain bike?
So yes, a person SHOULD ride what they want, but they may get a lot more enjoyment out of the sport if they have a bike that is the right size for them and the right style for them.
And to the OP: No one on this site (other than perhaps the road racing forum) would suggest buying a $10,000 bike. For road bikes, we say the entry level is ~600-1000 dollars, and we're not wrong. Anything below that and you're getting a heavy(er) bike with components that are likely to wear out quickly. So by buying a more expensive bike, you'd be saving money in the long run and enjoying yourself more along the way.
For a mountain bike that's actually going to be ridden on trails? I'd say for a hardtail the minimum purchase for a decent bike is $1000. I bought an $800 bike and it's... ok, would have been much more happy if I bought the $1000 version. For a full suspension, you're getting up into the $1500-$2000 range for a decent one. (I know less about full suspension bikes.)
Now if you're a casual rider, you can easily buy a $300-$400 bike and be perfectly happy. Anything less and you're getting a wal-mart bike.
1: Fit
2: Style
#1 can be commented on by us successfully. If you're 6' tall you won't be riding a 48 cm road bike. But #2 is mostly personal preference, which we all have opinions for. However, even some of that can be commented on by us. If you're going to be riding primarily on roads, why by a mountain bike?
So yes, a person SHOULD ride what they want, but they may get a lot more enjoyment out of the sport if they have a bike that is the right size for them and the right style for them.
And to the OP: No one on this site (other than perhaps the road racing forum) would suggest buying a $10,000 bike. For road bikes, we say the entry level is ~600-1000 dollars, and we're not wrong. Anything below that and you're getting a heavy(er) bike with components that are likely to wear out quickly. So by buying a more expensive bike, you'd be saving money in the long run and enjoying yourself more along the way.
For a mountain bike that's actually going to be ridden on trails? I'd say for a hardtail the minimum purchase for a decent bike is $1000. I bought an $800 bike and it's... ok, would have been much more happy if I bought the $1000 version. For a full suspension, you're getting up into the $1500-$2000 range for a decent one. (I know less about full suspension bikes.)
Now if you're a casual rider, you can easily buy a $300-$400 bike and be perfectly happy. Anything less and you're getting a wal-mart bike.
04-25-17, 11:22 AM
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So ... are there any $10,000 recumbent bikes?
04-25-17, 12:00 PM
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Im not going to buy the top rated bike, im going to buy a bike i like and go from there. Which so far has worked! You keep your fancy 1000000000 bike and ill keep my craigslist find!
04-25-17, 12:23 PM
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Not sure about 10k, but very close.
I bought a hand-made Polish bent for $6,000 in 2006. Full DuraAce carbon. Weighed in ~18#. @BlazingPedals could tell you the price of high-end bents better than me.
I know that there are over $10,000 carbon trikes.
https://www.carbontrikes.com/eng/index.html
I bought a hand-made Polish bent for $6,000 in 2006. Full DuraAce carbon. Weighed in ~18#. @BlazingPedals could tell you the price of high-end bents better than me.
I know that there are over $10,000 carbon trikes.
https://www.carbontrikes.com/eng/index.html
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Last edited by Trsnrtr; 04-25-17 at 12:48 PM.
04-25-17, 01:02 PM
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Anyway, what Rydabent rides really isn't pertinent to the thread.
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04-25-17, 01:14 PM
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Hey guys, why are you guys on the attack here? Why so many hurt butts?
I didn't read through everything here but the OP didn't attack any specific style of cycling. He didn't even promote his own style of cycling, he just said ride what you like. I don't see any reason in THIS thread for all the angst. But if you're bringing stuff from some other thread into this one, or looking at someone's past history, then yeah, that's a problem.
And there are a couple of notoriously testy guys here who are asking for it. Let's all simmer down please and stay on topic?
I didn't read through everything here but the OP didn't attack any specific style of cycling. He didn't even promote his own style of cycling, he just said ride what you like. I don't see any reason in THIS thread for all the angst. But if you're bringing stuff from some other thread into this one, or looking at someone's past history, then yeah, that's a problem.
And there are a couple of notoriously testy guys here who are asking for it. Let's all simmer down please and stay on topic?
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04-25-17, 01:49 PM
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I think the humor came when Rydabent couldn't see the humor of some responses ... or when some respondents couldn't see the humor of their responses.
I personally like Mr. Rydabent, which is why I encourage him to try riding a bicycle, an activity which I enjoy a good deal.
Once he took the bait and responded seriously to the first troll, he was lost ... sucked into the BF sewer/whirlpool, trying to debate and define "serious" cyclist .... in a realm where a tricycle is considered a bicycle and fat men in leotards can be considered "more serious" than fit men in jeans.
I am not shocked but even more amused that anyone should take this thread seriously, or any more seriously than any other BF thread.
Mr. Rydabent ("May I call you Ryda?") offers some interesting idea but nothing sacred ... so why not have some fun? (asked this fat man in a leotard.)
It occurs to me that no one blinked an I when I told a son to lie to his father ... but popped a gasket when I suggested a two-wheeled conveyance didn't have two wheels and/or wasn't a conveyance.
What we need is an "I'm totally serial" emoticon for the one in one thousand post wee really want people to take seriously.
I personally like Mr. Rydabent, which is why I encourage him to try riding a bicycle,
an activity which I enjoy a good deal.Once he took the bait and responded seriously to the first troll, he was lost ... sucked into the BF sewer/whirlpool, trying to debate and define "serious" cyclist .... in a realm where a tricycle is considered a bicycle and fat men in leotards can be considered "more serious" than fit men in jeans.
I am not shocked but even more amused that anyone should take this thread seriously, or any more seriously than any other BF thread.
Mr. Rydabent ("May I call you Ryda?") offers some interesting idea but nothing sacred ... so why not have some fun? (asked this fat man in a leotard.)
It occurs to me that no one blinked an I when I told a son to lie to his father ... but popped a gasket when I suggested a two-wheeled conveyance didn't have two wheels and/or wasn't a conveyance.
What we need is an "I'm totally serial" emoticon for the one in one thousand post wee really want people to take seriously.
Last edited by Maelochs; 04-25-17 at 01:53 PM.
04-25-17, 02:39 PM
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Not sure about 10k, but very close.
I bought a hand-made Polish bent for $6,000 in 2006. Full DuraAce carbon. Weighed in ~18#. @BlazingPedals could tell you the price of high-end bents better than me.
I know that there are over $10,000 carbon trikes.
CARBONTRIKES - Home
I bought a hand-made Polish bent for $6,000 in 2006. Full DuraAce carbon. Weighed in ~18#. @BlazingPedals could tell you the price of high-end bents better than me.
I know that there are over $10,000 carbon trikes.
CARBONTRIKES - Home
If I lose the ability to ride road bikes, I will seriously consider a recumbent; a short wheelbase hands under the knees one if I can find it. (Rode a Vision on a trainer of that configuration ~'95 at a trade show in Seattle. Fun!)
Ben
04-25-17, 02:54 PM
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Most bicyclist I meet are very warm & friendly people. I can't imagine why they would care about what other people are riding or wearing. People get exited about bicycles the same way they get exited about cars, motorcycles, tractors, and boats. Opinions are like ********. Everybody has one and they all stink. Now, get out there and ride.
I don't care what someone wears or rides and I would imagine that the most fervent roadie has no problem sitting at the same table having coffee with a Cruiser, MTB rider or even a bent rider. In fact most of the people I know have more than one bike and they might fit in all three categories.
