Christopher Brunsdon Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Well I'm the reverse of creating an image - I actually asked to have my stand fitted to my bike, got my Christmas lights too and and still need to get my RavX commuter bag & carrier. For me, its not about image - my 100kg butt on a saddle is not pretty.
Guest Agteros Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 I ride a Raleigh trail bike (not even a bottom of the range MB-whatever), with a few choice component changes... brake lines cable tied to frame ... clashing colours, scratches.... I like to overtake the bling bikes! - not a lot though, I end middle to end of pack... But I like... Not an image thing, but a fun thing!
TNT1 Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 I ride a Raleigh trail bike (not even a bottom of the range MB-whatever)' date=' with a few choice component changes... brake lines cable tied to frame ... clashing colours, scratches.... I like to overtake the bling bikes! - not a lot though, I end middle to end of pack... But I like... Not an image thing, but a fun thing! [/quote'] Yeah! Nothing makes me feel like I have had a great ride like dropping guys whose shoes (let alone bike) cost more than my entire setup, kit included
swoosh1973 Posted May 3, 2009 Author Posted May 3, 2009 OK - plenty response here to my post. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 1) My apologies for offending somebody with my post referring to <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Chinaon> man. I should have put down Chinese national. 2) I did not actually buy that Chinese bike. The Chinese shop in Edenvale (van Riebeeck Avenue) sold me a bike 5 years back with front suspension for R500 at the time. I now live in Somerset and have a decent bike with LX and XT components purchased 4 years back(R7000). The only problem I had is the alu frame cracked but silverback replaced it no questions! That?s service. The R650 bike in Somerset west has no suspension. So clearly inflation is not known in mainland Chinaon>. Now the cheap bike at the time was 18kg had endless derailleur hassles, horrible grips brakes that barely worked. To change gears you actually had to take your hands of the grip. It really was a piece of junk and so is the new one. 3) I will never buy a bike like that again. I ride to often to frustrate myself. However I was taking a dig at the bike riders (me included) and the LBS and manufacturers. Someone pointed out we love this sport and our brains go mushy like a teenage boy about to get lucky for the first time when it comes to bikes. We get brainwashed every second month from the bike mags, instead of using common sense. Bikes are sold on the name of the brand instead of common sense SHIMANO XTR or SRAM X0 etc. 4) Fact is everyone is entitled to make a profit and should. You want service -pay for it. However bike prices are to be blunt ridiculous. Even overseas. There?s definitely not that much engineering in it to justify those prices. Now I think there are far too many middlemen in the chain for top end brands. To build your own bike is a waste of time if you can?t sort the components out. There is one local bike manufacturer and you will not see another one as without the right brand you will be reduced to selling your bike for R649. You will make a loss because the SA consumer is not bright enough to insist on guarantees and specs of the no name brand. Derailleur gear shifters and brakes seem to be dominated by a handful of manufacturer?s world wide. In fact I would not be surprised if the no name brands are made by Shimano anyway. Is there some kind of patent on the designs of derailleurs and other components? Why dont we have local manufacturers somethin more than just a frame? They would get squashed i think.
Christopher Brunsdon Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Biking is like computers (except cyclists actually have real sex) - he who has the biggest toys wins. Was at a LAN last weekend and guys earning R4K a month had R30K PCs. Next month they will have R34K PCs. Our issue is we have women (and some have men) in our lives so we have less money for our passion.
Weight Weenie Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Hehe some really observant and funny comments here...I think allot of guys are a bit jealous not being able to have all the bling kit and bikes and will always shoot down others with "all the gear but no clue". I guess this is right, but in the end we mostly cycle for enjoyment so if the person can afford it and he enjoys riding an expensive bike then let him and then when you pass him on your bike you can have a little ego boost Having an expensive bike does not make a great(or fit) rider and vice versa, but i think it really does help to bring out one's underlying skill and make the most of it. Normal people need this extra bit of help and it does help make your riding more controlled and comfortable and thus a bit faster and you can keep going for longer at a higher pace. I had a 15kg mtb with vbrakes and useless fork and now with my 10kg carbon gt with xt and disks and a fox fork i am able to keep going for longer at a faster pace as the bike is much lighter and the fork gives me more control and the brakes stop me better etc. The trick here is finding the right point where the equipment is just good enough and not over the top. If you have XT and an air fork like a fox or a reba with disk brakes and a decent dt/maivc wheel set then I dont think you need much more. Stuff just gets lighter really. Weight Weenie2009-05-03 13:39:08
Christopher Brunsdon Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Good points - for me it would be a waste to get an ibis (in my dreams) as I've done more than 30km in one day. Even my sons little spiderman bike is sufficient. But my neighbours cycle > 70km in a morning for them I can understand a pricey setup. Kit is also relavent (as mention in most posts). I would rather spend 1k on a 3l bladder with storage (I drink a lot of fluids) vs spending R1k on a lighter saddle. But then again your needs differ to mine.
porky Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Personally, I never even bother to look what bike someone else rides, I dont find any justification for it. If your life is justified by riding a brand of bicycle which you deem to be better than another then perhaps you need to re-evaluate your goals.
Christopher Brunsdon Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Well I'm too busy catching my breath going up the hills to give a damn if the big breasted blonde jogging in front of me where topless.
Guest Agteros Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 I'm happy with my bottom of the ranger. It still is a better bike (with the changes) than what I'm a rider/wannabe racer. Yeah, I was tempted to go buy a better/more expensive bike, but surely to pay R18,000 to barely finish a marathon length race is a bit excessive? (Cost/benefit & ROI and all that nonsense?) So long as my abilities overtake somebody else's ambitions/wallet I'm still bang on target with my goals of fitness/health. Good to be somewhere in the middle with those goals... plenty of rabbits to chase, and that last place to stay away from.... R650 Chinese specials are most definitely to be used by school kids as cheap transport/entertainment on tar, and are NOT sporting equipment... horses for courses But... on the other hand, I have a friend who desperately wants to get into MTBing. However to pay R6K for a new bike with semi decent specs is too steep at the moment... So no MTBing, now looking at running etc for sport(s)
dollar Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Tell your friend to look for an old road racer. They can be found for as little as R1000 and this will be good enough to get him started. Running will cost more for the shoes! The bike I ride is 10 years old (steel) with Durace & Suntour bits. Its a tad heavy (compared to a tractor) but you work out better. When I am big I wiil buy a carbon bike and kick all these lighties assess
porky Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 But... on the other hand' date=' I have a friend who desperately wants to get into MTBing. However to pay R6K for a new bike with semi decent specs is too steep at the moment... So no MTBing, now looking at running etc for sport(s)[/quote'] I have been a runner all my life agteros. Like most, I started because the cost of entry was low (basically a pair of shoes) and nothings really changed, running is still a very reasonable sport (cost wise) to get started with.
Guest Agteros Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 But... on the other hand' date=' I have a friend who desperately wants to get into MTBing. However to pay R6K for a new bike with semi decent specs is too steep at the moment... So no MTBing, now looking at running etc for sport(s)[/quote'] I have been a runner all my life agteros. Like most, I started because the cost of entry was low (basically a pair of shoes) and nothings really changed, running is still a very reasonable sport (cost wise) to get started with. The 'sad' thing is she now bought herself a second-hand entry level road bike... I don't mind, cycling is cycling, but she seems to be a bit of a natural... seems inclined and capable to go for the technical stuff, even on a rigid front fork...
dollar Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 Aaaaarg Porky! You are going to be the guest of honour at a spitbraai! Encouraging an oke to go running on a bike forum
Guest Agteros Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 dollar, I do more running training (3x week) than cycling training (1x/2x every second weekend!) This whole cross-training thingy seems to work out ok-ish for me though!
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