General Cycling Discussion - What is the biggest lie in the Bicycling world?

Just for kicks, what is the biggest bull***t quote you've heard in the cycling world?

BONUS!
What is the most common bull***t line you hear in the cycling world?

CE

LBS rep: "A pump strap?"

Me: "Yes, a velcro strap that holds your air pump in place."

LBS rep: "Sounds like a rare item. You're going to have one hell of a time getting your hands on one of those."

I kid you not:

"This Madone will make you a much better rider."

"That's the epitomy of lazy" - as I'm riding my trike.

Helloooo? I could be in a car!

lol

Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France despite having suffered from testicular cancer.....


for seven years running.

And for my submission :) Didn't take long for somebodoy to spit this Bs :)

Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France despite having suffered from testicular cancer.....


for seven years running.

Helmets save lives.

Cycling is dangerous.

^^^ +1

Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France despite having suffered from testicular cancer.....


for seven years running.

:cry:

"It's just a short climb..."

Wearing no underwear when you cycle.

Just go straight.....

"This bike is really fast." <-For some reason the closer you are to 300 pounds, the more susceptible you are to this line, at least that's what I've noticed at every LBS I've ever been to.

"Downtube shifters are ancient technology, we can't order them." <- No, but you can order STI, right?

"Clipless pedals are practical for a commuter."<-No they're not.

"A steel frame is better than an aluminum frame."<-This one goes unchallenged all too often, when it really should be decided on a case-by-case basis.

LBS floor rep: "The advantages of compact geometry are that it's stiffer and lighter than any conventional geometry road frame."

ME: "Do you own a road bike?"

"Clipless pedals are practical for a commuter."<-No they're not.

Bit dicey in deep snow, otherwise I commute in 'em all the time.

"Clipless pedals are practical for a commuter."<-No they're not.

"A steel frame is better than an aluminum frame."<-This one goes unchallenged all too often, when it really should be decided on a case-by-case basis.

While I agree with you on most of this, I can't agree on the clipless pedal thing. I've been commuting on clipless for 15 years or so and have never found them to be impractical, especially mountain bike style shoes and pedals.

singlespeed mountain bikes are slower

Disc brakes are xxx times better than rim brakes.

And the corollary: You absolutely have to have disc brakes to ride a mountain bike.

Followed by: Disc brakes offer superior modulation. (Makes me wonder if people even know what modulation is:rolleyes: )

While I agree with you on most of this, I can't agree on the clipless pedal thing. I've been commuting on clipless for 15 years or so and have never found them to be impractical, especially mountain bike style shoes and pedals.


same same.....I've used mine for about the same length of time..and I've never wished I had my flats back. Not even for.... 'just this section'. I have wished for different shoes when I've ended up walking occasionally, but never no clipless.

This will be the last bike you will ever need.

^^^^^+100000^^^^^^^ :lol:

Greg Lemond was robbed of the 1985 Tour De France...............

Commonly held belief, in the USA only........unsupported by evidence.

"No, it's not too small/big. You'll adjust real quick to the bike frame."

"Do not even try to patch tubes. Just buy a new one" then offers to sell me a $10 tube. This actually happened and unfortunately, my naivety got me.

CF obsession.

I love CF like the next person, but stop acting like it's the end-all-be-all. Yes, it's getting cheaper, but so is high-end aluminum, and guess which one a person who lives by their bike would be more likely to pick? Aluminum.

Yes, my bike has some CF...namely fork, headset spacers, campy record carbon FD, and chorus carbon RD...the places they have been added are locations that see rather low stress levels (headset spacers are under a low static pressure for the most part), with exception to the fork...which is only carbon legs....I bought it since I could not find an aluminum road fork that looked durable. Everything else is Metal, whether steel, aluminum, or Ti.

"I have to put my bike on this rack, then drive my car somewhere so I can start my ride."

"I've hardly got any training miles in this year" (at any race you enter)

"I'm not feeling so good today, so don't expect any kind of ride from me (at any race...)

"It's cheaper to ride a bike to work than to drive"

"Biking is easy"

"Hey, let's go for a short fun easy ride"

"This training group welcomes newcomers"

"I'll never look at a new bike or new gear"

"This bike is really fast." <-For some reason the closer you are to 300 pounds, the more susceptible you are to this line, at least that's what I've noticed at every LBS I've ever been to.

LOL! Actually, since I'm on the other side of that landmark, and just bought a Sequoia Elite, I sort of had that kind of experience. The LBS did me a favor by putting me into that bike and not something more aggressive, though--and compared to the '70s era Schwinn, Panasonic, and Raleigh bikes that I had rescued from the garbage to ride on, the sequoia is a rocketship in comparison. My biggest worry when shopping was that the salesmen would take one look at me and try to foist a {retch** comfort bike on me.

"This one looks like it's about your size."

Don't worry, you'll get stronger.

(From the LBS who insisted that a double would work just fine in the mountains)

This thing flies up hills!

"Ride in the bike lane... it's safer."

But Honey, I really need another bike.

"It's cheaper to ride a bike to work than to drive"

+1!!!

Or my favorite attempt to justify things to my wife...

"I bought this bike for $75, so even if I spend $300 on it it's still less than a new bike!"

($900 later...)

Treks suck.

Cycling causes impotence.

Can't believe none of you came up with that one.

Shifting and coasting are good.

"Lance Armstrong doesn't cheat, but he can beat dozens of other top world-class athletes who do."

CF obsession.

I think I'm gonna go with that one. I'm pretty sure I've heard some other lame claims, but carbon fiber is ultimately nothing more than a weight saver.

. . .
"Clipless pedals are practical for a commuter."<-No they're not. . .


Maybe you haf to loosen ze cleat-clip? I don't have any trouble with mine, and I am commutin'.

"It's cheaper to ride a bike to work than to drive"

How do you figure that for a lie?

These water bottles will not make your water taste funny.

"Giant frames are designed with outdated technology. Only Trek makes innovative new frame designs."

I rode ***** miles last year.

Dura-Ace groupsets are a lot faster especially uphill.

1) This is absolutely positively the last bike related thing I will buy. I promise.

2) it's a short ride, I'll be right back.

3) this kind of chain lube is much better.

I think I'm gonna go with that one. I'm pretty sure I've heard some other lame claims, but carbon fiber is ultimately nothing more than a weight saver.


Yep, thus why I use it primarily as a cosmetic enhancement. I'm not worried about weight, it's super easy to have a sub-20lb bike on aluminum....18lbs on mine...and that was just out of pure coincidence...I bought parts based on the asethetic I was trying to achieve, as well as functionality....the weight just took care of itself.

How do you figure that for a lie?

It's only cheaper if:
1. bike quality is low, like a small kia
2. don't buy bike gear or bike clothing
3. commute is long
4. you commute in all weather
5. never buy a good bike or a new bike
6. the first bike you bike is exactly the bike you want
7. parts you buy are low quality
8. you do all service work yourself
9. auto parking at work/bus/trolley/subway is expensive

AAA gives costs of motoring at $.70/mile. Just for ease, figure it's a dollar per mile of commuting.
Average decent bike is $900 to $1,500. First year clothing, etc, is probably between $500-1,100 depending on the brands you select. You figure it out, how long will it take you to pay for your hobby. It's a hobby, much like tropical fish, high initial costs, upkeep is sporadic. I've been cyclocommuting for about a year and a half. I still have at least a month of riding to go before I pay for the bike, not counting all the gear/clothing I got. Worst part is now I know what I'm doing, I didn't get the perfect bike for me and now I want a really good bike.

It's only cheaper if:
1. bike quality is low, like a small kia
2. don't buy bike gear or bike clothing
3. commute is long
4. you commute in all weather
5. never buy a good bike or a new bike
6. the first bike you bike is exactly the bike you want
7. parts you buy are low quality
8. you do all service work yourself
9. auto parking at work/bus/trolley/subway is expensive

AAA gives costs of motoring at $.70/mile. Just for ease, figure it's a dollar per mile of commuting.
Average decent bike is $900 to $1,500. First year clothing, etc, is probably between $500-1,100 depending on the brands you select. You figure it out, how long will it take you to pay for your hobby. It's a hobby, much like tropical fish, high initial costs, upkeep is sporadic. I've been cyclocommuting for about a year and a half. I still have at least a month of riding to go before I pay for the bike, not counting all the gear/clothing I got. Worst part is now I know what I'm doing, I didn't get the perfect bike for me and now I want a really good bike.

heh heh I'm waiting to see when SWMBO cottons on that biking to work is costing us more. So far I've been able to use the savings excuse to buy bike stuff... :D

Yeah me also, but the accountant side says something else. So I usually throw in the "it's my health club dues" to tip the scales. Real test will be when I reveal the cost of the new bike. 4-7x first decent bike. Still wondering how to present the case for it Won't be until at least next year, so some time yet to think about.