General Cycling Discussion - how much stuff have you gone through?

..I mean since you started cycling, how much stuff have you bought, tried, and found that, for your (changing) purposes, it didn't "work" for you? I'll start:

*Marin Muirwoods hybrid bike; I quickly turned into a rookie roadie so no hybrid for me
*Blackburn mtb pump; for the above bike, though this pump wouldn't produce anywhere near it's claimed psi
*Topeak Master Blaster pump for road bikes, claimed to give around 120psi but I think it would take all day to get there assuming I didn't bust a presta valve first (the Topeak Road Morph rules, though)
*heavy weight cycling jersey, which I think may be totally inappropriate for use in my climate though we'll see in Dec/Jan
*"sport" cycling shoes which I found, after using road shoes, pretty much just collapse around the cleat that's mounted on them; now I just use them as gym shoes
*my first helmet; too small to fit a cycling cap or any liner
*cateye helmet light; pulls my helmet to the side, too annoying to use
*pearl izumi leg warmers; won't stay up even if I tuck them under my cycling shorts

This process of "trying" stuff got expensive but it also seems to be something of a necessary evil, I guess. My rationalization to myself is "well you wouldn't know until you tried it" :)

You can pretty much elimante a lot of this by shopping at a good local bike shop that knows the products they sell. It obviously cannot eliminate every one, but I could have told you that the blackburn pump would not get it's claimed psi, and I can also tell you that that is an issue that blackburn is aware of and will take in on warranty.

I try lots of stuff still but very little of it is tossed to the side. I ask a lot of questions before I buy, but I also work in the industry.

Geeze, afte 35 years of cycling I learned to not keep track.

Geeze, afte 35 years of cycling I learned to not keep track.

I'm with you on this.

Almost everything I've bought for my bike and bicycling I've used until it wore out, broke, or got lost (I lose lots of blinkies!).

The last saddle I bought was a real loser, though. Took it off after two weeks. It's just collecting dust, Ill never use it.

I don't keep track, either, but I've got a medium size box full of seat bags that didn't quite make it, or flat wouldn't work. Good ones. Expensive ones. Including a Brooks Glenbrook.

Geeze, afte 35 years of cycling I learned to not keep track.

I, on the other hand, am cursed with a near photographic bicycle memory. I can remember (and have a list) of all the bikes I've ever owned, what the original equipment was, what I changed out, what broke and, to lesser extent, where I was when it broke...especially if I crashed it and broke it:rolleyes:

Even 27 years later, I can run the video in my head of the bike I crashed into the side of a left turning car, the replacement bike for that one that I dropped into a hole and bent the frame, watching my hand float above the handlebar as I was 3 feet off the ground on a jump and so on.

It's a curse, I tell you:o

Maybe we should turn this thread into a "gently used" equipment exchange.

I have a Bontrager saddle and a Bell handlebar bag that didn't quite work out...

way, way, way.......waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.....way, way too much.

Grocery panniers I do not use as I can ride with bags hanging from my handlebars.
I have about 3 multi tools I rarely use.
I have a 3 speed wheel I stopped using when I went fixed gear.
I have a 26" bike I stopped using as I switched to 16-18-20 in folders.

Hah ! great topic. I have so much stuff, i'd need a forum that allows longer posts :)

Well isn’t this how we work out what’s good and what’s crap?
This is what I tell myself when I buy the wrong {for me] thing
But I’m a bike nut so my list is “way long”

I guess the worst one of late was a MTB that cost a 1000 and was so bad [for me] that I bought one from “Vinies” for $10 that was way better.
Or the Hearsay Hammock that I just couldn’t get to sleep in.
Or….

But I got some right:
The tandem
The 2 recumbents
The road bike
The 2 Folders

How about a slightly different thought - how many parts did you go through trying to build the perfect bike? My current mountain bike is the evolution of a process that started when I built up my first 29er. My bike is now perfect (to me) but the only thing left from the original build are the cranks, bottom bracket, pedals, and seatpost. Everything else is different, including the frame and fork. The danged thing cost me a small fortune to build this way, but it so sweeeeet! (Niner SIR 9 with Fox F29 fork, Formula brakes, White Industries hubs...)

can i have everything u guys dont want??

How about a slightly different thought - how many parts did you go through trying to build the perfect bike? My current mountain bike is the evolution of a process that started when I built up my first 29er. My bike is now perfect (to me) but the only thing left from the original build are the cranks, bottom bracket, pedals, and seatpost. Everything else is different, including the frame and fork. The danged thing cost me a small fortune to build this way, but it so sweeeeet! (Niner SIR 9 with Fox F29 fork, Formula brakes, White Industries hubs...)

Slacker! You aren't trying hard enough! The only thing original on my hardtail is the hubs. Even the frame's not original. I 'Great Grandpappy's axed' it a long time ago. Come back and brag when you replaced the rest of it;)

Well what wasn't stolen...I probably still have:rolleyes: I was in my parent's storage building the other day and saw an old set of Canondale Commuter panniers that I used back in the late 70's early 80's:o I think I kept them with the intent of using them for a pattern to make a new and improved set. I found a set of NOS Normandy hubs this morning and have no clue which bike they were purchased for...probably one of my Mobys:p

Aaron:)

I guess I'm a weirdo 'cause I sell the stuff I don't want on ebay.

Keeps the clutter factor down, the ads are fun to write and the $$ is always welcome.