Mountain Biking - Bike Snobs! Don't be one!

I was thinking a lot about some of the advice that I and we give here at BikeForums. It seems that many of us have become "bike snobs" without really realizing it.

I've been in cycling (seriously) for a long time (almost 20 years). It's what I do, it's what I enjoy participating, and discussing. However, I find myself forgetting that not everyone is willing to spend $4,000 + dollars on their bike.

We get a lot of newbies here asking for advice, and sometimes bragging about their $400 new bike. We (bike snobs) need to remember, most of us started riding Huffy's and Road Masters.

Let's remeber to tone down the superiority and empathize with the person asking advice.

If I sound like a snob, I am. But I apologize for coming across bragadocious. I'm really try to remain humble about this wonderful activity we enjoy.

One of the best ways I know how to "knock" myself down is to take a friend riding for the first time on some singletrack. Their excitment of the new experience rekindles my own "Fire".

L8R

a2, I envy you. I know if I had the money I would have a bike fit for a king and would probably rub it in peoples faces, sometimes on purpose other times unknownly. I do however love my bike. It has held up strong and gets the job done. I will ride the crap out of it and enjoy what I am doing even though the whole time I am just waiting to get myself a new bike, then 2, and maybe someday I will have 4 or 5. I do not despise the people that think I have a bad bike or get mad when they look down at me because I am probably looking up at them.

Thank you!

A2, I don't know why you're picking on me! What did I ever do to make you want to bad mouth me this way? Just cause my bike cost $6728 and change doesn't mean I look down on that piddly $4000 piece of junk you're pedaling. Does it? :fight:

When somebody asks me what kind of bike they should buy to start off with I tell them to buy something cheap and or used. Then if they get into cycling, upgrade. That way they don't have a $4000 dollar bike collecting dust in their garage. But then again thats how I got my Softride and one of my Bianchis so it can benefit us snobs :D

I was thinking a lot about some of the advice that I and we give here at BikeForums. It seems that many of us have become "bike snobs" without really realizing it.

I've been in cycling (seriously) for a long time (almost 20 years). It's what I do, it's what I enjoy participating, and discussing. However, I find myself forgetting that not everyone is willing to spend $4,000 + dollars on their bike.

We get a lot of newbies here asking for advice, and sometimes bragging about their $400 new bike. We (bike snobs) need to remember, most of us started riding Huffy's and Road Masters.

Let's remeber to tone down the superiority and empathize with the person asking advice.

If I sound like a snob, I am. But I apologize for coming across bragadocious. I'm really try to remain humble about this wonderful activity we enjoy.

One of the best ways I know how to "knock" myself down is to take a friend riding for the first time on some singletrack. Their excitment of the new experience rekindles my own "Fire".

L8R

I take offense to this A2... who are you to tell me I can not be a bike snob? You? well then you are just as bad as I am

See I could be a prick if I wanted to.... but I'm just kidding

Actually I have gotten 2 people into mtbing within the past few months, and I agree with you.. seeing newbies progress is probably better than me progressing myself!

Yah, we'll tone down the snob-generator a bit! (but I'm so good I NEVER act like a snob... wait I just did..hahaha)

Good topic A2!

It's all good, I love the sh*t outta my $400 bike, and am not afraid to ride the crap out of it... hell, it was all i could afford... and im happy! I have too many hobbies to spend a lot on just 1 unfortunatly. Just because I ride a $400 bike doesn't make me a newbie, and I think a lot of people overlok that. They automatically assume based on what you are riding. Oh well! I have fun either way :)

we all know that my fixed gear is better than any mountain bike anyways because i don't have brakes and a shamu horn.

nah, but i second what you say. i hate to tell people the price of bike when they asked since they will think it's "a lot" when it really isn't in comparsion. or say that theirs cost more. what i think it all boils down to is, you either ride or you don't. i remember bombing hills on a 40 lb huffy 10 years ago. it's all about the thrill. plus it kinda of makes it fun to smoke a "bike snob" on their $4k bike on your $300 rigid.

plus it kinda of makes it fun to smoke a "bike snob" on their $4k bike on your $300 rigid.

true that

I am a "bike snob" because I've been working in a bike shop for years. I've been biking a lot of years.

Someone says "I really like the Marzocchi EXR comp. Should I get that or the Manitou Black Elite"

I recomend the Black because it is, in my opinion and experience, a significantly better fork. But that person flips out OR says "Thanks, i'll get the Marzocchi."

When people don't consider a professional opinion, that is when it begins to bother me. And that's when I become short with people. I am a bike snob because I have been doing it for a long time and people take my opinion (and MANY of others on this, and other, boards) for granted.

I hope I don't become a bike snob when I grow up.. I have an "el cheapo bisiketa"..

I, sure, can't afford a $4000 bike.. I haven't even seen/touched a $4000 bike(MTB) yet.. :(

And BAC5.2:
As a newbie(biking) and a professional(in my field), I have always respected professional opinion, (all opinions as a matter of fact..) But it may be stupidity or ignorance for people to think otherwise, not because they don't respect your opinion. And feeling bad about that does not make you a snob, it makes you human.

Congratulations on A2 for picking up this topic. Anyhow, beeing a researcher into financial markets/mathematics and psychology patterns i have to comment this. In relation with Bac5.2 comment about people's opinions when they ask advice, it seems that some people ask advice, given the advice they get from you/us, they put themselves into a prisoner's dillema type game (J.Nash Game theory), and they conclude to a certain opinion of their own (equilibrium point). This point may not be rational all the time, given the advice, after all we humans are well known to be irrational animals. Otherwise we wouldnt ruin the planet we live on, we wouldnt bomb innocent people, and in general we wouldnt fight each other.... Returning now to the topic itself, well snobs in general are people that are not good enough in what they are doing. Personally i may have been one sometimes but then again i have to admit that at some times my level of skill etc etc wasnt the desired one and this caused psychological sideeffects (complexes) that may result in bike snobbing :D.

I think people get on the defensive when knowledgable people recomend a certain part.

Someone came into the shop the other day and wanted some Sun SubIV rims. Now he was a clydesdale, 265lb Big fella. I recomend a slightly beefier rim that would last more than one ride (Sun Rhynolite). I've never heard a big guy ***** and moan SO much about how I don't know how to do my job. How I don't know how to work on bikes. How I don't know how to deal with a customer. I calmly explained why exactly a 400g rim would crumble like a 3 month old pretzel under the stresses he would put it through, but to no avail.

I ordered the rims for him, to the tune of ~165 USD for the two of them. Built the wheels 3x using his spec of Wheelsmith 14/15/14 triple butted spokes. Total cost for the wheelset (including hubs) was close to 500 bucks. Tensioned perfectly, and stress relieved as I always do.

2 weeks later he had spider cracks all over the rims, broken spokes, and so many flat spots, he'd have a smoother ride on a stopsign. He went to one of our other stores to build some Rhynolites.

It's that kind of crap that I hate, and that kind of ignorance that puts me on the defensive and makes me come off as "snobish" when I know what a part will and will not do.

Damn!!!! After years and years of saving, I finally have the cash to blow on a nice scoot, and now you're telling me not to be a snob!

Dammit - that's not right!!!! ;)

yea I agree with BAC's case, I hate it when customers are stubborn about stuff and think they know more than you, but what can we do.

I think it's funny when people pull the reverse snob bit and rag on guys with $4000 rigs. It's just as bad as the guy with the $4000 rig looking down on the folks on less expensive ones. Give me a break. If you're having fun, you're doing it right and you're on the right equipment. Not everyone on a nice bike is an ass. Asses ride bikes from all price points.

[Roadie bike snob butting in here!]

All good points. And when you get right down to it, it's the powerplant that matters most. If you ride in a fast group, who's setting the pace? The guys with the big engines. And you can't buy those at Supergo....

Equipment makes a difference though. You won't be leading the pack if you are on a 30lb MTB from Wal-mart. If I was on an Allez or Litespeed, I would kick Lance's ass if he were on one of those bikes. Equipment makes a difference.

I hate people who hate me for the bike I ride. Because it's worth a lot, doesn't mean I paid a lot. And I won't ride sub-par parts just so those people will like me.

Bac, big words. What category do you race?

Equipment makes a difference though. You won't be leading the pack if you are on a 30lb MTB from Wal-mart. If I was on an Allez or Litespeed, I would kick Lance's ass if he were on one of those bikes. Equipment makes a difference.


:roflmao:

Thanks, I haven't seen anything that funny on BF in a week.

Being middle of the road with my bikes (1000+) I have run into snobery on both sides, but there are more that are not snobs and they are more fun to be around anyway. Most LBS I have are great I had one that turned his nose up at my 20 year old San Remo wanted to sell me an aluminum frame thing for $700 took my Remo to a different shop and likes it.

If it's not worth at least 3000 dollars, it's not worth my time.



J/K

:o

[QUOTE=BAC5.2]Equipment makes a difference though. You won't be leading the pack if you are on a 30lb MTB from Wal-mart. If I was on an Allez or Litespeed, I would kick Lance's ass if he were on one of those bikes. Equipment makes a difference.
[QUOTE]

Agree with you to a point. On the other hand, unless you're putting out 500W for an hour straight, I'll put my dollar on that Armstrong guy riding a 30lb X-Mart bike with Luke in a child seat and the twins in a Burley.

I own some expensive equipment for hobbies I'm really into. I think this can be said of many enthusiasts or afficionados. I admit I do have what some would consider expensive bikes but I've also owned inexpensive ones. I didn't start out buying the most expensive thing I could find. I started out buying what I could afford. I try and not look down on less expensive bikes because price does not necessarily make quality and justifications aren't the same across the populace. The bikes I do however take issue with are those that are not just cheap in price but cheaply made and can be dangerous. Yes, I too started out on a big heavy Huffy. But it wasn't the weight or even the frame durability that concerned me... actually the frame was rather overbuilt straight guage hi-ten steel which lent a lot to its weight. And the components while rather dodgy and never really worked right at least worked to some extent or another. No, the biggest issue I had were the brakes and rims. Poor quality brakes combined with cheap steel rims made for some dangerous bikes back then.

When I made my first bike purchase (previous bikes were bought for me) with my own hard-earned money from my first job (summer job as a teenager) I sure didn't have $4,000 to throw on the counter. I didn't even have $400. I forked over $300 for a Specialized HardRock because I knew I didn't want another dangerous bike. Also having owned bad bikes before taught me quite a bit about how to take care of and repair my equipment. I rode the HardRock until I bent its chainstay and then moved on to a more expensive bike. Subsequent purchases have been more expensive as I found I could afford them.

I admit that given the choice between riding a really high-end expensive bike and a low-end entry level bike, I would certainly pick the high-end bike. Who wouldn't? However, given the choice between riding a low-end bike and not riding at all, I would happily ride the low-end bike.

:roflmao:

Thanks, I haven't seen anything that funny on BF in a week.

Glad I could bring some humor :)

Please, You think I was serious that I could kick Lance's ass? HA. MAYBE if he was riding my bike, and I was riding his... 44 pounds versus sub 20? I'd have him for a little while.... Maybe.

I don't race. I don't want biking to turn into a job. It's fun because I do it to get away from things. If it were my job, then what would I do to get away from my job?

I am in the "high snob potential" category with my bike. It's worth a good bit. Still, I only become bike snobish in the eyes of people (customers etc) who don't take my advice. I say what the minimum that is REQUIRED and they think I am benig snobby.

And yes, equipment matters a good deal. You'll never be as good on a Walmart bike as you will on an IF Ti bike. Just that simple :) Bike balance, handling, the whole attitude of the bike. Everyone who says "it's all the rider" needs to enter a downhill race on a full rigid. Then you'll begin to appreciate the benefits of equipment.

I would like to comment on the LBS vs Customer thingy. I agree that there are good bike shops that want to give solid advice to a stubborn customer. However i have experienced some bikeshops that are the other way around! They want to sell what they have in stock regardless of what the customers need. I really enjoy making a fool out of them since usually i know more about bikes than they do.

I would like to comment on the LBS vs Customer thingy. I agree that there are good bike shops that want to give solid advice to a stubborn customer. However i have experienced some bikeshops that are the other way around! They want to sell what they have in stock regardless of what the customers need. I really enjoy making a fool out of them since usually i know more about bikes than they do.
There is on small local chain here that I try my hardest not to go into because of the experiances I had buying from them. Back when it was a one store operatoin they were great. Now they steer you not to what you want but what they want to sell you and try to have yoy buy every assecory in the world, instead of what you need. It must expliain why it is the favorite shop for the yuppie crowd.

very good topic A2, It also annoys me when people call ur bike rubbish, and they comment on how much their bike was, and all the really nice equipment on it, i enjoy showing off my bike when im riding it, but i dont rub it in peoples faces, my bike isnt exactly the most expensive but it does the job well, and for the riding im doing, a big 4k bike is serious overkill

If you can afford to dump $4000 on a bicycle than that is great. The problem is that far too many people own them that can't. IOW, if your kids don't have enough money for college, you don't have enough for retirement, you are in any form of major debt or you are behind on your mortgage or car payment, you shouldn't be owning a $4000 bike.

Far too many enthusiasts in any hobby spend money they don't have just to get a false sense of being better than someone else. If you are into home theater and have a $300 P.O.S setup that you are proud of then great! WHo cares if it sounds inferior to your neighbor's $12,000 home theater.

If you love your Schwinn that you bought at Walmart and paid $150 for it, than that is great too. It doesn't make you any less than the guy that paid $4000. In a very real sense, you have the better deal if the $4000 guy couldn't actually afford the bike he bought. You might have a POS bike but you still enjoy riding it and it gets you from point A to point B. Meanwhile all of your bills are paid up and yours and your family's future is in order. While your neighbor with the fancy bike is about to have his old lady walk out on him because he is running their future into the ground with his spending habits.

Btw, Its Transparent here, when the forums changed i lost my email and password and the password fetch thing didnt work, so its me with a new name, nice to be back :)

Btw, Its Transparent here, when the forums changed i lost my email and password and the password fetch thing didnt work, so its me with a new name, nice to be back :) PM Joe He'll fix that for you.

very good topic A2, It also annoys me when people call ur bike rubbish, and they comment on how much their bike was, and all the really nice equipment on it, i enjoy showing off my bike when im riding it, but i dont rub it in peoples faces, my bike isnt exactly the most expensive but it does the job well, and for the riding im doing, a big 4k bike is serious overkill

I disagree. To some people, 4k is worth it.

I have never once said how much my bike is worth, or how much I actually paid for it. That doesn't matter.

What matters is that I am happy with my bike. I can afford it. I have done more things, and have gotten better, and progressed as a rider thank's to my bike.

People say the bike doesn't matter. I disagree. I have experienced the bike mattering, and it seriously hurt my riding. On my Hardtail, I would never do drops or landings to stair tranny's. I didn't have confidence that my frame would hold up, or that my wheels would hold up, or that my cranks would hold up. But with my new bike, I don't worry about anything breaking. It cost a lot of money, but that peice of mind has brought me from being afraid to drop 3 feet to waxing 8 and 10 footers without any problem.

If it makes you happy, that's awesome. But that doesn't mean you can't want the big shiny expensive bike. Some people can afford it, others cant. Most of us don't buy the expensive bikes as a status symbol. We simply buy parts that will outperform other parts. I wouldn't ride anything less than the cranks I am running right now (North Shore Downhill's) simply because I don't trust anything less. I spent the money so I could have confidence in my bike. I spend more money simply for a change of pace and to try something new.

I totally agree with Bac.5.2 . I currently have a good HT but with some crucial XC parts, cranks,wheels. I fear landings and DH because of the cranks and wheels since i can feel them flexing. However when i upgraded to high-end discs and high-end FR forks i noticed a huge difference. I presume that i will notice the same difference soon when i ll get a high-end-ish FS frame.

I have a SuperGo Access frame. It cost me $149. It weighs(bike) 24.7 lbs. I out ride buddies with $3000+ bikes. You can be a snob all day long I'm here to ride.

I was putting my epic in it's fork mounts after a ride the other day, and someone asked me how I liked it. I answered the same way I did when I was riding a Raleigh hardtail "It's a bike." The parts may be better, but the 50ish Baptist preacher riding the beaten up Gary Fisher hardtail still drops me on grueling climbs that make my quads burn. I guess they expected me to go on about the components or what new stuff I've added. I just love my bike. But at the end of the day: It's got wheels, cranks, gears, and a chain. I just like to ride.

I totally agree with Bac.5.2 . I currently have a good HT but with some crucial XC parts, cranks,wheels. I fear landings and DH because of the cranks and wheels since i can feel them flexing. However when i upgraded to high-end discs and high-end FR forks i noticed a huge difference. I presume that i will notice the same difference soon when i ll get a high-end-ish FS frame.

Precisely, I spend the money for confidence. If someone on a $149 frame is faster or better than me, good for them.

Feltup - You'd probally drop me on the climbs and flats on your 24.5 pound bike. I would hope you would. My bike peaks the people whom you beat's budget, but it also weighs 45 pounds and has 8" of suspension travel.

My own personal rule of thumb is to try and bring my ability to the quality of my rig. Owning a $3000 FS I tend to push myself farther than when I had a rec. hardtail. Like a reputation to uphold, I'd feel like a shmuck if I was babying it around the trail, but that's just self-conscious me.

I don't take issue with bike snobs if they've got the talent to match the rig or have lots of knowledge to impart.

Customer always have there own ideas of what they want, some of them will take advice and some will not. In Japan they say the customer is king, but the customer is not always right.

As far as bike snobs, they come in all forms. Rodies looking down on MTBs and the other way around, BMX riders scaff at riders in lycra, its really kinda sad.

I'm a free rider, and I wear spandex every once in a while. Saves my balls from bouncing around a lot. It's great. I like to run a nice tight setup down there as to prevent injury.

I like to run a nice tight setup down there as to prevent injury.

Thanks for sharing

I think people get on the defensive when knowledgable people recomend a certain part.

Someone came into the shop the other day and wanted some Sun SubIV rims. Now he was a clydesdale, 265lb Big fella. I recomend a slightly beefier rim that would last more than one ride (Sun Rhynolite). I've never heard a big guy ***** and moan SO much about how I don't know how to do my job. How I don't know how to work on bikes. How I don't know how to deal with a customer. I calmly explained why exactly a 400g rim would crumble like a 3 month old pretzel under the stresses he would put it through, but to no avail.

I ordered the rims for him, to the tune of ~165 USD for the two of them. Built the wheels 3x using his spec of Wheelsmith 14/15/14 triple butted spokes. Total cost for the wheelset (including hubs) was close to 500 bucks. Tensioned perfectly, and stress relieved as I always do.

2 weeks later he had spider cracks all over the rims, broken spokes, and so many flat spots, he'd have a smoother ride on a stopsign. He went to one of our other stores to build some Rhynolites.

It's that kind of crap that I hate, and that kind of ignorance that puts me on the defensive and makes me come off as "snobish" when I know what a part will and will not do.

Hey, dont get ticked off, use it to your advantage. If people dont want a professional opinion and do what they want, teach them a lesson. When the part you told them not to get breaks or whatever, say 'I told you so'! This way you dont get so annoyed and they might realise that they should listen to you.

P.S. I judge riders by their skills, not their bikes.

I'd have to consider myself *not* a bike snob. I really enjoy getting people into the sport, and over 3/4's of the guys that I ride with are either younger than me, with crappy rigs, or way older than me with Litespeed Full Ti racing hardtails.

When it comes to the younger guys, I love watching them progress, and I love to egg them on to try something they haven't done before, because after they get that obstacle done they feel like a million dollars. (we were all there to try to get over that first BIG log!!).

I'm always being haggled around here about my bike. Yes, I ride a $2000 + Specialized BigHit. Do I constantly brag about it... ? No. I say nothing about it unless I'm asked. People are always stairing at me like I'm a freaking space alien when I'm in my riding gear. I was out for a ride today with the IMBA guys of Manhattan KS (I'm here for college). We stopped in the wal-mart parking lot to talk to one of the member's friends, and a whole crowd of people gathered around us asking all kinds of questions about my bike, and my friends bike. It became annoying real quick, and I was like "guys, it's just a bike. It's what I enjoy". I tried really hard not to be a prick about telling them I didn't feel like answering one more question. Times like those are when it's *really* hard for me to stay "super calm" and not get annoyed... but when there's noobs out on the trail that ask questions, I'm generally always there to answer them for them.

Anyways, good thread guys.

-Matt

My bike certainly isn't the most expensive around but it still makes non-cyclists think, "Wow, you spent that much on a bike."

I would love to see everyone on 'decent' bikes but I was still thrilled when a friend came over to me after church yesterday to say that he has bought a $180 bike and is now riding every second day. He has already started losing weight and seeing a difference in his health. As I said to him, if he really gets into it, he can get something a bit more reasonable further down the track.

thanks for the topic A2.i was riding more expensive bikes in the past but as my body and riding preferences not to mention my 4 kids needs i have downgraded to a less expensive bike.i agree that some need big bucks bikes,and some only bring them out on warm spring days for a stroll around the block so why spend the money.as far as people not taking advice,that is their problem,insecurity,whatever.please dont take it personally,i or someone who really wants to know, may be your next customer.when i bought my first good bike had it not been for the salesman,i would have gotten the one i wanted and not needed.thanks to his patience with me i got what i really wanted and just did not realize,yet there will always be some that know enough to be dangerous to everyone including themselves.next time you have to deal with one of these "know it alls"tell yourself thisTHOSE THAT THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL ANNOY THE CRAP OUT OF THOSE THAT DO !!!! maybe this will help not get upset.as long as there is insecurity in people theres going to be snobs,know it alls,people that spend too much,or too little.to all here thanks for all the advice and acceptance.even though ive been mtn biking for 10 years i still dont know any more than the smartest person i meet or less than the dumbest

thanks for the topic A2.i was riding more expensive bikes in the past but as my body and riding preferences not to mention my 4 kids needs i have downgraded to a less expensive bike.i agree that some need big bucks bikes,and some only bring them out on warm spring days for a stroll around the block so why spend the money.as far as people not taking advice,that is their problem,insecurity,whatever.

Not arguing but presenting another POV:

On the flipside, is someone's choice to ride a really expensive bike any different from all these people on the road in 4X4 SUV's who have yet to leave the city limits? Or the guy on a Ducati who can barely ride it? Why would someone buy a Rolex when they keep lousy time?

I don't think one can fault someone's reasons for buying an expensive bike (or any other consumer good) as long as they can afford it, and get whatever fulfillment or joy out of it and don't look down upon other people in the process. Buyer behavior is a complicated beast and everyone buys for different reasons.

Also, insecurity goes both ways. Who is really the insecure one? The guy who has the gall to ride a $4000 bike, OR the guy who has the gall to spite someone for being able to ride a $4000 bike.

[QUOTE=bentrim]Not arguing but presenting another POV:
I don't think one can fault someone's reasons for buying an expensive bike (or any other consumer good) as long as they can afford it, and get whatever fulfillment or joy out of it and don't look down upon other people in the process. Buyer behavior is a complicated beast and everyone buys for different reasons.
QUOTE]

I love people like this. They help drive the prices down on the good stuff. Get 1000 rich kids parents buying high end bikes means you have that much bigger a market.

Not arguing but presenting another POV:

On the flipside, is someone's choice to ride a really expensive bike any different from all these people on the road in 4X4 SUV's who have yet to leave the city limits? Or the guy on a Ducati who can barely ride it? Why would someone buy a Rolex when they keep lousy time?

I don't think one can fault someone's reasons for buying an expensive bike (or any other consumer good) as long as they can afford it, and get whatever fulfillment or joy out of it and don't look down upon other people in the process.


I agree totally. (except for the rolex, any POS will keep time, hello this is 2003.) However, I think if a person is truly interested in the hobby he/she should do everything possible to support it. There is an area in this forum that is has Advocacy in it's title. To be an advocate is to promote the hobby. If you are a person that insults people or their bikes than you are not advocating or promoting cylcling. That is fine too, if you don't want to be an advocate. I guess that would have to make you an enemy of the sport however.

Cycling has it's natural born enemies. Not the least of which is SUV's and cars that you mentioned in your thread. If the hobby does not spread and grow than bike trails, and cycling rights will be eroded. Most intelligent people realize this and know that the more people they attract to the hobby the better off those of us that are enthusiasts will all be.

You can go into any automobile forum that you want and trash any auto that you want. Nobody will care, and the auto "hobby" will unlikely be effected :p .
The same goes with watches. The point is, if you love this hobby than don't insult someone's bike and be helpful to newbies. If your ummmmmmmm ego is so small that you have to insult someone just to make yourself feel worthwhile than go for it. It's still a free country. Just know that you are not helping cycling or anyone else.

Strange thing is, it tends to sink into us - the whole too expensive a bike/poseur thing. I just spent a month or so agonizing over my new bike, ultimately deciding on an S-works Epic frame. I can afford it, no problem, and don't really have a problem spending the money I earn on stuff I enjoy, but I certainly don't "rate" an S-works frame! So part of the "hemming and hawing" over what to get was that I'd feel like a show-off or something. To be honest, I don't care if people think I'm a poseur, really. I know my capabilities and limits, but still... I felt like having this bike would be too much. Weird, huh?

Don't get me wrong, I'm going to enjoy the hell outta everything about this bike. Even driving into the driveway and seeing it hanging in the garage! And I'm completely comfortable with my choice now that I've made it, but it took a while to get here. Does that make any sense?

Strange thing is, it tends to sink into us - the whole too expensive a bike/poseur thing...I can afford it, no problem, and don't really have a problem spending the money I earn on stuff I enjoy...

My apologies for turning this into a sociology commentary rather than bikes although I do enjoy such academic discussions.

However, that's my point exactly. You shouldn't have to apologize for having the priviledge of enjoying the finer things in life. It's not as if we're living in communist China.

Like you said, you worked hard for your money, and earned your bike. It's your business on how you spend your hard earned money. If some other guy thinks you're a poseur for having a really nice bike, the problem doesn't lie with you. It's the other guy's problem -- jealousy, envy,...

Humility is a wonderful trait to have but there's nothing wrong with taking a little pride. I think a lot of people here take great pride in their bikes, whether they cost $40 or $4000, because they have invested not only time but money and personal choices into them. In a way, it's a piece of them. Nothing wrong with feeling good about our rides, and sharing our exuberance for it, as long as we're not flexing on some else for what they ride.

As with everything, it's just my opinion...

a very complex topic...
look at economic theory with regards to bicycle component material manufacture for clues....
for example the Shimano I had on my mtb when getting hit by car is now well known as a good leading component but now they (according to some on the forums) are 'bike snobs`

If you think none of this makes any sense, don't worry about it .

Jacob