Road Cycling - My bike seems silly now...

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO GO IN THE "What Bike do You Ride?" Forum...

Hi,

I am new to road bikes and new to these forums. I ride an OCR3. Hardly worth posting a pick of it, eh? LOL

(It's completely stock(apart from clips/cleats), '04 grey).

I couldn't afford any carbon.

Nick.

Having a bike that costs more than a car don´t make you a better cyclist : if any cyclist takes the pee out of you for what you ride then they are not worth knowing .
Have fun and enjoy yourself , there are a lot more ocr3 than tr1 ( and it´ll probably last longer too - light weight usually means short life )

Never appolgize for your ride!! Its your bike, it gets you out on the trail or the road. If anyone has a problem with that- there are a putz- like El Ingles says- not worth knowing.

Its OK to envy another bike, its not OK to dis someone elses.

My real ride got stolen a while back. As a result, I've spent the last few months riding my lowly Trek 1000 on a trainer in the garage. That Trek really got me started in road bicycling a few years back and has pulled me through the winter. While it may not be half the bike that the one I'm going to be buying soon (whatever it is) will be, it will always be a brilliant bike!

Like waterboy already said - no need to apologize for what you ride.

It will give you plenty of ideas for the future and all your bikes to come! Think of it that way.
Plus somone might be considering buying a OCR3 so you can help someone on the forum too.

Equipment is fun and important but when you ride alot, you just enjoy the physical and mental aspect of it and not so much the equipment.
Anyway, living within your means is always the right way to live.

I hear what you guys are saying, and thanks for encouraging me. I am really happy with the bike, and I also know that it won't be my last! There are a few comments about the OCR3 and particularly the SORA group, but I have not had problems with that as yet.

I think it's actually better to start off with a product that leaves a little to be desired. I will learn how to make the most of it and learn about some maintenance for bikes. Then, when I upgrade to a better specimen, I will fully appreciate it! ATM, I don't know what I'm missing.

Nick.

Nick,

I'm with ya! 2002 OCR-3... reborn. I got into cycling last year with this bike and have just taken a test ride with my "new bike" as we emerge from the basement after the long winter. I've replaced the Sora with Ultegra derailleurs, crankset, BB, and chain. A set of Wellgo "Look" knock-offs and a Giant Carbon stem and this bike is ready to go for another season.

A lot of people have raved about the OCR frames and say that they're a great place to start and very upgradeable. I happen to agree.

Don't worry about it. Carbon fibre is the most overrated, overpriced frame material yet.

Concentrate on riding. Notice how so many people talk about the latest frames/wheels/pedals but rarely talk about proper nutrition or training?

I think it's actually better to start off with a product that leaves a little to be desired. I will learn how to make the most of it and learn about some maintenance for bikes. Then, when I upgrade to a better specimen, I will fully appreciate it! ATM, I don't know what I'm missing.

Well put. I think it's worth repeating here.

My road bike is a 1978 (or so) Raleigh Grand Prix steel 10 speed. Friction shifting etc... Very retro. I love it! Its light (to me) and fun to ride. I am planning on riding my first century on it in May. My only complaint is the ugly UPS brown paint. :) I paid under $25.00 US for it at a local thrift store so am quite happy.

Perhaps once the kids are grown I'll be able to purchase a nicer, or should I say newer, road bike.

So, I'm one of those guys that oggle OCR3s and dream.

Ride on!

Very simple: Its not what you ride, its how you ride it. I was beating people riding Ti and Carbon bikes with Zipp and Mavic wheels on my Specialized Allez Sport (the whole bike cost less than most of those folks component sets)

My Dad gave me his old road bike. It's steel and such a nice ride! It really is too heavy for hills with it's original gearing. I don't know who made it, it's just a generic 1980-'82 model with "Custom" written on the side!

I rode the 'Custom' for a little while, and then decided that I was doing enough mileage to have a 'spree'. Some people can enjoy a sport for the art of it. Some like to compete, and there's always both.

I tend to blame my tools a lot. When you ride purely for enjoyment, little annoyances with your tools are overcome with expenditure!

As much as I love the 20 year old bike, I am lazy and need new tools to implement my enjoyment. So the most I could afford was an OCR3. With frighteningly little research, I got one. (I won't know of any mistake because the OCR3 'seems' great when compared to the 20 yrld...)

Something that struck me the other day was this. Only when I 'entered' the world of road bikes did I really start to take an interest in them... I may be an ibecile, but to strike up the kind of passion necessary for me to understand this new world, I needed to get passionate about it. My new bike made my seek out this forum and others. I wanted to see what others had found with their OCR3's etc. That is when I found things that I need to learn about bikes.

So, I think the most important thing is not which model you chose first, but choose something that gets you excited.

Nick.

So, I think the most important thing is not which model you chose first, but choose something that gets you excited.
good call. ride lots. enjoy the bike. this might be your first, but it certainly won't be your last.

Both my bikes are old & built up from 2nd hand bits ect & believe me my crashes are just as spectacular as anybody elses but less expensive :beer:

You have a new bike, :mad:
I'm jealous and would like to see a pic of this bike you flaunt un photographed.
Perhaps a interesting photo rather than the garage door shot?
OCR3? never seen one.
I'll bet my bike is way sillier. :p

I've got an 04 OCR3 too, got mine in black. First road bike, unfortunately I went for a size too big (55.5cm). But she rides good enough, the aluminium fork can be kinda harsh though.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO GO IN THE "What Bike do You Ride?" Forum...

Hi,

I am new to road bikes and new to these forums. I ride an OCR3. Hardly worth posting a pick of it, eh? LOL

(It's completely stock(apart from clips/cleats), '04 grey).

I couldn't afford any carbon.

Nick.

Nick,

A few months ago, I purchased the OCR2, then I kicked myself around for a few weeks because I started to think "Oh, I should have spent a few hundred more and gotten the OCR1". Nonsense.

Then, I sat down with Giant's spec sheet. Came to realize that it didn't matter. The frame and most of the stuff is the same across the line. More importantly, I like this bike! It rides great. I'm not a racer, just a guy going bike riding on weekends!

You've got a good ride and nothing else matters if you enjoy it.

Sheldon