Touring - When to say: "It's just a bike."

I recently purchansed a Trek 520 '04. I put fenders, a light, rack and blinker on back; it's fantastic; rides like a cadillac. But I can't keep the dust rag away from it. I don't want to ride it in the rain, even though it has fenders. There is pretty good weather right now, so it's not really a problem. I use it for long rides, 40 miles on weekends, and commuting everyday. When did you say "it's just a bike," and let the dust, water, and grime attach to wherever they see fit?

Cheers

I recently purchansed a Trek 520 '04. I put fenders, a light, rack and blinker on back; it's fantastic; rides like a cadillac. But I can't keep the dust rag away from it. I don't want to ride it in the rain, even though it has fenders. There is pretty good weather right now, so it's not really a problem. I use it for long rides, 40 miles on weekends, and commuting everyday. When did you say "it's just a bike," and let the dust, water, and grime attach to wherever they see fit?

Cheers
Haven't yet. I have a mid 80s Miyata that is hanging in the garage that is just as shiny as all the other bikes. There does come a time though that you wait until the weekend to clean them instead of cleaning after each and every ride.

Reminds me that old saying:

-The value of things is determined not by how much it worth, but how much you had to give up to get it...

I subscribe to the school of thought that says, "Nicks, scrapes, scratches, dirt, grime & grease are badges of glory, war wounds of victory & enjoyment... a living scrapbook of where you've been and things you've seen!!".

Clean you 520 every once in a while to maintain reliability and longevity-yes, but don't sweat the other stuff because it will get in the way of enjoyment, wonder and adventure!!

Remember you're sitting atop a tourer... the wounds & other stuff = wisdom & roads traveled!! I say leave the obsessively clean cycles for the 'disposable' ones-carbon & Ti... the weight weenies. ;)

Be this-

Not them-

Clean you 520 every once in a while to maintain reliability and longevity-yes, but don't sweat the other stuff because it will get in the way of enjoyment, wonder and adventure!!

-

What are you talking about? Cleaning, polishing, buffing, oiling, greasing, touching, holding, caressing are all part of the experience, wonder and enjoyment!

There's nothing like going down in my workroom on a rainy day to clean my bike(s) making sure the hubs still run smooth, or that there's no dirt on her, or touching up the scratches in the paint, or sanding off the brake pads, or cleaning the chain or waxing the frame.

All the time running just the tips of my fingers ever so lightly all over her body feeling every curve, bump and round plump fullness of her frame. Just thinking about touching the smooth cool texture of her painted frame send shivers down my spine and makes my hair stand on end.

Then.......climbing on top of her and riding her for all shes worth, feeling her come alive beaneth me and the sweat falling from my brow onto her smooth form, forming small pools of wet pleasure.....

Ummmmm.....I just gotta run to the bathroom......

Whew....Ok, naw man keep her clean and well tuned and she'll stay with you forever.

Digger

Be this-

Not them-
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That is the most righteous pic Ihave ever seen, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

Those pics are the highlight of the day. Wonder if anybody recognizes themself though. :-)

Yeah, well you won't find many favorable responses because most folks have a hard time getting past the stylistic/gadget/materialistic side of cycling and onto the business of pedaling.

By the way... the pic of the gent cycling up the mountain in Peru is none other than Ian Hibell whom is one the great cycling tourists of all time and author of a fantastic book on that theme, "Into The Remote Places".

Glad you liked the pics though.

Yeah, well you won't find many favorable responses because most folks have a hard time getting past the stylistic/gadget/materialistic side of cycling and onto the business of pedaling

And then there some who don't care about any of that and just care about what cycling brings to them. Yes, I will admit I'm a technogeek when it comes to cycling. The bicycle is a modern marvel of engineering. From an engineering standpoint I still think of it as the pinnacle of inventions because in designing a bicycle one has to combine all the aspects needed in good engineering: weight, reliability, cost, maintainability, complexity (or lack thereof), sophistication/elegence, usability and style/art.

But I also admit that I like it for what it means to me and not others. However, most of all the aspect of cycling I like the most has nothing to do with the bike or the act of pedalling but the experience I get from the world around me when I'm on a bike. There are places and things you can see only from a bike. Walking's too slow and driving is too restrictive. If I could crawl and get the same experience, I'd be an avid crawler too.

By the- business of pedaling- I'm refering to using ones cycle to see the world.

And yes, there are some that don't care about all the Goo of materialism but they are not that many in number... weigh the number of posts here that either state total satisfaction with ones cycle or simply recount a cycling story that involves seeing the world versus the addiction of material consumption.

Actually, I'm not trying to stir anything negative up... just stating the truth that most folks who put arse to saddle also dress like the 3 amigos above versus the very few that are doing it on a fully commited day to day basis and are quiet about it (and they usually dress, act, purchase, etc the part as well).

It's important to remember that parts-geeking is parts-geeking : whether you're quibbling over a few ounces on the newest trickest frame, or whether you're worrying about whether a 22t, 23t, or 24t chainring is going to suit your needs better.

We all do it, to some extent. I don't think that's a bad thing.

By the- business of pedaling- I'm refering to using ones cycle to see the world.

And yes, there are some that don't care about all the Goo of materialism but they are not that many in number... weigh the number of posts here that either state total satisfaction with ones cycle or simply recount a cycling story that involves seeing the world versus the addiction of material consumption.

Actually, I'm not trying to stir anything negative up... just stating the truth that most folks who put arse to saddle also dress like the 3 amigos above versus the very few that are doing it on a fully commited day to day basis and are quiet about it (and they usually dress, act, purchase, etc the part as well).


Whether you are a techno geek, a weight weenie or just interested in cycling and nothing else - If it makes you happy and you are not affecting anybodys enjoyment of life...so what?

Digger

Ps Just keep em away from me, they cramp my style and they have germs and they smell bad. Oh I'm just kidding! :)

My point is being watered down here...

I am all for enjoyment and fun, and certainly agree that any form of pleasure that can be wrangled out of life is wonderful (as long as it isn't at someone elses expense, or causes harm, etc, etc)... I'm talking about the original post for this particular thread...

to let an item, tool, instrument, "thing", whatever-get in the way of pure enjoyment or perhaps add to our 'work & worry' side of life isn't good.

At the heart of what I'm saying is this... enjoy your cycle, that's what it exists for. If 'things' have a soul... their soul is realized through use! A drum wants to be played, a shoe-walked in, a ball... tossed. Cycles want to be used... their soul lies in the essence of their very invention as does their inventor-for riding, for enjoyment, for seeing, for transportation and being transported.

Sweating when to or how much to clean ones touring steed isn't what it's all about... in my mind and by my way of thinking: the nicks, scratches and scrapes all say, "I am loved because my rider loves to ride me".

That's all I'm saying essentially.

Sweating when to or how much to clean ones touring steed isn't what it's all about... in my mind and by my way of thinking: the nicks, scratches and scrapes all say, "I am loved because my rider loves to ride me".
Incredibly good point and a fantastic approach, IMHO.

Do you own the toy or does the toy own you?

Years ago I bought a boat. The reailty was that the boat got used about 50 days a year. But I paid dearly for those 50 days. First there was the actual out of pocket expenses, of dock, fuel and maintenance. However, the real cost was time. I pictured driving down to the marina, about 50 miles from my home, jumping on board, turning the key and blasting off. But the boat has to be made ready to go first. removing and stowing covers, retrieving and installing cushions, checking fluid levels, cleaning salt and rain residue off the decks, and filling it with gas. Depending on the line at the fuel dock this could easily delay blast off by an hour or more. Once back at the dock the boat had to again be cleaned inside and out. Cushions had to be cleaned and stored out of the elements. Cockpit covers had to be installed. I waxed the boat twice a year. This was usually a two day job each time. Then there was the worrying. Did I tie that spring line to the piling or to the floating dock? Did I switch all the electrics off? I didn't leave the battery switched to off cutting power to the bilge pump, did I? The weather is calling for high winds, and and flooding, I need to go down and check the boat. And then there was the constant parade of thinks that go wrong. I was contantly worried about this thing.
You get the point. This boat owned me. I learned from that experience and decided not sweat the small stuff. I use all my toys for their intended purpose, I don't abuse them, in fact I make sure all are properly maintained. But I own them, not the other way around.
I too own a just purchased 04 Trek 520. I put fenders on it so that rain wouldn't stop me from riding. And that's what's going to happen. After riding in bad weather the bike will get a wipe down and lube. And that may not happen after every bad weather ride. Just enough to keep it in good working order. I'm not gonna worry about it. I bought this bike to enjoy it, not become a slave to it. My days of my toys owning me are over.

Do you own the toy or does the toy own you?

Years ago I bought a boat. The reailty was that the boat got used about 50 days a year. But I paid dearly for those 50 days. First there was the actual out of pocket expenses, of dock, fuel and maintenance. However, the real cost was time. I pictured driving down to the marina, about 50 miles from my home, jumping on board, turning the key and blasting off. But the boat has to be made ready to go first. removing and stowing covers, retrieving and installing cushions, checking fluid levels, cleaning salt and rain residue off the decks, and filling it with gas. Depending on the line at the fuel dock this could easily delay blast off by an hour or more. Once back at the dock the boat had to again be cleaned inside and out. Cushions had to be cleaned and stored out of the elements. Cockpit covers had to be installed. I waxed the boat twice a year. This was usually a two day job each time. Then there was the worrying. Did I tie that spring line to the piling or to the floating dock? Did I switch all the electrics off? I didn't leave the battery switched to off cutting power to the bilge pump, did I? The weather is calling for high winds, and and flooding, I need to go down and check the boat. And then there was the constant parade of thinks that go wrong. I was contantly worried about this thing.


The two happiest days of a boat owners life: the day the boat is purchased, and the day it is sold. :D

Time will dictate when it becomes just a bike. The newness will wear off, the novelty will fade away. You can't hurry it along, it just takes time. That time typically comes after the third or fourth commute home in an unexpected rain. Yeah, that sounds about right.

Time will dictate when it becomes just a bike. The newness will wear off, the novelty will fade away. You can't hurry it along, it just takes time. That time typically comes after the third or fourth commute home in an unexpected rain. Yeah, that sounds about right.


I'm currently suffering through the same issue. I ordered a custom bike form Seven Cycles and it arrived about three weeks ago. It's a Sola Steel and was designed to be a fully loaded off road touring bike-- handles like a touring bike, takes the abuse like a mountain bike. It rides exceptionally well but I'm scared to death to take it in the mountains. I know exactly how many nicks there are in the paint and I'm slowly getting it "dialed" in. To be honest, it's not very fun, not yet.

I have three other bikes and I adore them all but for some reason I resent the Seven-- it was too expensive, it's too nice, it's quite superior to the other bikes. I can't wait for it to finally be "just a bike". I won't ever spend that much on a bike again.

I'm going to do a portion of the Continental Divide trail this summer and I'm hoping after half a day of
riding and feeling completely dependent on the quality of the bike to complete my trip I'll finally be over this phase. Can't wait.

Chuck

I have three other bikes and I adore them all but for some reason I resent the Seven-- it was too expensive, it's too nice, it's quite superior to the other bikes. I can't wait for it to finally be "just a bike". I won't ever spend that much on a bike again.
Chuck

I'm sorry to hear this. Spending a lot on a bike can be stressful. I always wanted a more solid touring bike, but I also wondered if spending "three times as much" on something like a Bruce Gordon BLT would really be worth it. When I saw a used one on Craigs List, my wife couldn't figure out why I went berserk and almost cancelled everything for the weekend until I could see it, and then bought it on the spot even though I still had my Randonee. My used BLT has already been across the country at least once, and the paint and components are more than "broke in," but I love the ride and handling. It makes me think saving up and dropping real cash on a better road/travel bike in the future may be worth it.

I'm sorry to hear this. Spending a lot on a bike can be stressful. I always wanted a more solid touring bike, but I also wondered if spending "three times as much" on something like a Bruce Gordon BLT would really be worth it. When I saw a used one on Craigs List, my wife couldn't figure out why I went berserk and almost cancelled everything for the weekend until I could see it, and then bought it on the spot even though I still had my Randonee. My used BLT has already been across the country at least once, and the paint and components are more than "broke in," but I love the ride and handling. It makes me think saving up and dropping real cash on a better road/travel bike in the future may be worth it.

Perhaps I overstressed it-- the bike is *really* nice and who can complain about that? I guess now that I know what a "perfect" bike feels like, the best thing to do in the future is to get a production bike that has the closest feel. I'm sure it'll cost half as much at most-- and be 97% there.

Chuck

Chuckie,

I'm in your boat. I'm having a custom world tour bike built for me by Independent Fabrication right now (it ships in two weeks!), and when I add up what it's costing me my stomach just drops. I mean, it's ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a bike when I could get something that's 95% as good for half (or less) the price. But then I think to myself, "wait a sec Baz, yes it's expensive, but it's the reason you have money! Honestly, what my money is for is to get that extra 5% of pure bliss. I honestly can't think of any other reason to have that money in the first place but to get myself the nicest bike I can.". And then I feel better.

By the way, why did you decide on Seven? Is the bike titanium or steel? I'd love to see a photo.

Chuckie,

I'm in your boat. I'm having a custom world tour bike built for me by Independent Fabrication right now (it ships in two weeks!), and when I add up what it's costing me my stomach just drops. I mean, it's ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a bike when I could get something that's 95% as good for half (or less) the price. But then I think to myself, "wait a sec Baz, yes it's expensive, but it's the reason you have money! Honestly, what my money is for is to get that extra 5% of pure bliss. I honestly can't think of any other reason to have that money in the first place but to get myself the nicest bike I can.". And then I feel better.

By the way, why did you decide on Seven? Is the bike titanium or steel? I'd love to see a photo.

I wanted to get a bike that could "do it all"-- touring, commuting, mountain biking, travel bike-- so I started looking for frames that were versatile. A real solid touring bike was possible; a flexibly designed mountain bike could do it. In the end, though, I knew it was going to cost some serious bucks. I was looking at Co-Motion, Rivendell, IF, Seven, Vanilla, and travel bikes Bike Friday and PBW. I was scared that I'd get a bike that was expensive but didn't fit perfectly. I ended up with Seven because they insist on measuring you (painstakingly) and interviewing you precisely how you will be using the bike. I didn't plan on misleading them so I figured they were my best bet. Go to their site and see what they mean by "custom". It's serious. My favorite LBS was a Seven dealer so that helped too.

My Seven is steel with S&S Couplers and is built with loaded offroad touring in mind. It looks like a mountain bike but is very much a touring bike in all other respects. Picture is forthcoming.

Chuck

My Seven is steel with S&S Couplers and is built with loaded offroad touring in mind. It looks like a mountain bike but is very much a touring bike in all other respects. Picture is forthcoming.

Chuck


Wow, what a process. Another important point: the "added value" that you paid for won't necessarily acculumate until you use the bike more and time passes. A cheap house will never gain value, but a good house will. A bike is always an expense (basically a consumable), but the benefits of something good are something that you might enjoy and appreciate more and more as time passes.

At the moment, for example, I have my expensive Bike Friday on its second business trip. I've done two club rides so far with friends I haven't rode with in seven or eight years. The bike burned right along, just like a good road bike, and suddenly I'm realizing why the "extra" money for the travel case and packing issues are paying off. You may find out the same as you use the Seven more, especially if you travel with it.

The other thing that always scares me-- all this wonderful cycling time is limited. I've heard too many stories lately about strokes, accidents, and other health problems either ending one's cycling ability or worse yet ending their lives. So, if you have the core economic things covered, why put off a nice bike too long if you can afford it. Not that all will end tomorrow, but some day it will.

The other thing that always scares me-- all this wonderful cycling time is limited. I've heard too many stories lately about strokes, accidents, and other health problems either ending one's cycling ability or worse yet ending their lives. So, if you have the core economic things covered, why put off a nice bike too long if you can afford it. Not that all will end tomorrow, but some day it will.


Here it is. I guess I'm not waiting to enjoy it all....!

Chuck

Time will dictate when it becomes just a bike. The newness will wear off, the novelty will fade away. You can't hurry it along, it just takes time. That time typically comes after the third or fourth commute home in an unexpected rain. Yeah, that sounds about right.

I used to clean my mtn. bike after every ride...same with the road bike...I just wanted em' PERFECT...then I changed jobs and a convenient place to clean my bikes...Guess what? they still feel the same...maybe better...I don't sweat a scratch, a wiggle, a squeak or a clunk...I load up, unload, go ride...If it makes noise, i make note...if it squeals, I check it...

I still do regular maintenance...just keep it tune...tighten cables, lube chains, adjust brakes...

Tonight, I actually broke down and went through my road bike - new bars and bar phat, new seat, new tires and tubes...I'm going to ride in my first century and I wanted everything in as good a condition as possible...I'll find out how the seat is gonna work tomorrow afternoon...

Clean when you can, Ride every time you can...