Road Cycling - Philosophy

I've been thinking alot about the "It's not about the bike" concept lately. I've finely come up with a philosophy that suits me. Please understand that this isn't to rag on people who go out and buy pro level stuff whether they need it or not. If I had the money I'd buy pro gear too. So anyway, here goes.

There is a bike for every level of cyclist, from beginner to pro, and at some point as you progress in fitness, goals, and handling skills, until pro level gear, the bike does hold you back. Not that you can't have fun or succeed on the said bike, but if you were to upgrade a couple levels to better equipment I think you would notice an improvement in personal performance.
For example, Lycra shorts. A year ago a pair of 20 dollar shorts with a foam chamois was fine for me, but that was when a 20 mile ride and 20 mph was a huge deal for me. Now, 20 miles is a piece of cake, and most of my rides average over 20 mph. I very quickly realized that cheap shorts would no longer cut the mustard.

Again, this isn't to rag on anybody, this is just my personal thoughts. If you've got the money and the desire, then buy yourself top of the line gear.

I agree.

My roadbike has entry level components (shimano sora/tiagra) and most seasoned riders wouldn't stand them for various reasons that I cannot accept.

These entry level components are okay for me because I'm new to road cycling and I don't have so much money to have justified a bike purchase over $1500.

But I'm sure in the future I will have to eventually upgrade as I grow out of them.

Buy what you want and can afford---after all you're the one who has to live with it. If you think you need the top gear--go get it and try to figure a way to afford it.

Its your money and your decision---who cares what anyone else thinks.

I agree, in general, but I think it's more complex... because it's not necessarily about "performance," either.

It could be about fun, or health, or transportation, or "serious recreation," too.

And as people go through the stages of their lives, different emphases become more important.

For a busy businessperson with a family and a lot of demands, every cycling minute may be precious and hard to come by. Maximizing the enjoyment of those minutes by doing them on a high-end, perfectly fit bike would be a legitimate way for that person to spend some money.

For a high-mileage rider, like a commuter or a tourist, it may make sense to spend whatever it takes to get the level of performance and reliability needed to make all those daily hours as comfortable and fun and trouble-free as possible.

My take on "it's not about the bike" is that it is about the rider, and the bike is an extension of the rider. It's hard to discuss a cyclist apart from his bike.

RichC

When I bought my Raleigh R600 a few years ago many cyclists considered it "unworthy" and I was not allowed into their select group.

I have grown in the sport and realize now (as I think I always have), it's not about the bike!
It's about enjoyment, fun, fitness, goal setting, achievemnet, helping, hard work, and lots of other positive words that describe why we ride and why we love bikes.

Its not about the bike, but I'm inclined to believe
that it is about quality, and the more you
know the more that quality becomes apparent.
For me that can translate to quality of the
ride, and quality of the individual bits that make
up the bike.
For example, I truely believe that Campy is
higher quality than Shimano (no I'm not getting
into that), in that it lasts forever, and you can
get parts to repair something should it break.
If shimano offered the same level of service
and availability of parts I doubt I'd make that distinction.
I think there is a not too subtle difference between
say an off the shelve Trek frame,
and an off the shelf frame from
Serotta, Seven, Litespeed etc.
will they make me a better rider? doubt it.
Will I strive to be a better rider (to live up to
the frame?) probably.
I kind of live by the maxim that
Marty
You get what you pay for.

a friend of mine has been on the road a long time. He seems to have grown beyond the nonsense of people scrutinizing fellow riders for their bikes, or their performance, and instead shows an appreciation for them being on the road with him. There aren't many cyclists; it is a community that should be fortunate for each new addition, because that is one more body on the road preventing auto enthusiasts from doing away with "bicycle lanes" and "share the road" signs entirely.
When I think of this guy (his name is Tyler), I really believe he is someone we should all look up to...
Incidentally, he has a very nice bike, full Record, etc., but it is out of a sincere appreciation for their function, and not to gloat over having spent more $ or for riding more fanciful machinery. Another thing I like about Tyler's style is that he doesn't dress to get much attention. The jerseys he wears are plain and functional, usually a solid color or two, and I think he does this so that people don't mistake him for the kind of person that would scrutinize...in this way, he maintains approachability, and is, to me, even more respectable.
Cheers for Tyler:beer:

I absolutely agree with you fubar. I just happen to be a spoiled brat, so when I saw the bike I wanted, it sounded like this.

"Mommy, mommy that's the bike, that's the bike! I want it! It's only $1200! Look at that bike, that's $3300, you better be glad I didn't ask you to get me that one!"

So if you have the money, or your parents have the money, then get the most expensive, best, lightest, pro-level equipment.:D

I agree you get what you pay for. I also agree that people are looked at sometimes for what they ride. To me as long as you ride who cares what you have? If I see a nice bike I will say nice bike.
We had a write up in our Sunday paper that I saved. It is about a guy named Freddie Hoffman that has ridden over 1 million miles on a bike. To tell you the truth as of the writing of the artical he was at 1,249,554 miles. It is a great write up but what I thought was very interesting is he had logged every mile for over 38 years. If someone is interested I could probably get you a copy. The main thing I got out of the write up is this guy wasnt on bikes that were $2000 and up. Matter of fact the bikes he had ridden for the most part were well under $1000. He at the time of the artical was heading out on another several month tour. Here is a line from the write up.

In the late 1980s, he was averaging over 950 miles per week on a 50-pound Schwinn Super Le Tour with fenders, upright handlebars, front and rear racks, a five-digit odometer, a thermometer, generator lights (with brake light), and various air horns.

Thats a far cry from a 3000 dollar bike that probably wont ever see 4 weeks worth of his ridding in its life time.
I wanted to add this to it. I am like anyone else. I love to see a real nice bike. There is nothing wrong to me with anyone buying one. The problem is with the people that have them that feel it makes them better.

Maybe I'm nutty, and if you guys say so, I'll trust your judgement.

But I try to make every moment perfect. I try to turn the crank with precision, I try to pick the perfect line through a turn, I try to shift at the perfect moments.

I try to take advantage of every opportunity to produce speed. I'll hug a fence to help with the wind, I'll use every downhill to the best of my ability. I'm always on the drops, and I can feel the wind over my back, I try to be aerodynamic.

I watch the computer like a hawk, and I'm a slave to Average Speed. I curse headwinds and red lights.

I think that at mile 16 or there abouts my brain releases endorphins, I am no longer aware of pain or exertion. In fact I'm barely aware of the bike.

Somehow I feel like a sprinting cheetah or a man-bicycle mutation. I feel strong and omnipotent, like I did when I was running cross country in high school (I'm 45 now).

I have been riding MTBs for years but I've been on my new road bike for only two weeks and I feel like I've really made a breakthrough.

The speed and finesse of a road bike are amazing. In the dirt I never achieved a mental state like this. I know I must sound like a real freak, but my morning ride is the most important part of my day, I reminisse about it all day long.

I should see a psychiatrist but that would cut into my riding time.

When did bicycles become these high tech, high performance machines? Seems only a few years ago a bike was a bike, now you must be a mechanical engineer just to buy one.

Anyway, I need the bike. It allows me to get that really killer feeling I get when I am halfway into my ride. The feeling is like being motionless and watching the scenery scroll by like a blur, the sound of the wind blasting past my ears and the nearly inaudible hum of the chain as it circulates over the gears at 95 RPM.

It is about the bike. Just like shooting heroin is about the syringe.

God I hope nobody reads this.

Thats a good read. Makes me want to jump on my bike. What type of road bike did you buy?

I'm from oklahoma and there are a lot of Bass fishermen here. A Bass boat cost over $20,000 and takes a large pickup to pull it.

A good set of golf clubs cost under a $1000, but it cost $20+ every time you play.

Most peoples cable TV bill IS over $50/mo.

A Harley is going to set you back $20,000.

All of the above does nothing for your health.

SPEND THE MONEY, ENJOY THE RIDE, AND TELL YOUR WIFE JUST HOW CHEAP YOUR SPORT REALLY IS!

As a newbie, I've personally gone through the whole "it's not about the bike issue" millions of times in my head.

Some people have told me to buy the best bike that I can afford so that I don't have any regrets when I actually start cycling

Others have told me to buy the cheapest entry level road bikes (OCR3 or the Trek 1000 etc). They tell me that since I'm a beginner to road biking, I won't be able to tell discern any differences.

I've listened to a lot of people and in fact, I'm still in the process of deciding what bike to buy this summer. I'm no bike expert but I'm personally leaning towards buying something more expensive.

Even though I'll suck at first, I think I'll feel better riding a really nice bike, knowing that it is in no way hindering my abilities. Of course, the quality of the bike is no way the reason why I'd like to ride (what Richard_Rides has said is probably the reason :D), but it definitely has an effect.

So yea, just my two cents from a newbie trying to get into the biking world. In fact, I got a job at a nice bike store this summer just so I could be around expensive bikes all day hehe.

Originally posted by KennethToronto
I've listened to a lot of people and in fact, I'm still in the process of deciding what bike to buy this summer. I'm no bike expert but I'm personally leaning towards buying something more expensive.


As I mentioned above, I come from the "spend the money" school.

But with one caveat, and that's regarding first road bikes.

Road bikes aren't for everybody, and there are some major variations from one end of the spectrum (touring bikes, 'cross bikes, audax bikes, flat-bar road bikes) to the other (hi-zoot composite racing frames with Campagnolo drivetrains and clearance for nothing bigger than a 23mm tire).

It's hard to find one bike that will serve the needs of a constant rider. It's important to know what you're going to be asking the bike to do. Urban commuting on a racing bike, while possible, is fraught with peril. Fast club training rides on a steel touring bike can put a rider at an uncomfortable disadvantage. A bike set up for racing may not be the best choice for a less athletic rider trying to do hilly centuries.

Sometimes spending a season on an inexpensive bike gives you a much clearer sense of what you want and, even better, what you don't want. Often, that starter bike can be a recent vintage used bike that can later be sold or (much better) used as a spare.

I do know guys with high-end racing bikes who do most of their miles on beaters, because the opportunities to ride the expensive machine are rare.

Just some thoughts...

RichC

As an example. We ride with a cyclist, who is really pro caliber- if he trained for it.. Used to run track in High school.. Cycling came easy to him. He excells. Really fast without trying..Has his brother's hand down Cannondale. Good bike- no STI shifting.
But he wants to upgrade, but can't afford it.. His potential, I say deserves the best... He came in FOURTH in the bike event related to recent Los Angeles marathon.. It is a shame he is not riding something suited to his abilities.
I do not think you need be a pro to deserve pro gear... But, if your committment is there, are ride addicted- deserve reliable gear; you should get the best you can afford.. If the committment is there- you are not just showing off... You need it..

How fast you can go and how hard you can push yourself all depends on your state of mind. Endurance sports like cycling, where to really experience the great sensations that they can bring, all depend on the individual being willing to push him or herself past the pain barrier, and really work more even though it hurts so much. Psychology plays a massive part in every facet of cycling (above recreational, ride to the shops type) and I'm sure there aren't many who would disagree.

Any advantage you can give yourself, whether it be to get past that next person and finish higher up, or to push your average over a certain level or to ride that little bit further, is absolutely crucial and if that comes with feeling good about what you ride, having the utmost confidence in your machine and therefore in yourself, then go and buy a good bike and push your own limits.

I bought a good bike in the colours that I like because confidence and a positive psyche are just what you need to make yourself that little bit better. Try driving around in a early 80's car and trying to feel like michael schumacher. It just aint gonna happen for ya.

For myself I ride a bike equipped with Shimano Sora groupset and to be honest, I'm more than happy with this bike, it rides well and handles well. But most important I always say to my self, regardsless of whether the bike is worth $1000 to $10,000 at the end of the day, you still have tp pedal the darn thing, remember your legs are the engine and you pedal the bike, the bike does not pedal you. I've got a friend here who's a very good rider and owns both a road and mountian bike. He has challenged those who have got Cannondales and higher prices Italian bikes fitted with campy and higher end Shimanoes like Dura Ace. While he only uses the Shim 105, these blokes who tried to challenge him did not even get a chance to beat him. Not that I'm saying that the Cans, Treks, etc etc are bad bikes, but the riders on them were not up to scratch. People get this impression if I buy a $4000 Trek I will ride like a Lance Armstrong and the magic is in the bike. Not so true, the magic is in the legs of the rider.

Now discussing the war between Campagnolo and Shimano. These two will always be at each others throat for competition. I cannot comment or say that one is really better than the other, but when it comes down to the crunch it's a matter of personal opinion. I've heard of pro's who switched from campy to shimano and would never go back to campy due to the fact that they like the feel of the Shim. Also look at what Lance uses, Shimano Dura Ace. Campagnolo have the policy if somehing breaks we will fix it, Shimano have the policy if something breaks we will replace it with a new part. Campagnolo may be Italian and their products may be hand made, nothing wrong with that, as the Italians have always been good craftsmans with their hands. Shimano are Japanese and Japan has always been nutorious with technoloy, and their products might be made and designed by robots and computers, but the question is can a robot and computer make something with more precision and accuracy than that of the bare human hands.

I think at the end of the day it's what the users happy with.

I ride handmade Italian bikes with a Campy Record (Ergo 8spd), a 50th anniversary gruppo and another w/mixtures of stuff, an old '72 Gitane with mostly Nuovo Record, a 2nd hand Trek 520? with Campy Hubs and El Cheapo (NON Shimano) Japanese Cranks etc., a Used Fat Chance with some Mid-line Suntour stuff on it, and some old Schwinn single speeds and I'm happy to ride on ANY of 'em. Hey, it's more fun to "saw off" somebody with an old clunker than on a full on race machine!

A lot of my good stuff was paid for by insurance money from gettin' hit and given to me.

I figure if the Wheels go round and it works for ya, It's' a good bike

Ride the Bike You Have
Pat

So how much of it is the bike? Well assuming we are talking about road bikes with halfway decent components not much. The cyclist powers the bike no vice versa. In facts, in most of the fast groups I have ridden in, putting the strongest rider on the worst bike in the group would not have changed anything. He still would have been the strongest rider.

Now a top of the line bike can give 3 things that an entry level racer might not. First, it can have beautiful craftsmenship. Secondly, it feels subtly better giving a tailored feeling ride. And finally, it has snob appeal. Several people in our club have been dismayed to have gone from better than entry level bikes to state of the art, top of the line bikes and found that they made no discernable difference in their performance. Of course, we have had a couple of people go up to higher priced bikes and actually get a little boost. One guy I am thinking of is a pretty strong rider and is awfully thin - maybe 140 lbs. Shaving off a couple of lbs off the bike is a bigger deal for him than it is for me (I weigh 195) but I think the fit and the ride was more of a deal then the weight in that case.

I do not subscribe to the notion that a rider has to live up to their bike. Look, if you want a top of the line bike and enjoy riding it, and can pay for it, by all means ride one. They are not that expensive (as another rider pointed out about golf, bass boats, and so on). Life is too short for worrying about what other people think. Do what you like.

As far as I am concerned, anybody (no matter how slow) on any bike (no matter how humble) trumps anyone in any motorized vehicle.

I'm a person who tries to be pratical in most means. I bought a bike that was lighter than some, durable, and had mid level components. This way, I could commute, perhaps compete. When I start to get "that good" I'll get something "that good", but I don't want to exceed my needs.

I look at it like the people who purchase SUV's. If it's thier commute vehicle, that's dumb. If they never go offroad, that's dumb. A minivan, or a wagon would suffice for room. If you don't tow, or haul a bunch of stuff, why buy a truck? Worse, the guys who buy the big trucks and put about 2 feet of lift and HUGE tires. Now, they can't tow, and worse, it's set up so badly (which many are) that they can't use it off road. What's the point?

Forgive me if I act a little silly here - but it's the big wee wee desire in them. Gotta be bigger, badder than the rest.

In bikes, it's not so bad. But, I see here a lot of people being defensive about buying a high dollar bike. You buy what you like, but be honest. For the average guy, buying a fully equipped unobtainium framed, etc bike, is realy, useless.

It's free country, and we can be free to buy our selves in to consumption heaven.

My idea is to buy what I need, plus a little room to grow. I try to apply that to everything.

My Zen moment of the day.