Blackberry

Has anyone every felt weird about buying "too much bike?" Sort of like a guy who's driven a Honda Civic all his life suddenly driving a Ferrari? I have the chance to buy a great ti road bike at a very good price, but I almost feel like my skills just don't warrant such a fine machine. I ride a lot of long, leisurely miles. I've toured all over the US and Europe, and regularly participate in centuries and fund raisers. But as someone who has no intention of racing or mixing it up with the local club hammerheads, I can just imagine feeling like a duded up drug store cowboy every time I saddle up. I realize this is all kind of nutty, but I can't be the only one who's ever felt this way (Or maybe I am). If you've ever felt like this or dealt with this, I'd like to know how you handled it.

Allister

Skills schmills. If you can afford it and it fits, why shouldn't you buy it?

Maelstrom 

Sometimes I worry about that. But to be honest, as long as you are riding and having fun and pushing yourself you are bound to get better. And having a bike that will limit you will be far more annoying than riding 'too much bike' initially. I ended up buying a high end ht to get much better on and then progressed to a dually. Do I need a dually...probably not yet, I 'could' keep riding the ht only, but I wanted the dually because of what I might end up doing.

In any case, buy it and have fun....

packfodder

Last winter I was shopping for a used bike with campy chorus or lower. Then I ran across a great deal on a bike with a campy record mix. In my opinion, record is just a waste of money - I won't benefit from a couple grams of weight savings - especially in Houston. But I wasn't going to pass up a good deal.

I think the most important thing is your attitude. Buy it. Just don't turn into a poseur. Stay humble and if anyone asks just explain it was a great deal. Would you pass up a great deal on a ferrari and settle for a nice accord at the same price?

forum*rider

I say if you have the money and its a good deal then go for it. I feel that way sometimes too though. Right now im looking for a new fork to put on my cannondale, but I don't want to get a high-end fork and have people s******ing at me because I have high-end equipment but Im not that great of a rider.

Like cpratt25 said, don't turn into a poser(SP?) I hate it when people think they can ride better than you just because they have a nicer bike.

Davet

Why in the world do you have to justify your purchases to anyone? You shelled out your hard-earned dollars for something you wanted. Enjoy it. Suppose your signifcant other was some fabulous movie star. Would you even take the time to explain to someone how you came to love her/him? Of course not, you would enjoy the feelings you had about this person. Anybody that sincerely criticizes someone else for their choice of material goods is most likely a jealous person.

RiPHRaPH

you can't put a price on comfort. i throw my leg over my top tube > 250 times a year. buy it now. it will turn out to be pennies per mile.

now an expensive matching jersey & short/bib...don't do that.

pinerider

I have the opposite problem. I deserve a $2000 cyclocross bike, but I'm saddled with a fleet of 10 year old road bikes and MTB's. I've mentioned to my wife numerous times that by spending a thousand or two on a good bike, I can probably part with 2 or 3 of the fleet (of 8). She's slowly coming around, but I don't know how much longer I can wait. There's light at the end of the tunnel, she mentioned she should go to Florida for a week with her mom and in the same breath said I could probably spend $1500 on a new bike. Only problem is, I end up spending $3000 for a $1500 bike!!!

cyclezealot

I would not buy an expensive bike, just because it is expensive.But if it's price merits its functionality; I would not feel the least bit quilty..
I can see myself being proud of my bike if the price is downside of a mid-range Litespeed. Price is worth quality and durability..Just to show of, well- that would not be me.
Why Litespeed. Durability and strengty..I should qualify that by saying I am not all that sure of its ride yet..Tried one once years ago...On a test ride.

Sweetness

If it will make you happy, then go for it You can't (well, shouldn't..LOL) take the bikes with you when you die, so sure as hell enjoy them now! You said it's a deal, so go for it already... post a pic too.

~Jean

Chris L

What's so wrong with that? If you can ride up hills or into headwinds fast, why shouldn't you? If you've got it, flaunt it! It doesn't mean you have to be rude to others.

Allister

That's not a poseur. A poseur is someone who ain't got it, but flaunts it.

schwinnbikelove

Well, just a view that is a little different than those offered. I had a few older Schwinn road bikes, one turned coaster brake offroad, one five speed and an older mountain bike(3 bikes). I ended up parting out the mountain bike and the five speed is/has turned into fixed gear. I seriously was tired of having what I thought to be junk, and not feeling serious about owning bikes.

Long story short, bought a nice new, expensive (to me) hardtail mountain bike, only to have the realization that I have one bike I need to get rid of now (anyone want a Cannondale?) and that I can build/throw together any bike that will be cooler, better, cheaper, and more custom to me that anything storebought. I like to pick exactly everything out for the bike, I don't need someone to do it for me.....

Either way, good luck and be careful out there.

skiahh

What he said....

Chris L

Well, let 'em try! Sometimes I don't mind an injection of humour into my rides, and if they want to make fools of themselves, good for them.

roadfix

Look, if you can comfortably afford it and if it makes you happy, buy it and don't look back. You're only allowed to feel guilty if, for instance, you used part of your rent money to buy this bike.

Grampy™

In the eyes of some people I probably don't "deserve" either of my bikes. (One Ti and one Italial steel) To heck what others say, I enjoy every mile...

Xtrmyorick

Or if you *****d yourself out for the money.

Sweetness

And even then, eviction isn't so bad. After all, you will have a nice bike to curl up with.. and if it's shipped to you, a nice cardboard home too!

Allen H

I probably bought "more bike" than I "needed" last fall - but:

1) I hadn't yet ridden enough (other than 20+ years ago)to KNOW how much I'd ultimately "need"
2) It turns out I LOVE my bike, and it's been very motivational to ride something nice (although it's several pricepoints below a Ti bike)
3) On rare occasions, I've rationalized getting out there when I may not have been so psyched, precisely b/c it's a great bike, and I spent enough on it to help me stay "committed" to biking.

You should probably figure out why you might feel like you don't "deserve" what you can apparently afford to buy and enjoy - it's probably going to get "in the way" of enjoying life, otherwise.

forum*rider

great, now im justified in spending all my money on nice "toys" for my bike

late

Yeah, I know how you feel. My bike talks to me. I was out of the saddle hammering across some traffic the other day when I distinctly heard it say "Is that all you've got?". But I held my tongue, when I'm faster, it'll come around and say 'sorrrry'.
Then I'll dump it and run around with it's sexier sister.....

khuon

Why dump it? In the world of bike-husbandry, polygamy is the name of the game!

pletcgm

Don't feel guilty in the least!!! I have a 2004 Giant TCR with Cosmic Carbone Wheels. I know it's expensive and I'll never use it for racing, but I use it to compete with myself. I have my own self to compete with and that's all the justification that I need! I don't ride in clubs, but I keep setting higher records to break for myself. The same should be for you!

I did feel a little guilty at first. I was like, what are other cyclists going to think? Then I realized that does not matter at all!

khuon

Hmm... why is it that everytime I read something in BikeForums, some part of the lyrics to the Sunscreen Song pops up in my head?

"Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind... the race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself."