Kindaslow

You would love my bikes, trust me, they are awesome

RomansFiveEight

It's a phenomenon I find fascinating. I have an iPhone, drive a Ford, ride a Kawasaki motorcycle, have a Vizio TV, and wear Ecco shoes. Someone, unprovoked, who I didn't know, has said something to me about each of those things and probably more I forgot. Each of those things were bought because they were what best accomplish what I needed them to do, often at a given price point.

It seems we (humans) get validation for the things we own by making sure that everyone else knows that we picked right and they picked wrong.

Frankly, it makes no sense. My Focus is a great car, it's a great car because cars in it's segment from Nissan, Toyota, GM, Chrysler, etc., keep getting better and better. So the Focus has to get better. The original iPhone was innovative but underpowered and my Windows Mobile phone I had at the time, I felt, was lightyears ahead of it. But it was an entirely different segment. Then along comes Android. The ensuing competition has made fantastic devices from both platforms and saw a (late) resurgence of the Windows Mobile (renamed Windows Phone) platform. And so on and so forth.

Own what you want, and be glad someone owns the competitors model. Because that's what makes your "thing" better, and cheaper! Competition is beautiful.

Another annoyance is people who complain about new things. "I hate X because 6 months later a new one will be out". Why is that a bad thing? Innovation is always great! Yours will still work, and when YOU are ready for upgrade, that means your new 'thing' will be bleeding edge!

StephenH

I know some very experienced riders. One thing I notice is they have owned a variety of bikes. And most likely, will own a variety more before they get through. The point being that whatever they have now is not usually the ultimate bike, they'll buy something different in a year or two and in ten years, whatever they have now will be just so much crap.

Kindaslow

I am totally with you on the IPhone, Eccos, and Kawasakis!!!

i like Toyotas, because the local dealer is awesome and Samsungs because they are the favorite at the shop that has treated me great.

My dad was one of those who was afraid to buy a new computer, because they were getting better so quickly.... Even though his computer was a dinosaur...

i like my my stuff and would not take a moment of time to criticize what someone else likes, unless I had a bad experience with it AND they pushed for my opinion.

Stucky

I guess I'm the odd-man-out. I usually take pleasure in NOT having things- e.g. in not using a cell/smart phone (I WANT to be unreachable; not be tethered to the network; not be tracked....); In driving older utilitarian vehicles which I can pay cash for; In NOT having a bunch of expensive toys (Yeah, boats and ATVs etc. ad infinitum are fun to use once in a while; but I'm not interested in devoting the requisite time and effort to pay for them; maintain them; transport them; clean them, etc. It wouild be a burden grossly disproportionate to the enjoyment I might get from their occasional use....)- Stuff like that.

I feel good about my decisions not to have a lot of things; I guess I even feel somewhat superior, because "I figured out" that merely acquiring a bunch of possessions does not equate to happiness; and in-fact, often leads to unhappiness- and yet I know that many others must look at me as either being impoverished (I am not) or "foolish" for not salivating after all of the trappings which most in our Western culture equate with success and status and "the good life". And yet I do have "the good life", in the sense that I live where and in the manner that I desire to; and have enough free time and autonomy to do what I want- which should be a real statement of success and status, but is not.

And no, my somewhat-fancy bike does not count, because I ride alone; and those [non-riders] around me can not distinguish it from a $150 Walmart bike.

So, I don't get validation from others. I make responsible choices; and what are the very best choices for me; but they are not the choices which are esteemed by others; admired; or seen as being propitious. And conversely, if the things I did were approved in the eyes of many of those around me- people who would hang a huge velvet painting of an American flag in their living room; or buy decorative/utilitarian items festooned with Coca-Cola or Budwieser logos- I would start to seriously worry!

Kindaslow

one of my old buddies considers each new motorcycle he buys to be the best bike ever, and the previous bikes to be crap. I think my current bicycles are the best I have ever owned, but in large part because of advances and having spent more on them (meaning they are in a higher category than the previous bikes).

Stucky

Intersting. On the one hand, it is good to try-out different things[bikes]; but then I would hope that instead of constantly being on a quest for that "one so special" bike [or whatever], that at some point one just realizes that the differences aren't that great, and then just picks one or a few that they just really like, and which they will still like many years from now, and NOT look at as crap just because they are not the latest technology or style or fad.

I feel that I am at that point now. My bikes are more bike than I will ever need or be capable of fully exploiting; but they possess the charm, aesthetics and charactersitics which I believe will always appeal to me- and I will likely be content to ride them the rest of my life or until and if they wear-out.

Funny- While I love my current bikes; and they are the nicest/most expensive bikes I have ever owned; I look back on even the $99 hi-tensile 10-speeds I owned when young as not being crap (even though they essentially were....); but I rather look upon them as being good values; which enabled me to have a lot of fun, while being affordable at the time; and really not being all that bad. I got a lot of use and enjoyment out of them- recreational and transportation-wise; and I really don't think the differences are as great as we often maintain- I mean, they functioned quite well; they didn't leave me stranded oln the side of the road- they weren't crap- they were just not as nice.

I think someone who sees former purchases as being crap, and only current ones as being good, is either very immature, or is admitting to having made poor decisions in the past- or both.

Kindaslow

Ha HA, the bike counts you greedy buzzard you....

Just yanking your chain.

I am in a phase of getting rid of accumulated stuff. My wife and I are conservative related to our income and have no debt, including our home, but I still want to simplify.

Stucky

Beautiful! Life just seems so much better when it's simple, and not cluttered with as much stuff. Take good care of the things one does have; and have a few really nice things- to me, that is the sweet spot. (If my friends/neighbors/relatives knew what my Venge was worth, instead of esteeming me, they'd think I was insane! )

RomansFiveEight

You got it!

I think you have to make some assumptions here in order to make those claims. There's plenty of folks who have "Stuff" (though I don't really consider myself one of those people. Most things I buy used, skrimp and save for, don't impulse buy, etc.) and aren't focused on the trappings of the world, and vice versa. I'm not one who cares much about success and status either. The things I own I own because I like them. The folks I mentioned who 'had something to say' were, as I said, unprovoked (walking up to me at a gas station while I'm filling up the Kawasaki, for example. Yes, there are people so hung up on themselves they'll walk up to a stranger to tell them they picked the wrong thing)

I'm a smartphone user and don't need to make excuses about it. I enjoy the advantages and opportunities it affords me. I mean it's cool to be "unplugged", and I take plenty of opportunities to do just that. My smartphone isn't an "addition" to my landline either. I've never had a landline of my own in my life. My parents had one when I was a kid, but that was about it. So my cellphone is my only phone, and it works.

The things I own, I own because they do what I want them to do. Motorcycles are a great example. I ride 10-15k miles a year, everything aftermarket serves a purpose (storage, comfort, etc.), on a motorcycle that's far from a status symbol, and I know guys who ride 1,500 miles a year on a motorcycles on bikes covered in thousands of dollars in Chrome. But if they enjoy it, more power to them.

I think you've got it figured out, though. I consider myself a very happy person. And I attribute a lot of that to not being too worried about appearing successful. But, you CAN have the things that you enjoy, without owning them simply so folks will look at you.

Kindaslow

My weirdest experience to date is my BMW. It is a brand new 228i. People that don't know about cars give me crap for spending so much money. It cost about the same as a loaded Honda Accord. BMW people look down their noses at it, because it is considered an "entry level car." I bought it because I loved the 90's M3, and this car has the same output and is prettier, to me (although the handling is not quite as good). So, nobody understands, and I could not care less. It is paid for, And I love it. Even funnier is folks that figure out that my other car is the orange Scion IQ from my avatar, it that confuses them to no end. Even worse when my MTB is on top of it....

Stucky

Oh, yes- I did not measn to imply that it is somehow wrong to "have stuff" [Unless to have that stuff, one has to live well beyond their means- which is often the case for many] -I was just saying, that to me, having a lot of stuff is more of a burden, than a pleasure. I enjoy living simply; and inexpensively. I realize that such a pursuit does not appeal to everyone. The only ones I'd really criticize, are those who put so much stock in having "stuff' that they virtually enslave themselves to acquire it; and/or live beyond their means- and clearly, that is not the case with many. It's not the stuff which is bad; but sometimes people lust after stuff to the point where their pursuit of it becomes bad. (Like people running up credit card debt or remortgaging their home to buy toys...). For some, it's just a decision of what they want; for others, it can be slavery.

AlmostTrick

Those who's personality leans more towards the extrovert end of the scale are more likely to seek peer validation. Those who lean more towards the introvert end of the scale, not so much. (or not at all!)

RomansFiveEight

You bet! Living simply is sort of subjective. But it's definitely got some appeal. Especially without the stress that goes along with 'stuff'. And you're right, folks who buy what they can't afford are not making themselves happy in the long run!

AlmostTrick

^^^A lot of us agree with this.

rydabent

Im 76 and have been riding recumbents since 2005. I have a LWB recumbent bike and a trike. They give the the kind of biking I like. I realize that some of the fully kitted racer boyz dont think I am a "real" cyclist, but I dont care. Everyone should ride what ever kind or style of bike trips their trigger.

Cyclist0084

Maybe because I've "been there, done that," I don't feel that way towards cheaper/crappier bikes. For many, many years that's all I could afford, and yeah, they may have been heavy clunkers, but they got me where I needed to go and I always enjoyed riding them. When I see someone in that situation nowadays, I just see a person on a bike either getting from point A to point B, or just out enjoying their ride.

Along those same lines, when I was riding those department store bikes, I got plenty of snide or insulting remarks about them whenever I'd show up for any kind of organized (mainly charity) rides. Sometimes I'd silently tell them to go f**k themselves, but usually I'd just smile and be about my business.

Stucky

I've been there/done that, too. It does make me realize that the difference between low-end and high-end bikes isn't as big a deal as we're led to believe. I had lots of fun and great times on the BSOs I rode when I was young. I think the only real advantage to me now having decent bikes, is that they make me strive harder to ride faster and further, 'cause it's embarrassing to putter along at 12MPH when you're riding a bike which is suitable for a TDF rider!

Cyclist0084

I can certainly relate to that.

bici_mania

I'll second that, on all counts.

In my experience, once people start riding regularly they start to desire/need 'better' bikes. Regardless of the level of the bike, when I see someone riding I feel that is one more small victory.

Wallonthefloor

Just got criticized by some people because I have a "hybrid bicycle" that I have been riding for 7 years and I told them that it was my road bike, and they were like "hah this guy thinks hes been riding a road bike this whole time" and well I think I do because I do mostly road riding, and the tubing say "compact road design."

RomansFiveEight

Just tell them it's a flat-bar road bike. Lots of brands are actually moving away from the "hybrid" term anyway. And calling them fitness bikes, lifestyle bikes, flat-bar road bikes, etc. Depending on what they are more 'specialized' for. Mine has MTB hubs and wider tires than a typical road bike but is useless anywhere but pavement or maybe some mild gravel. But it has an upright position which is good for a beginner. The triple crank gives it away I guess but it's pretty much a "beginner road bike", which is exactly what I wanted.

I might even be tempted to be sarcastic and say "Yeah, when you get to a certain age I guess you need carbon fiber and deep dish wheels. But when you've got legs like these, aluminum doesn't slow you down".

Wallonthefloor

heh yeah, before I changed out every part, took off the reflectors, didnt wear a helmet, swapped the lame ergo stem, got new pedals and toe clips, got shimano wheels and better tires, set up the gearing for only the big ring and middle ring and added aero bars it sure seemed like a hybrid, but in actuality I ride this thing on the road like its a roadie, and on the trails like its XC. I did not know that an angled top tube meant it was something else. Still fast, me and the bike.

delcrossv

i have some very good bikes. Good enough that, at least for one of them, it's more capable than I am. So, I'm paying more attention the the engine- the platform's fine. That said, every time it turns cold and rainy I start lusting after a velomobile. Maybe someday I'll scratch that itch- but not yet.

Regarding what others ride, I really couldn't care less- what's important is that they're riding. As for snobby people, it's hard to diss someone who's passing you.

Stucky

I tend to think more highly of those whom I see riding lesser bikes. Like: I used to have this friend who was really into cycling back before I was- and he was a great rider[Totally ineffectual and incompetent at just about anything else in life, but a great cyclist!], and he rode an old department-store bike - but he could ride just as good as anyone on some fancy expensive bike. I have great respect for people like that, because they make no pretensions; they don't try and play a part; or adapt to a style; or impress anyone by the equipment they own; -they just ride, and don't get caught-up in all the minutiae. While others are obsessing over millimeters and grams...they are just out riding and enjoying themselves.

I strove to be like that. Only, I got snagged by curiosity and wanting to see what "good bikes" were all about- and now I'm spoiled. I mean, I know that the good bikes don't make me any more of a better rider....and I often yearn for the carefree days when I rode old junkers- but, unfortunately, one can't go back. But I see myself as some sort of tool, riding around on "nice" bikes, which are far better than what my abilities deserve. Humility is a trait I value greatly, and always strive for- but the bikes I ride seem to betray that value.