banerjek

I walked into my favorite shop to pick up a new seat bag. As is often the case, they had new bikes on the showroom floor, and some of it was quite nice -- way better than what I have.

But I was uninterested. It occurred to me that even if I had $10K in my pocket doing nothing, I wouldn't have wanted a new bike. Despite having 5 year old ultegra on one bike and dinged up Rival on another, I wouldn't have been interested in upgrading. I couldn't even get myself to covet wheels.

The only glimmer of hope was that I thought it might not be bad to have a slightly better set of rain wheels for my commuter. Currently, I'm using a mismatched set due to losing my front earlier this year in a crash, and the rear is chewed up from abuse. But even with that $10K loose in my pocket, I still would have only sprung for something in the EA50 category.

What's wrong with me?

BengeBoy 

I had the same thought a few weeks ago. I cured it by deciding this was the winter I'm going to figure out dynamo hubs and associated lighting. Several boxes are on their way to me now...

Quel

Just ride with some really fast guy on a Cervelo S3 with the new 404 carbon clinchers. When he drops you, rationalize it by saying it was only because of the sweet sweet gear he has. Proceed immediately to the bike shop.

Daytrip

Lately, I'm more interested in the small stuff--more tools, a set of Gatorskins for winter riding, maybe some better gloves. I've found that tweaking my ride and my riding experience is more satisfying (I imagine), than getting a fancy new rig. After all, I ride solo and rarely see any other cyclists on the road, so who am I going to impress? My wife? My dog? Doubtful. And, to top it all off, I don't even have a white garage door. Mine's brown.

SpinWinger

Do you always walk around with $10k in your pocket?

Creatre

Cardinal sin for sure. Hopefully I get there one day, my bank account would surely like it.

sbxx1985 

A Momentary Lapse of Reason.

It'll pass.

Nachoman

Must be a good feeling. Even though I know I have absolutely everything I need cycling related, I still wouldn't mind spending a few thousand more on a new frame, new wheels and new garmin.

HMF

Nah, I'm right there with you. I've got what I need, and bike shops and their fancy bikes just don't hold their allure any more. Time to ride!

DataJunkie

Buy less. Ride more.
Or in my case: empty wallet = buy less and ride more.

I don't really need or want much of anything besides a few new pairs of shorts.
Becoming a better rider is what I really want and that doesn't require crap like a power tap or the latest and greatest bike.

CHAS

Spend. The economy needs it. Consider it a good deed to spend.

dstrong 

You've finally moved beyond the honeymoon phase and have settled into the long slog of accepting what you have and being satisfied to spend the rest of your life with it. It shouldn't stop you from looking but the new models will only take your money and give you limited satisfaction in the long run.

banerjek

No new lighting for me -- I can't get myself to part with my 6 year old system. It just so happens that last night I made a new bottle battery for it. One of my 5000mAh packs crapped out, so I ordered some discount batteries online. OEM batts cost over triple what I paid.

pigmode

It has nothing to do with mojo. According to Sartre, you are now in Hell.

lpolliard

You didn't lose your mojo...you still want to ride. Bike mojo is about riding and not shopping.

KiddSisko

Baby steps banerjek. Even if you stop at a new set of winter wheels, that will satisfy your upgrade requirements that all cyclists adhere to and an industry depends upon.

patentcad

This thread is Bongo Worthy.

docjoe

Everytime I go to my LBS, I keep thinking, "Man, I just need to ride more!" and then when I do ride, I totally forget how much I love my current bike. I just need to ride more!

Bob Dopolina 

Dude,

Try working in the industry for 25 years+ and trying really hard to get excited about the newest frame, wheel, widget, thingy that you've seen before.

The shine is certainly off this dime.

Now I ride what I have or what is given to me and, as long as it doesn't fail and leave me stranded, I could care less about weight or flash or any other the techno babble/ marketing hype.

I just ride it.

Doohickie

Ummmm... maybe you need to check in here.

mrbUSA

Sounds like you are content in your game.

Mr. Beanz

Same here, don't care to look at or covet new bikes. I get a bigger thrill out of building a wheel, then watching it sparkle in the sun as it spin perfectly true under me as I ride. My bikes are smooth, well tuned and ride well. What else is there?

buttfish77

Dynamo hubs are intriguing to me also. Did you order the Schmidt or Shimano? Interested in how much drag you feel when the lights are off.

Phil85207

I have enough trouble just keeping my old bike on the road. It seems it always is needing something. This month it's a new pump. Moving up to the road Morph as I just gave the last rights to my old pump. Two weeks ago I blew a rear gatorskin. Bought a new one and as luck would have it, I put a slice in it after only about 200 miles. grrrrrr

DataJunkie

I was pondering taking up wheelbuilding. Hmmm....