Originally Posted by
Andy_K
I was actually thinking about this last night on the way home, the idea of finding alignment between "who you are" and a bike. I think it's the wrong approach, primarily because it depends on a false view of the concept of "who you are."
Who are you? Right now, you're a person sitting at a computer reading Bike Forums. When you're done, you'll be something else.
But there are things about you - much of your personality - that don't change a whole lot over the course of your life. Moods come and go, but things like how introverted or extroverted you are, how much you value humor vs how sensitive you are to other peoples' mental states ( I heard of a pair of twins who would both pretend to sneeze in elevators to startle people ) and the like are pretty stable. If you're buying a bike because it resonates with the long lasting aspects of your personality, I think that's pretty wonderful.
As an example, I need to upgrade my cracked frame, and am trying to choose between two different models. The guy at the LBS, who knows me fairly well, told me "I recommend X to most people, and ride one myself, but Y is a better match for your riding personality." X is faster and has looks and features that drop more jaws, but Y handles better, climbs better, and is more comfortable. When I test rode my road bike, a big smile broke out across my face, because of that resonance.
I don't understand what makes the Trek Portland a $1,700 bike, though.