Originally Posted by Phatman
I think its funny that like a year and a half ago, you were all hard core into getting hayes discs or something like that for your new stumpjumper...I think you started like 50 threads about what discs to get...and now you're getting a comfort bike. wheres your pride man? get on those trails! haha
Things change. People change. I'm 51, probably a decade or 2 older than you if you're the average age of the members here. I was very much into it, but i found my endurance declining rather quickly and just couldn't do it anymore while retaining any kind of enjoyment. It became all hard work and no fun. i began riding on the street as i always had before i got the the SJ, but obviously that bike isn't made for that. So i decided to sell it and get a street bike.
I wanted something extremely comfortable that i could enjoy riding with absolute minimal discomfort. I have no need or desire to race or any of that...i just want to get some exersize and enjoy doing so. This type of bike seems to fit the bill perfectly.
I was never *into* bikes the way many here are. But a frend who rides trails a lot and is 10 years younger conviced me to get the SJ and ride with him. Listening to him was a big mistake ! It was somewhat fun at first, but trust me, at my age a year older can mean a lot less energy. The discs i bought for it were for one purpose only.......to relieve the pain in my hands from hard braking down a very, and i mean VERY steep fireroad that was my main ride due to it's close proximity to me. I later realized that was only maybe 25% of the problem, and that it was mostly due to may body weight on my hands when braking on steep roads. The SJ was simply a mistake due to the buying frenzy my buddy whipped me into with all his tech talk and such. The SJ was a bike i should have bought, yes......but not at this point, but 10 or 20 years ago !
In any case, i have plenty of pride because to me riding a bike is exersize and the enjoyment of getting outside. What i ride, why i ride, or how hard i ride have nothing to do with pride. Pride is something i get from doing something well that to me requires talent. I'm a musician of 32 years and i feel a pretty good one, and THAT is something i do take pride in. Taking pride in what kind of bike i ride to me makes as much sense as what kind of toaster i own.
What exersizing and the gear involved has to do with talent is beyond me. I think you have me mixed up with someone who races or something. Thats not why i ride, and if that means i'm not a cyclist, i'm fine with that ! I truly don't care. Biking to me is just exersize, and exersize is something i do to remain healthy so that i can do the things i DO take pride in well.
