Originally Posted by
gastro
The presence or lack of a cyclocomputer speaks volumes. In fact, it is the sole criterion upon which I make snap judgements on new faces in the group. If you have a Computer, you are likely uncool. If you talk about your Computer, that's far worse.
I kind of think of the same thing - "ooh, look at me, counting calories burned and miles traveled up and down the trail, I'm training for something"
At the same time, I want to buy cheap bike schwag as I don't have money for expensive bike schwag, so it's either a computer or spokey dokes. I ride mostly XC, and paved roads to the trails and back, so it's kind of cool to know how much distance I covered. Actually, the latter, may help scare off random animals that have a habit of suddenly jumping out into the middle of the trail as I am riding at full steam.