This weekend here was the annual bike show something I have always looked foreward to in the past. This year however I did not go, the whole consummerism of cycling has left me feeling sick. I think it maybe the fact I turned 50 last year and just feel that this constant buying and changing of bike stuff bores me, anyone else find that as they age it's the riding that's more important than the bling?

There's bling?

Heck I was plodding along on the same old bike since the mid '80s... I didn't even know index shifting came along... much less brifters. I hear they gots disk brakes now on them velocipede things.

The only bling I have is an ancient Campy FD and a set of chainrings that is long overdue replacement.

LOL, my newest bike is a 2002 model. My favorite bike is a 1988 model. I don't wear the latest bike clothes. I guess I'm not much of a bike consumer. Well, maybe bike parts.

I really, really like riding. And, I like seeing innovation, form that follows function, etc. So, I would probably have enjoyed the show. It cost nothing to look.

I feel the same way, but with boating and fishing. All the new stuff is cool, but you don't need it to have a good time. I don't feel the need to buy new when the old equipment works fine. Getting into cycling I bought a new bike and a yard sale special. I like to ride the older one as much as the new one. I also feel that a folding bike is so practical and useful. I don't like to waste and I am more pro earth freindly than ever. I turned 50 last month. Is it wisdom or old age?

Neither, it's personal choice.

It was 10$.

I stand corrected, it costs $10 to look. Given the price of a movie, or even a movie rental, I think I'd sooner spend $10 on the bike show. I do, however, understand the lack of excitement. I used to go to guitar shows, at least two a year. I haven't been to one in over five years, because I simply tired of them. I own more guitars and guitars well beyond my playing ability, as I do with bicycles. But for some reason, I haven't yet tired of looking at bikes!

I can relate to this, I used to go to car shows all the time, now ..well it has been a few years and my car sits in garage taking up space.

I would love to attend a vintage (70's - 80's) bike show, but the new stuff doesn't interest me much.

Riding??? People actually RIDE those things??

SP
Bend, OR

Many eons ago, I used to like different kinds of shows, I would attend 3 or 4 computer shows, a couple of photography shows, every year. There were no bike shows back then, that I heard about, anyway. I think the Internet changed the dynamic, instead of going to shows to gather information, you could get the information off the web. Shows then became similar to a temporary flea market for retail stores to get rid of old junk they couldn't get rid of in the stores discount bin. What bugs me, is that they want $10 for the privilege. The Toronto Bike show does still have a manufacturers area and it's worth attending for that, but that's about it.

I myself was motivated to take up riding after seeing all the kewl looking bicycles Trek had to offer. I had no idea bicycles had evolved so much after owning a stingray bike in 1970. We all have a different outlook or conception on things in life.

Jerry in NW ohio..

Have found that I have bikes that work- don't need any upgrades- everything works and nothing needs adjustment. No need to look at any new products and no need to buy anything. I have to admit that calls into the LBS have been few and far between this winter-

But went to a "New" bike shop to me last week. They carry a different range of bikes to what I am used to- Accessories are for a different region and the clothing was way out of my price range. Nothing to interest me in that shop at all so Why did I spend 2 hours "Just Looking"?

With the quality of bikes on show- I had my own Priveate Bike Show. Especially when they offered good money for Boreas- But that was on a "Dogma" frame to be built up.

Funny you should talk about guitars ,as I at one time had a few but when I had a custom made for me I lost intrest in all the other and sold them.

I like most bikes but I love bike shows and I love the new equipment they keep coming out with. I might consider getting a classic bike to build and I would put bar end shifters on but only because I want a ten speed cassette on the back and because I never had bar end shifters. I will admit some of the old steel bikes have a good look about them but there is nothing they have, or do, that would make me “prefer” one over a new ride with bifters. My back up bike today doesn’t weigh any more than my Viscount and my Scandium bike is lighter and more responsive than anything I have tried in old steel or new steel for that matter. I plan on making CF my next build and I have every reason to believe I will be just as impressed with how much better and more responsive it is than any of my older bikes.

In short I love the bike shows because they show me where we have come and what we can do if we want the best the industry has to offer. Some of it may be beyond me like the New Specialized S works team bike that I saw that was only 12.5 pounds without pedals and saddle. Yet it less bottom bracket flex than my Jamis.

I like bike shows. I like riding my bikes, too -- both the old ones, and the new blingy ones.

Although I tend to very slow in adopting new technology into my own bike fleet, I enjoy keeping up with the new products and trends in the industry. Some of the stuff seems like real progress. Some of it seems like marketing hype. I like the trend in recent years toward more practical and comfortable bikes while at the same time, there has been much advancement in racing bikes, both road and offroad.

We don't get a lot of bike shows in this part of the country. I would love to be at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Richmond this weekend. I plan to spend a day or two in Augusta when the IMBA World Summit is held there in May.

The new technology is nice to look at but my old peugot which i retired two years ago was the best bike ive ridden. Being 20 + years old the bike worked like the day it was built. Had to give it up because of the drop bars and a neck injury just didnt mix. Purchased a diamond back hybrid and fitted it for the road riding and metric centuries we do. I work composite in the aerospace industry and recently had my local bike shop owner approach me to attempt a repair on a composite graphite frame, The repair worked out well and I was amazed at the technology used in producing these frames. However the 1500 dollar plus price tag on a bare frame pretty much tells me no way. The frame I worked was damaged when the rider hit a dog and his bar clipped the top tube of the frame. Not much damage to the eye but looking at it I definately wouldnt have put my butt in the saddle after the "small bit of damage" occured.

I love technology, love the bling, enjoy tinkering and adding stuff here and there-especially if it improves comfort and function. Did it with golf and do it with bikes. So no, I can't relate but I do completely understand. After all I drive a 20 year old van with 500k on it so I'm not bling about everything.

Never been to a bike show. At least with other hobby shows I have been to you can find some odd things that solve a problem you may have on a project - I imagine bike shows are teh same way. New functional stuff is great also great, 9 & 10 speed cassettes were real improvements, so were brifters. IMHO wireless 11sp is pure bling. There comes a point were things mature and the improvements are too small to care about. Most things in bikes are that way, but every now and then something really good comes along. I like the idea of a speedplay pedal power meter...

How are you guys getting online with your 8086 computers?

I guess I am a rarity. I love new bikes, new equipment and the innovation in the industry.

8086, what's with that new fangled technology, they are probably using an AIM-65 made the same year as their bicycle and Pontiac Ventura in the drive way.......

I've always liked new technology, when it actually is an improvement, for example is a 10 speed cluster really an improvement over a 9 speed, when they cover the same range???? It certainly is an improvement on a 5 speed cluster, with a much smaller range.....

I just retired the bike I bought in the early '80s. Until now, my newest bike was from '85.

I love the old, the new, the faster, the retro, friction, indexed. I'll take it all.

Interbike, Handmade Bike Show, even this past week-end's Old Bike Swap in Kent, WA.

What I really like about this sport is that you can participate in soooo many ways. I like riding & comparing different tubesets, different components, different geometries. I doesn't have to be bling and expensive to still be fun. When if stops being interesting, I'll move on.