It's easier to deal with if you have a name for it.

GAS. Gear Aquisition Syndrome.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear...ition_Syndrome

It's not unique to cycling.

I love what you have to say Shado. Uncontrolled materialism is rampant in come circles. If you are the philosophical type like me, a sense of balance is important in your life. I always say that "good enough is good enough". Thanks for sharing your insight. It is most welcome here.

How heavy are you?

Loud is good.

You'll come to your senses after watching a few "latest must-have gadgets" on youtube.

I've got a bunch of cheap bikes, and some pretty expensive ones...and bikes that were expensive a few years ago that I got for cheap. I just pick up bikes that I enjoy riding, and do my best to ride as often as possible. The ones that I don't find myself riding too often I usually give away after a year or two.

Try not to be stupid.

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

It's not about the hardware, and never has been.

-Bandera

FWIW, I almost bought one of those as a box full of disassembled parts for $15 for my last cheap touring build to take to Iceland. If it is put together by a competent person, it is nothing to sneeze at!

a crisscross?

It was either that or a Crosscut, I'm getting a couple of my options mixed up (both were in the picture at one point), but either way very similar levels of bikes. Point is absolutely nothing wrong with it if you enjoy being on it. Ended up going with a similar equipped Scott I already had, had a blast.

You'll learn, be it the expensive way :) I used to do that with hifi, knives etc. Eventually you'll hit a point of diminishing returns. Luckily thats when I got into cycling and this forum. I bought my aluminum 105 road bike 4 years ago and still enjoying the heck out of it, I feel like for my recreational riding no need for carbon. Don't upgrade for the sake of upgrading, try to hit the sweet spot :thumb:

The Schwinn cross bikes are pretty nice! I had a Schwinn Crosscut last year...Mine was in horrible shape and slightly too big for me though so I sold it. Yours looks to be in great condition.

Shadow,

I see a few folks in just about every hobby and sport that think that the equipment makes the person and helps them perform better. Wrong. If that were the case then every rider with a $5,000+ carbon bike would be winning bike races. They don't. Every golfer with a $2,000 dollar set of clubs would be winning golf tournaments. They don't.

Every photographer with a $4,000 dollar camera would have their photos on the walls of art galleries and the front cover of magazines. They don't. BTW I'm a photo buff also. I have a nice Nikon digital camera but some of the best photos I've ever taken were with a 65 year old Retina rangefinder camera that I bought used when I was 19.

Does anyone seriously believe that a weekend golf warrior with a top of the line set of golf clubs could beat Jordan Spieth playing with a dimestore set of clubs? Not a chance.

It's been stated previously, it truly is a marvelous feeling and motivational boost to pass another rider with an expensive bike. I'm 59, and although I love to ride I'm not a racer, nor of race caliber but I can and do pass guys half my age riding expensive bikes. Most of the time it's on hill climbs when I'm riding my fixed gear bike. They smoke me on the downhills though....

Riding is for pure enjoyment, period. Ride hard, ride smart and have fun! How to deal with it? Ignore those gearheads. I absolutely LOVE to ride! It doesn't matter if it's a 50 miler on my 30 year old Pinarello or a fun ride downtown on my fixed gear bike.

Go ride!


-

If you're riding for fun, then what does it really matter?
If you're trying to climb the ladder from Cat Infinity... up to Cat 1.... then ogle the other other bikes.

I can build a really nice bike on a budget, using parts that are a couple of years old. And that is good enough for me.

Hmmm... well, I like bikes, but I also like my 48 year old (or so) bike. :commute:

I can't really say if the newer bikes make that big of a difference.... maybe a little. But, I still put some good miles on the old bike.

Seek out the services of a mental health professional?

Every sport and hobby is like this. There is always something newer and nicer to buy.


Let's say that you go out and spend $15,000 on a top-of the line Madone or whatever. Well next year, it's old tech and you need to spend more money if you want the best. It never ends.


Your best bet is to enjoy what you have.

I finally got my 35-year-old Raleigh back on the road and I have been having so much fun I have been ignoring my other bikes.

Eventually I will take on of the others off the rack ... and have so much fun ....

The aging process may ease things in the long run. I've sold cases of advanced and vintage camera gear in the past two years, and am happy with my Nikon P&S and iPhone.

Happier still, with just three bikes, the newest a 2011 touring type, a vintage 70's Italiano FG and a store run, bad weather beater. No desire for newer, fancier, more expensive.

I'm 65, your mileage/desire may vary.

+1. Someone who can assist you as you examine this more deeply. Issues such as measures of self worth and the self talk that is the soundtrack of your life, being mindful of the here and now, and goal setting.


Good luck with this. You can never conquer it, but you can raise up other behaviors and attitudes to take its place.

You can get a really high-paying job .... :)

Just say "No"!

Buy a powermeter and focus instead on improving your power. After the initial purchase it costs nothing other than pain and suffering.

Better yet, don't buy a powermeter nor concern yourself with improving your power. Just ride at whatever speed or effort level provides the most enjoyment for yourself.

Most importantly, forget about advice from masochists who are into pain and suffering, and for whom pain IS gain.