Siu Blue Wind

At work, in the breakroom, I let it slip out that I have a GF Cake 4DLX. The person who I mentioned it to was saying that she wanted to start cycling and of course I got excited and when she asked what kind of bike I had, I was obligated to tell her. (usually I don't speak too much of any of my bikes at work). She had no idea what it was so I left it at that. Another co-worker down the hall, overheard and came into the room glorifying his bike (GT I-drive 5.3) and pretty much made it clear how much better his bike was. Since I didn't know much about his (let alone even heard of it), I just kept my mouth shut and commented on how nice the bike must be. Now EVERY TIME we happen to be in the breakroom at the same time, he starts bashing my bike again, and commenting about the amazing feats and acrobatic woo hoos that his bike can perform. I've only had my bike a week and haven't done any woo hoos... or anything yet for that matter! What to say, what to do...

I need either some encouragement to keep my cool or some ammunition to shut him up. Because I'm starting to lose my patience........

lilHinault

THIS ..... is why I'm glad I don't have one of those "jobs" that are performed in a "workplace".

Dio Rallen

Tell him that "It's not cool for people to buy big SUV cars to compensate for something *wink wink*, and that applies expensive bicycles as well."

Or you can ask him "How he manages to make love to his bicycle without any
balls?"

Or enlighten him on Hienz Stucke who road around the world Ten times on a three speed.

Or just tell him that it's not the bicycle, it's the person.

Really thought, he set himself up, enjoy the oppertunity to crush his pitiful wanna-be rider soul. I will love to be in your situation right now *rubs hands together* Muah Muah Muah.

Raiyn

Actually your bike has the higher MSRP, better Crankset and bottom bracket, better brakes, better fork etc etc. The only thing he has is an LX drivetrain (whoopie) To top it all off the company that makes his bike is the same one that supplies Walmart (Pacific Cycle Group) with their garbage bikes. There will even be vikes sold under the GT brand there in the very near future.

Don't be intimidated that fool has no idea what he's talking about

KingTermite 

Hi Nav sister.......not on Nav anymore?

One thing you could do is ask him how much he rides? If you ride significantly more you can hit him from the "yeah....but a lot of good its doing ya if you don't ride it" or "Hmmmm.....why would one get such a great bike that they don't even ride?" or "If that bike is go great, then what keeps you from putting x miles per week on it like I do on mine?".

Bigmark

Let him brag about his bike, or bash yours for a few minutes, then as you are getting up to walk out say, “Yep, that would riley bother me if I was in eighth grade again, but I don’t need to talk crap about someone else’s equipment to make myself look like the big man.” Then walk away with a smile, and leave him looking like the dumb @$$ that he is.

Or say something like this. “Does it have 2 wheels? “Hmmm.” “How about handlebars, does it have handlebars too?” Then act excited, and say, “Oh yea! Does yours have cables going to the breaks?” “Mine has cables going to the shifters too, how about yours does yours have shifters?” Stuff like that. He will get peeved, and walk away.

Or you can just say what you want, and I am sure it is something like this, “Ya know I don’t give a rat’s @-- about you or your bike, so why don’t you try and show off to someone else.”
That may get your point across, but it wouldn’t be as much fun as the above.

blue_neon

I like your ideas people!

It also depends on if you want to make enemy's with him or just shut him up.

jur

I like Raiyn's approach. Next time, ask your co-worker why EXACTLY his bike is better, spec-wise piece by piece. Then quote your bike's better spec.

CRUM

Customers will come into my store and sometimes ask me what bike is better. A Trek? Specialized? Gary Fisher? Rocky? Etc. Having sold most of them at different times in my bike shop career, I know that "better" is in the eye of the beholder. But I had to come up with an answer that didn't crush their preconceptions or reinforce them. So I just tell whoever asks what bike is the best, "The best bike in the world is the one under your butt".

CyLowe97

Ammunition you need? Take 'im out for a ride and school 'im on the trails.... have 'im put up or shut up, no?

It's win-win. You either have a great ride and discover a new riding partner, or else put the arguments/put-downs to rest with real action.

RiPHRaPH

there are two kinds of riders. riders who love talking about their equipment and riders who let their riding speak for itself.

C Law

Say nothing. Go out and ride your bike. a lot . Go out on a 'friendly' ride on the weekend and whoop his ass!! Nothing will shut him up faster than gasping for air chasing you up a climb. And after that, smoke him on the descent. rinse and repeat until he shuts up.

Then he will surmise your bike is superior than his due to the fact that you are faster and better. It is easier to admit that than to admit you are a superior rider.

I would agree with others that your bike is probably a bit 'better' than his anyway, so the whole thing is rather funny.

shokhead

Just smile,you dont need to reply. It will get old with everybody and they will think he is an a$$ and you climb up a notch for not saying anything. But if you need to say something,tell him you got the bike but i got the engine.

Retro Grouch 

Think about how tiresome all this bicycle equipment talk must be to the majority of your co-workers who don't ride. It doesn't matter whether you are right or wrong. To them, anything you say will make you seem more like him. Do you really want to be that guy?

lotek 

after he finishes trashing your bike (talk) just respond with
"well, at least I actually Ride my bike, it isn't just another expensive
clothes rack in the excercise room or garage art"

that ought to shut him up.
if not challenge him to a "friendly" ride. 10 to 1 says he a) declines b)agrees but
never shows up or c) gets schooled by you.

BikeInMN

Why not invite him to go riding?

edp773

Brand bashing! Isn't it fun? How your co-workers perceive his bashing will depend on their mindset. Seems like most people love a good fight, but if you do not like his bashing, you should not drop to his level. But if you feel you must, try to remain calm and sound sincere. If you like Raiyn's view ask him to let youknow when when Pacific Cycle Group starts selling his bike at Walmart. Getting parts for a bike at Walmart would be much more convenient than going to a bike dealer. Or if you like Bigmark's suggestion, you could add a little morre nformation like: Your bike has Shimano shifters, but are they Deore shifters; or my forks lock out , does yours?

Bike nut

I'll never forget years ago when I first started riding. I was in college and there was a guy who used to make fun of me for how slow I was (even though he had never seen me ride). One day he said that he could beat me with both his tires flat. I told him, "OKay I'll take you up on that." He then realized what an idiot he looked like after saying that. We finally went for a ride. I did not beat him but I was able to keep up with him. He never made fun of me again.

Dio Rallen

Whoa whoa whoa.

Please do not play his game, and start to talk about how much cooler your bicycle is than his. That will just make you as lame as he is. Whenever a potential hardcore cyclists whines about equipment, it makes a hardcore rider cry. Poor Heinz Stucke and I have shed so many tears for you people.

Plus, you just got it a week ago, and if I remember right, you are just getting into cycling. I wouldn't let this get out of hand and make it bigger than it is.

SO, be the more mature person and insult his dick and crush his ego. It's ALWAYS the right way to go. Okay, it's the fun way to go.

But it's these kind of riders who piss me off, the ones who obsess over equipment. I meet so many cyclists on the road who would rather talk about my legendary Bridgestone RB-T (looks like one, at least, not sure) that I got by accident than talk to me. These guys just have to work all day so they can't ride as much as they want to, so they obsess about the equipment instead.

Don't stray down the dark path. The ornery bad attitude path is so much more fun. Or you can stop dancing around the subject and just tell him that you do not care about his bicycle.

Paul L.

Best reponse is to tell him how much you love your bike and how it is the right bike for you. I have a piece of crap MTB at home that has no suspension and is 14 years old. We have been through thousands of miles, mountains, trails, singletrack, deep forests, college, and backroads together. Does it matter that it is not the latest fully suspended Specialized? Not in the slightest. Does someone else have a better one? Probably. Probably more important than what you have is how you use what you have in my opinion. Now, all that being said, If someone would like to contribute a brand new fully suspended Specialized MTB to my lowly cause, i would accept of your charity most humbly.

webist

Tell us again why what he says or does is important to you. Taking him at all seriously is a very complimentary act on your part. You must really value his opinion.

Siu Blue Wind

Hi Raiyn!

You know I didn't even check on the website about his bike. I just figured it was some beautiful full carbon yee ha that made mine look like a Walmart. Thank you for the information, it kind of puts it into perspective. Maybe he just doesn't know about the Cake. The funny thing is, I have this thing about Walmart. There are so many negative things about that place, and everyone at work knows about how I feel - I wonder if I should mention the Pacific Cycle Group thing.

Siu Blue Wind

Hey, the Nav is still here. It's just the Cake can take a little more dirt, that's all. About him not riding that much - I just brought home this new bike so he can actually catch ME on getting this bike and not doing anythng on it yet....

Siu Blue Wind

Yeah, now that I've cooled down a little and he didn't come to work today, I should be the bigger person and just let it ride. I feel he just thinks that because he is younger than me, I should not (could not?) be on something like this. He was very surprised when he came into the room and found out that I've got a bike, let alone a full suspension.

Siu Blue Wind

What he says about the bike is not really important to me. I actually thought that his bike was superior. The point was that he was tearing ME down, and MY choice of bikes - the decision I made. Everytime. And that wasn't very nice. No, not at all. But I made sure that I didn't let him know that it was bothering me. Unless he reads the BF. HA! Wouldn't that be nice?