And it's not just about the rider.

I am really really sorry to destroy your allusions here, but there has been an absolute fortune spent on the woman you talk about to make her fast enough to be in the Olympic team.

Lots of lab work, lots of bike fitting, lots of travelling around the world to compete and gain a measure against others, lots of coaching, lots of work on new bike tech.

Someone has to fork out the moula for that to happen, and it happens behind the scenes so that when you get to see her on a 70s touring bike mixing it with the go-fast group in wherever, you think hard training and genetics are the only things that have made her fast, and the bike and equipment don't matter.

Just stop and think whether the woman rides her 70s touring bike in the Olympic Games. By your logic, she would, but I would guarantee that the bike she used in the Games was worth, oh, what? $10,000 to $25,000?

Plus, there are many on these forums who will attest that spending a lot of money on a power meter has transformed their training and made them faster. Likely the most successful ones at this have also spent money engaging a coach to assist them get the most out of their training programs and power meters.

Then they have invested in things such as expensive aerodynamic wheels because when they get into the higher categories, a second or so extra speed over a mile in a 20-mile race really adds up, and really do make a difference between winning and losing.

And a good quality rider will tell the difference immediately between a good frame and a fantastic frame, whereas mere wannabes will not have a clue about the nuances.

You can think what you like, but there are occasions when spending dollars will make someone go faster.

There's nothing wrong with that.

There's everything wrong with buying a $10k bike and then looking to 'upgrade' or try something new just 1-2 years down the road while not having any problems with the $10k bike. That's upgraditis.

Learn to dissociate your shopping enjoyment from spending enjoyment, and you'll have no problems with upgraditis. I still love looking and drooling at DI2, $10+ bikes, etc, but I'm not going to drop the coin on a new bike until I NEED one. I've wasted very little money in this sport as a result.

And there's nothing wrong with that either ... if you've got the money to do it. Why not consider upgrades after 1-2 years? There were many years where I would have put 20,000+ km on a bicycle in 2 years. Chances are something needed replacing if not upgrading.

Exactly. That kind of thought process is what credit card companies and retailers love to see.

Cycling is a relatively cheap hobby. Once you buy the bike and some specific clothing it is all basically free. You don't need to upgrade for years, just replace what breaks or isn't working up to expected. Getting obsessed about spending money and upgrading constantly is missing the point.

I don't see that there's anything wrong with buying any type of cycling equipment so long as you can afford it and so long as you ride a lot. The only bad purchase is for equipment that sits idle or puts your financial security at risk.

upgraditis for me:

-Do I need it....No
-Is it going to make me faster or a better rider...possibly but nothing major.

But, I do it for personal satisfaction. I am upgrading nearly every part of my bike within the next 6 months or so, because I want to. It keeps me motivated in this sport. Its like technology, you buy a new cell phone and 5 weeks later it is out of date and something more exciting and bad arse has already been developed. I like to have the newest/"cool" and if I can sell this and that along with save that that one thing I really want then I see no problem with that. If upgraditis was creating an issue financially within your household then it is a totally different problem. I upgrade when I can afford to do so, which mainly envolves baby steps and not just overnight.

I think the conversation of "do i really need this" has been discussed over and over again. A large majority will never need the bikes/equipment we have, but lets face it, we all desire to have good quality or cool stuff that is appealing. IF upgrading is important to you than I say go for it as long as you can afford to do so. If you are one that realizes their current bike/component/clothes...etc are more than enough and would rather spend your money on things that are more important to you than do that.

some people have upgraditis, some are totally content. IF you happen to come down with the sick and painful disease of upgraditis it will never stop. It continues to grow inside of you like a tumor that corrupts your soul. I have stage 3 upgraditis and am seeking help :thumb:

This is not the kind of problem the 41, or anyone, can resolve within a single thread.


I mean, ****, the bicycle is a vehicle: it has two wheels and it takes you places. Where the hell does it take you?

Around the world. To places I've never been before. To places I love to visit again. It allows me to do things I would never have done otherwise, and gives me the opportunity to meet people I would never have met otherwise. :)

I'm at 3 bikes since I started cycling (3 months ago). I finally feel like I have a grasp on what I need and what I want. Still in my head I consider buying a 3k bike that will be 2lbs lighter than my current bike. That can't be the thoughts of a mentally stable individual

+1

thats what i was basically trying to say!

Desire is the root of all suffering.

That is one of the most profound things I've ever read on the Internet. You are really smart. Did you go to college or something?

No. When you step on a big nail, or when you stub your toe, or fall off a stair and shatter your patella, THAT is the root of all suffering. To say nothing of kidney stones.....

And the love of money is the root of all evil.

thats right. rap ists, serial killers, pedophiles, crime bosses, and dictators do it all for the love of money.

No, the root of that kind of suffering is a desire to return to a state where such extremes of pain do not exist - or to be more precise, the memory of such pain - and since one cannot reverse time in such a way that the pain (or knowing such pain) magically goes away, one feels suffering at the sense of helplessness at not being able to do so.

Or you know, watching the remastered remastered version of the original Star Wars trilogy.

And here I thought it was the love of power....or fear of powerlessness, take your pick.

But OP, seriously, this bike thing? I'm really hoping that you have interests that go beyond bicycles (it's something I used to worry about myself.)

Granted, I'm not one to talk, since I just blinged out an entry level road bike, but we're all allowed to make our mistakes, right?

I've found that an innoculation of retrogrouchitis has protected me against the worst of upgradeitis. Now, the challenge is to quit hoarding obsolete parts.

Oh, yes.

I find that with excessive time on my hands right now I am obsessing with getting something I cannot possibly ride at this moment. It is driving me crazy but I try and keep in mind that its this free time that is causing me to think more about it than I should... I find it most hard not to spend money in the winter when all those deals are going on; like i really need ANOTHER seat post... This winter will be a trying time for sure.

In the short answer: no, it doesn't.

So the root of all suffering is...the actual suffering. Dude, I SEE it. Who knew? I've been so blind....

I believe obsession with upgradeitis depends on the person. I have been obsessed with modifying everything I have owned from the cradle and it became my livelihood...product development. I have another friend that simply buys a road bike and rides it. He is a good rider as well. He also performs 1/10th the maintenance on it I do...never takes the cranks off, re-cables the bike, rarely changes a chain etc.
So there are clearly many walks...as expected...the way society rolls.

Me? This winter I am obsessing about stripping the Campy 10s off my new bike and installing Ultegra Di2. This is part is to change my cassette to a 28t in back...Shimano has more cassette options...but that really is just an excuse...lol. I am also perpetually fiddling with my fit on the bike...a mm here and a mm there...always searching for the holy grail of best position 'for me' on the bike. There isn't any of course. :)

It appears you have a serious case of GAS... otherwise known as, Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I sometimes go through this phase. What happens with me is I'll go into the local bike shop to buy stuff like spare inner tubes or new bar tape, and then I find myself browsing the clearance table looking for whatever. It's like, I don't really need anything, but I still like to look.

And that's part of the reason I've ended up with 40-something jerseys.

That's what makes people do things like golf and sailing. They forget about all the pain and misery and remember one isolated good part. For example, someone can hit 120 bad shots in a golf game but one good one. The good one is all they remember and think next time they will hit 70 more just like that. That's what keeps them coming back.

The same with cycling - it's the belief that buying that one thing that will make them faster, go longer, and feel better

Ride more so it reduces your cost per mile.....

I ride about 250 miles per week sice I got my cannondale in July, I really do love it. Most of my purchases have been clothing related as I started with absolutely nothing. Chamois shorts, shoes, wicking shirts, warm wicking shirts, wool, helmet. So atleast since I'm new all the things I bought were needs more than wants.

Now I'm at the point where I own enough stuff to be comfortable and my prioritys have changed to upgrades. Bought some speedplays(don't like them) now thinking about gp4000s or even lighter wheels. I've also been thinking about buying a carbon bike but I only have 1500 budget so that's not a great idea. I've always been obsessive in everything I do, cycling has been the same.

Kind of, maybe, but it's two different things entirely: you're comparing experiences versus material possessions. With golf, you're failing and failing, but imperfect shots are a norm. The only thing to remind you that you've had a bad shot are the score card and your memory; the card, you can erase, the memory, not so much. Golf teaches persistence, though: just keep trying and eventually, you'll get it right...somehow.

With cycling, it's just a matter of compulsive consumption, like you see a thing and envision a fantasy where it's on your bike and making you better. The material possession does no good unless you think it can benefit you, and of course, there's the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you buy something that you think is important. (Or maybe people who can easily afford things don't feel this, but when I can put enough money aside to buy a new seat or handlebars, I feel hella great about my purchase, simply because I can make that purchase. I've often heard the argument that money equals freedom: the more you have, the more you can do. Sometimes, you just do stupid things with it.) Of course, it can't because the only thing that can make you better is you; things can certainly help, but that's more or less tweaks to an already strong foundation. One of the implications that bothers me about upgraditis is that if you don't think you're going fast enough, you can always blame the bike instead of adapting to the situation.

No, it doesn't help.

What a crazy idea, you would have to start blaming the engine!

I'm content...

... with 6 bikes, most of them with Campagnolo, including a custom steel that I waited a year for.


:lol: