Originally Posted by Eric F

Yeah. I can't believe how slow they're going uphill in the Tour this year. It looks like they're riding in molasses. It's definitely the fat, heavy wheels and tires.

Originally Posted by Eric F

Yeah. I can't believe how slow they're going uphill in the Tour this year. It looks like they're riding in molasses. It's definitely the fat, heavy wheels and tires.

Originally Posted by mschwett

and it’s just so sad that sponsored professional athletes are such shrinking violets, unable to speak for themselves or without any independent ambition to win that they just let themselves be hobbled like this.

sloping top tubes too. imagine how much incredibly faster they’d be with a horizontal top tube.

Originally Posted by elcruxio

So here's the thing about platinum cards...

I tried to use a platinum card to buy a 7000€ bicycle a few months back and I just couldn't do it. None of the bike shops accepted the platinum card provider and none would make an exception to score a certain sale (and since this is an ebike we're talking about, pretty hefty income from maintenance in the future)

It would turn out that the platinum card provider charges such high fees from vendors that at least bike shops in my area won't accept it.

This experience somewhat makes me insecure about the validity of claims that dropping platinum cards would dictate the direction of the technological advancements in the bike industry...

Originally Posted by big john

The platinum card was introduced in this thread as a means of insulting buyers of certain bikes/components. The poster who did this asserted that dumb people could be easily convinced to buy whatever the marketers told them to buy.

All references to the platinum card after that have been sarcasm or reaction to the assertion.

Originally Posted by phrantic09

I don’t understand why people get upset at others spending 1000s on bikes if that’s what they want to spend their money on.

Originally Posted by phrantic09

I don’t understand why people get upset at others spending 1000s on bikes if that’s what they want to spend their money on.

Originally Posted by mschwett

they don't get upset unless the bikes have carbon frames, tubeless tires, "fat" tires > 25mm, disc brakes, sloping top tubes, 1x drivetrains, or electronic derailleurs. for whatever reason those technologies are an affront to their self-worth!!! us poor suckers

Originally Posted by Eric F

Because those people aren't thinking for themselves, and must be stopped before they contribute to the economy. They are mindless sheep who have no willpower against the evil marketing geniuses employed by Big Bike, and Big Bike's subsidiaries (Big Disc, Big Tubeless, etc.).

Originally Posted by phrantic09

I don’t understand why people get upset at others spending 1000s on bikes if that’s what they want to spend their money on.

Originally Posted by big john

The platinum card was introduced in this thread as a means of insulting buyers of certain bikes/components. The poster who did this asserted that dumb people could be easily convinced to buy whatever the marketers told them to buy.

All references to the platinum card after that have been sarcasm or reaction to the assertion.

Originally Posted by Dave Mayer

Let's break this down once again (sigh):

Fat tires: They are heavy and require fat heavy rims. Good for comfort I guess. They feature high wind resistance and high rolling resistance. Yes, if you pumped a 32mm Conti GP5000 to 100psi, you may save 2 watts of rolling resistance over a 23mm tire. But you pump the 32mm tire to 70psi, and then the rolling resistance for the fatter tire is now more. Besides, tire rolling resistance is a distant second-order drain of watts.

Sloping top tubes: easier to get an off of the bike if you have hip problems. More standover height is good if you are riding your road race bike over a minefield of rocks and roots, and your 'tender parts' come in frequent contact with the top tube. Guess a good thing on a road race bike. BTW, due to the extra frame reinforcement required in the seatpost cluster, and the longer seatpost, the sloping top tube design is actually heavier than the traditional road bike frame with a horizontal top tube.

Tubeless: If you are flatting out every week, good I guess.

Discs: good if you are riding down a steep mountain road in the sleet carrying camping gear with frozen hands. Otherwise, heavy, fussy, expensive and unnecessary.

Originally Posted by elcruxio

You know I was sorta hoping the irony would show through from my post. But that just goes to show I just don't have the subtlety of a native speaker, no matter however much Pratchett I've read...

Originally Posted by Eric F

Because those people aren't thinking for themselves, and must be stopped before they contribute to the economy. They are mindless sheep who have no willpower against the evil marketing geniuses employed by Big Bike, and Big Bike's subsidiaries (Big Disc, Big Tubeless, etc.).

Originally Posted by PeteHski

As usual these are just a weak attempt to deride newer things that you clearly hate. Any reasonable arguments are drowned in your arrogance and bitterness.

Do any of your riding friends have bikes with disc brakes, sloping top tubes, “fat” tyres etc and do you deride them in the same way as you do on this forum?

Originally Posted by elcruxio

You know I was sorta hoping the irony would show through from my post. But that just goes to show I just don't have the subtlety of a native speaker, no matter however much Pratchett I've read...

Originally Posted by sir_crash_alot

As I build my new bike, I'm wondering now how many features I can put on it for maximum aggravation to, er, "traditionalists".

• Fat tires (28mm)
• Disc brakes (you know, from those filthy mountain bikers)
• Sloping top tube
• other aero features that make the bike slightly heavier
• Tubeless tires
• Chain guide (to support my 1x drive train....and also from those filthy mountain bikers)

Thinking of adding a dropper post for comfort + control on descents, which sacrifices a bit of weight...but also borrowed from those filthy mountain bikers.

Originally Posted by sir_crash_alot

As I build my new bike, I'm wondering now how many features I can put on it for maximum aggravation to, er, "traditionalists".

• Fat tires (28mm)
• Disc brakes (you know, from those filthy mountain bikers)
• Sloping top tube
• other aero features that make the bike slightly heavier
• Tubeless tires
• Chain guide (to support my 1x drive train....and also from those filthy mountain bikers)

Thinking of adding a dropper post for comfort + control on descents, which sacrifices a bit of weight...but also borrowed from those filthy mountain bikers.

Originally Posted by sir_crash_alot

As I build my new bike, I'm wondering now how many features I can put on it for maximum aggravation to, er, "traditionalists".

• Fat tires (28mm)
• Disc brakes (you know, from those filthy mountain bikers)
• Sloping top tube
• other aero features that make the bike slightly heavier
• Tubeless tires
• Chain guide (to support my 1x drive train....and also from those filthy mountain bikers)

Thinking of adding a dropper post for comfort + control on descents, which sacrifices a bit of weight...but also borrowed from those filthy mountain bikers.

Originally Posted by DangerousDanR

I am an engineer (not a Dentist) and I paid for my recent 1X13, disc brake, carbon fiber frame, sloping top tube, aero design, carbon wheeled, 28mm wide tubeless tire, carbon bottle caged Time Scylon with a card that says "Platinum Plus", and it is more enjoyable to ride for hours at a time than my steel or titanium bikes. Please note well that I am past my "full retirement age" and still working because it is enjoyable to be involved in designing modern products and learning new things.

Oh yeah, the crank arms, handlebars and seat post are also carbon fiber, and to make it even worse, the seat post is a proprietary design so I can't go buy a steel one on eBay. Now, can all those of you who think modern bikes are inferior please piss off.

Originally Posted by Eric F

Time Scylon!! Sweet. Time makes such lovely bikes. My 20yo Time VX Pro is still the best-handing bike I have ever ridden. However, based on what I’ve learned in this site, I expect it will asplode into dust at any moment. Meanwhile, I have seriously lustful thoughts about an ADHX.

Originally Posted by Chandne

Has anyone mentioned those filthy flared handlebars? I do like those too, though smaller flares for road and 12-16 for gravel. Ugh...we are like lepers for the classic guys who still smoke menthols and ride 19s and 21s.