If FEMA had the bicycles, would it fund Hustler's manlet bib?
#2521
[QUOTE=Enginerd;1172271]. I seem to see a LOT of athletes spend a few grand on a bike, just to be mid to back of the pack anyways during 'competitions'.
My only bike currently is the aluminum frame Giant road bike that I bought new back around 2008 for about $800. QUOTE]
"Athletes" by my definition don't buy bikes, they are sponsored. They are also not at the back of the pack. As was once pointed out to me on the local winter weekend group ride many years ago: "Strength at the front, but the money is at the back"
The truth is you can be competitive today on 2004 aluminum and 9 speed up to cat 1, and probably higher.
My only bike currently is the aluminum frame Giant road bike that I bought new back around 2008 for about $800. QUOTE]
"Athletes" by my definition don't buy bikes, they are sponsored. They are also not at the back of the pack. As was once pointed out to me on the local winter weekend group ride many years ago: "Strength at the front, but the money is at the back"
The truth is you can be competitive today on 2004 aluminum and 9 speed up to cat 1, and probably higher.
#2522
Tour de Franzia
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
The truth is you can be competitive today on 2004 aluminum and 9 speed up to cat 1, and probably higher.
#2523
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Your definition of "athlete" is insulting to me on a variety of levels.
True, but I'm not going to walk back out to the garage to admire my 2004 Giant and 9-speed 105. I get the feeling that you're missing one of the primary points of this thread (oogling over bitchin' cool bikes that are way better than any of us will ever be).
The frequency of "why is your bike so nice, you don't need that" comments in this thread is jaw-droppingly ironic on a forum where 99% of the owners do not have the skill to extract the peak performance out of the cars they own and build. The point of this thread (and this forum in general) is to talk about building and oogling cool, fast cars/bikes, regardless of whether or not we are actually good enough to justify owning them. We own them because they are cool, not because they are necessary.
They are also not at the back of the pack. As was once pointed out to me on the local winter weekend group ride many years ago: "Strength at the front, but the money is at the back"
The truth is you can be competitive today on 2004 aluminum and 9 speed up to cat 1, and probably higher.
The truth is you can be competitive today on 2004 aluminum and 9 speed up to cat 1, and probably higher.
The frequency of "why is your bike so nice, you don't need that" comments in this thread is jaw-droppingly ironic on a forum where 99% of the owners do not have the skill to extract the peak performance out of the cars they own and build. The point of this thread (and this forum in general) is to talk about building and oogling cool, fast cars/bikes, regardless of whether or not we are actually good enough to justify owning them. We own them because they are cool, not because they are necessary.
#2525
Elite Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 2,910
Total Cats: 51
When talking about new gear... decided to build a single bike frame before I kill 2 of us trying out a first frame build starting with a tandem bike.
same alloy, same requirements... just a single bike.
Keeping it a cheap build, since I don't really need another bike... but this will look cool, and I will likely use it to ride to work.
-Huge bottom bracket drop A-la TT bike
-72.5 degree HT angle a-la TT bike
-sliding horizontal dropouts
-chainstay mounted centerpull rear brake (single speed bike, not always fixed)
-internal cable routing for rear brake
-aero tube profiles
-tapered carbon ebay fork
-ebay carbon tubulars-what better place to try tubs than a bike I barely intend to ride.
-one seatpost mount TT style water bottle for loner SS rides/for coffee on my ride to work
same alloy, same requirements... just a single bike.
Keeping it a cheap build, since I don't really need another bike... but this will look cool, and I will likely use it to ride to work.
-Huge bottom bracket drop A-la TT bike
-72.5 degree HT angle a-la TT bike
-sliding horizontal dropouts
-chainstay mounted centerpull rear brake (single speed bike, not always fixed)
-internal cable routing for rear brake
-aero tube profiles
-tapered carbon ebay fork
-ebay carbon tubulars-what better place to try tubs than a bike I barely intend to ride.
-one seatpost mount TT style water bottle for loner SS rides/for coffee on my ride to work
#2529
So you are basically assuming only the top 10% of pro/elite class is an athlete? lol
Maybe it's different in road racing, but in MTB very few pro's are actually given bikes... Most "pros" just get wholesale prices and some free stuff here and there. It is extremely hard to get free **** from bicycle racing.
#2530
Your definition of "athlete" is insulting to me on a variety of levels.
True, but I'm not going to walk back out to the garage to admire my 2004 Giant and 9-speed 105. I get the feeling that you're missing one of the primary points of this thread (oogling over bitchin' cool bikes that are way better than any of us will ever be).
The frequency of "why is your bike so nice, you don't need that" comments in this thread is jaw-droppingly ironic on a forum where 99% of the owners do not have the skill to extract the peak performance out of the cars they own and build. The point of this thread (and this forum in general) is to talk about building and oogling cool, fast cars/bikes, regardless of whether or not we are actually good enough to justify owning them. We own them because they are cool, not because they are necessary.
True, but I'm not going to walk back out to the garage to admire my 2004 Giant and 9-speed 105. I get the feeling that you're missing one of the primary points of this thread (oogling over bitchin' cool bikes that are way better than any of us will ever be).
The frequency of "why is your bike so nice, you don't need that" comments in this thread is jaw-droppingly ironic on a forum where 99% of the owners do not have the skill to extract the peak performance out of the cars they own and build. The point of this thread (and this forum in general) is to talk about building and oogling cool, fast cars/bikes, regardless of whether or not we are actually good enough to justify owning them. We own them because they are cool, not because they are necessary.
I like nice gear too, but what gets lost in the obsession over gear, is the real enjoyment of riding or racing.
BTW: the term "pro" is used too liberally in cycling. If you have to work on the side, cycling is notyourprofession despite what your licence says. Again my definition. Nothing wrong with being an aspiring amateur though.
#2537
Oh man, you are so hardcore and so right. None of us on our fancy bicycles are up front, we're all just riding off the back. I bet your so strong, just like Lance. Maybe one day I can be an "athlete". Can you help me, maybe provide some advice? How do I turn-into a miserable, whiny ---- on the internet?
I have no illusions, I was never strong as Lance with or without drugs.
Yes, I could give you advice on racing. What would you like to know?
#2538
If I do 6 local auto-x and place worse than average, should I call myself a "race car driver", or someone who does the odd autocross? I would never even consider calling myself any kind of skilled driver only out of respect to those that put in the time and effort to really be called drivers. But that is just me.
I don't know anyone's palmares on this board, so I could be totally out of line.