[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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

lol @ these trolls, so concerned with everyone's gear.

 

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

 

I must be super pro with my 1994 aluminum and 9 speed then.

That's a good excuse for a recent snap:

 

That crank looks gigantic on there.

 

It's Ohio, pretty flat. I do my climbing in the woods on the 29er.

 

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.

 

Not trying to insult anyone. It was my definition, if you want to call yourself an athlete go ahead. I am not an athlete anymore, just someone who likes to ride and race once in a while. Nuttin wrong with that.

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.

 

That is a false assumption and the very basis for your misunderstanding.

Do I enjoy cycling less than you do? Really?

 

 

 

I saw "beer zone" and immediately assumed that it demarcated specific areas of the course where competitors were allowed to drink.

 

Spectators can drink in specified areas. Racers can drink at any time during competition. Beer zone lets racers know where they can get a tasty beverage hand up. God I love cross.

 

valid point.

In my experience though, many (not all) gearheads fall into this trap. The analogy is the guy who fusses over tires, and suspension rather than work on his/her driving skill in autocross.

 

This forum is fun.

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?

 

As I said just my definition.

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.

 

I'm going to crush my liver at that race. It could end my life. lol

I am so happy this is relatively in my back yard.

 

Is this guy an athlete?