I Think I Am Going To Look Like A Kn*b!
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I'm really enjoring this thread
In answer to your original question, no, you won't look like a knob. Not to other cyclists anyway, but I'm guessing that's what you meant! You choose your bike for yourself, not for others, so go ahead and do what feels best. I've spent a ton of money on bikes over the years. I'm not much of a rider, but I don't really care about trying to justify my purchases. I've enjoyed them all and have never regretted spending the extra. Then again, I haven't had to make any significant sacrifices to get them, so I don't feel I've lost out on anything as a result.
Good luck with whatever you choose.0 -
mascott - read your personal mail please0
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M.Cole wrote:mascott - read your personal mail please
Glurk! Whats that for?! Or has M.Cole got a Chorus grouppo for sale!?0 -
Heavymental wrote:M.Cole wrote:mascott - read your personal mail please
Glurk! Whats that for?! Or has M.Cole got a Chorus grouppo for sale!?
just out of date info on my profile...........thought i was in trouble!0 -
Sloboy and all forumites: if I've written something profound then it was (1) an accident, or (2) plagiarism. Either way, if it helps, do as I do; I always appreciate good writing when I steal -ahem, read it. [/code]0
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I don't like to think too much about the money I've spent over the years on dubiously necessary bikes and bits... although I have developed some fairly sophisticated justification strategies. My personal favourites are 1) The "positive feedback" argument. There seems to be a fairly direct relationship between the amount of money I spend on bikes and the amount of riding I do. I used to wonder if this was because the more you ride, the more you bond with the bike and the more you want to spend on it, or the more you spend on it, the more you want to get out and ride to enjoy it / justify it. I think it's both, which means that there is a positive feedback loop which tends to make you make you ride more and more and spend more and more. This is good, because riding is good, and the money you spend on the bikes is insignificant next to the long-term benefits to health and happiness that cycling brings 2) The "materialism inoculation argument". This one goes something like "I'm not a very materialist person, but I live in a society that is constantly trying to make me buy and consume things. It's impossible to fight against this all of the time, so the best thing is to have a small, self-contained outlet for materialist impulses. I don't buy expensive clothes, expensive gadgets or the like, because cycling acts as a safety valve for all the materialist pressure that society is putting on me". I must admit this argument has been taking a bashing recently as I've been using something similar to justify spending money on photography gear... :? 0
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neeb.
two hobbies......
at once.....
man.....did you win the lottery, 8)0 -
two hobbies......
Err... well, there's also the inline skating, and the hillwalking/hiking, and a few other more temporary obsessions...
It's mostly cycling at the moment though.0 -
Heavymental wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7189947.stm
Lets be honest. You don't Really need it to be top notch. When it comes down to it. Once you bolt on the Centaur and head off down the road you'll be happy as larry and won't even think about the Chorus. Obviously you'll be wringing you hands in the shop when paying for it, wondering if you've made a mistake but as the Centaur is, essentially, functionally the same as Chorus you'll get over it. Its the same with most purchases, unless it goes wrong on you or is clearly worse than the more expensive option then you'll grow to love and appreciate it.
Its all very well making jokes about the money pit of cycling, and if you can afford it then thats great but be careful. The money you save going for lower spec could pay for a weeks cycling somewhere hot or a few weekends away in the UK. Splashing out on the Chorus won't actually make you any happier. Flying down off the Tourmalet or sipping coffee at the top of Alpe Du Huez will make you happy. Even if you're on a BMX! Plus, a week away in the hills makes you faster than any componentry choice will.
I'm nearing the end of a bike build and had to be honest with myself. I decided that the only reason I was salivating over Record/Chorus as oppose to Centaur was because of the word written accross the component, for the sake of a few grams and a bit of snobbishness I decided I'd save my money and go for Centaur as it will serve me just aswell. Ok, I picked up a couple of Record bargains....a brand new 2004 chainset for the same price as a brand new Centaur and some second hand brake calipers but I wasn't going to pay double for things like mechs and shifters that won't be any worse in practice.
I don 't want to put a downer on a light hearted thread but you've got to put it all into perspective. Don't think it'll make you any happier. You're at the top end of the graph of diminishing returns at this point. Centaur will be great and you'll be a happy boy riding your lovely bicycle. Spend the money you saved on some experience for the soul.
:arrow: Thankyou for your informative post & the also link you provided (now favourited). I think you've hit the nail on the head & I wish more people were as wise as you!
Running a business has certainly taught me about the difference between "needs" and "wants"... I do own one record-equipped bike, purchased 6 or 7 years ago now... but since then I have wised up a lot & I now think centaur works brilliantly and have specced that on my main road bike. Also for MTBs, you can't go past Deore/LX level stuff. For the money, it's spot on, especially if it's going to get mud on it.
Here in Tenerife/Spain, it's very common to see people riding Sora/Tiagra & 105 components. In fact most people have 1 of those 3 levels. And I'm willing to bet that the average Tenerifian (Tinerfeños they're called) MTB or road rider would easily beat the average UK/US/OZ counterpart, whatever components they're riding... simply because they train harder.0 -
Oh well, if we're being all sober and sensible and talking about needs over wants (what's wrong with wants?
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1) Get the best frame, fork, wheels and tyres that you can justify given your commitment and budget. These things will make a difference and the more you spend the more difference it will make.
2) Get solid but not expensive mid-range finishing kit - avoid carbon, it's mainly for the bling value.
3) Spend however much is necessary to end up with the saddle you will be most comfortable with.
4) Fit a mid to lower range group (Tiagra etc) and replace bits as they wear out.0 -
Well you know. the Buddhists have it right. Desire causes suffering. The more we want the more we can't have and we enter a state of constant craving. Its not great for the soul.0
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I've always thought that was a bit of an oversimplification. Desire (at least for non-material things) can provide motivation and purpose. You can view the state of constant craving as a state of constant motion and activity instead, the process of being alive, in effect. Rage against the dying of the light and all that.
But I'm just being a devil's advocate, the Buddhists have it mostly right. 0 -
neeb wrote:Oh well, if we're being all sober and sensible and talking about needs over wants (what's wrong with wants?)
1) Get the best frame, fork, wheels and tyres that you can justify given your commitment and budget. These things will make a difference and the more you spend the more difference it will make.
2) Get solid but not expensive mid-range finishing kit - avoid carbon, it's mainly for the bling value.
3) Spend however much is necessary to end up with the saddle you will be most comfortable with.
4) Fit a mid to lower range group (Tiagra etc) and replace bits as they wear out.
I can kind of agree with you on the first 3, but the obvious counter argument for point 4 is fit top range group and replace components less often, if at all.0 -
Yeah, maybe you're right. Someone needs to do the experiments on that... There's probably a "most economical" point towards the top end where you aren't getting sufficiently more longevity for the extra cost though. I wonder where that is. 105/centaur?0
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Heavymental wrote:Mascott, I've changed my mind. I think that bike would just look unbalanced without either Chorus or Record. Course, Record isn't just sooo shiny but it'll work flawlessly for many years too. Hell, its only money at the end of the day. Build something sweet and post the pics here! Take the foot off the decision brake and roll on down to the shops to buy those shiny shiny things.
neeb/synch
dont fall for heavymentals evil ways.....
he made me read his long artilcle and then look what happened... :roll:0
