do i really need...

sirdjango

hi all... well i have a question... do i really need a high end bike? my main reason to ride is just exercise and participate in sportives just to test my body and fitness level and have entered a few sportives since january and manage to finish the distance. but my dillema is sometimes i got really piss when doing my weekend club rides. most of the guys have very high end bikes compared to my aluminum 'heavy metal' bike of mine. when riding with them normally they go the speed between 40-45-50km most of the time. most of them have the mind set of a pro rider. i find this quit hard to follow as for i'm really comfortable with 30-35km of speed. every time i tried to follow them i will drain my energy really fast. i know carbon fiber frames. high profile rims, etc really helps to improve your performance, but do i really need them? as i mentioned before main main purpose is to excercise and participate in sportives, not road racing... now my question again do i really need a very high end bike if my pocket allows it? or just stick to what i have right now?

ShutUpLegs

Is this an email to your wife?

Anonymous

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Is this an email to your wife?

Might copy and paste it and put this in my wifes Christmas card this year.

I am the god of hell fire

This is no place for chat like that



But seriously then why not?
A MTB pal once made the observation that his Santa Cruz cost about a years depreciation on a Yaris so even a ££££££ bike purchase isnt too ridiculous in the overall scheme of things

It all depends what you want and if wanting to have nice stuff is something that makes you happy then go for it I'd say

You may be quicker, and if you are it may be in your head rather than due to the bike itself but what the hell enjoy

I have a 5y old regular bike and another shiny one with a fancy build that doesnt go out in the rain, well if it rains en route fine but if its lashing down when I get up I take the oldie

It also stays at home when Im feeling like an iron legged hungover blabbering donkey too

I dont know about the rest of you but seeing a middle aged man wearing HTC team kit wheezing along on a Cervelo is all the motivation I need to put the hammer down and monster them LOL

COI: My bike is NOT a Cervelo and I own NO team kit!

Cheers

lucan

No, you don't need a high end bike. Sounds like you need to find a group to ride with that is more to your liking.

chiark

The bike won't make you considerably faster would be my bet... But it might make a real difference to your commitment, I suppose: psychology seems to play a huge part here!

Speedmenace

chiark wrote:

The bike won't make you considerably faster would be my bet... But it might make a real difference to your commitment, I suppose: psychology seems to play a huge part here!

I agree, the lighter your bike the more effort you will put in - in terms of speed, to have more fun

If I had a 15lbs road bike then I'd be sprinting everwhere

Monty Dog

Hmm, group rides at 40-50kph? Are you sure you're not riding with a pro squad? Any decent cyclist knows its the legs that may you go fast, not the bike. Also consider the reverse psychology of all those guys on their £4k bikes not being able to shake off the guy on the 'beater' bike. Seriously, find a group that's not so far up their own ar$es and shallow that they can look beyond the bike and get to know the guy riding it. Failing that, tell them to get back to the golf club whence they came!

saintdracula

the simple and true answer is mtfu

I mean look at the british road race this year. Wiggins and Thomas are tied at the moment, but at that race he just stormed away from them and won by 35 secs. If the difference between them is that big, then there is surely room for improvement at the amateur level.

no doubt he would destroy anyone, on any bike.

Keep your bike and just work harder. I know that I could only ever truly enjoy a bike if I was fit enough for it.

As for myself, I am not getting a 5k+ bike until I know I am really worthy for it - this means conquering 2 hills that I know and hate, and time trialling 10 miles at an average speed of about 25 mph on my standard road bike. Combine your cycling with gym work and you will devastate.

mikebikemike

No of course you don't "need it" but if you can afford it then a nice bike will put a smile on your face. It might motivate you to cycle harder and more often. Unfortunately it'll only make a marginal difference to how fast you go.

In my experience the cash will only go on something rubbish like a new sofa if you hold off.

kieranb

well in the latest issue of the Royal Statistical Society's magazine 'Significance' (June 2011 vol 8 issue 2, page 95) there was a light hearted article, 'Bicycle weight and commuting time: A randomised trial' by Jeremy Groves. The conclusion was:

"A 30% reduction in bicycle weight (he went from a steel 13.5kg bike to a carbon fibre 9.5kg bike) my addition did not reduce commuting time over a distance of 27 miles (43.5km). A new lightweight bicycle may have many attractions, but if the bicycle is used to commute, a reduction in the weight of the cyclist rather than that of the bicycle may deliver greater benefit and at reduced cost."

MountainMonster

You need nothing bike related, but as I say, it's nice to treat yourself in life to good things. You only live once, and why waste that time always dealing with mediocre things. It's clear you want a bike, so get one!

jonny_trousers

If you want a really nice bike (and can afford one) then why not? It's your hobby afterall! If you're not that fussed then don't bother. Maybe buy a quality set of wheels and then put the rest of your energy into your training.

ollyridesfirst

saintdracula wrote:

the simple and true answer is mtfu

What a total nob thing to say! How exactly do you mtfu when you are working your testicles off to keep up with riders going 10kmp/h faster than you and pulling away?

My advice is to either see if the club has a slightly slower riding group (sounds like you're with the quick lads) or find a different club who can accommodate you better and improve you gradually...

Matt the Tester

i have a Dawes giro 300, and i ride with guys who have spent 3k on their bikes! i whoop their asses! just motivate yourself mate!

alot of people have said alot of valuble advice

lef

Monty Dog wrote:

find a group that's not so far up their own ar$es and shallow

...a little unneccesary. Having an expensive bike and being fit / fast etc and taking training seriously doesnt automatically mean ones head is up ones arse.

It sounds to me like you just need to be fitter. Better wheels and tyres should make some improvement in speed and improve the feel of the bike. Otherwise look at the type of training you're doing. Do threshold, VO2 intervals etc. Put in the hours and you will soon be as fast if you dont then regardless of how much you spend on a bike you will have the same problem unless you pick a slower group.

Bobbinogs

Lucan wrote:

No, you don't need a high end bike. Sounds like you need to find a group to ride with that is more to your liking.

^^ what he said. I do group rides at the w/e and thoroughly enjoy them. If you don't enjoy your club rides, change the ride within the club or change the club.

andrewlwood

Agree with a couple of the other posters:
A nice, shiny bike gets me out on mine more often, and new kit from time to time is a motivation for me. Retail therapy maybe.

HOWEVER,

I can't imagine going from a reasonable bike to an expensive one is going to put 10kmh onto your speed. There are all these jokes on the forum that aero wheels will add 4kmh onto your speed - but they're just that, jokes. I think you're just in the wrong club/group. Find a slower one, ride ride ride, and aim for the faster group as a target in the future.