People who change their mind about their bike :)

mfin

Has anyone else noticed how some people on here get a bike (lets call it BIKE 'A') and post about it saying 'its amazing / best bike Ive ever ridden / I used to have xxxx high end bike and this is just so much better / rides perfectly / most comfortable / so much faster than my xxxx"

And then in the weeks after you get more things like 'that's same as mine, Ive got one of them, apart from ive got xxxx crank, enjoy, best bike ive ridden' and posting on other threads recommending BIKE 'A' cos its 'so fantastic, youve gotta ride one, I used to have a blah blah and before that a blah blah and this is just so much better, lighter, stiffer'

And then a good while later you get 'just bought a BIKE 'B', sold my BIKE 'A', when asked why they'll most likely say 'didnt get on with it' (so suddenly their whole opinion of what they said originally about BIKE 'A' is completely rubbished.... and then they go back to the first para I wrote, this time about BIKE 'B'.

No names mentioned, but I cant be the only one to mention these peckers

(Even if they dont mention the now sold BIKE 'A' saying 'didnt get on with it' you'll get the same drivel about their new bike, vastly overstating how nothing short of amazing it is compared to anything else they've ever had, so surely this new drivel includes BIKE 'A' as a reference point).

Ben6899

If I presented a paper like that (with only conjecture/without evidence or statistics) for a client, it'd probably be the last piece of work I did for them.

C'mon pal, let's have some case studies.

Bobbinogs

It is a fair point but there are also many who buy a bike but find that, over time, the bike becomes not right mainly because the rider has changed (whether it is what they want from a bike, their fitness levels up or down, or just a simple matter of taste). I like other peoples' opinions, even when they are wrong

Cleat Eastwood

It is a bit like triggers brush off only fools and horses - yeah, best bike I've ever had, I only had to change the levers to dura ace, the crankset and the gears hehe.

mfin

Ben6899 wrote:

If I presented a paper like that (with only conjecture/without evidence or statistics) for a client, it'd probably be the last piece of work I did for them.

C'mon pal, let's have some case studies.

No, not giving case studies, that would sound personal, which it aint, there's just a fair few people who do it and it makes me smile

mfin

Bobbinogs wrote:

It is a fair point but there are also many who buy a bike but find that, over time, the bike becomes not right mainly because the rider has changed (whether it is what they want from a bike, their fitness levels up or down, or just a simple matter of taste). I like other peoples' opinions, even when they are wrong

Yeah but some people have a £2-3k bike, then rave about it, replace it with another £2-3k one a year later (or less!) and then same raving again... and then rave about each one... it just sounds like their 'raving on about' opinions from year before are completely rubbished. Its funny what people say.... and seeing as they use the same 'its so much smoother, lighter, better, stiffer' over such a short timescale (and bikes havent changed that much in a year) it just sounds like they're saying 'you know all the great stuff I said about BIKE 'A', well it was all lies, cos the new one Ive got has all those virtues far far more, in fact the other one I cant have been that impressed with, cos I changed it'.

Aint knocking people buying and chopping and changing at all! Its just funny the guff that people come out with

Bobbinogs

mfin wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

It is a fair point but there are also many who buy a bike but find that, over time, the bike becomes not right mainly because the rider has changed (whether it is what they want from a bike, their fitness levels up or down, or just a simple matter of taste). I like other peoples' opinions, even when they are wrong

Yeah but some people have a £2-3k bike...

Phew, that rules me out. Yeah, fickle feckers

rolf_f

It's like Clarkson on supercars. If all you can come up with is a pile of superlatives on everything you ride or drive, then ultimately your opinion doesn't mean anything because everyone knows it before it is expressed.

Probably mostly people trying to justify spending vast amounts on new bikes every five minutes. But I tend to think if you really like your bike, you'd keep it. I like my Look

exlaser

some times it just people have too much spare money and because of this dont spend enough time on deciding what they really want or need.

sometimes it because some riders think by changing a bike, it will make them a better rider!

my other sport is sailing and i see it all the time. people spend thousands on new dinghys or change the type of dinghy, because they think it will make them a better sailor instead of practiceing the skills that will make them better sailors for free!!!!

thecrofter

Same thing happens in golf. I don't think I've ever met a golfer who hasn't spent a fortune on a new driver to gain 10 yards off the tee. I've always believed more could be achieved by spending the same money on lessons with a Pro...

bompington

I think it's just the allure of shiny new things - if owning a nice new bike makes you happy, then that's what you'll do isn't it?

greasedscotsman

Rolf F wrote:

It's like Clarkson on supercars.

exlaser wrote:

my other sport is sailing and i see it all the time

thecrofter wrote:

Same thing happens in golf.

Yeah, same thing happens in cycling. Oh wait...

bianchimoon

mfin wrote:

Has anyone else noticed how some people on here get a bike (lets call it BIKE 'A') and post about it saying 'its amazing / best bike Ive ever ridden / I used to have xxxx high end bike and this is just so much better / rides perfectly / most comfortable / so much faster than my xxxx"

It's a forum, people say irrational things all the time! On a serious note i just smile when i hear people talk like that.
Am waiting for Cav to say how much better his dogma is than his venge was, now that will be a story

clarkey cat

'its amazing / best bike Ive ever ridden / I used to have xxxx high end bike and this is just so much better / rides perfectly / most comfortable / so much faster than my xxxx"

you been listening to me try and get another purchase past my wife...?

verylonglegs

I know people who think their girlfriends are fantastic too to begin with but change them after 18months. Who'd have thought it...

whojanicanackerov

verylonglegs wrote:

I know people who think their girlfriends are fantastic too to begin with but change them after 18months. Who'd have thought it...

Thats more expensive than buying a bike though

fossyant

Well, it's not me. I keep my bikes -very attached to all 4 - 3 of which are about 18-20 years old, the other is 2.5 years old.

Tend to keep them, but all are good spec. Upgrades usually made when things wear out. I will get another bike, but it will be N+1, none of this N-1 then +1 rubbish. Need a bigger garage. How many spare wheelsets are too much ?

fossyant

thecrofter wrote:

Same thing happens in golf. I don't think I've ever met a golfer who hasn't spent a fortune on a new driver to gain 10 yards off the tee. I've always believed more could be achieved by spending the same money on lessons with a Pro...

Now that's hard work, just like some folk putting in more miles on the bike. Some folk just like to move on with kit, I'd just rather keep my kit and get more !

mfin

Isnt people changing bikes I find funny, if people wanna change their bike every year noooo problem, thats just shopping and enjoying it... its when they seem to exaggerate the last one theyve bought as being the best thing ever, but they did the same with the last one, and the last one.

'This is perfect for me, the perfect bike, its amazing' and somehow suddenly it caaaaaaant be, cos they say that about the next one.... so they always sound like they are dismissing they're own opinions of the las one they owned when they were so passionate about how brilliant it was!! Funny as

jim453

mfin wrote:

Has anyone else noticed how some people on here get a bike (lets call it BIKE 'A') and post about it saying 'its amazing / best bike Ive ever ridden / I used to have xxxx high end bike and this is just so much better / rides perfectly / most comfortable / so much faster than my xxxx"

And then in the weeks after you get more things like 'that's same as mine, Ive got one of them, apart from ive got xxxx crank, enjoy, best bike ive ridden' and posting on other threads recommending BIKE 'A' cos its 'so fantastic, youve gotta ride one, I used to have a blah blah and before that a blah blah and this is just so much better, lighter, stiffer'

And then a good while later you get 'just bought a BIKE 'B', sold my BIKE 'A', when asked why they'll most likely say 'didnt get on with it' (so suddenly their whole opinion of what they said originally about BIKE 'A' is completely rubbished.... and then they go back to the first para I wrote, this time about BIKE 'B'.

No names mentioned, but I cant be the only one to mention these peckers

(Even if they dont mention the now sold BIKE 'A' saying 'didnt get on with it' you'll get the same drivel about their new bike, vastly overstating how nothing short of amazing it is compared to anything else they've ever had, so surely this new drivel includes BIKE 'A' as a reference point).

I honestly have never noticed this happen before.

Next time it happens, why don't you reply 'but what about the Caad 9 you were mercilessly banging on about six months ago.......' or whatever.

In fact, just link now to where it's gone on so we can all judge for ourselves.

nunowoolmez

I think what happens is that when people buy a new bike they get totally wrapped up & consumed by it & basically think it is the best thing ever & this opinion overrides any previous opinion about previous bikes. This applies even if previous bikes are actually as good or better. It is the excitement of the 'new' that controls our mind & we lose the ability to reason & rationale. Very much a subconscious thing of course.

Both my bikes are made up by myself so.i love them both equally. I bought my PX Nanolight & purposely had an entire Dura Ace grouping put on it with nice wheels & carbon parts - becuase i knew it would make me feel good riding it & it would perform reliably. I also knew i wouldn't need to buy/put together another 'best bike' for a long time. It is a reflection of todays obsession with consumerism more than anything really!!

Now where was that review of that thing i wanted to buy? ;-)

EKIMIKE

jim453 wrote:

Next time it happens, why don't you reply 'but what about the Caad 9 you were mercilessly banging on about six months ago.......' or whatever.

In fact, just link now to where it's gone on so we can all judge for ourselves.

Ha! That is a wonderfully ironic post. Chapeau!

Anyone remember when every second post on here was 'get a Caad9'?

I guess what the OP is referring to is the tendency on this forum to 'over-trend' on something. See 'Derek at Wheelsmith' for another example. 'Planet X Model B's' was another. 'Fizik Microtex' another.

Nothing wrong with it. Amusing if anything. Sheep.

rake

thought my boardman looked pretty stealthy all in black but looking at other bikes its seems a bit dull. On a bright sunny day though im sometimes pleased its not too bright and garish. i know its not considered very stylish but it serves me well. getting older i know its downhill perfomance wise for me so the latest bike isnt going to set me alight. not tried many different bikes but i cant imagine theres a big difference between whats considered good quality. all pretty much in the same ball park weight wise.

bristolpete

Personally, I am far from well off, but I sell a bike to fund a bike, and as before often cite Triggers broom as an example.

Back in 2007 when I was seeing a specialist as I had to have what turned out to thankfully be benign lumps removed from my chest, armpit and side which at the time caused me major worry, distress and lastly incredible pain after 2 operations in 5 months (still get pain now by the way) buying a new bike and trying to enjoy life is the last of my worries. I am sure there are other people who had far graver circs and beat it, perhaps not, but enjoy what they can, when they can rather than worry. Frankly, it is all irrelevant to good health.

Cheers.

mfin

Thats not my point at all though.

If people wanna buy a bike every 3 months, 6 months, a year, whatever, I dont find that odd at all, not in the slightest. Buying bikes is great, appreciating them is great too, that wasnt what I was getting at. Anyone who wants to spend thousands and thousands of their money on something they love, good on them.

What I find odd is if people rave about a bike like its the best thing ever when they compare it to everything else they've owned, recommend it as such, and then get another one such a short time later and say the same about that one, that then surely that makes the previous one they raved about not what they cracked it up to be at all. Id understand if people were doing it over the jump from a £500 bike to a 3 grand one, but often this isnt the case.

--- edit --- The post I was sort of replying to was deleted just after I posted this!

bristolpete

Fair enough. Though I am yet to see that many examples of that behaviour here on BR. Funny thing though. When I bought a Specialized Tarmac after selling a Dogma, I was surprised how much better the Tarmac was at climbing, despite its massively lower price tag (I got a Dogma at a good price) which I suppose can only be found out through trial and error/buying and selling and the report. Conversly, I still cite the Dogma as the best 100 mile + bike I have used....

I am hoping my next build, whenever that may be motors along nicely, but as said, the rider is usually the mitigating circs regarding the ride chosen.