Are road cyclists the most vain creatures?

TakeTurns

What's it got to do with vanity. Having something nice makes one excited about it and can make their experience more enjoyable. Nothing wrong with a bit of bling bling.

Critch

PhilClubman wrote:

I feel a bit sorry for the OP on this thread.

I *think* that his post was just a light-hearted - look at all of us cool roadies and the things we do, ha ha - type of thing.

I don't think the OP has posted since he started the thread. Maybe he could post to let us know if it was a fun thread, or whether he was actually having a go at roadies?

That's the beauty of the Internet and the written [typed] word with forums - no body language, not pitch or intonation and unless the author writes War & Peace and a long disclaimer we have to try and read between the lines or take whats written in a clinical fashion, responding appropriately. You may very well be correct, but the OP could have cleared that up in one sentence. (For the record I do think you are right, but I could be wrong!)

On topic;

Eyewear to protect eyes? Don't be kidding, To look cool of course.

I wear contact lenses. My eyes stream on cold morning commutes. Getting a grit/bugs/pollen in your eye at 25mph hurts. Getting it caught under a contact lens huts a damn sight more. My right eye was probably saved a nasty injury this Summer when a car tyre pinged a small stone at me when it passed at 60mph. The stone hit my shades dead centre of right side and left a nasty crack in the lens material. I hunted the cheapest I could find on Amazon, they cost me a tenner. Vain?

Tight jerseys for aerodynamics? No to show off their fine bodies.

I'm strong and fast. But at 98kgs I am over weight even though I am 6'2. We spend 80% of our energy just pushing the air out of the way in front of us. I've worn baggy gear. Its windy where I live almost all the time. You'd be surprised how much of a difference it makes wearing close fitting clothing. Vain?

Clipless pedals for efficiency? Not really. Flat pedals look silly.

I use one sided MTB style clip in pedals so I can clip in for sprints/hill climbs and unclip and ride untethered in traffic or jsut when cruising. They are not attractive pedals (Shimano M623's). Vain?

Expensive helmet for better ventilation, lightness, let's see what else? Nevermind, if it looks cool what reason do you need?

My helmet was £35 (Bell branded one). I look a dick in it and although it will only protect me for sub 12mph collisions it still offers *some* protection. Vain?

No underwear under shorts? Of course, people will laugh cos you are newbie if you wear underwear under shorts.

I wear bib shorts all the time with no underwear. I always wear Ronhill leggings over the top in Winter (and some Summer times too) or very thin baggy shorts over the top. I prefer 2 layers always. Coming off and riding home with your scrotum and everything you've got on show to the world thanks to a snag and tear in the wrong place is very embarrassing. Effectively my bib shorts are never seen. Vain?

DuraAce groupset for better performance and let's see, 500g lighter? What the heck, DuraAce logo is nice and makes you look pro.

Some people would rather spend £5k on a great bike than a car and get the very best they can. Also no different to the wealthy mums who jump in their £40k Range Rovers and drive 500 yards to pick their children up from school. They'll park right outside the gate too for maximum exposure (3 feet from the kerb and causing a massive obstruction). Don't think a guy on a flashy road bike carries that kind mentality. Vain?

Di2 for faster shifting? No it is just the latest gadget and you get it regardless of whether you need it. And it sounds better when shifting.

Di2 is great. Don't knock faster shifitng till you tried it. Disabled riders are taking advantaged of Di2 (finger loss). Vain?

Aero wheels for speed? Let's face it higher rims to display the sexy Zipp logo better and bigger so people can see it.

You don't put on a tuxedo and go to a casino or ball in shitty wellington boots, you have something thats nice. Some of the more nicer looking wheels with deeper rims are actually better wheels which spin up quicker and have better hubs, less friction, stronger spokes, etc. Vain? Not me, my wheels cost £300 quid, purchased to support my weight. Vain?

Aero road bikes/TT bikes? Who cares if they are less comfortable and you are never going above 30km/h, the body posture and the bike makes for a nice photoshoot.

All Summer (admittedly it was crap) I think I saw just one guy on a TT bike and he was going like the clappers. Vain?

Carbon frame for lightness? Every pro is using it that's why you use it.

Ther market is flooded with carbon. You can get a really good spec Ribble carbon frame bike for way less than a grand. I want Ti next, I've decided. They are lighter as well, and stronger than alum. Vain?

Better tires? No color matching comes first, quality 2nd.

When my new bike came this Summer I removed the the colour matched tyres and put on some non-matching Gatorskins after getting two punctures. Vain?

I've treated this light-heartedly btw. But to be blunt the OP could substitute any word(s) for 'cyclists' in his title. Pilots, racing drivers, pop stars/celebs, dog walkers.

MountainMonster

Why does everything in the road section turn into mindless sarcastic topics now?

Briggo

MountainMonster wrote:

Why does everything in the road section turn into mindless sarcastic topics now?

Just love the fact people are actually biting, in the MTB section you'd get shot down in about 2 posts.

All to easy.

MountainMonster

Briggo wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

Why does everything in the road section turn into mindless sarcastic topics now?

Just love the fact people are actually biting, in the MTB section you'd get shot down in about 2 posts.

All to easy.

Yup, it's only in this section that people do it. I can't believe of the topics here, 5 on the first page alone are nonsense.

MrSweary

TakeTurns wrote:

What's it got to do with vanity. Having something nice makes one excited about it and can make their experience more enjoyable. Nothing wrong with a bit of bling bling.

Well I guess having something nice and wanting to show it off is a sort of vanity. I mean, I have a nice arse but whenever I wear the tight disco trousers to show it off the wife calls me a vain bastard. Cow.

verylonglegs

MountainMonster wrote:

Briggo wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

Why does everything in the road section turn into mindless sarcastic topics now?

Just love the fact people are actually biting, in the MTB section you'd get shot down in about 2 posts.

All to easy.

Yup, it's only in this section that people do it. I can't believe of the topics here, 5 on the first page alone are nonsense.

Had a recent influx of trolls I think that people are a bit slow to stick on the ignore list. They probably wouldn't get any responses if so many weren't stuck indoors because of the time of year and weather.

Paul 8v

Where's captainlip? I'm sure he would have an opinion on this :-)

The OP is just having a laugh methinks. On a serious note, I think everyone should wear some protective eyewear, for the sake of as cheap as £2 is it worth losing an eye to a stone? Plus (For vanities sake if you get Oakleys you'll look the bomb ;-)

ddraver

Have to say, agree with much of what the OP says - However, I disagree with him that's it's wrong. People with money spend it on pointless crap, be it bikes, motorbikes, cars, Prada Handbags, Jimmy Chu Shoes or whatever....

My roadie is actually fairly modest by most standards, the MTB get's all the money! That said, the amount of money it is possible to spend in the road world dwarves anything in MTBing (with the possible exception of DH). The funniest thing is people who won't ride their posh bikes on the rain!

nunowoolmez

I'm so vain & i think this thread is about me..

lawrences

silly thread.

Also I wear shades because if I don't then I look like a stoner at the end of each ride.

willhub

I don't wear it all so I look cool, I look like a big puff when I dress up in lycra.

daviesee

Safe to say that the OP has got the response that he wanted.

Note the lack of interaction in his own post.

:arrow:

Cleat Eastwood

I wear all black - not to look cool - its because I'm a goth - and I only wear glasses to stop my make up running.

bompington

nunowoolmez wrote:

I'm so vain & i think this thread is about me..

Probably.

hipshot

bompington wrote:

Yeah, I admit, it's all vanity. Just look at the poser showing off his fine body on his over-expensive bike :roll:

Wait a minute.

In the drops. In the big ring.

Are you Eddy Merckx?

OffTheBackAdam

Eyewear to protect eyes? Don't be kidding, To look cool of course.
Nope, I wear contact lenses, ever got a bit of muck under a contact lens? My 18 month's old, Chinky-Oakley knock-offs, with scratched lenses & no rubber bits do the job.

Tight jerseys for aerodynamics? No to show off their fine bodies.
Possibly it was fine 25 years ago!

Clipless pedals for efficiency? Not really. Flat pedals look silly.
They're better than clips & straps.

Expensive helmet for better ventilation, lightness, let's see what else? Nevermind, if it looks cool what reason do you need?
Expensive? Is £30 expensive?

No underwear under shorts? Of course, people will laugh cos you are newbie if you wear underwear under shorts.
No, you idiot, it's why my shorts have a padded insert, fewer seems to rub my bollocks sore.

DuraAce groupset for better performance and let's see, 500g lighter? What the heck, DuraAce logo is nice and makes you look pro.
Campag actually, came with the bike. Remember what those Japanese did to the women in Tenko!

Di2 for faster shifting? No it is just the latest gadget and you get it regardless of whether you need it. And it sounds better when shifting.
See above!

Aero wheels for speed? Let's face it higher rims to display the sexy Zipp logo better and bigger so people can see it.
Haven't got any, next!

Aero road bikes/TT bikes? Who cares if they are less comfortable and you are never going above 30km/h, the body posture and the bike makes for a nice photoshoot.
Haven't got one.

Carbon frame for lightness? Every pro is using it that's why you use it.
Aluminium frame, carbon forks. That's what it came with & I won it in a competition, so it was free!

Better tires? No color matching comes first, quality 2nd
Fewer punctures comes first in my book.

Now, what tosser wrote this anyway?

bompington

hipshot wrote:

bompington wrote:

Yeah, I admit, it's all vanity. Just look at the poser showing off his fine body on his over-expensive bike :roll:

Wait a minute.

In the drops. In the big ring.

Are you Eddy Merckx?

No, I was passing a photographer, of course. You may think that I forgot to suck the gut in, but that was me sucking the gut in :oops:

capt_slog

bompington wrote:

hipshot wrote:

bompington wrote:

Yeah, I admit, it's all vanity. Just look at the poser showing off his fine body on his over-expensive bike :roll:

Wait a minute.

In the drops. In the big ring.

Are you Eddy Merckx?

No, I was passing a photographer, of course. You may think that I forgot to suck the gut in, but that was me sucking the gut in :oops:

Whereabouts is this? looks like some of my favourite bits of Wales.

And I wear glasses because the wind makes my eyes run.

Blacktemplar

Capt Slog wrote:

bompington wrote:

hipshot wrote:

bompington wrote:

Yeah, I admit, it's all vanity. Just look at the poser showing off his fine body on his over-expensive bike :roll:

Wait a minute.

In the drops. In the big ring.

Are you Eddy Merckx?

No, I was passing a photographer, of course. You may think that I forgot to suck the gut in, but that was me sucking the gut in :oops:

Whereabouts is this? looks like some of my favourite bits of Wales.

And I wear glasses because the wind makes my eyes run.

That would be the eastern end of Loch Rannoch, on the B846 just after Kinloch Rannoch village. One presumes during the Etape Caledonia.....

Lovely wee bit of road.

bompington

Got it in one. The race ( :twisted: ) numbers and sportcam watermark are a bit of a clue for the type of ride, the scenery might be a few places but that's exactly it. Lovely road indeed, nice stretches where you can happily cruise at high speed in the big ring, if I remember right there was a bit of a headwind hence the drops - eye-watering for sure. The flapping number on my back nearly drove me nuts but I wasn't stopping to sort it, perhaps it cost me 10 seconds or so in extra wind resistance.

nunowoolmez

bompington wrote:

nunowoolmez wrote:

I'm so vain & i think this thread is about me..

Probably.

Woah, i was just making a play on the tune man! Chill, i wasn't passing judgement on anyone.

Anyway, I do think that road cycling is definately very kit orientated, but it all has a practical need. At the end of the day it comes down to choice. I don't think anyone can really judge another for a choice they make, because that's just it, if there was a choice involved, how can someone criticise another for taking it? Personally, i really enjoy buying kit & upgrading bike components, making my bikes the best they can be within my budget. Yes, the primary role of kit is practical, it's secondary role is certainly to look nice. How is that a bad thing! Same with skiing, & any other high cost sport.

Well, i'm off to buy another Dura Ace groupset, another pair of Oakleys & a load of sh*t i don't need.

bompington

nunowoolmez wrote:

bompington wrote:

nunowoolmez wrote:

I'm so vain & i think this thread is about me..

Probably.

Woah, i was just making a play on the tune man!

Err, so was I...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you...

nunowoolmez

bompington wrote:

nunowoolmez wrote:

bompington wrote:

nunowoolmez wrote:

I'm so vain & i think this thread is about me..

Probably.

Woah, i was just making a play on the tune man!

Err, so was I...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you...

Ohhhhh...i geddit now!! Hehe

junglist_matty

nolight wrote:

Let's be honest. How many of the things road cyclists do are out of vanity rather than for functionality?

1. Eyewear
My right eye is permanently damaged from a direct insect hit; I now wear £15 glasses (not in the winter) and they don't look cool at all, they do the same job as a £200 pair of Oakley's.

2. Tight jerseys
I wear a cycling specific jersey because:
a. keeps me cool in summer
b. keeps me warm in winter
c. has convenient pockets at the back for snacks & gels
d. it is far more comfortable in the cycling position.

3. Clipless pedals
Road shoes are designed for road riding hence they are the most comfortable option, I don't care for efficiency.

4. Expensive helmet
I wear a helmet because it protects my head; £50 for something that may stop my head from hurting is worth it.

5. No underwear under shorts
More comfortable.

6. Di2 for faster shifting
Di2 Is for racing and racing only, it's far too unreliable to be used on a regular bike, so yeah, I agree with you... I prefer mechanical as do many pro riders, but they use Di2 because they are sponsored to use it. I've seen pro's using non-Di2 with Di2 batteries just to make it look like they are using Di2 because they have to for sponsoring contracts.

7. Aero wheels for speed
Aero wheels don't do much unless you're on a TT bike, they look rubbish anyway.

8. Carbon frame
I've got an Alu frame and go just as fast as I do on a top-spec carbon.

9. Better tyres
I use conti Grand Prix 4000's because they are good.

cornerblock

nunowoolmez wrote:

bompington wrote:

nunowoolmez wrote:

bompington wrote:

nunowoolmez wrote:

I'm so vain & i think this thread is about me..

Probably.

Woah, i was just making a play on the tune man!

Err, so was I...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you...

Ohhhhh...i geddit now!! Hehe

Glad you've realised that you are both singing from the same hymn sheet. Sorry to stay off topic but that line in the song (allegedly about Warren Beatty) has always bugged me,

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you...

Er but it is, isn't it? :?

team47b

...it was about her, then it always is :roll:

pinno

bompington wrote:

Yeah, I admit, it's all vanity. Just look at the poser showing off his fine body on his over-expensive bike :roll:

I noticed the magnet sensor on the front fork. Sportive perhaps ? Etape Caledonia ?

Cleat Eastwood

I notice the unfurling wings on the back - scottish fairy by any chance

bompington

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

I notice the unfurling wings on the back - scottish fairy by any chance

..of the most dainty variety, as you see.

BTW Schiehallion (the mountain across the loch, incidentally where gravity was first measured and contours invented) means something like "Scottish fairy place" ;-)