Its not the bike

"BB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm not sure I fully believed it. Certainly there's an extent to it (e.g. how much you can do on a
Walgoose).

Yesterday I did an afternoon workout ride on my old bike. Its certainly not the first time I'd
done that ride; not even the first time on that bike. Part of the ride is a climb up a mile-long
hill. When I first got here from Texas, THAT was the killer hill. I'd stop at least once on the
way up. Since then, I'd gotten a better bike, and had climbed that hill (and far worse) many times
without stopping. I thought it was the bike that made the difference.

So here I am on my old bike, not only climbing it without stopping, but shifting into higher gears
in various spots. And this was after a 1000-foot road climb up to the park. It occurred to me that
it must not be the bike after all.

Which made me wonder why so much time is spent on this newsgroup discussing pieces and parts...

Excellent observation. Beyond durability issues, I don't really know why we worry about it so much.

-=Barry=-

On 12 Sep 2003 22:40:07 GMT, BB <[email hidden]> penned:

<snip insspirational story>

Quoted message said:

Which made me wonder why so much time is spent on this newsgroup discussing pieces and parts...

I had this thought recently: "Why do people start mountain biking in part because it's such great
exercise, and then immediately start shaving weight off of every imaginal location, clip their feet
to the bike for better efficiency, and otherwise variously make the whole experience easier?"

There are a number of answers, but as a gadget geek, I can tell you my answer: I love playing
with new toys!

Whether it be a new graphics card, ski poles, a camelback, whatever -- it's fun to do the research,
to compare, to check out the neat stuff people have come up with over the years.

There are two words that I think apply to me: 'neophile' and 'infovore.' I bet that most people who
like to optimize their stuff (bikes, computers, kitchen ovens, whatever) share those traits.

--
monique

My pointless ramblings: bounceswoosh.orgindex.phpOpen ↗

Monique says:

Quoted message said:

There are a number of answers, but as a gadget geek, I can tell you my answer: I love playing with
new toys!

Hehe. I think there are a few of us in here. ;-)

Steve

B. Sanders said:

Excellent observation. Beyond durability issues, I don't really know why we worry about it
so much.

-=Barry=-

My buddy bought himself a hardtail Rocky Mountain last year. I was so jealous when I picked it up to
load it in a car. It's at least 5 pounds lighter than my full suspension K2. Not jealous enough to
get a new bike though. But I think if I had a *significantly* lighter bike like his I'd be slighly
more interested in riding it.

My K2 has been rugged as a tank though. Since breaking its rear shock the year after I bought it,
I've kept it kind-of clean and kind-of lubed, and it just keeps going. Going on seven years old now,
and the only complaint I have about it (except for weight) is it occasionally skips a shift.

--
--
Lynn Wallace xmission.com~lawallOpen ↗ "I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we
could to protect our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security." --Microsoft VP in
charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

B. Sanders said:

"BB" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Which made me wonder why so much time is spent on this newsgroup discussing pieces and parts...

Excellent observation. Beyond durability issues, I don't really know why we worry about it so much.

There's nothing wrong with a nice bike, and if it adds just a bit more to the fun factor - it's all
worth it. But the important thing is to ride - what, where, and when doesn't matter much in the end
(even if it's a road bike, JD).

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

"Monique Y. Herman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 12 Sep 2003 22:40:07 GMT, BB <[email hidden]> penned:

<snip insspirational story>

Quoted message said:

Which made me wonder why so much time is spent on this newsgroup discussing pieces and parts...

I had this thought recently: "Why do people start mountain biking in part because it's such great
exercise, and then immediately start shaving weight off of every imaginal location, clip their
feet to the bike for better efficiency, and otherwise variously make the whole experience easier?"

There are a number of answers, but as a gadget geek, I can tell you my answer: I love playing with
new toys!

Whether it be a new graphics card, ski poles, a camelback, whatever -- it's fun to do the
research, to compare, to check out the neat stuff people have come up with over the years.

There are two words that I think apply to me: 'neophile' and 'infovore.' I bet that most people
who like to optimize their stuff (bikes, computers, kitchen ovens, whatever) share those traits.

Great point you make there. I've always liked to 'hot rod' everything I've owned. As far as bike
parts are concerned, I want the upper end parts for durability. When I swapped out my LX/STX-RC
group, and my wheelset on my last bike with XTR, and a Hugi/Mavic wheelset, the difference was very
noticable. The shifts were smooth, and flawless in any condition, and difference in the rotating
weight of the wheels were as well. The bike was 3 lbs. lighter as well.

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

B. Sanders said:

"BB" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Which made me wonder why so much time is spent on this newsgroup discussing pieces and parts...

Excellent observation. Beyond durability issues, I don't really know why

we

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worry about it so much.

There's nothing wrong with a nice bike, and if it adds just a bit more to the fun factor - it's
all worth it. But the important thing is to ride - what, where, and when doesn't matter much in
the end (even if it's a road bike, JD).

If I wanted to ride today, and all I had today was a sidewalk to ride on, then the sidewalk it is.
I've loved riding anything (w/ two wheels), anywhere for as long as I can remember.

"BB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm not sure I fully believed it. Certainly there's an extent to it (e.g. how much you can do on a
Walgoose).

Yesterday I did an afternoon workout ride on my old bike. Its certainly not the first time I'd
done that ride; not even the first time on that bike. Part of the ride is a climb up a mile-long
hill. When I first got here from Texas, THAT was the killer hill. I'd stop at least once on the
way up. Since then, I'd gotten a better bike, and had climbed that hill (and far worse) many times
without stopping. I thought it was the bike that made the difference.

So here I am on my old bike, not only climbing it without stopping, but shifting into higher gears
in various spots. And this was after a 1000-foot road climb up to the park. It occurred to me that
it must not be the bike after all.

Which made me wonder why so much time is spent on this newsgroup discussing pieces and parts...

From this experience, no it's not the bike. Many of us can ride any bike up a hill. But the question
for me is how long is that bike going to hold up to repeated abuse. I like having a quality steed
under me that I'm not going to have to futz around with or have to push back home. I try to choose
parts carefully that have been proven reliable. I do like working on bikes, almost as much as riding
them, but not 'while' riding them.

Mike

(Stephen Baker) said:

Monique says:

Quoted message said:

There are a number of answers, but as a gadget geek, I can tell you my answer: I love playing with
new toys!

Hehe. I think there are a few of us in here. ;-)

Steve

Yup!

Barry

"Monique Y. Herman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had this thought recently: "Why do people start mountain biking in part because it's such great
exercise, and then immediately start shaving weight off of every imaginal location, clip their
feet to the bike for better efficiency, and otherwise variously make the whole experience easier?"

Who says doing these things has to make the experience "easier"? As a lot of people do the things
you suggest above, any real or imaginary gains they make in efficiency is countered by increasing
their overall speed and effort.

In reality it is about the bike. It's just not ALL about the bike

KLydesdale said:

In reality it is about the bike. It's just not ALL about the bike

tell my 7 y.o boy that and he'd laugh at ya...

"Dave W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

KLydesdale said:

In reality it is about the bike. It's just not ALL about the bike

tell my 7 y.o boy that and he'd laugh at ya...

So what's your point?

KLydesdale said:

"Dave W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

KLydesdale said:

In reality it is about the bike. It's just not ALL about the bike

tell my 7 y.o boy that and he'd laugh at ya...

So what's your point?

that it's NOT about the bike, just the ability to ride it...

Michael Dart said:

From this experience, no it's not the bike. Many of us can ride any bike up a hill. But the
question for me is how long is that bike going to hold up to repeated abuse.

Well, it turns 10 this year; how long is it SUPPOSED to hold up? :-)

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 09:37:20 -0400, KLydesdale <[email hidden]> penned:

Quoted message said:

"Monique Y. Herman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had this thought recently: "Why do people start mountain biking in part because it's such great
exercise, and then immediately start shaving weight off of every imaginal location, clip their
feet to the bike for better efficiency, and otherwise variously make the whole experience
easier?"

Who says doing these things has to make the experience "easier"? As a lot of people do the things
you suggest above, any real or imaginary gains they make in efficiency is countered by increasing
their overall speed and effort.

True enough. It also may allow people to manage certain steeps and obstacles for the first time,
which is exciting all by itself.

--
monique

My pointless ramblings: bounceswoosh.orgindex.phpOpen ↗

Mark Hickey said:

There's nothing wrong with a nice bike, and if it adds just a bit more to the fun factor - it's
all worth it. But the important thing is to ride - what, where, and when doesn't matter much in
the end (even if it's a road bike, JD).

That's what I meant by there being an "extent" to it. I have a fairly high-end bike, along with my
older mid-range bike. The better bike surely made a difference. But other than a few really major
changes (front suspension, clipless pedals, 7- to 8-speed & better frame), all the "upgrades" (to
parts that, from the sounds of some folks here, should have made a huge difference) weren't much of
an improvement.

Heck, maybe if I'd been riding the old bike more over the past few years, I'd be a better rider. :-)

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

KLydesdale said:

In reality it is about the bike. It's just not ALL about the bike

Thats probably a better way to put it.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

"BB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael Dart said:

From this experience, no it's not the bike. Many of us can ride any

bike up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a hill. But the question for me is how long is that bike going to hold

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to repeated abuse.

Well, it turns 10 this year; how long is it SUPPOSED to hold up? :-)

It sounded to me like it's been sitting in the garage some while you've been riding your new bike.

Mike