I live in a mountain town that has a frequented ski resort. In the summer, it becomes a mountain biking haven.
I earn well enough to live here but always chuckle at the gear head tourists with $10000+ mountain bikes. Usually they havent earned the right of the bike and I can out run them up a steep hill. Or they only bike for 30 minutes. This is absolutely pathetic when it happens. As for me, I never understood the will to purchase a bike over $3000. My relationship with my bikes are functional and for leisure. I like nice stuff but I dont need to make a statement.
Of the tens of thousands that come here in a given summer, maybe like 20 of them have an ability that warrants a $10000 bike.
If you're cycling to compete, you probably need the fastest bike but it won't do much for your fitness. Probably better off hauling ass with cheaper and heavier bike.
I live in a mountain town that has a frequented ski resort. In the summer, it becomes a mountain biking haven.
I earn well enough to live here but always chuckle at the gear head tourists with $10000+ mountain bikes. Usually they havent earned the right of the bike and I can out run them up a steep hill. Or they only bike for 30 minutes. This is absolutely pathetic when it happens. As for me, I never understood the will to purchase a bike over $3000. My relationship with my bikes are functional and for leisure. I like nice stuff but I dont need to make a statement.
Of the tens of thousands that come here in a given summer, maybe like 20 of them have an ability that warrants a $10000 bike.
Those folks with money don’t care about your condescension or your beating them or their having to “earn” their bike or any such silly crap, but just buy what they like and can afford completely unaware of your strong emotions.
Serious question for cyclists. Do you need disc brakes if 1) you don't ride in the rain and 2) you don't race downhill?
I think the OP could have saved a couple of grand by buying a used bike and then upgrading the wheelset and tweaking the fit with a different stem/handlebars/etc to optimize his riding position.
Nope. I did cycling races in the mountains with rim breaks just fine and pros did so as well. Only combination that is not advisable (or was at that time) is carbon wheels with rim breaks in wet conditions. I dont think disc breaks are so much better tbh. And they make the bike more expensive to maintain and every new set of wheels as well.
Forgot to add, the really important thing is getting the right fit, but this is somewhat independent of the price. You'll ride much better on a perfectly fitted $500 bike than on a poorly fitted $5000 bike.
I 100% agree with this. Another option is to make friends with LBS and do Frankenbike. Over time, buy components piecemeal and add/subtract. That’s what I did to build my cyclocross bike - A Crux frame. Wheels are Mavic and bombproof. I have cantilever brakes and ride 32 - 35 mm tires on it. I’ll ride that bike anywhere except legit singletrack. $2300 all in. I can use that bad boy on a lot of group rides if I change the tires out.
My crit bike is a Tarmac SL with digital Ultegra. The wheels are composite and spin up fast. My fizik saddle is the only thing that is a little indulgent. I’m $2700 all in. If I can’t keep up, it’s not the bike’s fault. I could basically be doing the same thing on a $1200 bike, this one is just more reliable and comfortable.
Serious question for cyclists. Do you need disc brakes if 1) you don't ride in the rain and 2) you don't race downhill?
I think the OP could have saved a couple of grand by buying a used bike and then upgrading the wheelset and tweaking the fit with a different stem/handlebars/etc to optimize his riding position.
Rim brakes on aluminum rims are fine even in the rain. The steel rims of our youth not so much, but it's been many decades since steel rims were used on any bike.
As above, rim brakes can't be used with carbon fiber rims, but no one but elite racers "need" carbon fiber rims.
Disk brakes are much better than rim brakes on mountain bikes where mud or grit can accumulate on the rims which can seriously degrade braking power and ultimately damage the rim.
Nope. I did cycling races in the mountains with rim breaks just fine and pros did so as well. Only combination that is not advisable (or was at that time) is carbon wheels with rim breaks in wet conditions.
When I was a kid I got taught to ‘brake’ with a gloved hand in superwet conditions. Brake shoes and cables didn’t seem as reliable then 😂
Absolutely you can compete with cyclists and triathletes who own $10k bikes! Most of them are low caliber mid life crisis types of people who are seeking attention..
If you are actually competitive, then spend what you need for equipment that won't be too frustrating. Don't spend money just to fit in with some clowns.
I ride my daughter's $500 mountain bike to the gym and couldn't GAF what anyone thinks.
Forgot to add, the really important thing is getting the right fit, but this is somewhat independent of the price. You'll ride much better on a perfectly fitted $500 bike than on a poorly fitted $5000 bike.
I 100% agree with this. Another option is to make friends with LBS and do Frankenbike. Over time, buy components piecemeal and add/subtract. That’s what I did to build my cyclocross bike - A Crux frame. Wheels are Mavic and bombproof. I have cantilever brakes and ride 32 - 35 mm tires on it. I’ll ride that bike anywhere except legit singletrack. $2300 all in. I can use that bad boy on a lot of group rides if I change the tires out.
My crit bike is a Tarmac SL with digital Ultegra. The wheels are composite and spin up fast. My fizik saddle is the only thing that is a little indulgent. I’m $2700 all in. If I can’t keep up, it’s not the bike’s fault. I could basically be doing the same thing on a $1200 bike, this one is just more reliable and comfortable.
Do you usually fall behind in group rides? You seem like the type..