in: Soupbone; Soupbone > 2008-08-29;
| # Posted 2008-08-30 08:21:04 | |
| chitownclark: | Go ahead...give yourself a retirement present. I saw so many $5000 bikes at the Chicago Triathlon last weekend that I'm thinking of getting a hot new titanium frame for myself. |
| # Posted 2008-08-31 00:01:38 | |
| Soupbone: | I just got done riding my trek5200, it shifts like butter and runs well. i will wait |
| # Posted 2008-09-01 05:39:02 | |
| Soupbone: | You on the other hand should get the best bike you can find.. |
| # Posted 2008-09-01 17:47:29 | |
| chitownclark: | Unfortunately I have no place to put a new bike...unless I string it from the ceiling. Living in the City does have some limitations.
I'd have to throw out my 25 year old custom-made RRB road bike. Ron Boi (who I still occasionally see) would never forgive me. Last time I saw him, and asked him if I was ready for a new bike, he said "That Chrome-moly steel alloy frame you're riding is still the best all-around frame material you can get; stiffer and tougher than any of the synthetics or aluminum. Priced today, that's a $5000 bike." So unfortunately, I too must wait. You on the other hand, don't have a $5000 bike, or even close. What did you pay for that Trek? |
| # Posted 2008-09-01 19:04:17 | |
| Soupbone: | You do have room or should I say rooms, just rent out an apt. to a room full of bikes. Maybe like a show room.
People would pay an admission price to view them. Oh my bike new was about $2400. |
| # Posted 2008-09-08 08:23:51 | |
| chitownclark: | Yeah? Well how much did Joe just spend on his Felt? Could you keep up the other day when you guys were out riding together?
You gotta get some of that same quality...and so do I. Out here in California, everyone's riding $5000 bikes, and driving $50 000 cars! |
| # Posted 2008-09-08 09:07:49 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | Was it the Astana team manager who recently said the difference between a 500 and 1500-2000 bike was huge but over 2000 not significant? |
| # Posted 2008-09-08 11:46:44 | |
| chitownclark: | Yeah? But that Dura-Ace logo on all your components looks sweet.... and bikes like Joe's Felt are so cool. |
| # Posted 2008-09-08 17:32:02 | |
| expresso: | To me, my Felt is worth every penny of the $2200. |
| # Posted 2008-09-09 07:09:27 | |
| Soupbone: | There is something about a bike and there is something about work ethic. A great skiier can kick ass with shit skis, but a poor skier can not win a ski race no matter what he has on.
If you enjoy the bike you are on that's it!, If you are racing and every once counts, you buy big. A six hour bike ride is a six hour bike ride, whether you cover 75 miles or 110. |
| # Posted 2008-09-09 18:32:14 | |
| chitownclark: | Well, I think one of the reasons biking (and cross-country skiing, for that matter) is not more popular, is that few people know the rush of riding a really good bike (or XC'ing with a good set of lightweight racing skis, poles and boots)...it's like Joe says, you feel like your equiplment is working for you, not against you. A 3-hour ride becomes a completely different experience: you easily keep up with your buddies; you surge up hills; leave them in your dust on the flats; and still feel fresh at the end. Biking becomes more fun...so you do a lot more of it,and become a stronger biker.
Perhaps you guys can buy a frame off-the-shelf and enjoy this kind of thrill. But I had to have my frame custom-designed, with every tube length cut for my body measurements alone, in order to attain that level. And that took a lot more than $2000. |
| # Posted 2008-09-09 19:25:58 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | Chi, I have had 3 hour rides like that, but the source of the thrill was being in pretty good shape and loving riding. Sure, a basic confidence level in the bike is helpful, but a lot is in the operators legs, and and lot more is between the operators ears.
even if I had that kind of money, its seems hard to justify the expense, esp. when you consider that for a fraction of the same amount i could save several human lives. It is highly unlikely such a bike would win any races for me, and if it did it would be a pretty meaningless sub-category of a local race. In spite of that, i do fantasize about an ueber-bike way too much, If I had a lot more talent or disposable income I would probably get one anyway, in spite of knowing deep down that its not that meaningful. And if the manager of a pro team says the jump between 1000 and 2000 is huge, but the jump of anything over 2k is negligible i tend to believe him. |
| # Posted 2008-09-09 20:24:53 | |
| expresso: | Clark, I agree with you about "equipment working for you, not against you." However, I think there are individual differences in how much one needs to spend to attain this. For your body, you needed the custom built frame and the commensurate price. Maybe some of us have bodies that readily fit the manufactured frame sizes and love what we can get for ~$2000 prices.
It's likely that even good amateur bikers (with more experience than I) would find my bike below their standards. For me though, my prior bike was 12 years old and lower quality than my new one. So, in jumping both a generation and quality level, I am astounded by the difference. And yes, it does make me want to ride it every day so I am slowly building-up to that level. Charlie's bike is great and he has no problem staying up with me. If I remember correctly, Rudy has an excellent Cannondale. We can all dream about the uber-bike but I'm not sure it's a necessity to thoroughly enjoying biking. |
| # Posted 2008-09-09 21:38:19 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | wow, good memory, Joe! the cannondale is a cyclocross bike that cost maybe 1400 a few years back. my road bike is a steel ritchey breakaway frame with ultegra parts that cost 2300. hey, hope we all get to go for a ride together some day! |
| # Posted 2008-09-10 07:35:20 | |
| Soupbone: | I think after today good money should be and will be spent on a good seat. Joe I am going to Performance store tomorow night. |
| # Posted 2008-09-10 08:17:54 | |
| chitownclark: | Charlie: think of your prostate man!
Consider a Spongy Wonder bicycle seat! |
| # Posted 2008-09-10 08:25:34 | |
| expresso: | OMG, Clark, that is hilarious. Somehow I think you are serious though.
Charlie, what time are you going there? Are you free earlier than tomorrow night ?? |
| # Posted 2008-09-10 08:57:39 | |
| Soupbone: | I will probably leave the des plaines trail at about 6 or 6:30 and head down, I need to go to REI also.
Think you can make it, if not maybe thursday afternoon if you want to go? |
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