disappointed with myself

[joanna]

I've posted countless 'what bike' posts on cycle chat over the past few years - been to lots of bike shops, tried bikes, read tonnes of posts and reviews - and yet I'm still without a 'road' bike. I don't know what is stopping me from getting over that final hurdle and handing over my cash.

I actually feel like a bit of a cycling failure. I'm envious everytime I see someone on a road bike, and think - 'right - that's it - I'm definitely going to get one now'. I daren't go into my local bike shops now after spending so much time going through things with them - and still not coming any closer to a purchase - I'm probably what they term as a 'time waster'.

Why is it that I have to have a drop bar bike to feel part of the cycling elite? I've been cycling daily for 10+ years, been on many a cycling holiday, but still don't feel like I'm a proper cyclist - if there is such a thing. I'm off on another holiday soon, and I know everyone will be on a road bike set-up. I know it really doesn't matter - and it's what you do with your bike that matters - but it matters to me. Beating myself up a bit here - and there isn't really any answer - but kind of feel better writing down how I feel!

 

[CopperCyclist]

Ever tried hiring one?

 

[Rooster1]

Crickey O'Reilly - get it sorted, take the "plunge", just do it. No more procrast...whatever that word is.

 

[Rooster1]

Some Girl bike porn....

 

[young Ed]

lots of people here don't have a drop bar roadie.
and moving away from hybrids, mountain bikers are just as much cyclists as roadies.

for me getting a drop bar skinny tyred road bike was an incredible difference and i LOVE it! and it's just one of those things where i ended up kicking my self thinking i shouuld have got one earlier
Cheers Ed

 

[joanna]

maybe it's pre-holiday nerves! nice bikes Rooster 1 - haven't tried out Giant yet - maybe I'll give those a go. Haven't get quizzed them in the Giant store in Shoreham yet.

I do know what is stopping me actually - I'm a very very nervy descender - and like the security of top brakes... of the bikes I've tried - drop bar bikes feel great on the flat - but as soon as I've tried going downhill on them - that's me with my mind make up against them... maybe i should try hypnosis

 

[vernon]

Why is it that I have to have a drop bar bike to feel part of the cycling elite? I've been cycling daily for 10+ years, been on many a cycling holiday, but still don't feel like I'm a proper cyclist - if there is such a thing. I'm off on another holiday soon, and I know everyone will be on a road bike set-up. I know it really doesn't matter - and it's what you do with your bike that matters - but it matters to me. Beating myself up a bit here - and there isn't really any answer - but kind of feel better writing down how I feel!

Drop barred bikes are de rigeur in the UK if you want to be considered a 'proper cyclist'. It's not so in mainland Europe. Drop barred bikes are not a common sight in Europe. I have four bicycles but only one of them gets regular use - the flat barred one. There's nothing inherently superior to drop barred bikes.

Just pretend that you're French and enjoy the riches of cycling with what you have.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

maybe it's pre-holiday nerves! nice bikes Rooster 1 - haven't tried out Giant yet - maybe I'll give those a go. Haven't get quizzed them in the Giant store in Shoreham yet.

I do know what is stopping me actually - I'm a very very nervy descender - and like the security of top brakes... of the bikes I've tried - drop bar bikes feel great on the flat - but as soon as I've tried going downhill on them - that's me with my mind make up against them... maybe i should try hypnosis

You can have top bar brake levers fitted to a road bike too you know.

 

[Drago]

I got 4 bikes on drops and don't feel any affinity with any one group of cyclists, never mind some notional elite.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

It's funny - but I just don't get on with flat bars. They do my wrists in. But I still have them on my MtB.

Does that make me a Roadie?

 

[raleighnut]

maybe it's pre-holiday nerves! nice bikes Rooster 1 - haven't tried out Giant yet - maybe I'll give those a go. Haven't get quizzed them in the Giant store in Shoreham yet.

I do know what is stopping me actually - I'm a very very nervy descender - and like the security of top brakes... of the bikes I've tried - drop bar bikes feel great on the flat - but as soon as I've tried going downhill on them - that's me with my mind make up against them... maybe i should try hypnosis

Get a set of 'interupter' brakes fitted.
these

Maybe

 

[oldfatfool]

Don't feel in control of flat bar bikes, especially at any sort of speed, but its probably just me.

 

[Easytigers]

As long as you're riding with a smile it really doesn't matter :-)

 

[mjr]

Why is it that I have to have a drop bar bike to feel part of the cycling elite?

You've been tricked into the usual UK bike snobbery? Get over it. Lots of us here have nice upright bikes: flat bars, risers, swept/Dutch, porteurs/French, bullhorns, butterflies... arguably North Roads are the real connoisseurs' bars.

 

[andyfraser]

Only 1 of my 3 bikes has drops. My hybrid has flat bars and my fixie has bullhorns. My fixie is my favourite bike at the moment.