Am I the only one ?

[kingrollo]

Im 54 - due to ashtma, bad gentics , and a big appetite - speed wise I am a pretty crap cyclists - I am generally farting along at 13mph - and 15 mph is a real good knock for me.

Realistically I should should be riding a nice titanium bike - But I don't I ride quite a racy looking bike ....which is coming up 10 years old - its still going strong but I think new bike time is upon me !

I really like the look of another race type bike - with deep section carbon wheels - even though I know I can't ever do it justice .....I have the cash .....but just wondered is anyone else in the same boat ?

 

[Big Andy]

Stop worrying about your speed or what you ride. Go at your pace, ride the bike you want to ride and enjoy!

 

[User10119]

I really like the look of another race type bike - with deep section carbon wheels - even though I know I can't ever do it justice .....I have the cash .....but just wondered is anyone else in the same boat ?

If you can afford it without hardship, buy the bike that you will love and that you will enjoy riding and that will make you happy to go out on. Who gives a stuff about what any external eyes think? The person best placed to know if a bike is the right one for you is you.

Personally I'd reommend test riding any candidates because I think the way a bike feels to ride is more important that the way it looks as an object, but even that is just a personal opinion and not one you _need_ to pay any attention to!

 

[mjr]

+1 to the first two replies. Get whatever amuses you. Don't worry about speed too much unless you're planning to race or have some other need for speed (crossing the nullarbor plain or whatever). Enjoy it!

 

[Cycleops]

I guess I'm in a similar position. I would like a new bike but every time I get close to getting the cc out I can't really justify it to myself. My 'best' bike is a two year old Specialized that I bought here second hand but id like something I can pack into a case so l can travel easily with it. I'd even be able to buy it at a reasonable price as I won't have to pay VAT.

If you want your carbon road bike go for it, life's too short.

 

[Fonze]

Just make it simple, go out and ride and enjoy it ..
Chasing a Podium spot then worry about times and speeds ..
I like to just cruise sometimes take in the scenery , not in the least bit interested in my times or speeds ..
I cycle purely cause I love it ..

But I would say if you do have the money go get,bike you want ..

 

[vickster]

Buy whatever bike you want or five of whatever you want...as long as none are black

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Im 54 - due to ashtma, bad gentics , and a big appetite - speed wise I am a pretty crap cyclists - I am generally farting along at 13mph - and 15 mph is a real good knock for me.

Realistically I should should be riding a nice titanium bike - But I don't I ride quite a racy looking bike ....which is coming up 10 years old - its still going strong but I think new bike time is upon me !

I really like the look of another race type bike - with deep section carbon wheels - even though I know I can't ever do it justice .....I have the cash .....but just wondered is anyone else in the same boat ?

I'm a bit older, no faster, and got myself a carbon bike a couple of years back. My reasoning was that, being fairly light for my height but woefully short on power, the less weight I had to carry with me would help me get up those hills and stop me keeping people waiting on social rides. For everyday use and particularly in winter, though, I trundle about on a heavy steel tourer wearing civvies. It works for me.

 

[Drago]

Buy what ever floats your boat, because it turns you on and makes you smile. That's much better than the fools who buy the latest Specialiant carbon plastic toy because its 12 pictograms lighter than the Planet Z Ultegiaracompe helium carbon bike, while being utterly blind to the 18 kg of excess blubber they're carrying.

Buying a nice bike because it makes your boxers twitch is exactly the right ting to do.

 

[Racing roadkill]

The minute you start stressing about ‘average speed’ you’re on a hiding to nothing. Average power / weight ( Normalized Ideally) is a far better metric. I know people that can put out 5 or more W/Kg who’s ‘average of averages’ , speed wise is 14-15mph, whereas I know people with far lower power to weight, who’s ‘average of averages’ is north of 18mph. If you look more closely at what they are actually doing, the higher speed lower W/Kg brigade are just being far more careful with routes / terrain and weather. This is just an example, but it gives you a sense of perspective. The key difference is that the higher W/Kg brigade, can get higher speeds, than the other lot, if they are both doing the same routes, in the same conditions.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Just turned 50 last week, am 2.5 stone heavier than when my racing snake days ended 8 years ago and I'm asthmatic.
I bought the bike I fancied and love every minute on it. I have no delusions about my speed these days. Like the guy I saw climbing on a road bike out of Holmfirth a few months back, in full Captain America bibs and top, I don't give a stuff about anyone else's opinion, I'm in it for me.
And if I'm a bit heavy I'll go down hills faster! Ace!!

 

[roadrash]

ride what you like and like what you ride

 

[Drago]

And just enjoy the ride. Don't get too hung up on the likes of Strava.

 

[Racing roadkill]

And just enjoy the ride. Don't get too hung up on the likes of Strava.

Yeahbut, if it isn’t on Strava, it didn’t happen.

 

[gbb]

Buy yourself the nicest bike you can reasonably afford, but i'd give the deep section rims a miss. I was out in windy conditions this weekend with 30mm section rims and tbh, i could feel the wheels getting pushed around...its kinda wobbly and disconcerting.
Deep rims are fine in the right circumstances but they're not for all round cycling (IMHO)