Best, better, and more expensive - my myth busting view...

[Yazzoo]

I am normally of the opinion I will spend money on what I see fit, balls to anyone else - it's my money! If I want to buy a Lamborghini and just take it to Tesco and back at 30mph that's my business.

I have bought a bike that far out ranks me in terms of ability, but I intend to improve and 'grow into it' rather than 6 months down the line regret buying the naff cheap option and be looking to upgrade or have fallen out of love with cycling. It's ridden regularly, I look after it, it's kept indoors and clean and oiled and I intend to keep it for a very long time - e.g. forever, and potentially there's nothing on it I need/want to upgrade (atm!) it should last for whatever level I ever achieve. This cost me quite a bit, of my own money, and my spending this had no impact on anyone else - ergo they get no opinion on it! I see this as an investment though, not a rash frivolous purchase. I also shopped around and did a lot of research in to this before purchasing, I always look around for deals online etc - no one wants to feel like they're being shafted!

My other bike lives in a shed (old basket shopper), I'm quite happy to leave it outside the shops, lent against walls, lying on the floor, and ride it over anything - (most recently down some steps after some cider and an ill thought out dare) all sorts really! This cost me probably less than £200 3 years ago. It weighs a ton and changes gear as and when it feels necessary, it still gets ridden fairly frequently, especially at this time of year. Horses for courses etc!

I hate seeing posts on here where people are berating others who spend money, I saw one before saying about some young guy at the side of the road who didn't know how to change his inner tube, and he was on a full carbon bike - how dare he! Who gives a rats ass? If that's what he wanted to buy, and he did so without taking money from YOUR wallet you've got no right to judge anyone.

Each to their own!

 

[moo]

If you get enjoyment from an expensive purchase then it was money well spent. It's only a waste if you spend a fortune on something you never/rarely use.

 

[stoatsngroats]

I am normally of the opinion I will spend money on what I see fit, balls to anyone else - it's my money! If I want to buy a Lamborghini and just take it to Tesco and back at 30mph that's my business.../.....I hate seeing posts on here where people are berating others who spend money...

Sincerely, I apologise if what I wrote upset you, I meant not to deride anyone for their choices, merely to put into a perspective (my chosen perspective) advice to newbies, that their choice should begin at their consideration for their needs, and not necessarily be swayed by the opinions of others.... I'm not telling anyone to do anything!

Of course, each to their own, I totally agree, but quality comes at a price sometimes means that someone spends more on something they might not need, and when this is borne from a lot of people who unintentionally direct posts towards high-quality and high-end components, just taking the time to consider whether this will actually bring value to their ride is oft worthwhile.

 

[stoatsngroats]

I'm a big believer in if somethings not broken don't fix it I'm sure your bike will serve you well for some time to come if you look after it....i'd keep it indoors though if poss...though difficult it being a Tandem they take up a fair bit of space

I would if I could! It gets some regular routine maintenance though, which is all I can do!

 

[Yazzoo]

I didn't mean you necessarily, and I get the point of your original post as advice to newbies - it's just a bugbear I have with places like this and the cycling community sometimes - sorry, I may have gone off on a bit of a rant!

 

[stoatsngroats]

@Yazzoo - No worries!
CC is a place where there are so many views, it can become a little tiresome at times (not meant as a criticism of anyone mods!), and I myself have often posted in the incorrect forum/been unable to find something which has been done to death many times written about before/been impressed by so many views on a particular point, etc. (during which, encountered some very blinkered vitriol strongly held views) that it can be very difficult to educate oneself sometimes.

 

[Citius]

I am normally of the opinion I will spend money on what I see fit, balls to anyone else - it's my money! If I want to buy a Lamborghini and just take it to Tesco and back at 30mph that's my business.

Absolutely no argument there. But would you recommend a Lambo to someone else who was looking for a shopping car..??

 

[Yazzoo]

Yes, they'd get to drive it more often as they could probably only fit one item in it at a time!

 

[raleighnut]

Absolutely no argument there. But would you recommend a Lambo to someone else who was looking for a shopping car..??

This might do the job.



Especially If you have a large family

 

[Yazzoo]

But no if i'm serious I would not recommend a Lambo shopper - perhaps it was a poor example! A better shopping run example would have been a £100k Range Rover or a £5k Astra Estate - I know which I'd prefer, unfortunately I can see the Astra from here

 

[Yazzoo]

This might do the job.



Especially If you have a large family

Terrible example, no boot at all! Unless it comes with a trailer

 

[Citius]

This might do the job.


Especially If you have a large family

Good luck parking that in Tescos

 

[Citius]

But no if i'm serious I would not recommend a Lambo shopper - perhaps it was a poor example! A better shopping run example would have been a £100k Range Rover or a £5k Astra Estate - I know which I'd prefer, unfortunately I can see the Astra from here

Aha - you've hit the nail on the head right here. This is how all the disagreements start. A £100k Range Rover would, as you say, do the weekly shop at Tescos perfectly well. But then so would the £5k Astra - and so would a 20 year-old Range Rover costing £1500.

Poster A: "I've just bought a £100k Range Rover to go shopping - was that a good choice?"
Poster B: "Dunno, but a £5k Astra would do the same job for less - did you not consider one of those?"
Poster C: "Poster A is perfectly entitled to buy whatever he likes - leave him alone you nazi..!"

And so the fun begins again...and continues to escalate like that until the thread gets closed..

 

[Yazzoo]

lol keyboard warriors

 

[stoatsngroats]

And so the fun begins again...and continues to escalate like that until the thread gets closed..

Is there any connection between Citius and Poster C...?



The point though is quite succinct, and that's a little where my point in the first post comes from... it's great to say why the Range Rover may be a little extreme, when compared to the Astra, and obviously, personal choice dictates, but if the question was pre-range rover purchase, it could have saved a few quid, particularly if this was a newbie, saying that their choice was to just manage a few mile every couple of weeks, maybe taking their kid to school, and a little local shopping, and asking for advice on which to buy.

My bike is a Viking, and it's equipment isn't groundbreaking, but the quality is sufficient for mild adventure. Viking road bikes (I would imagine - mine is!) are more than satisfactory, as are Carrera ( I had one, and I loved it!). Apollo and the lower end of the market wouldn't be my choice, because in my experience (I had one, it was ok for a couple of miles, but not much farther) the quality of the components is lower, requiring much more maintenance, and providing less reliability without it, and much less 'feel'.

Tyres - Continental V Schwalbe (a general view of recent experience) Continental, great for road, and cinder tracks, and pretty reliable regarding the P* word. Ok for many miles. Schwalbe - more twitchy due to the 'U' shape when compared to the Continental but much comfier ride, and as fast. Unsure at this early stage about P*s and longevity. Price comparison, almost equal, certainly within a few £s.

These therefore are the kind of comments people might need, and I'm happy to offer.