Bike envy

[Gillstay]

Maybe they don’t have cars ? Some people spend thousands on these I’ve heard😉

Yeah, I heard that. I even found my father suffered from it, when I bought a £250 Peugeot 406 and Dad asked if I would risk taking it to France.
Instead we went in it to Switzerland.

 

[Dadam]

Sounds like the only one suffering bike envy is the OP. He rides with them, keeps up with them and from the sound of it nobody in the club seems to mind his bike. So no problem then?

I've no axe to grind either way, I just like bikes. I've got a few, some cheap, some less so.🤷‍♂️
I'm not fussed about joining the kind of club with a club kit. I tend to ride solo but enjoyed the forum rides I've done. the only type of "club" I'd be inclined to join would along the lines of the social pootling type with a cafe involved somewhere.

 

[Rusty Nails]

When I get home from a cold wet ride I just put the bike away “wet and muddy”while I head for a nice warm shower. Expensive bikes with expensive components need lots of TLC before getting put away, for this reason alone I’m more than happy with my “run of the mill” bike.

Ah! That's what I've been doing wrong.

 

[wafter]

When I get home from a cold wet ride I just put the bike away “wet and muddy”while I head for a nice warm shower. Expensive bikes with expensive components need lots of TLC before getting put away, for this reason alone I’m more than happy with my “run of the mill” bike.

Cheap bikes need love too

 

[Reynard]

I enjoy admiring other people's bikes. Saying to someone "I like your bike" invariably puts a big smile on their face. But do I have bike envy? No. Maybe it would be different if I were taller than 4ft 11, but I'm not, so the "I want one of those" becomes very much immaterial.

As for clubs, I'm too slow to join a club. I was invited to join the local one, with the "oh, our social ride is about 14 mph and we don't drop anyone."

But the problem is, I pootle along at about eight or nine miles an hour, and at 14 mph, I'm in a flat out sprint. So it simply wouldn't be fair on the others in the group. Also, I get out when I have the time, for however long I have the time for. Club rides here are on a Saturday, and I tend to have other commitments. So I'm happy to ride on my ownsome and actually prefer it. I think I'd madden a club ride if I stopped to pick up onions dropped in the verges

 

[slow horse]

I think I'd madden a club ride if I stopped to pick up onions dropped in the verges

And potatoes!

 

[Alex321]

Also, I get out when I have the time, for however long I have the time for. Club rides here are on a Saturday, and I tend to have other commitments.

This is my biggest issue.

I have joined the local club, and they are a good friendly bunch, with normally 3-4 rides organised a week during the summer, fewer in winter.

But 1-2 of those rides will be on Monday or Friday morning, and weekend rides usually start at 9:30. I tend to go out after work, and at weekends when I've done whatever else needs doing, so I'm not often available for the morning rides. I have managed a couple of Saturday rides, and they were also running rides quite often on Tuesday evenings during the summer, several of which I joined with.

I'll probably get out with them more next year, when I'll be going part time, so will have Monday mornings available.

 

[Reynard]

And potatoes!

Those too. And beetroot. My last ride yielded three and a half kilos of beetroot.

 

[Hover Fly]

Those too. And beetroot. My last ride yielded three and a half kilos of beetroot.

Please tell us you draw the line at the neeps fed to sheep in winter.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

Those too. And beetroot. My last ride yielded three and a half kilos of beetroot.

Reminds me of an article in Arrivee (Audax uk) about roadkill. Panniers or camper long flap - nice stew after every long ride.

 

[fossyant]

I've been thinking about this and it really saddens me that there are clubs and people that like to look down their noses at others, just so bloody not needed, unwarranted and unfriendly.
Unfortunately there's not much any one can do about it. Hopefully the OP's club calls it out.

Just don't think about the Rapha lot in Manchester, miserable bunch, and the load that ride from Pinarello Wilmslow (including the social media 'influencer').

 

[Drago]

In any case, it pointless buying a flash bike.

I'd only end up selling it to Biggs eventually.

 

[fossyant]

When I get home from a cold wet ride I just put the bike away “wet and muddy”while I head for a nice warm shower. Expensive bikes with expensive components need lots of TLC before getting put away, for this reason alone I’m more than happy with my “run of the mill” bike.

Normal bikes need looking after you bike abuser !

 

[fossyant]

Now't wrong with a flash bike....

 

[Reynard]

Please tell us you draw the line at the neeps fed to sheep in winter.

I live in an area that's purely arable land, so no neeps and no sheeps.