Do you suit your bike?

[martint235]

I've foolishly been reading Cycling Plus after a few beers. It starts with a review of a £3k Raleigh and goes on into bikes and kit (£150 on a pair of bibshorts anyone? Guaranteed to rip the first time you hit the floor) that I can't afford but just don't aspire to either. So, the question is looking at your main bike (or best bike) does it suit your ability? Personally I think Lelly (£2k), titanium sportive is about right for what I can do on a bike. I can ride fairly long distances at a fair pace and Lelly seems suited to that. I know people with bikes way, way more expensive than this but I also know riders with way, way more skill, ability and bike handling than me. I also know that although I might notice the difference, moving from 105 to Dura-Ace won't make me quicker.

When you look at the Dogma, do you want one or do you think "No I can't do it justice" or "Hey that's nowhere near quick enough for me!"

So I'm curious, is your bike a match to your ability?

 

[Gary E]

They don't make bikes to match my ability and if they did it'd fall apart when you sat on it

 

[TVC]

What's the point of a £8K bike when I have £1K legs.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I've gone back to riding my brompton with a schlumpf speed drive, shimano dynohub, edelux front light, topflight rear light, P bars and a Brooks flyer saddle and fancy Kamyo suspension block.

according to people I ride with, it's the perfect bike for me. slow and heavy...cheeky buggers.

 

[oldfatfool]

I am sure I would be quicker on something lighter but then that would just mean waiting for Colin longer at the top of hills and getting cold

 

[Hacienda71]

I love scalping at speed some of the weekend warriors around Cheshire on their £5K Cervellos and Pinarellos on a bike I have built out of bits for a few hundred quid.

 

[cyberknight]

carrera virtuoso does the job as a commuter but is a bit of a lump.
Boardman comp is very nice to ride,certainly good value for money at the price point but i look at the 1.5 k mark bikes ,almost double mine which seems to be the average price and i can see how a bit lighter bike with better wheels could help a little bit.
On long rides i can keep up with the groups i ride with but lugging another kg + so uphills means that i am not the mountain goat i might be.
Am i happy with the bike? yes i am but i always wish i had pushed the budget out to the maximum.

 

[marinyork]

I would think my £700 bike is probably a bit above my ability. However I think there are a lot of people out there on £100-£150 bikes that could gain a lot by riding £300 or other expensive bikes.

 

[HovR]

My 531 framed Dawes mostly suits me, and I can keep a decent pace on it, although I'm sure I'd be faster on a nice CAAD alu frame or something made of carbon.

 

[Night Train]

I love scalping at speed some of the weekend warriors arond Cheshire on there £5K Cervellos and Pinarellos on a bike I have built out of bits for a few hundred quid.

Last year I scalped a roadie, at speed, with witnesses.
I was riding my £13 old 70's Hungarian Pannoina Mayfair shopping bike called Granville.

We were riding as a group, fairly casually, when a roadie burst through between us without so much an 'excuse me'. That was it, a red rag to a bull. Granville and I set off after him and caught him.
As I went past he had this look on his face of 'I'm not looking, you're not really there!'.

It was so funny! especially to those watching from behind apparently.

 

[Thomk]

They don't make suits to fit my bike so I tend to dress it in an Olympic 2012 t shirt, shorts and a sporty cap.

 

[Arch]

@ Night Train
It was indeed! Especially as Granville was rather low geared, so your legs were going 19 to the dozen...

 

[Andrew_Culture]

My mtb is a cheap Raleigh that is sagging and worn out, just like me.

My road bike is an elegant old Claude Butler Dalesman, treated with respect and gently maintained, so not at all like me.

 

[Andrew_P]

I like the look of the Dogma, Venge type bikes but way too much pressure to ride fast all the time. The pressure is all internal but all the same it would be there.

I ride a black Roubaix with raceblade longs on it most of the time which makes it look less road bike. I think it suits me, and I think it is pretty understated.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I think there's a danger in any hobby* to spoil it by getting gearlust. The same thing happens with musicians...

That being said I own a Musicman Stingray, a Fender Precision, an Orange head and a Markbass cab, so I do appreciate that it's easier to decide you don't need the bestest gear when you already have it.

Hang on, I think I forgot what forum I was in for a moment there!

Huzzah for bicycles!











*cycling is more than a hobby