LBS had a field day!

[XmisterIS]

I know this is cruel, but ...

I had a little chuckle to myself yesterday at a "Saturday Warrior" ...

I was on a slight (very slight) incline, saw a guy in front of me, riding slowly, feet spinning like the clappers (clearly in the wrong gear), saddle far too low, heels on the pedals, knees out sideways, top half of him bobbing from side to side and helmet set at a jaunty angle.

I pulled up along side him. "Hi, lovely afternoon", I said, while discretely looking at his bike and kit ...

He was red in the face, puffed out from all that gerbil-like pedal-spinning in the wrong gear, riding an extremely smart-looking, brand new Scott road bike with what looked like full-carbon fibre frame and forks, very expensive wheels (rear was one of those aero-disk things), top notch components throughout, all the trick stuff on the handlebars - cordless speedo, super-expensive halogen headlight (in the daytime?!), etc, wearing helmet, SPD shoes (not clipped into the pedals), full lycra, gloves, sweatbands, shades, designer waterbottle, the full works, and all in matching colours to match his bike.

I think LBS must have seen him coming from three miles away ...

Mostly when I see people riding like that, it's because they are on crap bikes and will freely admit that they just use 'em to go to the shops and back, no reason for me to take the piss! ... but this guy was something else ...

As I say, I know it's cruel to mock, but in this instance I couldn't help myself!

 

[gb155]

all the gear.......no idea !

 

[XmisterIS]

Instead of acting like a pompous twat you you could have helped/advised him.

I'm truly shocked!

Really, I am ...

Anyway, I didn't act like a pompous twat, I said, "Hi, lovely afternoon".

I just thought like a pompous twat!

 

[Tollers]

Some people just have bags of cash. If i was a total noob, but stupidly wealthy, i'd prob kit myself out like a pro from day 1. The guy might be at the bottom of a steep learning curve, so don't write beginners off because they are wealthy.

As a relative beginner though (compared to some of you lot), i was very grateful to a nice girl in Richmond park for suggesting that i try raising my saddle. I always welcome advice from other cyclists as most of my friends are couch potatoes.

Anyway, i'm not preaching. Just saying some beginners welcome help/advice, but feel free to keep mocking. U made me chuckle, but only because im jealous of the rich bugger!

 

[yello]

don't write beginners off because they are wealthy.

Agreed. We all started somewhere.

 

[yello]

Oh, and the LBS could well be kept afloat by such people! You ought to be thankful!

More experienced cyclists going in for a chat, free advice... and an inner tube ain't going to keep his door from closing!

 

[XmisterIS]

Ah! Agreed, everyone needs to start somewhere! The trouble is that I've been riding all my life so I can't remember what it is to be a cycling beginner.

Hell, if I see this guy again with his £3000+ worth of kit going down the road, I might even pocket my envy and give him some advice!

 

[Tollers]

Hell, if I see this guy again with his £3000+ worth of kit going down the road, I might even pocket my envy and give him some advice!

Xmister, I think you should. The nights are closing in and in a few weeks he maybe selling his bike for peanuts! Although, after an investment like that i hope he has the staying power to cope with winter.

p.s I hope I have the staying power

 

[wafflycat]

Some people just have bags of cash. If i was a total noob, but stupidly wealthy, i'd prob kit myself out like a pro from day 1. The guy might be at the bottom of a steep learning curve, so don't write beginners off because they are wealthy.

As a relative beginner though (compared to some of you lot), i was very grateful to a nice girl in Richmond park for suggesting that i try raising my saddle. I always welcome advice from other cyclists as most of my friends are couch potatoes.

Anyway, i'm not preaching. Just saying some beginners welcome help/advice, but feel free to keep mocking. U made me chuckle, but only because im jealous of the rich bugger!

+1 to the above sentiments. The 'all the gear no idea' mentality seems to come from jealousy IMO.

 

[rh100]

Good on the bloke - at least he is off his @rse and having a pedal - and not blowing past you in his BMW.

 

[gavintc]

That was us 4 yrs ago. I bought a cheap Ribble, my wife a Giant OCR3 and within 6 months knew we were hooked. I bought a carbon Bianchi, my wife a carbon Pinarello. I think both bikes were well above our ability (and probably still are). But, I earn a decent crust as does my wife, and this has become our passion. Yes, I will never compete above the base level, but spinning along at over 20mph under your own power is such a blast. So, when I see complete beginners on expensive bikes, my thoughts are 'I hope you love it'.

 

[siadwell]

Some people just have bags of cash. If i was a total noob, but stupidly wealthy, i'd prob kit myself out like a pro from day 1.

And then pay someone to show me how to use it properly.

Come to think of it, maybe the LBS was remiss in not showing him how to set up his new gear properly.

 

[J4CKO]

We live in a very affluent area, our LBS seems to have a wealthy clientele who spend freely judging by the kit they sell and some of the motors in the car park, some seem to be into it and buy the best gear because they can afford it, a minority just buy the best and then dont use it, I quite like going in, p1ss wet through, panting, steaming gently, covered in grime on a dark sh1tty night, you know keeping it real, you can buy anything if you have the money, commuting on the worst nights of the year takes commitment, and being a bit mental, they probably just think I am poor and don't have a brand new Range Rover whilst I am thinking how hardcore I must look

I saw a guy in there spending two grand on a bike for his teenage sons (who was with him) birthday, have seen said bike on the floor outside the newsagents since !!!

 

[rh100]

they probably just think I am poor and don't have a brand new Range Rover whilst I am thinking how hardcore I must look

I'm sure they were secretly impressed really

I saw a guy in there spending two grand on a bike for his teenage sons (who was with him) birthday, have seen said bike on the floor outside the newsagents since !!!

Now that is a waste -- why not just by em a cheapo bike - see how it gets used then upgrade it if justified

 

[u9ge]

I love seing these people, fair play to them but there are limits to how much you should spend. I have delight in passing these guys at speed as an expression of my jealousy.