Looking around a nice shop today.

[Globalti]

Some folk spend their money on cars, some on motorbikes, jetskis, boats, fishing gear, steam traction engines, small aircraft, wine, paintings, cameras... just about the only sport or hobby that doesn't involve expensive equipment is running but why would I want to go running around when God gave Man the brains to invent and ride bicycles?

 

[Lee_M]

more serious cyclist = dumbshit with more money than sense.
My bike when new set me back £412 but I'd bet I'm more into cycling than some of these rich summer bunnies who've had their uber posh bikes locked up all winter. And I'll bet there's cyclists out there on bikes half as expensive as mine who are more serious about it than I.
A love of cycling is what makes a cyclist.....not a posh bike. All the gear and no idea etc.

that must be me then. oh hang on, you could be talking bollocks.

I haven't spent £10k on a bike (nearer £4k), but if you can afford it why not? I could earn enough to do that in 10 days so why worry?
I also ride all year round, but I've got a winter bike for the nasty weather, ooh and a single speed for when i want a change, ooh and an MTB when I fancy some dirt, oh and my old summer bike. Apparently I need to sell them all and buy some shite old bike as thats what makes me a cyclist

 

[Nigeyy]

Maybe they do have more money than sense, or perhaps some of them are "rich summer bunnies" (and how do you know if they are? By a single glance?) but they do have more money -and they can spend it how they like! I totally agree that love and knowledge of cycling really makes you a cyclist rather than how much you spend on a bike -and that's similar for many hobbies.

But from another perspective: it irks me that people who clearly have enough money will persist in trying to save a few quid by buying the cheapest low quality big store bikes available, and then complain when their brakes rub, or their steering bearings are rough, or their cheap plastic pedals break! Yet they have a new BMW or a Lexus in the driveway.....just one routine service cost of their cars could have bought them a decent bike, but no, god forbid they do that. Just doesn't make sense to me..... Then I can say they have more money than sense!

more serious cyclist = dumbshit with more money than sense.
My bike when new set me back £412 but I'd bet I'm more into cycling than some of these rich summer bunnies who've had their uber posh bikes locked up all winter. And I'll bet there's cyclists out there on bikes half as expensive as mine who are more serious about it than I.
A love of cycling is what makes a cyclist.....not a posh bike. All the gear and no idea etc.

 

[Milkfloat]

But from another perspective: it irks me that people who clearly have enough money will persist in trying to save a few quid by buying the cheapest low quality big store bikes available, and then complain when their brakes rub, or their steering bearings are rough, or their cheap plastic pedals break! Yet they have a new BMW or a Lexus in the driveway.....just one routine service cost of their cars could have bought them a decent bike, but no, god forbid they do that. Just doesn't make sense to me..... Then I can say they have more money than sense!

it does not irk me at all, they can do what the hell they like, it is their money, who am I to judge them. It is quite possible that they are trying out cycling for the first time or after a long break and just want to feel what it is like before investing. It is also quite possible that the car on their driveway is a company car and they don't pay servicing fees.

 

[Vantage]

RE cheap bikes. I think it's more a lack of knowledge than anything else when these bikes develop problems. Be it an uber posh titanium racing rig or a Halfords iron tubed kiddies bike, all have components that share the same basic design principles. The posher stuff tends to be manufactured and assembled better with better greases and whatnot, but the pivots, springs, bearings etc all work in the same basic manner. If I can get my daughters bike to brake better than my much more expensive bike then I see no reason why other than a lack of knowledge other people can't get their bikes to run properly too. Simply take the thing to bits and build it up again better than the sales assistant at the store.
I will concede though that some bikes are just s***.

 

[Vantage]

that must be me then. oh hang on, you could be talking bollocks.

I haven't spent £10k on a bike (nearer £4k), but if you can afford it why not? I could earn enough to do that in 10 days so why worry?
I also ride all year round, but I've got a winter bike for the nasty weather, ooh and a single speed for when i want a change, ooh and an MTB when I fancy some dirt, oh and my old summer bike. Apparently I need to sell them all and buy some shite old bike as thats what makes me a cyclist

Pretty sure I said SOME cyclists. My point as I've already said is why owning a £1000+ bike makes anyone a serious cyclist. That's like saying us lot who can't afford or can't justify a pricier rig and instead ride on something cheaper are not serious cyclists.

 

[johnnyb47]

At the end of the day the world of cycling has something to offer to everybody whether it be price, or style of bike. A £100 bike will be perfect for a casual user wanting to pottle down to the pub on a Sunday afternoon, Whilst the guy who takes his cycling very seriously or just likes expensive bikes can pay ££££s .
This is what makes cycling so popular. Anybody can enjoy it whether your rich,poor and for what ever purposes that takes you..

 

[Dogtrousers]

Pretty sure I said SOME cyclists. My point as I've already said is why owning a £1000+ bike makes anyone a serious cyclist. That's like saying us lot who can't afford or can't justify a pricier rig and instead ride on something cheaper are not serious cyclists.

How to be a serious cyclist: 1) Ride a bike. 2) Be serious.

I'm not a serious cyclist, by the way.

 

[Markymark]

I quite like cycling. I do not race. I am not a member of a club. My next bike which I'll be buying in a few months will be expensive because I can and I've seen a couple I quite like. They may even have silly electronic shifters.

I could not care less if people agree with that or not.

 

[Lee_M]

Pretty sure I said SOME cyclists. My point as I've already said is why owning a £1000+ bike makes anyone a serious cyclist. That's like saying us lot who can't afford or can't justify a pricier rig and instead ride on something cheaper are not serious cyclists.

except no one actually said that did they?

 

[vickster]

At the end of the day the world of cycling has something to offer to everybody whether it be price, or style of bike. A £100 bike will be perfect for a casual user wanting to pottle down to the pub on a Sunday afternoon, Whilst the guy who takes his cycling very seriously or just likes expensive bikes can pay ££££s .
This is what makes cycling so popular. Anybody can enjoy it whether your rich,poor and for what ever purposes that takes you..

A £100 bike can also be used for less casual riders / longer jaunts...friend of mine did London 2 Brighton on a sub £100 Apollo MTB that had likely not seen a pump for many a month, let alone a spanner...probably did it in a pair of skinny jeans and converse...she likes nowt more than a bit of MAMIL scalping dressed like this in Richmond Park too

She's now got a bit more serious and has a Cannondale Synapse and did Ride London on it...still on flat pedals in trainers though

 

[Smokin Joe]

Pretty sure I said SOME cyclists. My point as I've already said is why owning a £1000+ bike makes anyone a serious cyclist.

WTF is a serious cyclist? When you are on your bike you are a cyclist, be it an old skip clunker or a top end road bike. When you're not on your bike you are not a cyclist.

 

[Vantage]

except no one actually said that did they?

Which is why I later posted this...

All fair points. In my case, it's more because I've always been piss poor. Doubt I'd spend £3000 on a bike even if I was a millionaire though.
Granted, I'd feel silly if I mocked someone for buying a posher tv than mine despite me buying a posher tv than my mum's because I just wanted something better than 'adequate'.
I do feel though that the ops post made it look like only a 'serious' cyclist would spend a few more zeros on a bike than Joe Average. Which is what prompted my response.
Looking back I think I misread his post though. Sorry @johnnyb47

Try reading the entire thread instead of the bits that you want to argue about. Like I did.

 

[Vantage]

WTF is a serious cyclist? When you are on your bike you are a cyclist, be it an old skip clunker or a top end road bike. When you're not on your bike you are not a

Someone who the bike shop in question apparently caters to. Read the first post.

 

[vickster]

Someone who the bike shop in question apparently caters to. Read the first post.

Nope none the wiser