Calling out the Equipment According to Fitness and Ability Police

Triathlon Forum
1

You know who you are. You snicker when you see a 47 year old, furry guy who’s about 25lbs overweight pulling a brand-new Litespeed Blade out of his Hummer. You scoff when you pass a guy who is granny-ringing it on a Lotus Sport 110. You laugh out loud when you see a pudgy dude mounting his Lance TT bike, clone-equipped right down to the bar tape.

You say to yourselves, “What the f***? He’ll never ride this thing like it is supposed to be ridden.” Or, it’s a comment like this:" I usually pass him like he was standing still. What makes this guy think a new rig will make him faster than me?"

Let me tell you something about yourselves. If you are so good and deserve that type of equipment, how come no company has offered you this stuff for a Pro Deal price? How come a bike company has not contacted you? Is it because in your heart, you know that your performances are merely average, and that if you were to send in your resume, the company managers will laugh at you, and call you up to laugh at you?

Here is another thing: you could have this stuff you think you deserve. But you never will. You will never work hard enough, whether it be by working overtime, or by continuing to do your crappy job that does not allow you to afford the nice things. All you people will do is bitch about that slow guy who thinks he is cool with his $5K Brand X bike, when all you are expressing is you inability to work hard and buy this stuff.

So, basically, what you are is lazy, bitter, jealous, and arrogant.

My solution for you: either

a) Put your money where your mouth is and train even harder so you can get that equipment discounted heavily or free. My suspicion is that your ability is at your maximum potential and it will never happen.

-or-

b) Get a real job, work hard, have a little less time to train and get good stuff. This includes sacrifices such as more education, moving to where a great job is, or starting your own successful business.

Remember this: These guys who work very hard to get the best stuff make it possible for you to have races (as they enter these things) and for the great technologies to be passed down the line so it can be affordable for all price points. You should be hugging these people rather than belittling them.

2

I tried hugging them while after riding past but I kept getting weird looks :
.

3

You know, it’s funny. I’ve read all of the previous thread on this topic and I kind of chuckled to myself and stayed out of it. You see, I’m the guy everyone is describing. I’m firmly back of the pack, however, I’m busting my ass to amend this situation. I also ride/race on a bike that many would consider way over my head. People will ride by me and scoff that they passed that poser on the expensive bike. I’d be more than happy to average 18 mph in my next Ironman, hell, I’d be ecstatic. The thing is, I love bikes, I’ve always loved bikes, but I never pay what people think I do for my gear. I’m a habitual shopper, always looking for an angle or a deal. Nobody knows what I pay for my gear except me and my wife. In the same vein, I don’t necessarily love my job. However, I love that my job allows me to do the things I want to do and buy the things I want to buy. Why would I leave a job that affords me 7 weeks vacation and enough money to enjoy that time?

To finish this ramble: Feel free to scoff, make fun, whatever… it won’t affect my love for the sport or my bike, I’ll keep smiling and offer you a “good job” when you pass.

Mark

4

See, you’re the guy we should all hug and thank for indirectly making great races and great equipment possible for the rest of us.

I like hard-working people like yourself. You will NEVER get a snicker or a scoff from me. I will seek you out in a race and say, “Hi. I am bunnyman. You must be Fiddlesandbikes…”

5

Try harder. These are the heroes of the race.

6

Do you know hard it was to pass them the first time!!! But then I stop to give the gift of my hug and get left behind. Now I have to chase them down again and try to give the hug only to get my heart broken from the strange reaction. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE WILL!

7

Hug them at the end of the race. Wait around for them.

8

I purchased a $2500 lawn tractor, which I use once every 1-2 weeks for 1/2 the year should disbar me from ever being allowed to join the EAFAP.

Anyone want to trade it for a $2200 bike and the bodylink (sp?) system? I can certainly get more use out of that than I do my lawn tractor.

Did I tell you the story of how one of my brother in laws bought an empty beer can for $300? He collects them. Has 1,000s of mint condition used beer cans. Really. I’m serious. I’m not joking. 1,000’s. Trying not to see one person’s hobby as being inferior to my own. $300. Empty Beer Can.

Just what the end of a triathlon needs … more hugs. :wink:

9

I have a solution to the elitist complaint about the demographic in triathlon. When I am elected dictator of USATRIATHLON I will impose the following rule: AFTER EVERY TRIATHLON THE LAST PLACE FINISHER GETS FIRST DIBS ON WHATEVER BIKE THEY WANT FROM THE TRANSITION AREA. EACH FINISHER WILL THEN GET THE CHANCE TO DO THE SAME IN REVERSE ORDER OF FINISH, SO THAT THE WINNER GETS THE LAST BIKE, THE MISFIT BIKE NOBODY WANTS. THE ELITIST WILL LOOK UPON HAVING A CRAP BIKE AS A STATUS SYMBOL, AND THE BOPER WILL HAVE THE CHERRY BIKE THEY ALWAYS WANTED. Now there may be very little redisritibution at the bottom of the standings, but I imagine the effect will be staggering by the time you get to the top 20. It will alter race strategies, for example Tim DeBoom fighting it out for last place in the race before IM so he can upgrade his bike for the big island…

10

The rich competitors should be forced to pay much higher entrance fees, so that the Race Director and staff can provide upgraded equipment and waved fees for those that cannot afford them.

It could be the called “The Great American Triathlon”.

If I could describe the smirk on my face accurately, I would.

11

I could afford all the latest/greatest equipment. So could anyone else who has a decent credit limit on their Visa.

But I’m a cheap SOB. But practical also. That’s why I have CH Aero disc covers instead of a new Zipp disc. Why spend a grand more to go no faster. Secondhand aluminium one piece bars are just as aero as new carbon ones.

It’s a no brainer to me.

12

I think that the comments that drive MOP/BOP and beginning athletes to spend more money on gear are generally self-serving comments from people involved in the industry. Bike shop owners, manufacturers, and distributers make more money if more people buy more expensive bikes.

People can spend money on whatever they want, but a $700 bike that fits is 98% as fast as a $7,000 bike that fits.

If you’re getting into triathlons don’t believe the hype. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on anything to have a lot of fun and get really fast.

13

“I could afford all the latest/greatest equipment. So could anyone else who has a decent credit limit on their Visa.”

If you truly believe this then you will never get to where you can afford the really nice equipment.

14

Dude, I see absolutely nothing wrong with being sensible on your gear spending. I have a Dura Ace rear mech that has seen three bikes. It is the first gen. 9 speed, and I plan on rebuilding that mofo (yes, you can rebuild some Dura Ace stuff).

My first post about justifying great stuff when you are only BOP-er having fun was mean a lot in jest. Personally, I particularly like racing my GT Course that I have all of about $500 into, the fork costing me more than the frame (and I got it for a DISCOUNT).

What I have seen is a bit of the EAFAP when I jokingly said “but at least you look cool doing it” comment. I really don’t care what people spend. If they end up spending less (like I do- I can sniff a bargain a mile away) for even better stuff? Why not?

You’re on the right track with your CH aero cover and used aluminium bars. Do it how you like to. That includes the people who do it with the most expensive gear on earth.

15

I can afford much more expensive equipment than I currently have. But I don’t think that dimpled zipp disc will make me any faster tha my new Renn disc. Until this season I had a hed disc w/ an old softride that weighed 24 pounds w/out the H2O bottle. I posted the fastest bike splits in some races on that and in some major races like Worlds and Powerman Bama top 20-30 overall bike splits. It is not the equipment that makes it go fast. The bottom line is it’s all about the engine you slap on the machine. My new TT rig is 2.5kg less. Will I be faster? Only time will tell.

I say if you want it, can afford it, go get it. Screw what others think about you.

16

You can spend your money any way you wish. I know about the beer can thing. I collect KISS paraphrnalia, have thousands into it.

I can beat your lawn tractor story, as well: I pay a guy $30 every ten days to mow my lawn so I can train more.

My point is this: People spend their money how they see fit. We are very fortunate to live in a time where we can race bikes, swim in wetsuits, and run with shoes. Some will always afford better, some will not. Let it all be.

17

I typically advise people to get the great values like the Renn disc over the dimpled Zipp. I am with you on this one, it’s more about the engine.

Good luck with the new, lighter TT rig.

18

Thanks, my big debate since it is custom built on the same angles is to actually ride it before my first race or just show up, hop on and ride as usual.

19

Of course you don’t need to spend tons of money to go fast or have fun. I have never said that anywhere in my postings.

Do the manufacturers want you to part with your cash? Of course, they do. This is the same as why people negotiate for a higher starting wage, or negotiate for better benefits and/or raises. We all want one thing: to make more money to make life easier.

Do I believe that the job can be done with a $50 disc wheel cover and used 105? Of course I do. I was that athlete at one time. I only get miffed when I see people who don’t think that the slow guy does not deserve the top-of-the-line gear that they bought.

20

I will take the crappiest $50 bike to every race and have a cool bike for every day of the month!!!