So I am out on the P3 yesterday…I am really starting to like that bike allot. So…I see a guy…on what I think is MY bike!
Specs…Litespeed Ultimate, Full Campy record 10 (not the carbon version), Zipp 404 Wheels, Campy Record Pedals, Tufo Tires (LOL)…
I did a double take on the bike as I thought it was my bike…he was on the side of the road nursing out a leg cramp. This was about 3 miles from the start of the park people head out from. I was at about mile 35+ and was checking to see if he was ok, had a flat or what not.
He started bragging up his bike and told me that I should “upgrade to a Litespeed” like his…(I am on a P3 with full Record 10 mind you). I told him that I had an Ultimate just like his and actually thought he was on my bike…so ANYWAYS…this bike he tells me is 5 years old…and it is SPOTLESS…not a scratch on it anywhere…said that he got the Litespeed so that he can ride his bike with his kids…and sometimes to the store…
I dont know man…that is a great bike and a TON of money…I just dont get why someone would spend that for a bike when they should get a city bike…I guess that it was good the the shop that sold it to him…
I don’t know what it is about bikes and bike geeks.
It must trigger an overload of testosterone,and almost always ends up in a pissing match.
I know exactly what you mean though ,as I just ran into a similar situation yesterday.
So I’m visiting in So Cal decided to stop in at a local LBS to check out their offerings…nice shop! Bling everywhere.
But, full of bike geeks that were talkin up a storm about “this is better than that- carbon this ,Ti that”…you know the vernacular.
Funny thing is that not a one really had the physique to match the claims that were being made.
Personally , I love bikes as much as the next guy does.But I’d rather wear out my chain than talk about one.
That’s classic. I was visiting a shop once in suburban chicago, and a guy rolled up on some italian road bike maxed out with 404s etc. He even had a zebra-striped skinsuit, aero helmet, and matching shoe booties on. It’s endless city around with nothing but highways and 6 lane roads. I started cracking up.
Jeez though, I’ve got a P2sl that’s 5 days old now, and it’s already got scratches. The worst so far is a chunk I tore out of the carbon crank going up a curb. D’oh!
Sort of like the Lance look-alikes that ride their TDF team outfit and high end Treks down to the corner store to fetch a six pack. Hey, all the power to them.
I still don’t get the whole poser thing. I would certainly giggle at someone in a skin suit or aero helmet who rides 14 mph, but if you’ve got the cash why not buy an awesome bike. If I was making $100 grand I’d love to own a Blade or P3 or something.
Give it a rest Mr. Cyclist Extrodinaire. Did you ever wonder if some may look at your IMLP bike splits/results on all your fancy equipment with your OTC pedigree and consider YOU a poser? Hmmmm…
When I first started in Tri I was riding a Schwinn Peleton, which is a nice bike by all standards. But it certainly isn’t a P3 or a Ultimate ect. I got the biggest thrill passing these guys all decked out on their $3-4K bikes with discs and the full kit on while* *I’m on my $1100 Schwinn with crappy Mavic wheels.
Now that i have a P3 all painted up with a set of 909’s I ride like mad so I’m not the guy getting passed by a guy on a huffy.
I bought a Trek OCLV 5200 back in 1996. In 1997 it got a bit out of alignment somehow. (Still a mystery.) Trek replaced the frame at no charge (and no hassle). I swapped the ultegra parts onto it. Somewhere around 2001 I upgraded most of the components to DA 9. Late in 2002 I got creamed by a teenage driver talking on a cell phone. the bike was nearly totaled and me along with it. As part of the settlement, insurance gave me replacement cost for a completely new bike. I actually bought a new frame and wheels. Most components swapped just fine from the crashed bike. I bought a second frame on a closeout and built it up, too … so it was like I got 2 new bikes for the price of one. I log about 12,000 to 13,000 miles a year. I do lots of centuries. I don’t buy new very often and I ride what I buy.
Anyway, I’m riding a 2 year old Trek 5500 OCLV frame with 2001 DA 9 parts. Last weekend I roll up at my local century and it’s like I’ve pulled up in a model T. There’s all this bike candy all around. My main training buddy also has a Trek 5500 OCLV with full DA that’s probably 3 years old or more.
Anyway, at about 70 miles, he and I rode off from the lead group and left them for dead. The model Ts finished 1-2. I’m sure some of those we left behind marveled that we were able to do that with … GASP! … only a 9-speed drivetrain.
I confess that I’m lusting after a new bike. I notice you can buy a Cervelo Soloist Team with full DA 10 for $3,000. Hmmmm. If I only spend $3,000 on a fine new bike and actually ride it 1,000 miles a month, that doesn’t make me a poser, does it?
Let me know. Thanks,
Bob C.
P.S. I promise not to wear CSC team kit when I ride it!
i had a local news caster tell me that his 20 year old steel bike could out run my high end bianchi anyday. i literally laughed out loud, but then wondered: what the hell makes a man think like that? his quad was as big as my bicep. this poor man, would be quivering and begging for mercy. but, ultimately, a man needs his ego. i guess it’s healthy for him to have bravado…men need that.
it’s happened another time too, this ego and bravado. My friend’s brother in law said he had a “25 thousand dollar race bike, and even though it’s 15 or 20 years old now, people would still want it, and it would be considered one of the world’s best bikes”. i was speechless. my friend had to say something…the dead silence…i was clearly embarrassed for him. (in relaity it’s probably a huffy with a banana seat…lol!!!)
This does not happen in Canada. The government takes all our bike money, so there are no posers riding high end bikes. Only real bike studs spend on high end bikes.
All kidding aside, I tend to see far less high end bikes at tris in Canada than in the US. I am not sure why, but it must have something to do with Canadians just having less money to spend on toys (we work till June 15th to pay the government…then we work the rest of th year to pay ourselves)
“I tend to see far less high end bikes at tris in Canada than in the US.”
That’s because you’re in Ottawa where eveybody is a cheapo penny pinching tight ass government beaurocrat who works for the fed. Either that or they’re a high tech computer geek wannabe who are stuck in Ottawa because they can’t get a real job in Silicon Valley.
Actually, I tend to think that there are nicer bikes showing up at southwest/Toronto area tris than in eastern Ontario. But then we still see lots of P3’s etc in eastern Ontario events, so it’s not like everybody is on a twenty year old 12 sp.
I tend to see far less high end bikes at tris in Canada than in the US
But I think this is changing - in 2001 I was down at IMF. The total value of bikes and related equipment was at least double the value of IMC, ok maybe that is a bit far fetched. In anycase there was way more bling at IMF, in particular with newer bikes and lots more race wheels. But this is changing, there are many more new bikes around and also zipps are becoming more common. I suspect the new bikes is due to larger numbers of newbies entering the sport, but the race wheels is something else. An owner of a LBS told me he sold more Zipps last year than he did for the last 5 yrs on the 90s, he anticipates to sell even more this year than last even with price increase.
Another factor is tris are gettng more popular and therefore LBS are beginning to stock more gear than before. Previously, you have had to mail order or go South to get some of the high zoot gear.
All kidding aside, I tend to see far less high end bikes at tris in Canada than in the US.
Geez, someone forgot to tell people that at my sprint tri last weekend. Several P3SL’s, Kestral’s, Softrides, etc. and lots more with new dimply Zipps, including discs. If US events have even more bike bling, I’d better keep away from them, or I’d die of dehydration due to drooling!
