[Hancockbs]

@rcannon100 65603 wrote:

LIKE: You like it (but have little more to contribute other than mindlessly mashing a button in order to inform the NSA of your views)

ELITE: You deem the post of a spectacular quality worthy of a cyclist who thinks it owns the road. It is the type of post by a cyclists who yells “left” with great expectation that all the little people (cyclists, joggers, tourists, small children, squirrels, bad karma) will just get the hell out of his way.

DISLIKE: In your opinion, the forum poster has crossed that well-defined line between good and drivers of white Lexuses.

LIKE + DISLIKE: You have empathy for a poster who has posted the tragic, especially if the cyclist has posted a story of woe, accompanied with color glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining how each photo is evidence of the tale.

LIKE + ELITE: The poster is a spandex-king among me, who has suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune along the trails, and bares the mark of many a successful KOM.

DISLIKE + ELITE: No man is an island, but you wish this cyclist was on one.

LIKE + DISLIKE + ELITE: Supreme confusion. A mixture of passion and ambivalence. The post compels you, but not in any manner that is really worth discussing. It marks a post that is filled with sound and fury yet signifies nothing.

This needs to be a sticky/FAQ for all the neophytes like myself.

[Hancockbs]

First time I realized you could do more that one!

[Hancockbs]

This is ridiculous. I’m sure it will cost more to close it than to leave it open. What is the cost to “operate” the CCT on a daily basis? It’s not like they have gate guards or something. This is clearly an opportunity to inflict pain in the process as opposed to being somewhat rational.

[Hancockbs]

@jabberwocky 65299 wrote:

but just the group costs more than the op’s stated budget. It isn’t worth the money in that price range.

FWIW, my aluminum bike with Ultegra was purchased new at a LBS for $1300. Yes, that is more than the stated budget, but my comments came from the standpoint that it might be worth considering upping the budget. Apparently, my perspective is not consistent with others in the forum, so that should obviously be taken into account, but I stand by my statement that I wouldn’t go back to a lower rated component set.

[Hancockbs]

Okay, mstone, you got me on that one, I exagerated. Would you prefer: “I prefer using equipment that works well and takes less time cleaning and maintaining that cheaper equipment.”?

I think you understood what I intended and are just being a jackhole at this point. I won’t bother responding directly to you in the future.

[Hancockbs]

@mstone 65290 wrote:

But even then, it wasn’t that long ago that people were winning the TdF on components less functional than today’s Claris.

Yes, but they were the top components of the day, they were equivalent to what every other competitor was using at the time, and they were serviced daily. If they are as good as the components in use today at the TdF, they would still be in use there.

I’m by no means a racer, but I do appreciate equipment that works well and doesn’t require more time cleaning and servicing that riding. It is the same reason I use electricity to light my house instead of candles or lanterns. Perhaps I had bad luck with the Sora and 105 components. The Tiagra worked okay, but the Ultegra has been a pure pleasure. I would still ride without them if I couldn’t have them, but to me, they are well worth the added cost. Of course, your milage may vary.

[Hancockbs]

@mstone 65275 wrote:

I’ll play contrarian and say that your initial instinct is correct: you may well turn out to not like cycling, and it might not make sense for you to spend as much on a bike as someone already obsessed. The internet is bad for reinforcing biases, and bike forums are notorious for pushing people to upgrade components that normal people won’t be able to distinguish. It may well be that only an expensive bike will work for you, but make sure you’ve actually tried cheaper options. Don’t get upsold if you’re satisfied.

While this is not bad advice for a first timer who is budget conscious, as a relative new comer (about two years this time around) I have now bought four bikes and sold the first two that I bought. I currently have one aluminum and one carbon, but both have Ultegra components. I will not buy another bike that has anything less. It is the components and fit more than the frame material that counts in my book. Quality components cost more, but are WELL worth the investment. I enjoy riding these bikes on a daily basis. The others caused frustrations because they did not shift well and constantly required adjustments.

If you are testing the waters, you might be okay going cheap to see if you are going to enjoy the sport, but realize that part of your perception will be colored by the tools you are using and that if you do enjoy the sport, you WILL upgrade. If you have a reasonable expectation that you are committed for the journey, go for quality the first time. It will cost you less in the long run and you will be happier from the start. If it doesn’t work out, there will be a better market for resale.

Hope to ride with you one of these days! Good luck with the purchase.

[Hancockbs]

@jrenaut 65268 wrote:

3. The person also might not realize they’re being.

I’ve found many times when I slowly catch someone, they tend to pick up the pace just enough to make passing hard. I do usually tell them to let me know if they don’t want me drafting.

I also tend to stay back if I am going to be changing paths soon. This happened a few days ago on the MVT around the airport and 14th St. After a few minutes the lead rider slowed a little and said “your turn”. I was more than happy to take a pull, but I think he got mad when I turned to go over the bridge.

[Hancockbs]

@hozn 65177 wrote:

My data syncs to Garmin Connect and then I use tapiriik.com to have it sync’d to Strava, Endomondo, and directly to Dropbox.

Thanks for the website. I didn’t know about it.

[Hancockbs]

Around 7 for me.

[Hancockbs]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3699[/ATTACH]

From Monday morning.

[Hancockbs]

Planning to be there around 7.

[Hancockbs]

If the pedestrian light turned red (don’t walk) and there was some time remaining on the right turn light for the cars, it might help. In my estimation, having both lights active for the same time period causes the biggest conflict. In many locations, if the drivers wait for a clear crosswalk, they might never make the turn. I am not excusing them for violating the crosswalk right of way, but I do understand the frustration.

[Hancockbs]

@TwoWheelsDC 63849 wrote:

#SignsyoumightbeaBMWrider

I resemble that remark. Anyone ever seen any data on the percentage of motorcyclists that ride bicycles verse car drivers that ride bicycles?

[Hancockbs]

@ebubar 63423 wrote:

Anyone have a particular pair that they’d recommend? I’ve been using the Novara Padded undershorts and want to try the real bike short thing (with some tasteful athletic shorts on top of course).

I’ve been very pleased with both the shorts and bib versions of the Performance Bike Ultra.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product2_10052_10551_1132962_-1

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product2_10052_10551_1132969_-1

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