Why am I so attracted to expensive bike stuff?

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Ypuh
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by Ypuh

Simple question; what is it with bikes (parts mainly) that makes me drool over the expensive stuff? :noidea:

Usually I'm a rational person. A Dutch saying goes: "Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg", translating into something like 'just being normal is already more than enough'. I like cycling. It's my hobby, passion, meditation and I'll probably continue doing it the rest of my life. That's not the problem though, my 'obsession' must be when I'm off the bike. Exploring the internet for new parts/tech, closely monitoring the local Ebays for well priced upgrades, evenings of researching and weighing the tiniest details from bearing types to wheelsets to inner tubes and power meters, spending hours in the shed meticulously maintaining and fine tuning my bikes etc.

So far, so good, but what is it with my obsession over expensive parts? I'm fully aware that a lighter stem or 454 NSW over a 404 FC rim isn't going to make me any faster. I don't even want to be any faster, my friends who prefer to stay a bit longer at the coffee stop already hate me for it. Still I couldn't pass on buying a Ceramic Speed OSPW when I had the chance, and my favourite wheelset must be the Lightweight Meilensteins whilst I've never even owned or ridden one. I probably know most brands top spec bikes (and their geometries) by head, which must be some of the most useless information that my brain is storing. Something like Farsports, Ritchey or Mavic is fun and all, but doesn't do anything for me.

It's one of the better diseases to have and I take lots of joy from it. This thread is written with a big wink, but how/why do you experience this and can we explain it? I know I'm not alone, but maybe someone can rationalize this for me (or themselves).
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by Weenie


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MarkoP
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by MarkoP

I'm the exact same but I don't try to rationalize it. I believe that life is short and as long as it doesn't take away from your responsibilities (eg family, mortgage etc.) then do what makes you happy :) - it's kind of fun to keep up with the latest technology too.

I also like knowing that when I'm out on the road and frustrated with my performance that I can't blame it on my bike or accessories haha.
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maxim809
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by maxim809

Oof. Hm. I dunno. Gonna pry a couple things apart to dissect this.

Unrelated to the attraction of expensive bike things:

Some people are simply inquisitive. Tie that curiosity with something you are passionate about, and you'll find endless motivation which makes learning stuff super easy. Eventually you build a framework in your mind compromised of all the stuff you studied and memorized... which allows you to start diving really deep into the complicated stuff. If you are so inclined.

To bring it back to your question, you get attracted to learning and continuing to feed that framework. And ironically this pursuit of knowledge can end up owning you given how much you've invested in it. Honestly, learning isn't the worst thing to get addicted to as long as you're not harming yourself or anyone else. Of course, everyone will have an opinion on if what you are learning is meaningful or not. But to each their own.

Related to the attraction of expensive stuff:

If we isolate to the behavior of why just the expensive stuff... I dunno... a few stabs.

1. Nouveau-riche
2. Not nouveau-riche (because you were "Always"-riche), but the expensive stuff is what separates you from the status quo hence why it is pursued...
3. Even if you don't physically own it, simply "knowing" about it, with actual depth of knowledge backing it up, is enough to feel like you are separated from "the normies". And somehow being special, different, more knowledgable, or what-have-you is important for the identity that has been carefully built and crafted over time.
4. Could be ego. Could be pure, genuine passion without any ego. Maybe a blend of both.
5. "Keeping up with the Joneses"
6. Shiny fresh ProjectOne Pinarelly S-Werks SirVelo go "WOOSH WOOSH".

Yeah probably 6.

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Ritsuke
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by Ritsuke

maxim809 wrote:
Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:17 am
6. Shiny fresh ProjectOne Pinarelly S-Werks SirVelo go "WOOSH WOOSH".

Yeah probably 6.
Close topic, answer has been given. :lol:
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synchronicity
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by synchronicity

Don't worry. As you get older, this obsession of yours will slowly fade.
:arrow: As soon as the industry starts taking a direction that you don't like.
You'll end up becoming very skeptical about all the changes that are taking place.

My light weight obsession essentially ended when I realised that many of the lightest parts are in fact quite ugly. :lol:
But then came all the plethora of MTB wheels, integrated seatposts, dropper seatposts, disc brakes on road bikes, Christ knows how many bottom bracket standards, gravel bikes, and now 1x drivetrains. I'm done with all of it.

I for example think that Ceramic Speed OSPWs are hideously expensive. Also, to my eyes they are not "aesthetically pleasing".

I used to want all the latest and greatest. Not anymore. I'm happy enough not to continually want to upgrade. Now I am more interested in the training aspect. Clothing and nutrition.

"We are children of our time"
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Ypuh
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by Ypuh

Having read your reactions I can totally relate. I even tick more than one of the boxes that Maxim809 listed ;).
synchronicity wrote:
Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:19 am
As soon as the industry starts taking a direction that you don't like.
You'll end up becoming very skeptical about all the changes that are taking place.
This has already happened on a few occassions. Happy as I am with the original eTap22 groupset, I nearly despise the direction they chose with AXS introducing 6 new standards and 15 proprietary parts. Also my beloved Zipp's (the pervious gen had some issues, last gen these issues were all resolved and next-gen they throw most of these out of the window again by going disc-, tubeless- and hookless only :noidea: ). The more I know the more I find their 'innovations' questionable.

I don't even mind the increased pricing as much as my income gradually goes up as well. I do mind that this goes hand in hand with other cost cutting or revenue increasing measures. It goes too far to say you don't get a good product, but each improvement also come with new limitations that weren't necessary. I tend to stay one generation behind the latest and greated (for example my frameset and wheelset have been replaced by updates models, as well as eTap AXS and Quarq DUB crankset etc). This allows me to buy things with fair discounts and weigh the changes if they are an actual improvement. I'd never stand in line to act like a guinea pig that also pays full price (new Aeroad or any Garmin/Wahoo product).

Anyhow; I decided to accept that I'm quite shallow at times. Quality (does not break) and fit should be a given, after that I determine my purchasing decisions on looks, comfort and in lesser degree on serviceability, performance and cost. I don't mind buying full carbon clinchers that are heavy and not aero optimised, as long as they look good and don't break under normal use (same goes for CeramicSpeed OSPW). It might not be a sensible investment, but it makes me happy to look at/own and something to tinker with. At least it's not drugs or anything :mrgreen:.
Cervelo S3 - 7.3kg
Time ADHX - 8.7kg

Cord1138
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by Cord1138

Because we buy into the marketing BS. Maybe at the very elite level shaving hundreds of grammes will make a difference, but for the vast majority of people, it won't. Upgrading is useful when it improves your comfort. But despite knowing something new won't make a bit of difference, I still want it. Some of it is ego, having the latest gear.

What's the saying, "a fool and his money are soon parted"....

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synchronicity
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by synchronicity

Zipp's goal doesn't seem to be inventing the fastest wheel. It's more about making the most $ from aero wheels (with the help of bucketloads of 'fast' marketing and graphic design). I had a pair of zipps. Once. Twenty years ago. The first 303s. They keep changing the design of the hubs, introducing new "features" here there and everywhere. Bragging about their hub CNC machine, etc. They are trying to say that you will be "happier" if you buy the newest/lastest/greatest wheel. Will you? I don't know. They don't specifically say it, but this automatically makes you "unhappy" with their previous generations of wheels! Is that how it should be? In the end you feel like they are not standing behind their pre-existing products enough. It made me feel somewhat abandoned, to be superceded so quickly.

I used to berate Spinergy for their tardy introduction of new wheel tech. Now I have come to like them. They introduce more subtle changes.
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ichobi
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by ichobi

Have you not seen how fast smartphone changes model? I think the cycling industry launch cycle is pretty tame actually.

Butcher
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by Butcher

It's what business' do. That does not mean you have to follow the hype.

Self control is lacking and blaming is often taught young in schools.

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synchronicity
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by synchronicity

ichobi wrote:
Sun Mar 21, 2021 4:12 am
Have you not seen how fast smartphone changes model? I think the cycling industry launch cycle is pretty tame actually.
Yes and no. Smartphone models change yearly, true.
But how often has the recharge interface on phones changed?
In the beginning each brand had its own charger tip, then we had micro usb, and now we have usb 3.
Overall, that's not that many changes in the hardware standard.
vertebrae | Precision braking and shifting.
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MoPho
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by MoPho

Only expensive bike stuff? Lucky

Ypuh
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by Ypuh

MoPho wrote:
Sun Mar 21, 2021 11:06 pm
Only expensive bike stuff? Lucky
Haha, this is usually my joke as well. I feel privileged having only one hobby that I can take my joy from. That's probably also the reason why I'm not bankrupt yet :roll: :mrgreen:.

Again, this topic is with a big wink. Altough I would never call cycling cheap, you can start with a sub $1.000 bike and never need much else in your cycling career. The 'upgrades' are part of my hobby like they probably are for most of us WeightWeenies, but I wouldn't call them a necessity nor would I call them a waste of money.
Cervelo S3 - 7.3kg
Time ADHX - 8.7kg

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

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Cord1138
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by Cord1138

It's par for the course for all segments, take guitars, they seem to love old stuff and want you to buy new stuff constantly. The most expensive guitar you can buy is a 1959 Les Paul (artists own guitars excluded), but each year they bring out a new model or pedal that is so much better than last years. When in essence it isn't really. Perhaps the digital stuff is, but not the analogue. So happens everywhere.

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