Tally

[owlectomy]

What I did this morning:

25 miles on my bike, in Cary, with the Slowspokes, the previously mentioned leisurely-paced cycling club. (Previous personal record is 13 or 14 miles).

Parts on me that hurt:

Legs, hands, places you don't want to know about.

Parts on my bike that need adjustment:

Wheel (needs to be trued), gears.

Parts on my bike that fell off entirely:

Kickstand.

Things I will attempt to convince myself I don't need:

Road bike, cycling pants, cycling jacket, new cyclocomputer.

Question of the day:

Better to spend my money tuning up a bike that isn't very good, or buying a new one?

Quarter-century, yay!

Comments

New one! New one!

[meaghanchan.livejournal.com]

New bike!!

Re: New one! New one!

[takumashii.livejournal.com]

You can't tell me to get a new bike, you're one of the most financially responsible people I know! I might listen to you! Okay, why should I get a new bike?

Re: New one! New one!

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I think it's better to get a new bike rather than souping up the one you have if you're not happy with the one you have. I mean, I don't really know bike terms- if you can true your wheels, do whatever else you need to make it rideable for now, WHILE saving up for a bike that fits you better, I think that's a fine solution... But if it's one or the other, I think it's better to go for the new bike, which fits you perfectly and does what you need it to do and will last you for a long time. Particularly since a bad fitting bike can hurt you in many, many ways (as you've already discovered), some of them potentially long-term.

It is more expensive to deal with chronic back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and whatever medications/surgeries it may require in the long term than to buy a new bike.

It's like what people advise on the running forums when people ask, "I need a reccommendation for a good pair of running shoes, but I can't afford to spend too much". They say, "can you afford knee surgery?" because the injuries that can come from running in the wrong shoes will end up costing a lot more than an exra $40. I think spending $80 on a good pair of shoes every 300-500 miles, if it keeps my knees happy, is well worth it.

That is my reasoning.

Plus new bikes are shiny.

Re: New one! New one!

[meaghanchan.livejournal.com]

err, umm, me, obviously.