From: holliday@cse.unl.edu (david holliday)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.racing
Subject: Re: The problem with cycling
Date: 25 Jan 1993 18:15:16 GMT
Organization: University of Nebraska--Lincoln	
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: cse.unl.edu

>Andre Rocha writes:

>Well, I think that maybe I'll get some flames after this post but let's go
>ahead.

You're right.

>I started cycling last year just after the winter here in the UK. I was looking
>for some kind of sport that would improve my fitness condition. Since at that 
>time I knew nothing about clipless pedals, STI levers, frame materials, 
>clip on bars, TT, disc whells and all the stuff now I want so much to improve
>my pedalling, I thought that I was fine with my old bike that I still use
>to go to the University. I started pedalling 6 miles and after 8 months I was
>doing 20 miles in 1 hour. Not bad, I thought.

Not bad at all.

>But I also got some cycling
>magazines and then I realized that my bike was just totally unsuitable if 
>I would take cycling seriously. At this point I realized that to have a good
>bike and clothes I would have to spend at least 700 pounds ( +- 1400 US
>dollars).

Sounds like you were taking cycling seriously with your old bike and doing
quite well with it.

Your cost objections are utter nonsense. Costs of quality bicycles may be
more in the UK, but here in the US, a very good racing bike can be had for
as little as $600. I've raced the past _three_ years on an $800 Cannondale
(its' a 1988 model without STI, Hyperglide, etc.) I do have clip-on bars,
but I have wheel covers instead of a disk wheel. This bike has performed
way past my expectations. BTW, I've been on a student budget long before
I've started racing (I'm currently a grad student).

As for clothes, you do realize you don't need fancy jerseys, tights,
jackets, etc. to ride a bike, although quality shorts are (IMHO)
necessary. (The fancy clothes are nice though :-)

>But as I student where on earth I would get this money ? I tried to cut some
>stuff that could be unnecessary, but just a good pair of shoes, say SID genius 2,
>would cost me 70 pounds and a reasonable pedal, say LOOK PP76, another 60 - 70 
>pounds !!!
>Then the winter came again. I stop cycling since all the clothes would cost me 
>around 100 pounds. Now I'm running. I went to a shop here that sells running shoes

SIDI Genuis 2's are nice, but good quality shoes can be had for a lot less
money than the cost of those. (I think Genuis 2's are up to $190 in the US
now). For winter, use sweats, thermal underwear, sweatshirts, old jackets
(I do to a certain extent).

>and discovered that one of the top shoes available costs 50 pounds !! It's a 
>1993 model and it's a feather !! If you compare this with the 100 pounds of 

Why do you feel the need for the top model? My running shoes cost $40 and
are perfectly adequate for the amount of running I do (not much :-)

>the new GIRO Ventoux helmet or the 120 pounds of the new Dura-Ace SPD pedal,
>maybe you can figure out why cycling is such expensive business. I think that 
>also justifies why there are so few people cycling this days !

Why do you need a new Giro Ventoux helmet? The Giro Hammerhead is an
excellent helmet at the fraction of a cost of the Ventoux.

>Opinions ? Corrections ? Am I doing something wrong ?

You _do not_ need to have expensive equipment to be successful in cycling.
Like I say to my friends who kid me about not having STI or some other
new gadget, it's not the bike, but the legs (and lungs, etc.).
There are also more people cycling now than every before (IM very HO).

Dave
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