From: jeff@is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Jeff McAffer)
Subject: Re: Carbon fiber frames (was OPINIONS: Trek 2100/2300..)
Reply-To: jeff@is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Organization: University of Tokyo, Good Times Department.
	<5670@npg-sd.SanDiegoCA.NCR.COM>
	<1992Aug22.191120.14414@leland.Stanford.EDU> <71565@apple.Apple.COM>
	<1992Aug25.203148.24996@cs.mun.ca>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 04:04:37 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.203148.24996@cs.mun.ca> jamie@garfield.cs.mun.ca (Jamie Cashin) writes:

 >>BTW, I find the distinction you're drawing between fitness riders and amateur
 >>racers to be pretty artificial.  It might make sense for a professional rider
 >>to spend big bucks in an effort to gain some advantage over others who are
 >>after his job.  But among those of us who ride for fun, whether our competitors
 >>are others or ourselves, the only justification for expensive equipment is that
 >>it adds to our pleasure.  Whether that pleasure means winning a Cat 3 crit or
 >>breaking 17:00 on Old La Honda is a trivial distinction.
 >
 >Well I don't know if it was fitness or the bike.. but I cut my commute time
 >from 19 minutes to 15 minutes when I went with a better bike.. al least until
 >someone stole it.

I have been watching this and some vaguely related threads for a
while.  It seems to me that time has very little to do with it.  It is
the overall feeling that I go for.  If it was just time then I would
be shedding grams here and there (on the bike and myself), improving
my aero componentry and position, ...

I ride because I enjoy the feeling.  Personally, I prefer highly
responsive bikes (good fast cornering, acceleration...).  I don't NEED
one. but I like riding them.  Purely for example, lets assume that
light strong rims contribute to responsiveness significantly given a
particular frame geometry.  I *don't* want to start a discussion about
rim weight, this is just and example.  Pick your favorite "feel
improver".  If you don't have any, go to Sears and buy a $100 Huffy.

So, maybe I go out and buy rims that are 30 grams lighter .  Then I
tell rec.bicycles about it and get scoffs and jeers because I also
happen mention that I like to eat a 60 gram Snickers bar before I go
riding.  "You've just negated your $100 rim extravaganza" they laugh.

"Is this really true?  Is it just total weight that counts in 'feel'?"
I think not.  If this were true most people would be fine on Sears
bikes (assuming most people have 5-10 pounds they could shed).  I used
to ride tubulars.  Just wanted to try them.  I found that I rode
faster, put in more effort.  Why?  Don't laugh because I know it to be
true and you cannot prove otherwise.  I liked the sound.  Mentally I
really got into the sound of tubulars on the road.  It was sort of
like biofeedback or something.  Cycling, like most sports is at least
50% mental anyway. If it 'feels' good you are more likely to put more
in.

So, to all the people who laugh at others who equip themselves and
their bikes the way they want to, get a life.  If whup whup whup makes
me feel like pushing harder why not?  

Of course, now I ride a completely traditional road bike :-) or is that :-(

--
atode, |m         -- Promise you will kill me if I start flogging
                     Design Methodologies!!  Please!?  Promise!