[JohnE]

Post your epiphanies here - I will begin.

1. I dont have to have Campy/Dura Ace or XT/XTR/Eagle whatever parts on my bikes. They dont make me faster, only make my wallet lighter and I break them all the same. I am slow. I have fun. The general public doesn't know any different and those who judge someone based on cycling kit are elitist snobs who can jog on.

 

[Toshi]

2) no one is paying you to be fast. so don't worry about it if you're enjoying the ride. or ski. or whatever.

 

[Toshi]

3) in general, no one cares about what you do/wear/drive/ride. embrace that.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Aren't you kind of old to be having epiphanies such as these?

 

[jimmydean]

Post your epiphanies here - I will begin.

1. I dont have to have Campy/Dura Ace or XT/XTR/Eagle whatever parts on my bikes. They dont make me faster, only make my wallet lighter and I break them all the same. I am slow. I have fun. The general public doesn't know any different and those who judge someone based on cycling kit are elitist snobs who can jog on.

But they make me feel pretty and that's all that matters.

 

[stevew]

you do not need to upgrade every year.

but i have always known this.

 

[eaterofdog]

If we don't work our asses off to buy dumb shit why are we even alive?

 

[jimmydean]

If we don't work our asses off to buy dumb shit why are we even alive?

Exactly, can't take it with you, either. There was a quote I heard:

I want my last check to bounce.

 

[Westy]

I just realized I was not including my companies 401K contributions in my retirement calculations.

I need to spend more money or find a way to get cheap health insurance so I can retire in 5 years.

 

[Jozz]

I realized two years ago that it was true that you actually could enjoy going to work.

 

[Jm_]

 

[eric strt6]

Seriously I ride it until I break it, Road Bike : Colnago Master light Lugged Steel frame 2003. still have original Chris King Headset, 600 ex cranks, left side 105 shifter, right side and bar toasted in a crash, Selle Italia seat. now on 3rd Bottom Bracket second set of look pedals many chains chain rings and cogsets . Replaced rear wheel when rim failed (Mavic Cosmic Elete ) on race wheels still have my winter 36 spoke mavic training set.

Mt bike 2012 TREK Fuel EX 5 26" wheels Still has the same Kind Shock seatpost, different saddle gone though many chains and SRAM chainrings and cogsets, one of these days I really should get a new front rim. Never could get the wobble out of it after a high speed crash but with disk brakes who cares?

 

[jdcamb]

Nobody is going to think less of you if you take up their time using a Torque wrench. And go by feel. Or whatever that shit is. Thats for people who ride wheelies. I have retired. I highly recommend doing it early.

 

[sunringlerider]

Seriously I ride it until I break it, Road Bike : Colnago Master light Lugged Steel frame 2003. still have original Chris King Headset, 600 ex cranks, left side 105 shifter, right side and bar toasted in a crash, Selle Italia seat. now on 3rd Bottom Bracket second set of look pedals many chains chain rings and cogsets . Replaced rear wheel when rim failed (Mavic Cosmic Elete ) on race wheels still have my winter 36 spoke mavic training set.

Mt bike 2012 TREK Fuel EX 5 26" wheels Still has the same Kind Shock seatpost, different saddle gone though many chains and SRAM chainrings and cogsets, one of these days I really should get a new front rim. Never could get the wobble out of it after a high speed crash but with disk brakes who cares?

Ya, but that road bike is epic AF. I used to dream of that bike. Still would love a frame just to build for the hell of it.

I on the other have have Eagle, AXS, plastic wheels all that fancy shit. Am I fast, not as fast as I once was. But, holy shit do I love riding my fancy ass shit. I ride with a lot of kids on our trails and I remember the adults with bad ass bikes as a kid and aspired to have those bikes one day. Now I am that guy. I hope that I can make some kid dream of one of my money pits so they will stick with it.

 

[sundaydoug]

Exactly, can't take it with you, either. There was a quote I heard:

I want my last check to bounce.

My ex-father-in-law used to say something very similar: "The last check I write is going to be for my own funeral, and that's going to bounce"

Divorce has granted me many epiphanies. The most powerful of which is that I don't really know anything about anything.

 

[eric strt6]

Ya, but that road bike is epic AF. I used to dream of that bike. Still would love a frame just to build for the hell of it.

It is a blast to ride. I had a choice of this Steel Frame or Carbon Fiber when I bought the frame which was replacing a custom steel framed Colnago that I rode from 1980 until I snapped the bottom bracket shell lug to the seat tube in a sprint in 2002. (It was too corroded from years of winter riding in the rain to save). I just love the feedback that thin tubing steel gives you in high speed corners.

 

[Adventurous]

Ty Pennington is the house version of Xhibit.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

A basic, but unwritten rule on the Appalachian Trail is there is no discussion of religion or politics while on trail. Being an election year I will miss the bulk of the campaign as I hike north for five months. Glorious.

 

[Jozz]

A basic, but unwritten rule on the Appalachian Trail is there is no discussion of religion or politics while on trail. Being an election year I will miss the bulk of the campaign as I hike north for five months. Glorious.

Are you allowed to wear a red cap?

 

[Nick]

I don't really know anything about anything

This.

 

[Adventurous]

Are you allowed to wear a red cap?

Only if you want trouble. The AT is domain of the Crips.

 

[Sandwich]

I enjoy building bikes almost as much as I enjoy riding them. While I know this is the costly part of the hobby, I get a kick out of all the new technology that comes out and there's a certain pride and sanity that goes into working with my hands on something that works in the end. Getting to go out and ride is great as well, but MTB has always been this wonderful harmony of tech and physical activity, and I love the heck out of it.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Are you allowed to wear a red cap?

Haven’t seen a MAGA hat but the way the white nationalists identify themselves is with copious amounts of ‘Murican flag emblazoned clothing. Super easy to avoid them.

 

[junkyard]

Haven’t seen a MAGA hat but the way the white nationalists identify themselves is with copious amounts of ‘Murican flag emblazoned clothing. Super easy to avoid them.

I think the other dog whistle is to start bitching about the price of gas.

I like the stage coach rules. No religion, no politics, no singing/whistling.