It’s a noble troll, which has generated a lot of bites. Here’s another. I have been half-looking for a new bike recently. I can afford more-or-less whatever I fancy, and people have been telling me how awesome a bike I could have if I spent at the top end of my budget on something really good. Loads pof travel, they say, amazing brakes, super-light, you’ll never go back to all that rigid nonsense.
Y’know, I can’t be bothered. I am a middle aged man, who mostly lives in an office. I’m fit enough to ride, and none too shabby a rider, but I’m not freeride god material, I can’t win races that anyone else turns up to, I don’t nail rad and gnarly lines, I just hang on, avoid porpoising and chuckle at the bottom if it’s gone well. Then usually have some tea, and a bun, to keep the weight on. And I look at the view, spot birds, poke my nose into churches, sit outside pubs and watch people go by etc. I’m not sure my bike counts as “niche” for these purposes, or whether it’s just a bit carp. It just does pretty much the liimits of what I can do. Which is not “progressing” particularly, is not getting RADder with every passing year, is not going to get me on any podiums, or make it essential that I get a tattoo on my knob. Something like that. 😉
