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Strange what random thoughts amble through your brain when you're cycling, especially on the road bike I find. This morning's commute included me pondering whether if you were to characterise yourself as a bike then would that be the bike most suited to your riding? My conclusion was a fairly resounding 'probably not', but if you were a bike what would you be?
A year ago, I was the fittest and lightest I've ever been. I'd have characterised myself as a decent road rider - not the fastest, not the lightest, and any serious racers would have left me for dust, but fairly decent all the same. I enjoyed pushing myself, taking on longer and longer rides, and felt good on the bike (both road and MTB). I reckon that in bike form I'd have been a fairly sporty road bike, but no race machine. Something aimed at the sportive rider, slightly relaxed geometry - something like a Giant Defy. Which just happens to be what I own!
A year later, after months of minor illnesses / injuries, a severe lack of time on the bike, and a fair bit of weight gain / fitness loss, I'm definitely no carbon road machine. I aim to get back to where I was last year, and try to push myself, but currently get more enjoyment from exploring new roads / trails. I obviously have less energy on the bike, which means rides are tackled at a more uniform, slightly slower, pace - less sprinting and playfulness. I'd have to characterise myself as some sort of fatter-tyred, steel-framed gravel bike.
For me, I think I'd currently be some sort of 29er "plus" bike that enjoys riding despite carrying the extra weight, but is desperately trying to remember where it left those 2.2 XC tyres that were so much more nimble...
What do I want to be? A light, racey, gravel bike - lightning fast and nimble over any terrain and willing to show those big boys on their enduro rigs how bikes are really meant to be ridden.
I've definitely downsized from full fat bike down to a set of sturdy 2.4s over the last few months, but damn it, I'll be that gravel bike again by the summer!
I am a Fat Bike.
I do not ride a Fat Bike, I ride an Enduro style bike, because I'm a fat, middle aged Trail Centre Tart who likes to have lots of extra grip and suspension if I accidentally go too fast.
I'm a grandad now and never that great despite being pestered to join the local cycle club in my youth, so something retro and third tier like a Kona lava dome I guess
I'd be a cannondale. Uncertain of performance from one day to the next, finicky unique componentry, possible high maintenance and prone to breaking at inconvenient moments.
A Klein Attitude .
I look better than I ride
An ice cream seller's trike. Suffering in the heat despite being full of ice cream.
1996 unused Specialized S-works probably still capable bought with ideas of grandeur but just left in the garage...
I am very much like my bike:
Lardier than I look (just)
Simple and upfront, yet a complex dropout
Change? What's it good for?
Reliable, loyal and dutiful, yet take my own time getting there and slip a few times, so have to tighten up my act as I can't seem to get out of one gear..
Will take many beatings yet bounce back for more
Stuck in the nineties/noughties
White as a white thing
Real. Cos steel is, you know ... what it is.
I'm a Ferrari CX60 with Suntour Epicon forks, I don't know what I'm doing but I like to pretend.
I eagerly look forward to someone who sees themselves as one of the older Cove bikes.
I'd be a 90's 15" Cannondale with a broken saddle. Short pain in the arse and prone to being snappy.
Fixed steel road bike. Have one speed and a stubborn never give up attitude. Reliable and nostalgic too. Must be light though, so carbon forks and finishing kit. There isn’t a lot of me!
I’m one of those BSO’s you find abandoned on the canal towpath in one of the more questionable parts of town. Rusty, shambolic and liable to break if sat on.