I’ve been a cyclist for a number of years now. My favorite is the Road bike, but I’ve been known to go charging down a hill on a mountain bike in the winter. When it comes to bikes, their isn’t much I don’t like, except for one thing: the term entry level. You hear this from the bike companies and also from a lot of other cyclists.
Well, what is it about this term that bugs me you may ask. Once again this is just my opinion and I’m not trying to get anyone mad. You will have your opinion on this as well, and that’s the way it should be. So, let me explain this nonsense term. I’m 45 years old, and I’m NOT a pro cyclist or compete in cycling events. I ride charity events, and when I’m not doing that I’m out on my bike doing 40 plus miles everyday. I ride because I enjoy it, to help maintain my weight and for the enjoyment of cycling.
My bikes consist of a 2007 Trek 1000 SL looks brand new and works like brand new. I also have a 2010 Giant Defy 3 and a 2001 GT ZR 4000 all road bikes and all look in new condition. I take very good care of my bikes. Anyway, I don’t know how many times I’ve done charity rides and have other riders say to me : Nice entry level road bike;. Well first off, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on bikes. If you do, and/or you are a competitive cyclist then by all means buy the kind of bike with the components you want. But if you’re someone who just enjoys cycling like me then you don’t unless you want to. Think about how many kids, as well as adults can’t get a bike at all and would be very happy to have a yard sale bike. It makes you’re bike not seem that bad.
The point is, my bikes serve me well. They work the way I need and want them to work. They look good and I feel comfortable on them. I think it’s wrong for Bike companies, as well as all other material thing companies we have in our society to try and make people feel bad for not taking out a second mortgage, or re financing the house to buy their product. Now the Cyclist that say this to people with the lower cost bikes, They may have good intentions, and it may make them feel good to have something better than you, but not everyone makes the same amount of money, not everyone has the need for the multi thousand dollar bikes. When it comes down to it just don’t let this kind of thing bother you. Well it must bother you to be posting this right? No it doesn’t. I don’t feel bad about the bikes I ride or, the name, the components on it. They work the way I want them to, they are comfortable and I enjoy them every time I go out for a ride.
What does bother me is when I see other cyclists feel bad and embarrassed for riding a so called entry level bike, and how some cyclists will intentionally make them feel bad because of what they ride, the name or the components on their bike. Just think of it this way. There was a time in our lives when we didn’t have anything. We had to ask our parents for things and hope we got them. Some of us got the things we wanted some didn’t. We grew up, got jobs, families and had to save to get our little toys we enjoy today. So when it comes to bikes, as well as anything else, whatever you can afford then by all means go for it and enjoy it because there is no guarantee that you will be here tomorrow. But don’t let the marketing words and terms of companies and other people make you feel bad about what you ride, drive or any other. If you enjoy it, then that’s what it’s all about.
Well, what is it about this term that bugs me you may ask. Once again this is just my opinion and I’m not trying to get anyone mad. You will have your opinion on this as well, and that’s the way it should be. So, let me explain this nonsense term. I’m 45 years old, and I’m NOT a pro cyclist or compete in cycling events. I ride charity events, and when I’m not doing that I’m out on my bike doing 40 plus miles everyday. I ride because I enjoy it, to help maintain my weight and for the enjoyment of cycling.
My bikes consist of a 2007 Trek 1000 SL looks brand new and works like brand new. I also have a 2010 Giant Defy 3 and a 2001 GT ZR 4000 all road bikes and all look in new condition. I take very good care of my bikes. Anyway, I don’t know how many times I’ve done charity rides and have other riders say to me : Nice entry level road bike;. Well first off, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on bikes. If you do, and/or you are a competitive cyclist then by all means buy the kind of bike with the components you want. But if you’re someone who just enjoys cycling like me then you don’t unless you want to. Think about how many kids, as well as adults can’t get a bike at all and would be very happy to have a yard sale bike. It makes you’re bike not seem that bad.
The point is, my bikes serve me well. They work the way I need and want them to work. They look good and I feel comfortable on them. I think it’s wrong for Bike companies, as well as all other material thing companies we have in our society to try and make people feel bad for not taking out a second mortgage, or re financing the house to buy their product. Now the Cyclist that say this to people with the lower cost bikes, They may have good intentions, and it may make them feel good to have something better than you, but not everyone makes the same amount of money, not everyone has the need for the multi thousand dollar bikes. When it comes down to it just don’t let this kind of thing bother you. Well it must bother you to be posting this right? No it doesn’t. I don’t feel bad about the bikes I ride or, the name, the components on it. They work the way I want them to, they are comfortable and I enjoy them every time I go out for a ride.
What does bother me is when I see other cyclists feel bad and embarrassed for riding a so called entry level bike, and how some cyclists will intentionally make them feel bad because of what they ride, the name or the components on their bike. Just think of it this way. There was a time in our lives when we didn’t have anything. We had to ask our parents for things and hope we got them. Some of us got the things we wanted some didn’t. We grew up, got jobs, families and had to save to get our little toys we enjoy today. So when it comes to bikes, as well as anything else, whatever you can afford then by all means go for it and enjoy it because there is no guarantee that you will be here tomorrow. But don’t let the marketing words and terms of companies and other people make you feel bad about what you ride, drive or any other. If you enjoy it, then that’s what it’s all about.