I was going to avoid this thread, but I never have had enough self-control.
Originally posted by Ted B
First of all, there were some things to behold, such as a group of 'skateresque' men attempting to do it all on rollerblades, one guy on a unicycle, and a guy on one of these really old time bikes, you know with the huge front wheel and tiny rear wheel. I couldn't help but become concerned about them all as I descended into one long steep section where I reached some 41+mph.
That's the BP MS150, man. Piles and piles of people come out to raise money to fight MS. Most are not avid cyclists, most are just trying to help a good cause. I imagine rollerblades, unicycles, and high-wheelers raise even more money than most cyclists if only because of the added attention their self-imposed challenge brings.
It's a short tour, not a race.
Now, maybe I'm jaded because I've got a top pro-level setup, but I wouldn't be setting off to bike such a long distance with some of the equipment I saw any more than I would attempt to sail a long distance in a Haitian refugee boat.
Eh, even a k-mart gas-pipe bike can go 150mi. I wouldn't want to do it, but it can. It's the motor, not the bike, that makes it possible.
It's a short tour, not a race.
I saw load after load of 'junque', much if it adorned and amended with all sorts of add-on trinkets and gadgets, most of it being cumbersome and inefficient, as well as heavy.
Think of it as resistance training for future racers. Or just think of it as people having fun while on a bike. That's what the MS150 is all about, right? Raising money while having fun on a two-day tour? And if more people earn a respect for cycling out of the experience, that's another benefit, right?
It's a short tour, not a race.
Compound all of this rolling salvage with the incredibly poor, inefficient fitting jobs, and no doubt the chiropractors and orthopaedists of Texas will be enjoying great windfalls.
Inexcusable and unfortunately very true. And yes, I bet the doctors are raking it in. A coworker's urologist mentioned that since the MS150, he's been handing out 'rigidity assistance' medication and treating numbness problems. All completely preventable with a proper riding position and a proper fit, and sometimes a saddle change.
While I hit the steep sections on the fly, downshifting to my 39X23 and diverting my attention from the difficulty of the effort by imagining myself on the slopes of Alpe D'Huez, I couldn't help but notice the droves of would be riders, trudging along on foot as they towed their 35lb scrap metal machines over each hill, catching their breath on the crests and making excuses to kill time by making a cell phone call.
Give them a break, man. They're not racer wannabes, they're just average joes out on a fundraiser tour. Why should they invest a thousand dollars or more into equipment for a single annual ride that is intended to raise less money than they'd spend on the bike?
My commuter is probably 35lb all told, and it's ready to do the MS150. I used it on most of the early training rides, and it wasn't a problem at all. Again, it's the motor that matters.
It's a short tour, not a race.
While I was rejoicing in the benefit of my pricey lightweight wheelset (Hyperons) I was having to shout "On Your Right!" with every breath (which undoubtedly adds to one's aerobic conditioning - try it sometime), while occasionally hearing a half-hearted plea for a 'tow rope' or something similar from a distressed rider.
I think folks should spend their money wherever it makes them feel best. If you prefer spending money on bike equipment rather than donating to the MS Society, that's great. If you'd rather zip past everyone instead of enjoying the fellowship with other riders, it's your loss.
It's a short tour, not a race.
It is because of such experiences that I say to all of thee who make great sacrifices for the sake of investing in quality hardware to enhance his own cycling experience as well as indirectly enhancing the same for all of those around him...
God Bless You!! [/B]
I know a guy, a computer storage salesman, who actually once said to me 'Hey! Look at my watch! It cost me $3500! It's a Rolex! Look at my watch!' It keeps time about the same as my watch, a $90 automatic LL Bean field watch that I've had since 1991. However, I look silly going around saying 'Look at my watch!' as he does.
Malcontent
