On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 3:52 PM, Malcolm Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Richard Ballantyne (sp?) whose bicycle book I considered essential reading > in the 70s had a different take on this. His view was that you should spend > money on a good cycle with quality components, so that you don't get > discouraged by one that is forever in need of repair or a horror to ride. I > think his phrase was 'a good cycle ride doesn't allow you to have apple pie > and ice cream' but regular exercise, especially if you do get into cycling, > is likely to lead to you watching what you eat etc - and your weight will > drop. > > Bicycling magazine is right that most could do with losing 10 lbs (if only > in my case!) but the longer view is that an expensive bike may get you there > - both in terms of destination and ideal weight. > I don't disagree with what you (rather, Mr. Ballantyne) say. I heartily endorse the purchase of good quality bicycles with the best groupo that one can afford. If one buys a slug of a bike, too much effort will go into riding it, it won't be fun, and the bike will languish in a garage or basement rather than fulfilling it's destiny of being ridden by smiling owners. IMHO, even more important than weight or quality is ~fit~. I see too many people on very expensive bikes that do not fit them. Aerodynamic and pedaling efficiency can only be obtained by proper fit, including appropriately sized and adjusted frame, stem, seatpost and seat, cranks, etc. Bicycling was referring only to weight. The shaving of pounds and ounces drives up a bike's price exponentially - at some point on reaches the point of diminishing returns. A (relatively) heavy bike with high-quality frame and components, a bike that fits properly, will always outperform a poorly fitting 14 pound CF/titanium wonder. cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
