New bike envy

There is a process to buying or getting a new bike.

I can still remember vividly the entire process from when I was a teenager. I had a special notebook where I listed out each individual component and how much it was going to cost. There were pictures glued in that I had cut out of cycling weekly and winning magazine. For one bike there were multiple trips down to John O’Keefe in Carrick to order the Basso frame, the Shimano 600 groupset, the Mavic GP4 wheels with Vittoria Corsa CX tubulars. The whole process consumed me for months of my life, and I’m sure it consumed a bit too much of poor John O’Keefes time too. The Basso was a pure work of art in red, white and blue with chrome forks, similar to the Carrera that Stephen Roche was riding at the time. on my first spin out with the group I was beaming with pride and looking forward to showing off my new bike to all the lads. My chest was out until it was quickly deflated. Why did you get those wheels on it?. Nice bike but I would have gone for a different groupset, that shimano 600 is very heavy. That colour will be very hard to keep clean and those chrome forks are always rusting. I was soon landed back down to earth with a bang. But that wasn’t the best of it.

Two weeks later at a race in Kilmallock we were sprinting for the finish and the win. I could already see the photo in the Nationalist newspaper in my head. One arm held high as the other gripped on to the Cinelli 65 criterium handlebars. I must have been dreaming a little too much as I failed to notice the back wheel of the CMP Blarney bike in front that I was just coming around. It shot out to the right and took my front wheel out with it. I landed between two poles (timber ones, not fellas from Poland) but my pride and joy was less fortunate. The fork was like a banana and the frame had hit one of the poles. It was a write off. I can still feel the sadness as I type this now, but such is life.

Back down to the long suffering John O’Keefe and a new wine Olmo gate, sorry frame, was quickly purchased. Nothing like the basso but it did the job until I spent another 12 months saving up, plotting and planning for my next new bike. It was a custom built Rapparee from Des Maye in Clonard Co. Meath that you can find out a bit more about here : https://thecyclingblog.com/the-dream-machine/

This all brings me to where I find myself today. As a bike fitter, I often have clients come along for a pre-fit where we can select the best type and size of bike for them on the Purely Custom fit bike, and others who come in with the new bike that they have just purchased.

Human nature is still the same as it was when I was a teenager, and people will sometimes ask me questions like ‘Do you think those wheels are OK?’ or ‘Should I have gone something with more/less aggressive geometry?’

Without having to ask, I know straight away that some well meaning buddy has let the air out of their ballooning excitement of the joy of being on a new bike. 99 times out of 100 the bike is perfect for them and the following conversation is often like this :

‘Were you happy with the bike the day you bought it?’

‘Yes’

‘Were you happy the first day you brought it out for a spin on your own?’

‘Yes’

‘Was it only when someone else on a group spin said something that you began to have doubts?’

‘Yes’

‘Well, human nature is a funny thing. Some people, men especially, find it very difficult to give a compliment or admire something new that someone else has. Without meaning any ill will, they have to find fault when someone at their level goes a step forward. It is just a bit of insecurity on their part and no malice is intended, so don’t take it personally, or onboard.’

There is a lot to be said for not paying too much heed to what other people say, good or bad. If someone looks at your new bike, car, jumper etc and say that’s really nice, think to yourself ‘fine’ and if they criticise it, think to yourself ‘fine’ and just be happy either way inside yourself.

Barry