First of all, big happy birthday wishes for ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
empath_eia, who is a constant source of sunshine and light on my f-list. She deserves puppies and rainbows and everything nice today. :-)
Yesterday was an unfortunate day for me. I finally bought my new bike...and I hate it. HATE. IT.
I guess I'm spoiled. About five years ago I bought my Trek hybrid, when the technology was still new. It was a basic model but it was pretty much cutting edge back then, even without the bells and whistles. See, a hybrid is just that; it's like a cross between a racing bike and a mountain bike. It has the suspension and the same number of gears as a mountain bike, but the gear ratio and the wheels of a racing bike. The tires are somewhere in between (fatter and sturdier than a racer, with some heavier tread like a mountain bike but not as thick or heavy). Hybrids are perfect for long distance rides (my thing) and can take a dirt or gravel trail in stride without catching an edge and throwing you.
The technology has apparently advanced greatly in the last five years. My old bike has no front fork shocks, a steel frame, and (the most annoying thing) single-wall construction wheels, which means every time I hit something big (large rock, curb, road hazard) my wheel gets bent a bit. But it's fast as heck and it's red and I love it. I've put at least 2000 miles on it since I got it. Still, it's getting a bit worn and I have felt the need for a new hybrid recently.
SO, the new Trek hybrids are spiffy looking with solid aluminum frames (supposed to be lightweight), double construction steel wheels (will never bend out of true), shocks in the front fork AND seat post...all these cool things have been making me drool for about 2 years. I picked out a Trek 73000 yesterday. Top of the line with all the premium features including a bunch I didn't mention...
...and I LOATHE it. It's slow. It drags. It actually weighs more than my old bike. Riding it is like pedaling through peanut butter. The gear ratio sucks. In order to get the speed I have on my old bike, using the same cycling cadence, I have to kick the new bike up into 7th or 8th gear and it has a ton of resistance so it's hard to sustain. Once you stop pedaling, there is no coasting, you slow right the hell down as if you were coasting up a hill...even if you're not. The brakes are mushy ON PURPOSE...there's a little spring in there that forces you to squeeeeze until they engage (and I don't know about you but when I need to stop my bike I like to STOP. If I want to slow gradually I'll adjust by not squeezing the brake as much, thank you). It's just hateful.
I guess the new hybrids are more like mountain bikes and less like racers, and I feel the need for speed. Yeah, it's all pretty and flashy and sexy, but it's just no fun at all to ride. My old bike is a bit beat up (it looks like something chewed on it, because of all the thrown pebbles and such...full of chips and dings), but when I'm on it I fly, I have balance and speed and it feels like an extension of myself. This new bike makes me feel like I'm cycling underwater.
Plus, it's not red. It isn't even available in red. *pout*
If I'm going to spend 500 bucks on a new bike, it better be at least as cool as my old bike. AND be red. I'm taking the damn thing back.
I guess I'm spoiled. About five years ago I bought my Trek hybrid, when the technology was still new. It was a basic model but it was pretty much cutting edge back then, even without the bells and whistles. See, a hybrid is just that; it's like a cross between a racing bike and a mountain bike. It has the suspension and the same number of gears as a mountain bike, but the gear ratio and the wheels of a racing bike. The tires are somewhere in between (fatter and sturdier than a racer, with some heavier tread like a mountain bike but not as thick or heavy). Hybrids are perfect for long distance rides (my thing) and can take a dirt or gravel trail in stride without catching an edge and throwing you.
The technology has apparently advanced greatly in the last five years. My old bike has no front fork shocks, a steel frame, and (the most annoying thing) single-wall construction wheels, which means every time I hit something big (large rock, curb, road hazard) my wheel gets bent a bit. But it's fast as heck and it's red and I love it. I've put at least 2000 miles on it since I got it. Still, it's getting a bit worn and I have felt the need for a new hybrid recently.
SO, the new Trek hybrids are spiffy looking with solid aluminum frames (supposed to be lightweight), double construction steel wheels (will never bend out of true), shocks in the front fork AND seat post...all these cool things have been making me drool for about 2 years. I picked out a Trek 73000 yesterday. Top of the line with all the premium features including a bunch I didn't mention...
...and I LOATHE it. It's slow. It drags. It actually weighs more than my old bike. Riding it is like pedaling through peanut butter. The gear ratio sucks. In order to get the speed I have on my old bike, using the same cycling cadence, I have to kick the new bike up into 7th or 8th gear and it has a ton of resistance so it's hard to sustain. Once you stop pedaling, there is no coasting, you slow right the hell down as if you were coasting up a hill...even if you're not. The brakes are mushy ON PURPOSE...there's a little spring in there that forces you to squeeeeze until they engage (and I don't know about you but when I need to stop my bike I like to STOP. If I want to slow gradually I'll adjust by not squeezing the brake as much, thank you). It's just hateful.
I guess the new hybrids are more like mountain bikes and less like racers, and I feel the need for speed. Yeah, it's all pretty and flashy and sexy, but it's just no fun at all to ride. My old bike is a bit beat up (it looks like something chewed on it, because of all the thrown pebbles and such...full of chips and dings), but when I'm on it I fly, I have balance and speed and it feels like an extension of myself. This new bike makes me feel like I'm cycling underwater.
Plus, it's not red. It isn't even available in red. *pout*
If I'm going to spend 500 bucks on a new bike, it better be at least as cool as my old bike. AND be red. I'm taking the damn thing back.
