Discussion
Such with 3 clients earlier, got talking about the correlation between (road) cyclists and petrolheads.
Of the 3 keen cyclists there (me included), we all have an interest in cars. The fourth was interested in neither.
Similar obsessions with kit/technology/weight/performance/carbon fibre (perhaps less so on skin tight clothing)....and justifying just one more purchase to the Mrs
How many on here are also keen cyclists?
Of the 3 keen cyclists there (me included), we all have an interest in cars. The fourth was interested in neither.
Similar obsessions with kit/technology/weight/performance/carbon fibre (perhaps less so on skin tight clothing)....and justifying just one more purchase to the Mrs
How many on here are also keen cyclists?
When my Shogun died, I also bit the bullet and sold my V8 (not economical as an only car in the South-East at an average of around 15mpg!) and got an S-Max on our company car scheme instead.
I decided to keep a couple of grand back from the sale to get myself an old MX5, 105 GTi, or something else of that ilk, just to ensure that I didn't let the S-Max suck my soul out through my right foot.
Three months later, I realised I'd missing absolutely nothing about the V8 except for the exhaust noise, as you simply can't get empty enough roads to enjoy driving anything unless you're happy to go out in the middle of the night, so I spent it on a mountain bike instead.
My "garage" now has a carbon road bike, a CX bike (set up for commuting), a hardtail and a full susser.
Whilst I still crave being let loose in the Welsh mountains with a Caterham or the like, considering where I live, the bikes are going to give me more enjoyment than anything on four wheels stands a chance of doing in any given situation.
I think the key thing is that I never particularly liked cars in the first place. What I loved - and still do given the opportunity - was driving, and the passion which I can no longer fulfil by driving is met in spades by riding.
The only difference is that I can actually spend an evening in the pub talking about bike bits without getting bored - something I could never do with cars. I think this is probably because what you can do with very moderate skills and budget - especially on mountain bikes - would've taken something not far
short of a full on factory racing team to achieve with a car...
I decided to keep a couple of grand back from the sale to get myself an old MX5, 105 GTi, or something else of that ilk, just to ensure that I didn't let the S-Max suck my soul out through my right foot.
Three months later, I realised I'd missing absolutely nothing about the V8 except for the exhaust noise, as you simply can't get empty enough roads to enjoy driving anything unless you're happy to go out in the middle of the night, so I spent it on a mountain bike instead.
My "garage" now has a carbon road bike, a CX bike (set up for commuting), a hardtail and a full susser.
Whilst I still crave being let loose in the Welsh mountains with a Caterham or the like, considering where I live, the bikes are going to give me more enjoyment than anything on four wheels stands a chance of doing in any given situation.
I think the key thing is that I never particularly liked cars in the first place. What I loved - and still do given the opportunity - was driving, and the passion which I can no longer fulfil by driving is met in spades by riding.
The only difference is that I can actually spend an evening in the pub talking about bike bits without getting bored - something I could never do with cars. I think this is probably because what you can do with very moderate skills and budget - especially on mountain bikes - would've taken something not far
short of a full on factory racing team to achieve with a car...
I love cars, and I love driving, but practicality dictates I needed another hobby. I live in Switzerland, have a two year old son, work in the city and share a car with my wife, and none of the above are compatible with sports cars! When I lived in the Chilterns I'd go out for a drive in the Lotus for fun at the weekend, now I hop on the road bike and head up into the Alps.
I guess there are similarities in the quality of technology and engineering, as well as the ability to tinker and upgrade. Road biking also gives you an adrenaline rush (albeit at lower speed) - there's nothing quite like the feeling of descending a mountain at 70kph+.
I guess there are similarities in the quality of technology and engineering, as well as the ability to tinker and upgrade. Road biking also gives you an adrenaline rush (albeit at lower speed) - there's nothing quite like the feeling of descending a mountain at 70kph+.
I'm first and foremost a car guy. I also used to be in to snowboarding, but that fell by the wayside, as could only do one or two trips a year and the snowdomes etc weren't that much fun. Mountain biking has replaced the buzz I got from snowboarding and then some. Plus I can go mountain biking from home and since I cancelled my gym membership when I started riding more, even with a new bike I've propably saved money.
Kermit power said:
When my Shogun died, I also bit the bullet and sold my V8 (not economical as an only car in the South-East at an average of around 15mpg!) and got an S-Max on our company car scheme instead.
I decided to keep a couple of grand back from the sale to get myself an old MX5, 105 GTi, or something else of that ilk, just to ensure that I didn't let the S-Max suck my soul out through my right foot.
Three months later, I realised I'd missing absolutely nothing about the V8 except for the exhaust noise, as you simply can't get empty enough roads to enjoy driving anything unless you're happy to go out in the middle of the night, so I spent it on a mountain bike instead.
My "garage" now has a carbon road bike, a CX bike (set up for commuting), a hardtail and a full susser.
Whilst I still crave being let loose in the Welsh mountains with a Caterham or the like, considering where I live, the bikes are going to give me more enjoyment than anything on four wheels stands a chance of doing in any given situation.
I think the key thing is that I never particularly liked cars in the first place. What I loved - and still do given the opportunity - was driving, and the passion which I can no longer fulfil by driving is met in spades by riding.
The only difference is that I can actually spend an evening in the pub talking about bike bits without getting bored - something I could never do with cars. I think this is probably because what you can do with very moderate skills and budget - especially on mountain bikes - would've taken something not far
short of a full on factory racing team to achieve with a car...
I love cars, but I can relate to your statement about reaching an age where I think I would prefer a nice bike in the garage instead of a nice car. My current bike fleet doesn't have a carbon road bike, but I think that will change this year and it will be a bespoke build. I decided to keep a couple of grand back from the sale to get myself an old MX5, 105 GTi, or something else of that ilk, just to ensure that I didn't let the S-Max suck my soul out through my right foot.
Three months later, I realised I'd missing absolutely nothing about the V8 except for the exhaust noise, as you simply can't get empty enough roads to enjoy driving anything unless you're happy to go out in the middle of the night, so I spent it on a mountain bike instead.
My "garage" now has a carbon road bike, a CX bike (set up for commuting), a hardtail and a full susser.
Whilst I still crave being let loose in the Welsh mountains with a Caterham or the like, considering where I live, the bikes are going to give me more enjoyment than anything on four wheels stands a chance of doing in any given situation.
I think the key thing is that I never particularly liked cars in the first place. What I loved - and still do given the opportunity - was driving, and the passion which I can no longer fulfil by driving is met in spades by riding.
The only difference is that I can actually spend an evening in the pub talking about bike bits without getting bored - something I could never do with cars. I think this is probably because what you can do with very moderate skills and budget - especially on mountain bikes - would've taken something not far
short of a full on factory racing team to achieve with a car...
Bikes also have the benfit of keeping you fit too
bakerstreet said:
I love cars, but I can relate to your statement about reaching an age where I think I would prefer a nice bike in the garage instead of a nice car. My current bike fleet doesn't have a carbon road bike, but I think that will change this year and it will be a bespoke build.
Bikes also have the benfit of keeping you fit too
It's not that I've reached an age or anything. I just think SE England traffic has hit a tedium-inducing critical mass. Bikes also have the benfit of keeping you fit too
Who knows. Maybe if I lived in South Wales, the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales or any one of a gazillion places with arguably better mountain biking, I actually might not have got so hooked on mountain biking by virtue of the local roads and traffic mass on them having made the 106 GTi worthwhile.
bakerstreet said:
I love cars, but I can relate to your statement about reaching an age where I think I would prefer a nice bike in the garage instead of a nice car. My current bike fleet doesn't have a carbon road bike, but I think that will change this year and it will be a bespoke build.
Bikes also have the benfit of keeping you fit too
Maybe it's age.....but I've just picked up an Pinarello Dogma. The first ride was more of a special experience than the first drive in any car I've owned. Bikes also have the benfit of keeping you fit too
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