I recently attended a “Tech Talk” event at a local bike
shop presented by Seven Cycles. We were
all adults and wise enough to recognize it as an event aimed at selling more
bikes. I am the happy owner of a bike
made by Seven that I purchased eight years ago and I have no intention of
replacing it. Maybe I was looking for reassurance or maybe I was hoping there
would be freebies handed out. Either way I braved a heavy Seattle downpour and
took it all in.
Eight years ago I immersed myself in all of the research
and propaganda that led me to buy the bike I did. Between then and now I have spent absolutely
no time reconsidering the decision nor have I really paid attention to the
latest improvements that could have been mine if only I had waited. I feel like my bike is perfect for its
intended purpose and I intend to continue to love it and ride it as long as I
am able.
As he talked about selecting a unique set of tubing for
each rider from a variety of tube options with various diameters and wall
thicknesses the memories of my earlier research came flooding back to me. I
found myself settling back into my perceived sweet spot on the multidimensional
matrix of continuums of value, performance, aesthetics, craftsmanship, branding
and countless others. I am generally the
same person with the same paradigms I held when I decided Seven was the bike
for me eight years ago. Hearing essentially the same data now only served to
reinforce my earlier decision.
The presenter shared the combination of philosophy, artistry,
science, passion and people that make up the company and the products it
produces. While the motherhood angle
often makes us feel good I am enough of a curmudgeon that if it does not
translate into the results I want (a superior product, etc.) then I dismiss it
as hogwash.
The presenter mentioned how an increasing number of
customers get their Ti frames painted. My frame is bare Ti which I think looks
beautiful. I don’t know the dollar
figure but I remember at the time the price of getting the bike painted seemed
excessive. He then mentioned that a
byproduct of a custom paint job is that riders are likely to ride more if they
think the bike looks good. He mentioned
having his wife’s bike repainted and that now she rides it more. Typically I am not swayed by anecdotal
evidence, but it struck a chord.
Clearly this is vanity and while I wish I could claim to
be immune from the disease; I am in fact deeply afflicted. I am vain enough to maintain the self centered
belief that strangers care enough about what is swirling around in my melon to
read these words. Therefore it is not hard
to imagine that I might find motivation to ride more or ride harder or longer from
something as trivial as the look of my bike or the clothing I wear.
When I am wearing my favorite clothes I do think I ride a
tad faster. When the bike is clean and
shiny I think I treat it a bit nicer and believe (correctly) that it shifts and
performs better. Perhaps “Look sharp, be
sharp” can be updated to “Look fast, be fast”?
This has the potential to be a slippery slope.
At one point in time I tried to measure any potential
cycling related purchase against the question of whether or not the purchase
would make me faster or safer. Now with
the vanity angle out in the open I can justify almost anything. Justification
and denial are two of my greatest strengths. If it makes me ride more then,
yes, it does make me faster. With thoughts along these lines this can be a
dangerous time to be my Visa card.
Make me FAST !!!
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