I meet tons of people all the time on the trails. Some have older bikes and some newer. Ofcourse there’s a bunch of them that have the nice bling bling bikes. You know what I’m talking about, its the bikes that are over $1500 and can be as expensive as $5000.
When I talk to people on the trails I always ask about their bike to break the ice. So first question that I fire away with is, “How do you like your (insert brand and model of bike)?”
And ofcourse if its a bling bling bike, they are going to say….”It’s da bomb!” or “It’s the shiznitz!”
Now that got me to think. Do people say that in order to feel good about their expensive purchases?
I mean if I were to ask a guy that is a veteran bike rider that has ridden all sorts of bikes, do you think he’d answer that the cheapest bike he owned was the best bike he’s ever ridden?
I’m no 20 year mountain biking veteran my self, but to be honest with you, I’ve had more fun on my old $200 Gary Fisher Tarpon than some of the most expensive bikes that I’ve tested or ridden.
This whole thing kinda reminds me of a time when I was a kid. I specifically remember mixing coffee, cocoa powder, soda, chocolate syrup, sugar all together in a glass thinking that it would taste good. Then my dad questioning what I was doing and warning me that this concoction I was about to drink was going to taste bad. But I tell him no it won’t it will taste good!
I drink it…gag…turn to my dad trying to cop a smile, but this stuff was so nasty and say…”see its delicious!”
Anyhow, in a way bling bikes are in that same situation as my nasty drink. If some dude spent tons of money on his bike, then he’s obligated to say that his bike “is the shiznitz!”, right?
