I love buying stuff when I can afford it and when it's for me. Certainly used to be the case that men weren't supposed to enjoy shopping; well I'm one of the exceptions. Buying stuff for myself tends to make me feel good. I could spend all day in a city or town with lots of shops that have what I want...
Especially cycling related stuff in which case I might consider myself a shopaholic...
I have a wishlist of bikes and accessories, which might change by the time I can afford them, which I can't right now, although some I've always wanted like my Dutch was. On the wishlist at time of writing:
Must-have category:
Brompton - public transport bike - next on the list.
Velorbis - comfort and style - a real looker
Fast commuter: The model can vary because of the availability. For example, I did want a silver Charge Mixer 11, but they're discontinued I believe, although Evans told me they might be able to get hold of one.
German Trekking bike with Rohloff hub and Gates carbon drive (maybe), loaded with equipment. My long distance tourer.
Nice-to-have-just-cos-they-make-them category:
A shaft drive - probably a Biomega, although I would like a Viva Mille Miglia, I mean those looks...Trouble is, they don't make them anymore, although you can find them on the internet for sale, in a different country...then again, I quite like the Beixo...
A Pederson - a masterpiece copy of an 1893 bike with modern componentry. Charming, quaint, and surprisingly practical...put it this way: you don't see many of these around...
A Pashley - everyone should have a Pashley...
A Schwinn - classic American 50s style cruiser with a mock petrol tank like that of a motorbike...don't think it's made anymore.
Pilen - nice & stylish Swedish utility bike - nice to have, just because they make them
Retrovelo - like the Pilen but German (and half as much again expensive), another nice to have just because they make them
Something with a wooden frame - this one made for the car company Audi.
Something with a bamboo frame
Something with a titanium frame
Something with a stainless steel frame
A Schindlehauer
A Pinion geared - aha - you probably haven't heard of that one...5 grand the price...think I like the colour, brown in any shade is not usually my thing, but it's a nice match with the silver. Would prefer midnight blue though.
So that's another 16 to buy...Excessive? Some would say, but I recently met Bill who told me he has 26 in his garage and invited me over to view them, which I must get round to soon. I don't have a garage, but I do have some space in the back garden that I could build some kind of shed/store cum conservatory thingy...nice little project to practice my creativity and DIY skills come to think...
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Monday, 2 December 2013
The Appeal Of Cycling - Part 2 - The Hardware
Whatever sport or hobby I've had, it was never solely about the activity; it was complemented by an interest in the actual hardware, and so it is with cycling.
I like good bicycles and accessories; this is one of the ingredients that make cycling enjoyable for me; I like to be riding a good quality bike - it simply wouldn't be the same riding junk...I have to say, I'm a little disappointed to see cheap bikes appearing in UK bikeshops styled like the more expensive quality items to cash in on a trend.
One of the great things about cycling for me at least, is that it's cheap enough to be able to afford the best stuff without being wealthy, in the same way as, cars or boats for example. OK, occasionally you get these £100,000 one offs with gold and diamonds on it, but by and large, anything practical is within reach of anyone with disposable income, either to save for or borrow with a small personal loan. Not only that, but currently in the UK there are government incentives eg the cycle to work scheme where you can save 20% sales tax and pay the remainder in instalments.
I don't think it's ever been a better time to be a cyclist, and I plan to indulge as much as my finances will allow.
Some of these can be pretty expensive - are they worth the money? Well, being worth the price charged is a subjective thing. If I'm using something regularly with no problems, that's a good guide as to whether I'm getting my money's worth. With utility/town bikes, it's easy to get your money's worth by riding them regularly - you just get on them and ride, so there's less likely to be a feeling that it was an indulgent waste of money because you don't get the chance to use it or you cannot afford the running costs...
Contrast this with a boat, where the best times have been stated as the day you buy it, and the day you sell it...
Not only are manufacturers, particularly in Germany and Switzerland producing mouthwatering hardware, the internet makes these goods more accessible than they would have been in the past, when you would have had to rely on traditional retail methods. I keep getting pleasantly surprised by all the good quality stuff out there.
I like good bicycles and accessories; this is one of the ingredients that make cycling enjoyable for me; I like to be riding a good quality bike - it simply wouldn't be the same riding junk...I have to say, I'm a little disappointed to see cheap bikes appearing in UK bikeshops styled like the more expensive quality items to cash in on a trend.
One of the great things about cycling for me at least, is that it's cheap enough to be able to afford the best stuff without being wealthy, in the same way as, cars or boats for example. OK, occasionally you get these £100,000 one offs with gold and diamonds on it, but by and large, anything practical is within reach of anyone with disposable income, either to save for or borrow with a small personal loan. Not only that, but currently in the UK there are government incentives eg the cycle to work scheme where you can save 20% sales tax and pay the remainder in instalments.
I don't think it's ever been a better time to be a cyclist, and I plan to indulge as much as my finances will allow.
Some of these can be pretty expensive - are they worth the money? Well, being worth the price charged is a subjective thing. If I'm using something regularly with no problems, that's a good guide as to whether I'm getting my money's worth. With utility/town bikes, it's easy to get your money's worth by riding them regularly - you just get on them and ride, so there's less likely to be a feeling that it was an indulgent waste of money because you don't get the chance to use it or you cannot afford the running costs...
Contrast this with a boat, where the best times have been stated as the day you buy it, and the day you sell it...
Not only are manufacturers, particularly in Germany and Switzerland producing mouthwatering hardware, the internet makes these goods more accessible than they would have been in the past, when you would have had to rely on traditional retail methods. I keep getting pleasantly surprised by all the good quality stuff out there.
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