Discussion: Buying all the things

Having spent a lot of time around runners and running clubs and a little bit of time in both a cycling club and a triathlon club, I've found a noticeable difference in gear-headedness between the groups that I don't think is entirely caused by the actual equipment needs. Maybe people who like having all the latest gadgets and accessories are partly pulled to those activities?

I can understand exercising restraint on extravagant expenses like trips across the Atlantic. But handlebar tape? C'mon, just buy it already!

You might benefit from a high-end piece of electronics, perhaps even a power meter. But a basic cyclometer can be had for under US$30. I use that in conjunction with a Garmin watch, and find it quite satisfactory. Being able to see your speed and distance with a glance down to the handlebars is nice.

Well, technically I have handlebar tape; I just want softer handlebar tape. These things cannot be given, they must be earned.

Except a new transmission; that can be given without a problem.

I was thinking that you meant you had worn-out handlebar tape. I figure if you wore something out, then you earned a replacement.

On a related topic, do you have gloves?

I was about to ask the same thing. If he doesn't then that settles it—Ian loves vibrations.

I have two pairs of gloves, but they aren't great. One is a pair of cloth gloves from which I have removed the fingers; the other is a pair of lightweight synthetic running gloves that are too warm in the summer. I have recently used the fingerless gloves for long rides.

You can probably find the packs on kijiji pretty easily I'm sure.

Yeah, those aren't gloves.

Clearly my butt and hands need to HTFU.

I think what you really need to buy is a hairshirt. Or maybe a pair of hairshorts.

I don't see tubeless equipment on that list.

Revelate bags. Remove all weight from your back.

I agree. With plenty of bike experience, I vote for no luggage on the rider. Or at least nothing more than will fit in the back pocket of a jersey (phone, banana, etc.).

Your insights are appreciated, but this isn't a democracy.

One Ian, one vote - sounds like the most perfect democracy ever to me. It even does away with the need to shatter ceramic items so the fragments can be used as voting tokens.

ETA: of course, it occurs to me that there may be an external veto point in this particular system of government, if the purchases get extravagant enough.