Does it really matter which Kool Aid you're drinking!

[MarsB]

Gi'me a grape or orange, none of that stinkin root beer.

Fuckin' machine took our quarters, Coach!

[Bennett]

Sharkleberry Punch FTW!

[InspectorGadget]

I never said 'chi-chi' was a reason to buy or not buy a bike. But I think you have to acknowledge that it influences a lot of us. I still remember being in kollidge in SoCal and seeing a big lifted Dodge pickup drive by with a brand new flaming red Foes Mono and a Foes Fly in the back. They looked so absolutely amazing and unattainable. And ever since then I've lusted after Foes. I finally got my fix a few years ago w/ my FXR, but I've still got a thing for the Fly and Mono. Lots of people on here have the same fixation with Turner. I dunno...it's not 'important' per se but there is something cool about owning a bike you've lusted after. And the cool thing is, although the difference between a bike like that and the mass market bikes isn't huge, it is noticeable.

p.s. I wish I could weigh in on a kool-aid flavor but I can't remember the last time I had the stuff.

I agree. I was responding to Inspector Gadget's original and subsequent posts in which the chi-chi factor was emphasized.

To whom it may concern:

I agree with Particle's post about chi-chi factor as it applies to unrequited bike lust.

If name brand and chi-chi factor were that overwhelmingly important, I would have plunked down another grand and gotten the Titus. Or maybe the Yeti. Or, hell, another two grand and I could have gotten the Nomad - a bike whose potential I would never fully realize. But I'd still like one. Then I could be the guy in a flying wedge on the hottest new ski on the market.

The point I was originally trying to make is that most of the frames on the market, when properly equiped for the intended user/purpose, will meet or exceed most rider's needs. When I can get a bike/ski/car/insert other desirable objects here; that meets my needs and costs significantly less than the other choices, I'm likely going to take the savings and run. Or ride, as the case may be.

[m1e448]

Does it really matter which Kool Aid you're drinking!

Says the guy who rides a Calnago.

[Particle]

Says the guy who rides a Calnago.

Bwah! 3245

[puresilk]

I recently had a conversation with a friend about which bike he should buy. And which bikes not to buy. He made a comment about the importance of having the right component mix. When I was deciding what to buy last year, I considered the following bikes:

Cannondale Prophet 2000
Titus MotoLite - I still want one
Yeti 575
Santa Cruz Nomad - OK, the Nomad was more a case of lust.
Marin Attack Trail
And a few others . . . .

In the end, I bought the Marin. It doesn't have the g-wiz factor of the Titus or the Santa Cruz. In fact, it was my last choice. Bottom of the proverbial barrel. But it was also a thousand bucks less than the others and had all the right parts. Most importantly, I like the way it rides.

I know there are many people on this board that have a very good feel for their bikes and how they respond - or don't respond - to the rider. However, there are just as many, and probably more, that do not have that level of expertise or feel. Joe and Jane Average, if you will.

Whether you are partial to a 4 bar, single pivot or virtual; in the end, does it really matter. Don't most high(er) end bikes ride great as long as they have the right parts installed? How much of your bike buying decision process is based on getting a proper name on the frame?


Please pass the Kool Aid Reverend Jones.

I started Mountain Biking in 1988. My first bike was a Specialized StumpJumper. I only upgraded that bike 2 years ago. Heres what I have noticed about new technology. It really makes biking easier. My rides mostly climbs have almost doubled in miles for the same time on my workout rides. I have also had to add weight training to my upper body. These new bikes simply take the workout factor away from the upper body as compared to the older models. They also climb alot easier. I don't know enough to say why but my first ride on my newer bike, was unbelievably easier than before.
So no, there is nothing wrong with buying a bike at any price as long as you ride it.
I do think technology has been great because there are alot of people whom are out enjoying a variety of sports at levels that they would never have been able to on old school equipment. It's been great for businesses, it has created businesses, ( they actually have enough bikers in Utah to provide shuttle services for ) and it's opened up the door to being rad to the average joe. It's all good..
I will say though that my hero is a woman whom decided to do her first triathalon at the age of 46 and drug an old Murray ten speed out of her parents barn to use. People laughed at her at the start of the race, but at the end, she finished third overall and was the first female finisher. Now that in my opinion is hardcore, not bouncing off a rock that's 10 feet high on a bike designed to perfectly absorb every bit of shock. While she may be considerred Kool-aid by the expensive bike crowd, she refers to them as techno-weenies.
You see, it's all a matter of perspective, if you can go out and get it done on a garage sale bike you paid $20.00 for, you probably rock harder than the guy that paid $6,000 for his bike that is precision built for user ease, but he has a nicer bike. Just getter done!!!

[skimasterflex]

Man, maybe I'm just a young broke college student but give me a killer deal on a decent rig and I'll take out more student loans in a second. Of course that is how I looked at skis for a long time when I worked in shops, skiing what I thought was good or effectivley what was good and cheap/free. But now that I've skied Kingswoods I am totally intrigued by the indi ski thing and don't know how many major brand I'll be buying skis from in the future. That being said I rode all the bikes I could get a deal on and ended up with a Specialized Enduro Pro because it rode sick but it was also the sickest deal. I'll post pics in a super stoke thread soon!

[Particle]

You got mixed up Pure, your girl in the story is the antithesis of a Kool-Aid drinker.

[uncle crud]

To whom it may concern: (etc...)

I agree with your points, IG. I think that somehow I've moved beyond my unrequited lust phase and now I'm trying to sell one of the items that helped satisfy that lust (Knolly V-Tach), and have no interest in a new FS rig for the next few seasons.

These days my gear lust MTB-wise runs to light & wide rims, high-volume sticky tread XC casing tires, quiet and grippy brake pads and sometimes a saddle. For example, that Fizik Alliante saddle is a super comfy mo-fo, but it's also a super expensive mo-fo and I have no plans to spend $150-200 for a saddle. But I'd love to have one if I could find one for half the regular going price. That's the extent of my lust these days.

I surely had a period of lusting after the Foes Fly, the SC VP-Free, and more recently the Giant Glory, Iron Horse Sunday, and Turner DHR. But who am I kidding, I can hit my own skill limits on my 6-Pack and not even be testing that bike's limits.

[The Reverend Floater]

Word. I like my Dawg Primo just as much as I liked my 575. Yeah, I said it!

[Rontele]

I definitely drink the 29er Kool Aid.

[skimasterflex]

Word. I like my Dawg Primo just as much as I liked my 575. Yeah, I said it!

Good to know, and I believe it too.

[InspectorGadget]

Says the guy who rides a Calnago.

Touché.

Myself, I'm a teetotalling Kool Aid man.

[phatfreeheeler]

It only matters if it matters to you. I've always thought bikes, cars, skis, kayaks, motos, etc. are an expression of oneself just like clothes. For me, my clothes say I'm lazy but get a little help from my very wise wife. My car says that I like to drive fast on dirt and carry lots of toys. My moto says I used to think I could be stylish and daring My kayak says I was getting serious about it 4 years ago but I didn't keep on it cause I live here. My skis say, I don’t know what they say but there are a lot of voices in the closet.

Where am I going with this…oh yeah. My bikes – some of them are all about utility (have a simple frame with upgrades where it counts) and then one of them is pure indulgence. For me, I just don’t want to have the same bike as my friends. I want it to be unique. This goes for everything, not just bikes. So I say drink your own flavor and screw what other flavor people like. They are all wrong, Slammin' Strawberry-Kiwi is the best

[JoshP]

I would love to have a bling ass bike one of these days, even though I know it isn't going to make me a thousand times better rider than my Cannondale or Trek will. I will never be able to afford a Ferrari, or any other sick Italian sports car, but if I am careful with my money here and there, I will be able to buy a Turner, or a Foes, or something like that one of these days. Probably a waste of money for a rider like me, but what the hell, you only live once.

I guess a Turner will be my Ferrari. (sorry for the crappy analogy )

Purplesaurus Rex kicks ass.

[brettf]

all this koolaid is going to make me vomit.

[puresilk]

all this koolaid is going to make me vomit.

He said "Sharkleberry" not dingleberry you silly fool. Try some gingerale, that'll settle your stomach.