Yeah, it's a risky move. I lost 3 subs right out of the gate! But I'm not hiding it. The first upload was problematic. I'm not sure if it works. Most of the big channels recycle content. Thought I'd see how it goes. I've got some good stuff teed up for the ones who stick around!
Yeah, that was so good I considered my choice of going to work on a bike - for a moment. But nothing is more rewarding than still arriving at work or home in time after fighting yourself through the freezing snowstorm and a couple of decimeters of snow. It also really upps the joy of riding a bike to work during the warm, sunny days.
Funny story? I commuted year round when I lived in the city. Ohio has some winter. Anyway, I had to get a second job in the winter. Not many people think about bikes in the winter around here. I was waiting tables at Applebee's and rode my bike (fixed gear, no brakes, 23c tires) to work in a level _ snow emergency. Someone asked one of the girls if I worked there and if I rode my bike to work in this. She replied " yes. That's Adam and he deserves it." She wasn't wrong. I did have a perfectly good 4x4 truck at home. While everything was closing, people are calling off work because they couldn't get out of the driveway I'm riding a bicycle to work in a snow/ ice storm in the blistering cold wind.
I'm in maine and ride year round. The gusty wind gets a bit much at times, but it's really not bad. And yes, I have perfect attendance, unlike many of my coworkers whose cars/ trucks won't start, get stuck, or there's impassable roads for them.
For sure! I think there's an "internet xxx" in every hobby, activity, or job. Cyclist, swimmer, horse person, burger flipper, scientist, astronaut. Like, everything! The keyboard warrior knows no bounds. I write from a point of observation, of course. 😁
I'm a 60+ year old and have been a life long road cyclist. Road cyclists have the worst attitudes in cycling. Instead of seeing the common connection and potential in feeling connected to a community of fellow cyclists they emit a air of superiority that it's laughable. I also ride motorcycles and the camaraderie is so different. Whether you're riding a crotch rocket or harley or dirtbike. If you wave at them they will wave back, That never happens between road cyclists.
I'd be curious where you're at... I'm in Cincinnati, and generally, most of the roadies are pretty nice...but that's Cincinnatians in general. Interestingly, enough, Roadies, as a whole, are probably more aloof (arrogant?) than the typical Cincinnatian -- so maybe there's something to it. Anyway, I'd say 70-80% of Roadies will wave back around here.
Richard, your comment is spot on as I’m 61 and a hard-core Road mountain and gravel cyclist. The road cyclists in Pennsylvania are so incredibly rude, most never wave back or say hi back I guess because they are on a.”training ride” & just can’t waste their energy by lifting their left hand to wave back where to even say hello, mountain bikers are much different and much friendlier. I also ride a Harley super glide and a.GSX-R750 And you are also right as the motorcycle COMMUNITY is much friendlier, hell, I even waved to people on mopeds and scooters, and they are so excited to get a wave. I’ll never understand why road cyclists are just not friendly, makes no sense.
Utilitarian cyclist here. For a few months I was regularly overtaken whilst heading home with a heavily laden bike or pulling a more heavily laden trailer by two roadies in expensive looking gear who would shout out some insults as they disappeared into the distance. Perhaps they thought me and my tractor of an all purpose workhorse bike shouldn't be on the same road as them? And then they disappeared. I haven't seen them for over two years. A pair of assholes. For roadies I think it's all about performance and the "purity" of the bike. Even or especially if the bike costs half a years wages.
I ride bi- and motor- cycles and, most often, I notice waves from other -cyclists if you're on similar bikes. With bicycles, I almost always get waves from any type of bike, living in New Mexico and, before, Texas. Now, with motorcycles, I used to ride an upright street bike ('93 CB750), I never got waves from crotch rocket nor Harleys. I remain convinced that motorcycle riders exude more attitude. I feel more solidarity with other bicycle riders. Maybe it's just my attitude?...
There isnt a better motivation go riding than riding to work in my opinion. I have a 6km commute with OK bike infrastructure, so it really isnt a hassle to bike it. I also havent been to a bike shop in a long time because I like doing stuff myself, so I guess I spared some mechanic his annoyance lol. But I think I am not a bad customer when I go to a bike shop once every century, I know what I want and I never get angry or start insulting anyone and I make sure not to waste anyones time either.
@@Heimbasteln lol.. how do you even warm up on a 6km ride?)/* I think it's important to flip our bike monopolists at the local bike shop sh!t... When I get charged $5 for a generic brake cable, I have to ask "Is it XTR?" No, hold their asses to the flame.. they want to treat us like custies, let's treat them as drug dealer scum! As they pretty much are...
I used to ride my bike to work because that was the best time for me to get a ride in! Also helped my get up for work because I looked forward to the ride ❤
Oh my goodness! Thank you. As a somewhat curmudgeonly, adventure loving cyclist, bike mechanic, former shop owner and current shop manager, this was a joy to watch. Bless you.
This video hit home on so many levels! Loved it. Best line: "Dont know why you would ruin a perfectly good bike ride by going to work in the middle of it." This is my mantra
I must admit to wearing those weird black tight shorts for 6 years as a roadie. I was into cycling anywhere from 35 to 105 miles just because I actually enjoyed the self inflicted pain. It’s kinda like taping your arms and legs together and rolling down a rocky hillside just to see the end result when you reached the bottom. Now at age 70 I’ll wear regular pocket shorts over those weird black tight shorts, hop on my mountain bike, peddle on the paved trails and prepare myself for a 50 miler this summer. I’m pretty excited about my new goal. It’s kinda like taping my arms and legs together and rolling down a rocky hillside just to see the end result when I reached bottom. When it comes to cycling, any kind of cycling, it’s all about self inflicted pain. But hey ………. it’s the best I can come up with to lose that unwanted 25lbs I’ve gained from quitting road cycling with those weird roadies.
I’ve owned and ridden bikes since late 50’s (Ok, parents owned the first two, I earned enough for 1/2 of my third and after that they were all mine. Road bikes, touring bikes, triple cranks, recumbent, electric, hybrid and now a Trek Dual Sport with one crank. It’s light and perfect for my style which is to ride when I’m darn ready to ride. Sometimes group rides with fellow seniors and sometimes with the wife. But most for just me. You my friend are living my retirement dream which in my case never materialized. But it never fails that your videos always inspire me to get off my easy chair and mount the steed and go out and ride. Maybe around the park, the neighborhood or to the store. Ride the road, the trail or whatever. Just a regular guy who rides for the heck of it. Thanks Farmer, you rock! Keep the videos cranking!
Absolutely hilarious, even more so the second time around. For those who take offence.........first get a sense of humour, second, you missed the irony. I've been all those types you mentioned, and I'm still a bit of one or two. All we gotta do is take a look at ourselves and see the funny side. On a different note, Andy, can you put together a cleaning, washing, lubing video? It might seem a strange request, but there is an art to doing it properly, and many products are misleading in their methods of use. All the best.
@papalegba6796, you are so right. I'm back to using 3 in 1. It's synthetic light machine oil. I believe it was the original oil recommended and used by Shwinn way back in the day. It works well.
@@613.Rooster 3 in 1 fine, so is just engine oil or chainsaw oil if you really want to save money. I use Weldtite all weather with Teflon, as it's a bit more water repellent imo & same price as 3 in 1. I know a guy makes his own oil from chainsaw oil mixed with a bit of thinner like white spirits, he reckons it's better as it penetrates further before the thinner evaporates, leaving oil deeper in the mechanism. Dunno how effective it is, but again it cheap.
This was lots of fun. As a mechanic, an old touring cyclist, and an occasional gravel rider, and probably a curmudgeon, when you mention press fit bottom brackets, electronic shifting, and internal cable routing, I wanted to cheer. New innovations are great, bicycles shift better than ever, modern brakes will stop you on a downhill in the rain, and saddle technology is a wonder (remember breaking in a Brooks?), but some things are just crap, difficult to work on, impossible to set up so they won't fail, or overly complex.
I appreciate that you acknowledge you are a cyclist. With that Waterford with the sweet Rene Herse brakes. But I even more appreciate that you are a mechanic first.
I'm a new subscriber and have decided I love these quips: "Allow me to alienate a very profitable customer base for a fleeting 15 minutes of fame." ... "Welcome to nowhere land because there's no good reason to be here." .... "suckers (are) waiting all summer long for the weather to finally suck to ruin a perfectly good county park doing laps on short courses tapped off with manufactured obstacles ... while doing laps on muddy inclines ... while revelers dressed as hotdogs throw beer on each other." I think the best one was this: "Probably vegan, these urbanites look for opportunities to stop traffic as a pedestrian and take the lane like a bread truck as they pull out of the coop parking lot using their home schooled kiddos as human shields on a cargo bike loaded down with gluten-free chia seeds." Great job and keep it up.
Old curmudgeon here. I’m still riding the Raileigh super record I bought back in the early eighties. I don’t mind entertaining tech advancements; I just think the prices have way out-paced them. The last video I watched was about how car theft is up over 100% for vehicles with electronic entry/starting systems which makes me feel good about still driving my old 2011 Chevy with over 220K on it.
You rock and you're totally right. Gone are the days where you can buy a great steel bike and keep that bike for life. Like you said ,they want you to buy bikes every year, there's a sucker born every minute.
a great engineer once told me, “ if you want it to work well, keep it simple”. Remember your single speed banana bike of the seventies? How many times did you have to take it to a bike shop for repairs or a tune up? I rest my case.
@@bkefrmr terrible bikes? they took a beating, and never required maintenance…coaster brake always worked. I put on more miles on my banana bike as a kid from ages 6 to 10 than I have on modern mountain bikes. One chainline, no suspension parts, steel frame and rims…..they were solid! Can you buy an affordable bike for your kiddo today, that will last their adolescense? I don’t think so, kids wreck them within weeks. You young whippersnappers don’t know good engineering…not old enough to experience it. Sorry!
100%. I didn't even have a real Stingray, I had the Sears version. Same difference, completely bomb-proof bike. Rode that thing like there was no tommorrow. Skids, wheelies, "Evil Kenevil" jumps, you name it. Tune up? Not needed. My dad and I fixed the one or two things that needed fixing, then back to riding.
I am happy going through all walks of life being a curmudgeon. You described perfectly why I ride and now I find out I’m ’one of the good guys’! I’ll carry that badge with honor. I ride because it’s fun…no racing. And…I just subscribed. Keep up the good work
It took a long time for the bike industry to catch up with the car industry's focus on planned obsolescence and annual change for mostly the sake of change. But they sure have the hang of it now. If anything, I'd say they're doing way better at it now.👍
I’m just hoping we’ve all given a few of those cycling disciplines a try, I did charity events on an old road bike pre-teen, went to my local off road track on a MTB just after, started commuting when I was working in the city on a fold-up and now trying to work off the weight in a fun way on a cheap 29er over the hills and on the flats. I have all those bikes still! Setting my bike up for what you class as ‘Adventure’ cycling when it gets warmer. ❤🚲
The best innovation at least for me in my opinion is the electric bike. I have been wanting to ride for many years to help with weight loss and getting into better shape and due to the hilly place I live an acoustic bike just wouldn't do. when I pulled the trigger this past fall on an electric bike it has completely changed my life. I have a passion for personal health and growth I didn't even know I could. " I instantly felt like a kid again." the best part is I have control of how much it helps me. and will all that it has improved my health and do hope to move to an acoustic bike in a year or so. so to recap I believe 90 percent of what your are saying but I believe the electric bike technology really will open the door for people that want to but can't get out there on a regular bike. BTW I love your channel keep em coming boss!.
@@bkefrmr Couldn't agree more. Ebikes have their place for sure, but the low quality garbage stuff that can't be repaired or serviced and ends up in landfills is bloody criminal.
If you are buying an e-bike (or perhaps selling one), whatever about the actual bike or frame, everything else should be removable, repairable or replaceable in another ten to fifteen years. That's the motor, battery, display, sensors or anything else. I'm in Ireland and I was told in more than one bikeshop when i pushed longevity as an important issue that they couldn't guarantee parts after 5 years. I'm not going to spend a few thousands on a bike that could become fancy recycling after that. That's why no matter which bike brand I buy, it's going to be a full Bosch system bike. Bosch seems to be the company most likely to still have replaceable parts and components available in the long term like a car.
Remember when we were kids? When winter was finally over we'd get on our bikes and pretty much not get off them again until the snows returned. We treated them like garbage and if it wasn't for older brothers or fathers they probably wouldn't have lasted more than oh say 4 years of our abuse. But as it turned when we finally hit puberty and outgrew both the bike and any interest in exploring the world on one those bikes were still ride-able. You see them at garage sale with a $20 price tag and no takers. They look like they've been through a garbage disposal but if you squat down to check the chain is lubed and tight and the rubber still has miles on it. Suffice to say those bikes were our doorways to anything that existed outside our our neighborhood. We would have found plenty of other ways to explore and get into mischief without them, but as tools to be used they greatly enhanced both the scope and depth of our experiences. Of course we eventually grew up and many of us returned to bikes. But now we had the disposable income and a level of maturity sufficient to ruin something great by making it the focus, rather than part of the process. Yeah, but at least we didn't buy a motorcycle.
That was good fun man. If you want to get a handle on the state of the bike industry today, I reckon this is the only video you need to watch. Ride on!
You left out us "Simpletons". One gear, fixed or free. Coaster rear brake, rim caliper front brake (preferably center-pull). All built on a 20 to 30 year old steel rigid frame. Hills no problem with proper gear ratio. When I rode motorcycles it was similar; one cylinder, one carb, one exhaust pipe, drum brakes, points ignition. Give me the simple life.
Ha. I have an old 90s Murray beach cruiser that I modified to a sort-of “klunker”. But my one requirement was the gearing had to be a 36t BMX front chainring and a Nexus 3spd hub in back. My aging knees just can’t do single speed anymore. The Nexus 3spd is an amazing piece of kit and so easy to maintain.
Dude you're exactly like the bike shop owner I used to do work for in the late 90s early 2000s. Same long hair same beard same exact glasses and full of piss and vinegar 🤣
Thank you for making me think " why did I ever stop riding?" Back in the '80s a guy had asked me what I thought the coolest bike was at the time. And I said "the one that gets ridden." I told him that there were all these ridiculous new bikes with all kinds of whiz-bang gears and stuff but I had a friend who used to ride bicycles after church in central Massachusetts in the 1920s. They were wearing suits, and the women were wearing dresses. And they were going up and down the Rolling Hills in Massachusetts on giant steel monsters with one gear and having a blast. Now everybody's wearing spandex with 18 plus speeds and trying to figure out how to make their bikes lighter. What a great thing bicycling is. And I have to say I miss the banana seat and the sissy bar. That was bicycling.
Man I laughed... ! you sir have an Australian amount of sarcasm/cynicism that is truly refreshing in American content! ha ha the other thing with bikes now... they are a commodity... I finally bought a secondhand Marlin Trek 6 ($450 AUD / $306 USD) as an upgrade from my lifelong passion of $50 secondhand bike life... and it was great!... but I live in Melbourne (one of Australia's biggest cities)... and it got stolen within 5 months... bikes are worth so much money now, that they are targets of low level organised crime... battery angle grinders! grrrrrr! ha ha... :/
Man I think the peak of the mountain bike era was the 90s. Not because the bikes were better or higher quality just the $500 bikes. with inflation you were getting lower quality and paying twice as much then we do now competition brings prices down and I'm here for it
Just recently discovered your channel, and have been really enjoying your grouchiness. I worked in bike shops in my teens in the late 80's and early 90's, and it's as if you stepped right out of that scene.
It's back! Yess! I have a feeling bikefarmer has been cultivating this rant for many seasons. I pray the algorithm gods bless me by dropping this in my feed at least twice a year. Oh yeah happy holidays, you grumpy bastard!
Very funny. I'm the mountain bike mid life guy. At least I was in the 90's. Now I ride recumbent. A trike. And I absolutely love it. When you come around to include us in a rant, have fun with how we have an undying need to just not quite 'fit' in- anywhere, everywhere!😂😂😂😂
We love bike touring. I’ve got a 1983 Trek 620 which I’ve toured on for years in the US, Quebec and France, and it’s my “forever bike”. Thanks for the video. I totally agree with everything you said🙏🏼
damn it, sometimes i feel like such a douche dressed up in my super-hero costume just to go for a bike ride but i'm not such a SUPER-ULTRA-douche to call it a "kit"
I am thankfull to be enlighted after watching this video l, Sir. You made us specially a recreational rider to remember that riding bicycle should be simply fun, free, and also inspire us on our life story, remaining us to keep being decentful as person❤❤
Yep, I do or have fit into all these categories you so perfectly described. These days I am just happy to be able to ride whenever the opportunity presents itself. 🚴🚴🚴❤️
Obviously you have all the business you need; ). Cycling is no different than sailing, or that of most activities with a broad range of participants. Except golf. I tend to stay away from golfers. What I am saying is any good clean fun activity is going to be enjoyed by a full spectrum of personalities from all different places which make all these activities much more colorful and fun. I found this especially true riding across Iowa with 30 thousand other cycling fools this summer. As for riding to work, I did, twenty one years, twenty six miles in Connecticut year round. I was only depressed at work when I had to drive there. More people should try it, the world would be a better place. Besides commuting I have raced, got groceries and toured in many states. All good. I can afford high quality bikes partly because I never needed a bicycle mechanic. Liking your channel because many can see fixing and tuning a bicycle is not rocket science. Love all!
Yeah, having worked for years as a mechanic in a bike shop that relied on "the cyclists" to stay alive, there is no worse kind of customer..... People who buy a 10k BMC roadbike and show up in the shop at least once a week whining about their bike making a noise... Dude, I told you this pressfit-in-carbon BB will creak one day and your integrated brakes will rub as soon as you ride in the rain, clogging up the mechanism but you still wanted it.... But actual road racers, they were actually nice to work for. People who know their high end race bike is not made for everyday use and treat it as such, using some old sturdy alloy roadbike for training and not whining about stuff. As racers know they rely on us mechanics to give them the perfect fit, best mix of components for their (chronically low) budget and terrain and optimal care for race day, they have way more respect for us then the dentists and lawyers who treat their bike as a symbol of status. For example, the racer would trust me to choose their wheels and tyres for a race and bring them back afterwards (we'd stock used high end tires and wheels that are "rented out" for race day). Going for a hilly endurance race in shitty weather? Sure, take this light carbon rim tubeless setup with fresh sealant so you can just pump up and go after a puncture. Going for a fast crit race? Have those TT tubulars on sturdy alloy rims. A puncture will take you out of the race anyway, no need for sealant... But the dentist will insist on having the most expensive parts, no matter if it makes sense and then complain that it didn't.
For many years I owned a professional bike shop. I learned that the worst of all are the road racers. They will be amazed that you dare to ask them to pay for the work and then they will argue with you for hours about the price just to buy the most expensive item online that they obviously don't need at all
Thanks for making me laugh. I've been restoring and selling bikes for years and quickly learned not to invest in road bikes. The roadies were the worst. They'd look at a really nice bike and complain about a small imperfection in the paint, lowball and always leave without purchasing. Mountain bikers and normal people on the other hand, would recognize that a bike is going to get scratched anyways, if you actually use it.
Boy Howdy! I sure do like your attitude. 80s-90s MTBs are the bike to upgrade for comfort and a fun ride. I can't wait for all that carbon and disc brake nonsense to get relegated to niche slots and what is left of the industry to get back to building practical bikes.
Happy to know I'm in the just riding around for fun and touring categories! But probably falling into the retrogrouch too, as I did switch my index shifters to friction on my last bike. And by the way, I still have my 1985 Trek 660 that I bought brand new. The same bike on the workstand at the beginning of your video?
I'm a casual biker. I have a basic Specialized Roll steel frame bike. Mostly rail trails for me because of age and injuries. I love this video. I can't say I've had bad encounters with other bikers because most of them just pass me like I'm standing still . 😂
You left me out, the doomer! I bought my ebike so I can ride past the people waiting for gas at the pump in a couple years. I can get all my grocery shopping in my doggy hut pet trailer.
I am by no means a cyclist but the Trek lycra shorts and jersey have come in handy while I have ridden my Trek step-through hybrid. I get what you are saying but I LOVE watching my bike racing. Flobikes and Peacock allow me to watch bike racing, year round. The U.S. has some really good racers coming up.
I'm currently on a bike tour from Bellingham, WA to Central Europe, no flights, and I loved the synthesis of all the types towards adventure cycling--thanks for bringing bikes to the world at large, not just the pedaling stereotypes!
As a roadie of 50 yrs for pleasure, fitness and basic transportation on bikes ranging from 30 to 40 yrs old, i discovered the most fun riding yet thanks to my then 8 yr old mini me (i was 60), BMX racing. Builds skills, fitness and character, and is highly suited for the type of abuse set forth in this roast.
Commuting 6.5 miles to work in the rain is always better than commuting in a vehicles into the Center City. This is because the traffic, parking fees are big negatives. On the plus side you get to experience the city center up front and personal. I also came out ahead and had no real need to pack my lunch in because I always came out ahead when compared to the cost of just paying for parking. Not including fuel and maintenance. Commuting by bike allows to stop when and where you want to grab a beer or food, after work hang out and people watch, etc. Finally the bicycle commute into work in center city takes no more and often less time than sitting in a personal vehicle or heaven forbid sitting on a bus for three times as long. I wish all the years when I commuted to work on a bike. Now I drive 26 miles one way across the NC-SC state line to a office building where I work.
Great video, as always. Can you do one on useless tech? I like new shiny stuff, but then I like the simplicity of mechanical modern drivetrains. I don't understand why we need electronics, motors, batteries, and firmware to move that derailleur cage 3.5mm and it sure as heck won't survive that imminent apocalyptic EMP attack. I bought my latest road bike because of the color and finish of the frame. It just made me happy. And it had some major comfort improvements which helped nurse me back from a herniated disc and sciatic pain in my lower back. But it came with electronic shifting. My old road bike was solid and it had 7900 dura-ace components. I set them up once and literally never had to adjust them again. it just worked. every time. How bad could electronic shifting actually be? Well, two things - I lost use of my bike for over two weeks when Sram's firmware "update" rendered shifting dead, until they provided a way to roll-back the update. I have to deal with firmware at work. Would rather not deal with it on my bike. So that was short-lived, but the yahoos at SRAM still think their lab tests should be able to override the front derailleur high limiter screw setting in the field. So the front derailleur shifts past my high limit setting for a few seconds during small to large front shifts and dumps the chain onto the crank arm (Depending on which rear cog I am in). Talk about creating an overly-complex solution to a problem that never existed. Yeah, full on curmudgeon mode now. I guess the answer is "My Bike Sucks"
From your BRUDDAH of another muther!!! THANKS!!! This is more ore less why I sought out the cro-moly frame 90s mtb. We moved to the city and I have 6 bikes…so I wanted to downsize a bit. Love my early 2000s Italian bikes too much so they stay…and Campangolo well…I do live in Italy and married an Italian musician….so I do love art. But the Trek 4600 was really a bit too heavy and works fine but I missed the 4300 and it’s more simple set-up. Anyway that’s how I found your channel. Thank for the content and I agree with your assessment!!!
I don’t participate in races, but a Cyclocross bike truly IS the perfect bike. It’s a bike that does “gravel” and trail riding with the kids AND it’s a road bike with a quick swap of wheel set in the summer. With short aero bars for comfort and a frame bag, it’s absolutely capable of being a bikepacking trip bike. And with cantilevered brakes and external cables on the top tube, it’s easy to maintain at home.
@@bkefrmr For all the marketing of the next great thing over the decades it's nice we're approaching that perfect bike. Of course we'll all have to buy one once it comes out.
Hi Farmer, hey speaking of product obsolescence, what electric bike brand would you recommend for ease of maintenance and durability? Ability to change batteries stuff like that.
Apparently, I'm a cross between a "Curmudgeon" and a "Just Riding Around" I ride purely for the joy of 2 wheels, but much prefer old school technology over modern over engineering.
Haven’t done it in years but I used to LOVE the group rides with 30 or so people and racing on the weekends. Now I see the group come through my neighborhood and I say to myself, “I’ll get back in shape and rejoin them one day” Heh heh.
Loved that 😂 You are right that: engineers + marketing = bike industry and of course the ridiculous lengths they're going to currently to shape our biking future. QR, square taper and threaded headsets for ever! 😂 PS Does this make me a curmudgeon or an elitist?
"QR, square taper and threaded headsets", elitist left you behind back in the 90's. It makes me laugh every time someone at a bike shop says you can't get parts for bikes that are over 10 years old, have 26" wheels or square taper BB. They are oblivious that there are more bikes out there that fit this description then ever before (even sold new) and will always be the most common. They're so quick to dismiss the bikes sold at the Walmarts of the world, as well as the used market, even though this is over 90% of the market.
glad the description cleared up things. I was having a WTF? moment for a minute there. :D
Yeah, it's a risky move. I lost 3 subs right out of the gate! But I'm not hiding it. The first upload was problematic. I'm not sure if it works. Most of the big channels recycle content. Thought I'd see how it goes. I've got some good stuff teed up for the ones who stick around!
@@bkefrmr well, it's the vid that got me hooked on your channel, so recycle away! heck you technically "recycle" bikes after all.
@@bkefrmr This is pure gold! Keep up the good work and read my favorite book, The Bike Snob, and report back in a future video.
I really love your channel you are hilarious 😂😂😂
As a roadie I've honestly never been so offended. Subscribed.
"Dont know why you would ruin a perfectly good bike ride by going to work in the middle of it." Dude, that was amazing.
Yeah, that was so good I considered my choice of going to work on a bike - for a moment. But nothing is more rewarding than still arriving at work or home in time after fighting yourself through the freezing snowstorm and a couple of decimeters of snow. It also really upps the joy of riding a bike to work during the warm, sunny days.
I laughed out loud
Funny story? I commuted year round when I lived in the city. Ohio has some winter. Anyway, I had to get a second job in the winter. Not many people think about bikes in the winter around here. I was waiting tables at Applebee's and rode my bike (fixed gear, no brakes, 23c tires) to work in a level _ snow emergency. Someone asked one of the girls if I worked there and if I rode my bike to work in this. She replied " yes. That's Adam and he deserves it." She wasn't wrong. I did have a perfectly good 4x4 truck at home. While everything was closing, people are calling off work because they couldn't get out of the driveway I'm riding a bicycle to work in a snow/ ice storm in the blistering cold wind.
I'm in maine and ride year round. The gusty wind gets a bit much at times, but it's really not bad.
And yes, I have perfect attendance, unlike many of my coworkers whose cars/ trucks won't start, get stuck, or there's impassable roads for them.
Especially when you work at a bike shop 🤷♂️ But, I'M LIVING THE DREAM. 🤟 ❤
You forgot the "internet cyclist". They have a bike but they spend more time talking about it on the internet than actually riding it.
For sure! I think there's an "internet xxx" in every hobby, activity, or job. Cyclist, swimmer, horse person, burger flipper, scientist, astronaut. Like, everything! The keyboard warrior knows no bounds. I write from a point of observation, of course. 😁
Or like me you spend more time researching than pulling the trigger on anything
I'm a 60+ year old and have been a life long road cyclist. Road cyclists have the worst attitudes in cycling. Instead of seeing the common connection and potential in feeling connected to a community of fellow cyclists they emit a air of superiority that it's laughable. I also ride motorcycles and the camaraderie is so different. Whether you're riding a crotch rocket or harley or dirtbike. If you wave at them they will wave back, That never happens between road cyclists.
I'd be curious where you're at... I'm in Cincinnati, and generally, most of the roadies are pretty nice...but that's Cincinnatians in general. Interestingly, enough, Roadies, as a whole, are probably more aloof (arrogant?) than the typical Cincinnatian -- so maybe there's something to it. Anyway, I'd say 70-80% of Roadies will wave back around here.
Richard, your comment is spot on as I’m 61 and a hard-core Road mountain and gravel cyclist. The road cyclists in Pennsylvania are so incredibly rude, most never wave back or say hi back I guess because they are on a.”training ride” & just can’t waste their energy by lifting their left hand to wave back where to even say hello, mountain bikers are much different and much friendlier. I also ride a Harley super glide and a.GSX-R750 And you are also right as the motorcycle COMMUNITY is much friendlier, hell, I even waved to people on mopeds and scooters, and they are so excited to get a wave. I’ll never understand why road cyclists are just not friendly, makes no sense.
@@jimmansi9046 You're so right and it just gives drivers another reason to hate cyclists.
Utilitarian cyclist here. For a few months I was regularly overtaken whilst heading home with a heavily laden bike or pulling a more heavily laden trailer by two roadies in expensive looking gear who would shout out some insults as they disappeared into the distance.
Perhaps they thought me and my tractor of an all purpose workhorse bike shouldn't be on the same road as them? And then they disappeared. I haven't seen them for over two years. A pair of assholes.
For roadies I think it's all about performance and the "purity" of the bike. Even or especially if the bike costs half a years wages.
I ride bi- and motor- cycles and, most often, I notice waves from other -cyclists if you're on similar bikes. With bicycles, I almost always get waves from any type of bike, living in New Mexico and, before, Texas. Now, with motorcycles, I used to ride an upright street bike ('93 CB750), I never got waves from crotch rocket nor Harleys. I remain convinced that motorcycle riders exude more attitude. I feel more solidarity with other bicycle riders. Maybe it's just my attitude?...
I just ride around but sometimes ruin my rides by going to school and work in the middle of my rides.
Beats Driving 🚗
There isnt a better motivation go riding than riding to work in my opinion.
I have a 6km commute with OK bike infrastructure, so it really isnt a hassle to bike it.
I also havent been to a bike shop in a long time because I like doing stuff myself, so I guess I spared some mechanic his annoyance lol.
But I think I am not a bad customer when I go to a bike shop once every century, I know what I want and I never get angry or start insulting anyone and I make sure not to waste anyones time either.
@@Heimbasteln lol.. how do you even warm up on a 6km ride?)/*
I think it's important to flip our bike monopolists at the local bike shop sh!t...
When I get charged $5 for a generic brake cable, I have to ask "Is it XTR?"
No, hold their asses to the flame.. they want to treat us like custies, let's treat them as drug dealer scum!
As they pretty much are...
I used to ride my bike to work because that was the best time for me to get a ride in! Also helped my get up for work because I looked forward to the ride ❤
Oh my goodness! Thank you. As a somewhat curmudgeonly, adventure loving cyclist, bike mechanic, former shop owner and current shop manager, this was a joy to watch. Bless you.
I been an avid cyclists for more than 26 years. I try mtb,cx,track,down hill,bmx and triathlon and this guy is 1,000% right. I approved his message 🤙
I’m a retrogrouch roadie and also a bike mechanic. I am a cyclist first and a mechanic second. Love your videos and content.
I ride around on my frakenbikes through my neighborhoods dressed like a hobo 😂 and having a great time
Hey!!! You forgot the beer belly’d E-BIKE guys dressed up like Lance Armstrong 😂
Those are my friends 🤣😂
😂😂
I might not fit with all cyclist but I love anyone who rides a bike for whatever reason.
This video hit home on so many levels! Loved it. Best line: "Dont know why you would ruin a perfectly good bike ride by going to work in the middle of it." This is my mantra
I must admit to wearing those weird black tight shorts for 6 years as a roadie. I was into cycling anywhere from 35 to 105 miles just because I actually enjoyed the self inflicted pain. It’s kinda like taping your arms and legs together and rolling down a rocky hillside just to see the end result when you reached the bottom. Now at age 70 I’ll wear regular pocket shorts over those weird black tight shorts, hop on my mountain bike, peddle on the paved trails and prepare myself for a 50 miler this summer. I’m pretty excited about my new goal. It’s kinda like taping my arms and legs together and rolling down a rocky hillside just to see the end result when I reached bottom. When it comes to cycling, any kind of cycling, it’s all about self inflicted pain. But hey ………. it’s the best I can come up with to lose that unwanted 25lbs I’ve gained from quitting road cycling with those weird roadies.
What do you sell on the trail?
hmm, I feel great after a long ride, and during it... you must be doin' somethin' not right....
@@PRH123 I don’t almost everything wrong.
@@PRH123 GO FASTER
Any Monty Python reference is an automatic like in my book. Thank you for the videos!
I’ve owned and ridden bikes since late 50’s (Ok, parents owned the first two, I earned enough for 1/2 of my third and after that they were all mine. Road bikes, touring bikes, triple cranks, recumbent, electric, hybrid and now a Trek Dual Sport with one crank. It’s light and perfect for my style which is to ride when I’m darn ready to ride. Sometimes group rides with fellow seniors and sometimes with the wife. But most for just me.
You my friend are living my retirement dream which in my case never materialized. But it never fails that your videos always inspire me to get off my easy chair and mount the steed and go out and ride. Maybe around the park, the neighborhood or to the store. Ride the road, the trail or whatever. Just a regular guy who rides for the heck of it. Thanks Farmer, you rock! Keep the videos cranking!
I wouldn’t go to work if I couldn’t ride there
True dat.
This is why I call myself a "bicycle rider" and not a cyclist! 🤣🤣🤣
Absolutely hilarious, even more so the second time around. For those who take offence.........first get a sense of humour, second, you missed the irony. I've been all those types you mentioned, and I'm still a bit of one or two. All we gotta do is take a look at ourselves and see the funny side.
On a different note, Andy, can you put together a cleaning, washing, lubing video? It might seem a strange request, but there is an art to doing it properly, and many products are misleading in their methods of use. All the best.
He could do a good rant on chain lubing, the amount of BS on the subject is staggering & a lot of the products are literal snake oil.
@papalegba6796, you are so right. I'm back to using 3 in 1. It's synthetic light machine oil. I believe it was the original oil recommended and used by Shwinn way back in the day. It works well.
@@613.Rooster 3 in 1 fine, so is just engine oil or chainsaw oil if you really want to save money. I use Weldtite all weather with Teflon, as it's a bit more water repellent imo & same price as 3 in 1.
I know a guy makes his own oil from chainsaw oil mixed with a bit of thinner like white spirits, he reckons it's better as it penetrates further before the thinner evaporates, leaving oil deeper in the mechanism. Dunno how effective it is, but again it cheap.
This was lots of fun. As a mechanic, an old touring cyclist, and an occasional gravel rider, and probably a curmudgeon, when you mention press fit bottom brackets, electronic shifting, and internal cable routing, I wanted to cheer. New innovations are great, bicycles shift better than ever, modern brakes will stop you on a downhill in the rain, and saddle technology is a wonder (remember breaking in a Brooks?), but some things are just crap, difficult to work on, impossible to set up so they won't fail, or overly complex.
is this deja vu?
Yes, all over again.
Another try creating a video which dosen't get demonetized.
Sounds like some butt hurt cyclists😂
I appreciate that you acknowledge you are a cyclist. With that Waterford with the sweet Rene Herse brakes. But I even more appreciate that you are a mechanic first.
I'm a new subscriber and have decided I love these quips: "Allow me to alienate a very profitable customer base for a fleeting 15 minutes of fame." ... "Welcome to nowhere land because there's no good reason to be here." .... "suckers (are) waiting all summer long for the weather to finally suck to ruin a perfectly good county park doing laps on short courses tapped off with manufactured obstacles ... while doing laps on muddy inclines ... while revelers dressed as hotdogs throw beer on each other." I think the best one was this: "Probably vegan, these urbanites look for opportunities to stop traffic as a pedestrian and take the lane like a bread truck as they pull out of the coop parking lot using their home schooled kiddos as human shields on a cargo bike loaded down with gluten-free chia seeds." Great job and keep it up.
The man can write! He was an English major
Old curmudgeon here. I’m still riding the Raileigh super record I bought back in the early eighties. I don’t mind entertaining tech advancements; I just think the prices have way out-paced them. The last video I watched was about how car theft is up over 100% for vehicles with electronic entry/starting systems which makes me feel good about still driving my old 2011 Chevy with over 220K on it.
Trek really proved their ethos in the Armstrong/LeMond battle.
You rock and you're totally right. Gone are the days where you can buy a great steel bike and keep that bike for life. Like you said ,they want you to buy bikes every year, there's a sucker born every minute.
a great engineer once told me, “ if you want it to work well, keep it simple”. Remember your single speed banana bike of the seventies? How many times did you have to take it to a bike shop for repairs or a tune up? I rest my case.
Terrible bikes
@@bkefrmr terrible bikes? they took a beating, and never required maintenance…coaster brake always worked. I put on more miles on my banana bike as a kid from ages 6 to 10 than I have on modern mountain bikes. One chainline, no suspension parts, steel frame and rims…..they were solid! Can you buy an affordable bike for your kiddo today, that will last their adolescense? I don’t think so, kids wreck them within weeks. You young whippersnappers don’t know good engineering…not old enough to experience it. Sorry!
@@jimhofoss9982 ok boomer 🙄
100%. I didn't even have a real Stingray, I had the Sears version. Same difference, completely bomb-proof bike. Rode that thing like there was no tommorrow. Skids, wheelies, "Evil Kenevil" jumps, you name it. Tune up? Not needed. My dad and I fixed the one or two things that needed fixing, then back to riding.
After 20 yrs as a bike mechanic starting in ‘93 I can relate. Keep fighting the good fight!
While shopping for my bike, I relied on the price/pound metric target of 1:1. Came pretty darn close with my $40 Trek 820 CraigsList special :-)
I am happy going through all walks of life being a curmudgeon. You described perfectly why I ride and now I find out I’m ’one of the good guys’! I’ll carry that badge with honor. I ride because it’s fun…no racing. And…I just subscribed.
Keep up the good work
I've watched this one several times and always get a chuckle.
It took a long time for the bike industry to catch up with the car industry's focus on planned obsolescence and annual change for mostly the sake of change. But they sure have the hang of it now. If anything, I'd say they're doing way better at it now.👍
I’m just hoping we’ve all given a few of those cycling disciplines a try, I did charity events on an old road bike pre-teen, went to my local off road track on a MTB just after, started commuting when I was working in the city on a fold-up and now trying to work off the weight in a fun way on a cheap 29er over the hills and on the flats. I have all those bikes still!
Setting my bike up for what you class as ‘Adventure’ cycling when it gets warmer.
❤🚲
The best innovation at least for me in my opinion is the electric bike. I have been wanting to ride for many years to help with weight loss and getting into better shape and due to the hilly place I live an acoustic bike just wouldn't do. when I pulled the trigger this past fall on an electric bike it has completely changed my life. I have a passion for personal health and growth I didn't even know I could. " I instantly felt like a kid again." the best part is I have control of how much it helps me. and will all that it has improved my health and do hope to move to an acoustic bike in a year or so. so to recap I believe 90 percent of what your are saying but I believe the electric bike technology really will open the door for people that want to but can't get out there on a regular bike. BTW I love your channel keep em coming boss!.
I love ebikes. I think cheap ebikes are criminal and should be outlawed.
@@bkefrmr Couldn't agree more. Ebikes have their place for sure, but the low quality garbage stuff that can't be repaired or serviced and ends up in landfills is bloody criminal.
I'm similar age, got an ebike for city commuting & it's great. Agree you have to get a good one, mid drive motors best imo.
If you are buying an e-bike (or perhaps selling one), whatever about the actual bike or frame, everything else should be removable, repairable or replaceable in another ten to fifteen years. That's the motor, battery, display, sensors or anything else. I'm in Ireland and I was told in more than one bikeshop when i pushed longevity as an important issue that they couldn't guarantee parts after 5 years. I'm not going to spend a few thousands on a bike that could become fancy recycling after that.
That's why no matter which bike brand I buy, it's going to be a full Bosch system bike. Bosch seems to be the company most likely to still have replaceable parts and components available in the long term like a car.
@@tconnolly9820 shimano good too. Would not recommend any other makes though.
Remember when we were kids? When winter was finally over we'd get on our bikes and pretty much not get off them again until the snows returned. We treated them like garbage and if it wasn't for older brothers or fathers they probably wouldn't have lasted more than oh say 4 years of our abuse. But as it turned when we finally hit puberty and outgrew both the bike and any interest in exploring the world on one those bikes were still ride-able. You see them at garage sale with a $20 price tag and no takers. They look like they've been through a garbage disposal but if you squat down to check the chain is lubed and tight and the rubber still has miles on it.
Suffice to say those bikes were our doorways to anything that existed outside our our neighborhood. We would have found plenty of other ways to explore and get into mischief without them, but as tools to be used they greatly enhanced both the scope and depth of our experiences.
Of course we eventually grew up and many of us returned to bikes. But now we had the disposable income and a level of maturity sufficient to ruin something great by making it the focus, rather than part of the process.
Yeah, but at least we didn't buy a motorcycle.
That was good fun man. If you want to get a handle on the state of the bike industry today, I reckon this is the only video you need to watch. Ride on!
Spewed my morning coffee all over my phone while watching this 😂
You left out us "Simpletons". One gear, fixed or free. Coaster rear brake, rim caliper front brake (preferably center-pull). All built on a 20 to 30 year old steel rigid frame. Hills no problem with proper gear ratio. When I rode motorcycles it was similar; one cylinder, one carb, one exhaust pipe, drum brakes, points ignition. Give me the simple life.
Revrum!
Ah, that brought back fine memories of learning to ride on a Yamaha 500 thumper. That was a fun motorbike!
At 60 is it possible again after so long?
@@Raymasseyusyep, with a proper gear ratio 😊
Ha. I have an old 90s Murray beach cruiser that I modified to a sort-of “klunker”. But my one requirement was the gearing had to be a 36t BMX front chainring and a Nexus 3spd hub in back. My aging knees just can’t do single speed anymore. The Nexus 3spd is an amazing piece of kit and so easy to maintain.
100% accurate and very true assessment of it all!
Dude you're exactly like the bike shop owner I used to do work for in the late 90s early 2000s. Same long hair same beard same exact glasses and full of piss and vinegar 🤣
He’s more archetype than real person 😂
Enjoyed this. I love riding bikes but hate it when anyone refers to me as a 'cyclist'. 😂
Thank you for making me think " why did I ever stop riding?" Back in the '80s a guy had asked me what I thought the coolest bike was at the time. And I said "the one that gets ridden." I told him that there were all these ridiculous new bikes with all kinds of whiz-bang gears and stuff but I had a friend who used to ride bicycles after church in central Massachusetts in the 1920s. They were wearing suits, and the women were wearing dresses. And they were going up and down the Rolling Hills in Massachusetts on giant steel monsters with one gear and having a blast. Now everybody's wearing spandex with 18 plus speeds and trying to figure out how to make their bikes lighter. What a great thing bicycling is. And I have to say I miss the banana seat and the sissy bar. That was bicycling.
You bust me up. I was never bad before in bike shops, but I now make extra effort to be extra polite…
Man I laughed... ! you sir have an Australian amount of sarcasm/cynicism that is truly refreshing in American content! ha ha
the other thing with bikes now... they are a commodity... I finally bought a secondhand Marlin Trek 6 ($450 AUD / $306 USD) as an upgrade from my lifelong passion of $50 secondhand bike life... and it was great!... but I live in Melbourne (one of Australia's biggest cities)... and it got stolen within 5 months... bikes are worth so much money now, that they are targets of low level organised crime... battery angle grinders! grrrrrr! ha ha... :/
Proper bike use:
1. Freewheelin' (we agree on this one)
2. Puttin' on the miles
3. Gettin' out of town
Man I think the peak of the mountain bike era was the 90s. Not because the bikes were better or higher quality just the $500 bikes. with inflation you were getting lower quality and paying twice as much then we do now competition brings prices down and I'm here for it
Just recently discovered your channel, and have been really enjoying your grouchiness. I worked in bike shops in my teens in the late 80's and early 90's, and it's as if you stepped right out of that scene.
What a laugh! Loved the vid - especially that golf swing!!!! Keep 'em coming :-) Greetings from South Africa......even we can help the algorithm 🙂
That golf swing produced a 4.3 hdcp - who’s laughing now, Tiger?
This week, I’m going for a long ride down a backroad I’ve never driven. What could possibly go wrong? 🚴🤷♀️😂
It's back! Yess! I have a feeling bikefarmer has been cultivating this rant for many seasons. I pray the algorithm gods bless me by dropping this in my feed at least twice a year. Oh yeah happy holidays, you grumpy bastard!
Back atcha. Sorry for double dippin’ but I wasn’t gettin’ paid for the last one because of the disturbing images
Very funny. I'm the mountain bike mid life guy. At least I was in the 90's. Now I ride recumbent. A trike. And I absolutely love it. When you come around to include us in a rant, have fun with how we have an undying need to just not quite 'fit' in- anywhere, everywhere!😂😂😂😂
Yep! I'm kinda stuck having to ride my bike to the store. But, I enjoy the exercise. I wish I had a place like yours in Chicago!
We love bike touring. I’ve got a 1983 Trek 620 which I’ve toured on for years in the US, Quebec and France, and it’s my “forever bike”. Thanks for the video. I totally agree with everything you said🙏🏼
30 year old bike shop in August less than 50 mi. from the factory & wouldn't sell a Trek if you pd. us.Paid off the building working on their stuff. 😎
"destroying a good bike ride with the work in the middle of it "😂😂
But without the interrupted bike ride the day would be totaly destroyed 😂😊
damn it, sometimes i feel like such a douche dressed up in my super-hero costume just to go for a bike ride
but i'm not such a SUPER-ULTRA-douche to call it a "kit"
I get my bikes from the Goodwill or from a dumpster. :)
....and from marketplace etc. Usually advertised with the caveat "needs ---something."
Great video. I liked it. Glad you re-uploaded it so that it can be monetized - this video deserves tons of views, both metric and imperial!
I am thankfull to be enlighted after watching this video l, Sir. You made us specially a recreational rider to remember that riding bicycle should be simply fun, free, and also inspire us on our life story, remaining us to keep being decentful as person❤❤
Oh man, I think I fell into just about every category. Hilarious! My wife is gonna love this...
I used to be a bike mechanic in college and later became an architect then returned to be a bike mechanic in my spare time.
Yep, I do or have fit into all these categories you so perfectly described. These days I am just happy to be able to ride whenever the opportunity presents itself. 🚴🚴🚴❤️
"The advocates" lmao, you nailed it! Actually you nailed the whole video, well done :)) so much truth to it all.
This is pure gold! Keep up the good work and read my favorite book, The Bike Snob, and report back in a future video.
This is one of the funniest and accurate things I’ve seen in a while!
Obviously you have all the business you need; ). Cycling is no different than sailing, or that of most activities with a broad range of participants. Except golf. I tend to stay away from golfers. What I am saying is any good clean fun activity is going to be enjoyed by a full spectrum of personalities from all different places which make all these activities much more colorful and fun. I found this especially true riding across Iowa with 30 thousand other cycling fools this summer. As for riding to work, I did, twenty one years, twenty six miles in Connecticut year round. I was only depressed at work when I had to drive there. More people should try it, the world would be a better place. Besides commuting I have raced, got groceries and toured in many states. All good. I can afford high quality bikes partly because I never needed a bicycle mechanic. Liking your channel because many can see fixing and tuning a bicycle is not rocket science. Love all!
Yeah, having worked for years as a mechanic in a bike shop that relied on "the cyclists" to stay alive, there is no worse kind of customer.....
People who buy a 10k BMC roadbike and show up in the shop at least once a week whining about their bike making a noise... Dude, I told you this pressfit-in-carbon BB will creak one day and your integrated brakes will rub as soon as you ride in the rain, clogging up the mechanism but you still wanted it....
But actual road racers, they were actually nice to work for. People who know their high end race bike is not made for everyday use and treat it as such, using some old sturdy alloy roadbike for training and not whining about stuff. As racers know they rely on us mechanics to give them the perfect fit, best mix of components for their (chronically low) budget and terrain and optimal care for race day, they have way more respect for us then the dentists and lawyers who treat their bike as a symbol of status.
For example, the racer would trust me to choose their wheels and tyres for a race and bring them back afterwards (we'd stock used high end tires and wheels that are "rented out" for race day). Going for a hilly endurance race in shitty weather? Sure, take this light carbon rim tubeless setup with fresh sealant so you can just pump up and go after a puncture. Going for a fast crit race? Have those TT tubulars on sturdy alloy rims. A puncture will take you out of the race anyway, no need for sealant...
But the dentist will insist on having the most expensive parts, no matter if it makes sense and then complain that it didn't.
It was good .. even the second time. Here's hoping you have new content in the new year. Merry Christmas.
For many years I owned a professional bike shop. I learned that the worst of all are the road racers.
They will be amazed that you dare to ask them to pay for the work and then they will argue with you for hours about the price just to buy the most expensive item online that they obviously don't need at all
Thanks for making me laugh. I've been restoring and selling bikes for years and quickly learned not to invest in road bikes. The roadies were the worst. They'd look at a really nice bike and complain about a small imperfection in the paint, lowball and always leave without purchasing. Mountain bikers and normal people on the other hand, would recognize that a bike is going to get scratched anyways, if you actually use it.
I love your attitude. I love cargo shorts and just getting out there enjoying trails and going from A to B in comfort.
Boy Howdy! I sure do like your attitude. 80s-90s MTBs are the bike to upgrade for comfort and a fun ride. I can't wait for all that carbon and disc brake nonsense to get relegated to niche slots and what is left of the industry to get back to building practical bikes.
Man...I wonder if that could even happen at this point....
I have a carbon e-mtb with discbrakes and it sure is the best bike i've ever had. And i'm a mechanic aswell, so i should know. 😃
I think that disc brakes have a place in the industry especially well made cable operated ones.
You hit the mountain bikers 110%accurate
Gotta love that wally world money!
Happy to know I'm in the just riding around for fun and touring categories! But probably falling into the retrogrouch too, as I did switch my index shifters to friction on my last bike. And by the way, I still have my 1985 Trek 660 that I bought brand new. The same bike on the workstand at the beginning of your video?
Fark I'm all of these including the grouchie bike mechanic 😂
I'm a casual biker. I have a basic Specialized Roll steel frame bike. Mostly rail trails for me because of age and injuries. I love this video. I can't say I've had bad encounters with other bikers because most of them just pass me like I'm standing still . 😂
I've been watching cycling youtube channels since 2018 and I just found your channel. Currently binge watching your videos ❤❤
Keep it up! 🎉🎉🎉
You left me out, the doomer! I bought my ebike so I can ride past the people waiting for gas at the pump in a couple years. I can get all my grocery shopping in my doggy hut pet trailer.
Heck yeah fellow doomer! I even have a solar charger for my ebike batteries. And a rifle rack on the handlebars (For hunting). Lol
I am by no means a cyclist but the Trek lycra shorts and jersey have come in handy while I have ridden my Trek step-through hybrid. I get what you are saying but I LOVE watching my bike racing. Flobikes and Peacock allow me to watch bike racing, year round. The U.S. has some really good racers coming up.
I own two Rivs and laughed my ass off at this. Well done! New subscriber!
I'm currently on a bike tour from Bellingham, WA to Central Europe, no flights, and I loved the synthesis of all the types towards adventure cycling--thanks for bringing bikes to the world at large, not just the pedaling stereotypes!
Spot-on cycling philosophy.
even though working in the middle does ruin the ride, if you gotta get there, there’s no better way than by bike ❤️🚲
Man, that’s about how I felt when I put down my wrenches and went to lunch to never return in 2012.
As a roadie of 50 yrs for pleasure, fitness and basic transportation on bikes ranging from 30 to 40 yrs old, i discovered the most fun riding yet thanks to my then 8 yr old mini me (i was 60), BMX racing. Builds skills, fitness and character, and is highly suited for the type of abuse set forth in this roast.
Commuting 6.5 miles to work in the rain is always better than commuting in a vehicles into the Center City. This is because the traffic, parking fees are big negatives. On the plus side you get to experience the city center up front and personal. I also came out ahead and had no real need to pack my lunch in because I always came out ahead when compared to the cost of just paying for parking. Not including fuel and maintenance. Commuting by bike allows to stop when and where you want to grab a beer or food, after work hang out and people watch, etc. Finally the bicycle commute into work in center city takes no more and often less time than sitting in a personal vehicle or heaven forbid sitting on a bus for three times as long. I wish all the years when I commuted to work on a bike. Now I drive 26 miles one way across the NC-SC state line to a office building where I work.
As a mechanic myself, you're my new hero.
I'm a 60+ ex-racer, low volume bike mechanic riding primarily 26" MTB and rim brake road bikes. I think you hit all of my sectors there.
Great video, as always. Can you do one on useless tech? I like new shiny stuff, but then I like the simplicity of mechanical modern drivetrains. I don't understand why we need electronics, motors, batteries, and firmware to move that derailleur cage 3.5mm and it sure as heck won't survive that imminent apocalyptic EMP attack. I bought my latest road bike because of the color and finish of the frame. It just made me happy. And it had some major comfort improvements which helped nurse me back from a herniated disc and sciatic pain in my lower back. But it came with electronic shifting. My old road bike was solid and it had 7900 dura-ace components. I set them up once and literally never had to adjust them again. it just worked. every time. How bad could electronic shifting actually be? Well, two things - I lost use of my bike for over two weeks when Sram's firmware "update" rendered shifting dead, until they provided a way to roll-back the update. I have to deal with firmware at work. Would rather not deal with it on my bike. So that was short-lived, but the yahoos at SRAM still think their lab tests should be able to override the front derailleur high limiter screw setting in the field. So the front derailleur shifts past my high limit setting for a few seconds during small to large front shifts and dumps the chain onto the crank arm (Depending on which rear cog I am in). Talk about creating an overly-complex solution to a problem that never existed. Yeah, full on curmudgeon mode now. I guess the answer is "My Bike Sucks"
From your BRUDDAH of another muther!!! THANKS!!!
This is more ore less why I sought out the cro-moly frame 90s mtb. We moved to the city and I have 6 bikes…so I wanted to downsize a bit. Love my early 2000s Italian bikes too much so they stay…and Campangolo well…I do live in Italy and married an Italian musician….so I do love art.
But the Trek 4600 was really a bit too heavy and works fine but I missed the 4300 and it’s more simple set-up.
Anyway that’s how I found your channel. Thank for the content and I agree with your assessment!!!
I think it’s funny roadies are now all into “bike packing” after a long history of looking down on “touring”
It's amazing how accurate this is on the other side of the Atlantic. Greets from Berlin. I love your videos.
I don’t participate in races, but a Cyclocross bike truly IS the perfect bike. It’s a bike that does “gravel” and trail riding with the kids AND it’s a road bike with a quick swap of wheel set in the summer. With short aero bars for comfort and a frame bag, it’s absolutely capable of being a bikepacking trip bike. And with cantilevered brakes and external cables on the top tube, it’s easy to maintain at home.
I almost completely agree with this! I think “all road” bikes are more perfecter. CX bikes are too racy most of the time.
@@bkefrmr For all the marketing of the next great thing over the decades it's nice we're approaching that perfect bike. Of course we'll all have to buy one once it comes out.
I enjoy your content and your passion. Keep going! Just wondering, what editing software are you using? Thanks.
Hi Farmer, hey speaking of product obsolescence, what electric bike brand would you recommend for ease of maintenance and durability? Ability to change batteries stuff like that.
As a former roadie turned bike commuter... I approve.
I consider myself a cyclist, mostly because I ride for fun and try to encourage others to do the same.
Apparently, I'm a cross between a "Curmudgeon" and a "Just Riding Around"
I ride purely for the joy of 2 wheels, but much prefer old school technology over modern over engineering.
I'm all for that trailer bed full of cold IPAs waiting for me. Almost makes the whole effort worthwhile.
Haven’t done it in years but I used to LOVE the group rides with 30 or so people and racing on the weekends. Now I see the group come through my neighborhood and I say to myself, “I’ll get back in shape and rejoin them one day” Heh heh.
This is so spot on.
Loved that 😂
You are right that:
engineers + marketing = bike industry and of course the ridiculous lengths they're going to currently to shape our biking future.
QR, square taper and threaded headsets for ever! 😂
PS Does this make me a curmudgeon or an elitist?
"QR, square taper and threaded headsets", elitist left you behind back in the 90's. It makes me laugh every time someone at a bike shop says you can't get parts for bikes that are over 10 years old, have 26" wheels or square taper BB. They are oblivious that there are more bikes out there that fit this description then ever before (even sold new) and will always be the most common. They're so quick to dismiss the bikes sold at the Walmarts of the world, as well as the used market, even though this is over 90% of the market.
@@ADAMJWAITE I left out accounts...rather than engineers.
Accountants!