Enthusiastic mistakes?

[danger mouse]

Hello to all

Just joined CycleChat and having had a good read, now feel a little silly.

Couple of weeks ago I decided I would dust of my MTB that I had serviced on a whim in the Spring but never bothered to ride. Went for an 8 mile ride and absolutely loved it.

I had been exercising for a good while using an indoor bike and strider in the conservatory so my fitness isnt bad.

Got fixated on owning a turbo trainer to make the cycling in the conservatory more realistic when I wasnt riding outside!! Mistake One

Saw one on ebay which had the added attraction of coming with a Boss Equipe. Seemed a good deal and was local to me so set my heart on it, doing a bit of research, but not so deeply that I found any Cycle forums- Mistake Two.

Bought said bike (although I did go and have a look at it first) - reading this forum this looks like mistake Three

Bike appears fine and really nice to ride which I did with enthusiasm. Spent all last week putting the miles, starting with an 8, then 10, couple of 12s and then on my day off, completing 23 miles.

Got back buzzing but felt as though I needed advice on etiquette, training , routes etc and so thought it might be a good idea to find a forum- Mistake Four. Starting point, yes?

Reading the forum I'm now thinking I might have bought a BSO, Im dangerous cos I listen to music on the bike and dont always wear a helmet and now want to spend a fortune on an new bike and clothing.

Talk about do it all the wrong way

Can I redeem myself?

 

[Hip Priest]

I did that. Bought a Halford's Apollo for commuting, then did my research and found that Apollos are considered borderline BSOs. Still, some toerag resolved my dilemma today by nicking said bike. So I say this: love your bike while you still have it!

 

[Stuartaw11]

Well I also own a bike shaped object but in the last 6 weeks I have cycled over 300 miles on it, I can keep up with my mate on his £1000 hybrid, so it will do me while i save for something better, you sound like you are doing ok on your BSO so enjoy it

 

[jackm]

I found the forum after I found my bso too!!!! It carried me around for about 1000 miles before I got a better MTB to replace it. N+1 is being looked for now.

 

[the snail]

thinking I might have bought a BSO, Im dangerous cos I listen to music on the bike and dont always wear a helmet and now want to spend a fortune on an new bike and clothing.

It looks like a cheapo road bike, but not a BSO, look after it, keep the chain oiled etc, should be fine
Some think listening to music is dangerous, but as long as you look about you and pay attention you should be ok
Helmets are highly contentious, make up your own mind.
new bike and clothing? buy what you need, enjoy what you've got!

 

[Red Light]

Reading the forum I'm now thinking I might have bought a BSO, Im dangerous cos I listen to music on the bike and dont always wear a helmet and now want to spend a fortune on an new bike and clothing.

Welcome to Cycloholics Anonymous

 

[wiggydiggy]

Meh.....TBH

Is it safe? Its not falling apart?

If no then I'd say your doing fine, use it till it dies and then upgrade. Most of us started on BSOs anyway.

Welcome to the club

 

[onlineamiga]

Sorry, whats a BSO?

 

[calibanzwei]

It looks like a cheapo road bike, but not a BSO, look after it, keep the chain oiled etc, should be fine
Some think listening to music is dangerous, but as long as you look about you and pay attention you should be ok
Helmets are highly contentious, make up your own mind.
new bike and clothing? buy what you need, enjoy what you've got!

+1

Sorry, whats a BSO?

Bike Shaped Object - derogatory term for something that looks like it will do the job, but will quickly fail in some way, shape or form.

 

[Tyke]

Well I also own a bike shaped object but in the last 6 weeks I have cycled over 300 miles on it, I can keep up with my mate on his £1000 hybrid, so it will do me while i save for something better, you sound like you are doing ok on your BSO so enjoy it

It's not what you ride it's the way that you ride it. If you enjoy it then it's OK if you don't then think of upgrading.

 

[roadrash]

if its not broke dont fix it . springs to mind if your happy with what you got why change just for the sake of change

 

[Louisearelly]

Thank goodness someone explained what a BSO is, i thought i was the only one out of the loop!

 

[Alan Whicker]

Isn't this a rebadged Elswick Equipe?

It's not a BSO. If anything it's the modern equivalent of those 70s+80s 10-speed steel racers half the posters on cyclechat did their early riding on, myself included. The fact that you did 23 miles on it speaks volumes.

 

[onlineamiga]

hahahahahaha

Bike Shaped Object! I'm loving that I think you can apply the same to anything else

Car Shaped Object etc



Thanks for clearing that one up guys.

 

[BrumJim]

If you are getting THAT much use out of it, it ain't a BSO.