MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
Being a tight fisted northerner, I'm not taken with over priced parts and accessories as I don't believe they perform any better than their cheaper cousins.
I know some will disagree with me, but years ago I needed a new rear derailler and had no income at the time, so spent £6.99 on one, fitted it and set up the indexing and it worked a treat. A few months later, I had a disposable income so 'invested' in a Shimano XT derailler, which set me back £45. I fitted it, set up the indexing and it worked exactly the same as the 6.99 one... so that was £45 down the drain. Weight difference between the two is no more than a couple of paper clips, and performance is no better, so I fail to see where the extra money has gone.
My cheap platform pedals (£14ish) are far better than my friends almost identical branded platform pedals with sealed bearings and a £40-50 price tag (the paint is still on mine too, after 8 years, unlike his which flaked in a matter of months).
V-brakes... I just don't get it. Asside from knowing 2 poeple who've broken bones by hitting the front brake by mistake and have gone straight over the top, they defeat the object of efficient braking, being the point just before the wheel locks... a 'proper' caliper brake is far easier to keep at a point 'just before locking' than a v-brake. I've not tried disk brakes, but i don't like the look of the extra metal involved (it's all about reducing wieght at the end of the day).
I've just bought a new stem for £15ish, not had it long enough to praise it, but can't see what benefit it's £50+ alternatives offer.
A few years ago i was chatting with some bloke who claimed to have spent over a grand on his back wheel alone! surely no back wheel is worth that? It's a bloody wheel FFS!
bit of a rant I know, but when it comes to 'premium' bike bits, I really don't get it.
I know some will disagree with me, but years ago I needed a new rear derailler and had no income at the time, so spent £6.99 on one, fitted it and set up the indexing and it worked a treat. A few months later, I had a disposable income so 'invested' in a Shimano XT derailler, which set me back £45. I fitted it, set up the indexing and it worked exactly the same as the 6.99 one... so that was £45 down the drain. Weight difference between the two is no more than a couple of paper clips, and performance is no better, so I fail to see where the extra money has gone.
My cheap platform pedals (£14ish) are far better than my friends almost identical branded platform pedals with sealed bearings and a £40-50 price tag (the paint is still on mine too, after 8 years, unlike his which flaked in a matter of months).
V-brakes... I just don't get it. Asside from knowing 2 poeple who've broken bones by hitting the front brake by mistake and have gone straight over the top, they defeat the object of efficient braking, being the point just before the wheel locks... a 'proper' caliper brake is far easier to keep at a point 'just before locking' than a v-brake. I've not tried disk brakes, but i don't like the look of the extra metal involved (it's all about reducing wieght at the end of the day).
I've just bought a new stem for £15ish, not had it long enough to praise it, but can't see what benefit it's £50+ alternatives offer.
A few years ago i was chatting with some bloke who claimed to have spent over a grand on his back wheel alone! surely no back wheel is worth that? It's a bloody wheel FFS!
bit of a rant I know, but when it comes to 'premium' bike bits, I really don't get it.
fags make me look hard 
spending £45 quid on a derailler that does the same thing as a £7 pound one is nothing more than money down the drain 
I too spend little, my biggest outlay was just 5 minutes ago on a pair of Shwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. But other than that £15 per part is about my limit.
