“Save your crushes for the unattainable.”
That’s one of the strangest pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten from a friend. I didn’t get it at all at the time. I still might be misunderstanding it. It sort of requires a sense of self-confidence that borders on the delusional, and that sort of turns me off. But it’s oddly comforting advice for when you do get crushed by your, um, crush, because in the end, unless they’re unattainable, you were way too good for them anyway. And if they’re unattainable, the crush wasn’t going anywhere to begin with.
I’m trying to save my bike crushes too. It’s hard though. What can I say? I fall in love maybe a little too easily.
Or more accurately, maybe I just like falling in love. Unfortunately that sort of tends to lead to poor decision making – like when I’m unable to find a track frame small enough to fit me and I actually start to consider buying another “entry-level” bike when I’m really looking to invest in something a bit better.
But fortunately for me, Cambridge Bikes came to the rescue with some sage advice: Fit’s important. Keep looking. Don’t buy something that I’m not in love with.
So basically, I shouldn’t sell out to the materialistic whore in me that’s screaming for another bike. Which seems painfully obvious to any outside observer, but really isn’t if you’ve forgotten – like me, sadly – how not to sell out.
It’s time to start retaining my integrity I guess [although I think I’ve lost too much of it to actually go back to punk rock and pink hair]. And I suppose, like most crushes, the hunt is part of the fun. Even if the whole roller-coater ride of getting my hopes up that a frame will fit, only to have them come crashing down on me, is…not so fun.
But hey, I’m too good for those frames anyway, right?
Tags: bike · cambridge bicycles · crushes · love · selling out · unattainable8 Comments
8 responses so far ↓
I am in the same boat. I bought a track bike complete for 900 back in 2006 and have spent almost 2000 in upgrading it with super bling fancy parts. The only original part left is the frame itself. I want a new frame cause I”m bored with my black one but I don’t need a new one. I also want to change out the wheels cause I’m bored with Velocity Deep V’s and I like building my own wheels. I think if I ever race on a track then I’d build a bike for that. Until then my salt covered beater will treat me well. Heck it was my only bike until this summer when I bought a used road bike and a new 3speed.
but you can never have too many bikes right?
i know i don’t NEED another one, especially another fixed/single-speed, but…it looks so fun to build one up! soon, hopefully, soon…
i have found is that my beater has served it’s purpose for five years, and now i want to finally give it the attention it deserves. i have had a $4,000 road bike stolen, and what do i still have? a twenty two year old bianchi conversion that refuses to fail on me despite the 5 times it has been hit by a car, and countless games of footdown. this hasn’t stopped me from pursuing a custom frame, or actually a couple, but it made me realize bikes happen and to not get too attached until they prove their worth, no matter how cheap they originally were monetarily.
good luck with finding the right bike, but enjoy what you got until then!
you’re so right. i actually feel a little guilty, like i’m cheating on my san jose. she’s trusty, fits me, and adorable; yeah, i should love her more.
eventually maybe she’ll want a few new friends?
man, a “few” custom frames huh? i ENVY you!
no envy needed… i am prolonging my debt if i go through with it.
it’s an investment – a leveraged asset, but still, there are going to be returns.
just keep it handcuffed to you 24/7 so no one takes it away from you!
After I started riding fixed, I got “fixed fever.” So I bought a track bike; light as a feather and beautifully sleek. But the more I rode, the longer distances I wanted to travel. And a fixed isn’t great for longer rides because you’re constantly pedaling for hours, you can’t coast down hills, and can’t downshift up hills. If you’re considering buying a second bike, and you should have more than one, a multi-speed road bike might be a better purchase than a second fixed. Just sharing my experience.
ahahaha the voice of reason speaks!
i know i should get a road bike, so i can do some decent miles…but like you i have the “fixed fever.” that and i’m scared of coasting now; like i know i’m just going to run into a wall if i’m back on a non-fixed bike. but yeah, i need to invest in a normal bike soon!