Niches

[islaysteve]

Slightly OT, but an observation along the lines of some of the comments on the "Just Ride" review thread.  I got a great CL deal on a new Pearl Izumi jacket this weekend.  My wife and I took a (car) ride to pick it up.  We had both wondered why the guy was selling it so cheaply. (It really was brand new and the price was ridiculously low.)  When I came back to the car with the jacket, I told my wife what I had learned:  The guy said that he was more into mountain biking anyway.  Now this is not a screaming yellow cycling shell, it's a nice sort of Royal blue.  Riv content: I have a Bleriot, so it should compliment ; ).  A discussion about cyclists and their niches ensued.  I'm as susceptible as anyone (here), but sometimes these things seem a bit silly, when you step back a bit.  Cheers and stay cool everyone, Steve

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Yes, the divisions between various types of cycling are mostly imaginary. It maybe helps to sell more bikes and bike stuff, but it hampers the discussion of bikes among open-minded types like us.

On Monday, July 16, 2012 11:47:15 AM UTC-5, islaysteve wrote:

Slightly OT, but an observation along the lines of some of the comments on the "Just Ride" review thread.  I got a great CL deal on a new Pearl Izumi jacket this weekend.  My wife and I took a (car) ride to pick it up.  We had both wondered why the guy was selling it so cheaply. (It really was brand new and the price was ridiculously low.)  When I came back to the car with the jacket, I told my wife what I had learned:  The guy said that he was more into mountain biking anyway.  Now this is not a screaming yellow cycling shell, it's a nice sort of Royal blue.  Riv content: I have a Bleriot, so it should compliment ; ).  A discussion about cyclists and their niches ensued.  I'm as susceptible as anyone (here), but sometimes these things seem a bit silly, when you step back a bit.  Cheers and stay cool everyone, Steve

On Monday, July 16, 2012 11:47:15 AM UTC-5, islaysteve wrote:

Slightly OT, but an observation along the lines of some of the comments on the "Just Ride" review thread.  I got a great CL deal on a new Pearl Izumi jacket this weekend.  My wife and I took a (car) ride to pick it up.  We had both wondered why the guy was selling it so cheaply. (It really was brand new and the price was ridiculously low.)  When I came back to the car with the jacket, I told my wife what I had learned:  The guy said that he was more into mountain biking anyway.  Now this is not a screaming yellow cycling shell, it's a nice sort of Royal blue.  Riv content: I have a Bleriot, so it should compliment ; ).  A discussion about cyclists and their niches ensued.  I'm as susceptible as anyone (here), but sometimes these things seem a bit silly, when you step back a bit.  Cheers and stay cool everyone, Steve

On Monday, July 16, 2012 11:47:15 AM UTC-5, islaysteve wrote:

Slightly OT, but an observation along the lines of some of the comments on the "Just Ride" review thread.  I got a great CL deal on a new Pearl Izumi jacket this weekend.  My wife and I took a (car) ride to pick it up.  We had both wondered why the guy was selling it so cheaply. (It really was brand new and the price was ridiculously low.)  When I came back to the car with the jacket, I told my wife what I had learned:  The guy said that he was more into mountain biking anyway.  Now this is not a screaming yellow cycling shell, it's a nice sort of Royal blue.  Riv content: I have a Bleriot, so it should compliment ; ).  A discussion about cyclists and their niches ensued.  I'm as susceptible as anyone (here), but sometimes these things seem a bit silly, when you step back a bit.  Cheers and stay cool everyone, Steve

[dougP]

I'm partial to large, vaguely defined niches. Just being a bike
junkie is enough for me.

dougP

On Jul 16, 12:09 pm, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery

> > cool everyone, Steve- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Peter Pesce]

Their niche-mindedness is your gain!
Just don't ever wear it mountain biking - it wouldn't be right. :)

[Brewster Fong]

Agree. Niches are great and can also include those who think they need to *UPGRADE* their parts!  I've been able to steal - NO STRIKE THAT, "pickup" 3 excellent wheelsets because peopled needed to *upgrade* them to fancier ones!!!  I was able to get two 32h wheelsets with Dura Ace 9 hubs/Mavic Open Pro rims/DT or Wheelsmith spokes for around $150 because the sellers had *upgraded* to fancier lower spoke wheels costing at least a thousand if not more! Both wheelsets looked brand new and couldn't have had more than 100 miles on it tops!  Further, I got a third 32h wheelset that had White Industries "beercan" hubs/Sun MA14A rims and I believe DT spokes for $175. Again, the seller had to have lower spoke wheels that cost a mint. For whatever reason, people just don't want these "outdated" wheelsets....bring them on! Good Luck!

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

My impression is that many folks on this list are in multiple niches. I've read about trikes, recumbents, CF fasties, fixies, cyclocross, tandems, cargo bikes, bike packers, pedi-cabs, kid bikes, touring, randoneuring, and numerous other niches of bicycle cycling on here. 

--Andy 

[Matthew J]

Seller's orthodoxy played into your good deal. 

 

Not keen on Pearl Izumi myself.  Sseems to me if a jacket is good for one sort of riding it should be good for all.  I pretty much wear the same clothes riding all my bikes and hiking (I do make sure to wash in between!).

On Monday, July 16, 2012 11:47:15 AM UTC-5, islaysteve wrote:

[Cyclofiend]

It's all riding... ;^)

They all feed into each other - if you love to ride, it's like the
world's longest steam table / smorgasbord / brunch buffet. Take what
appeals to you from all of those offerings and pile the plate high!

- Jim / cyclofiend.com / cyclo...@gmail.com