Are bikes and other things we buy really better today than 40 years ago? Perhaps we look at the wrong metric. I’ll bet most of us remember our very first mountain bike ride. I do. Fall 1982 on the shop Ritchey. It was too big and I had my road shoes on but it was a revelation. My first bike was a 1983 Stumpjumper and I remember riding it home. So. Much. Fun. And it was mine, all mine.
I think sometimes we "upgrade" our stuff in a vain attempt to recreate and relive that first revelatory moment.
Some people myself included love to learn and improve at what I do. Even a new pattern and means of washing windows or clearing snow from my driveway. Some once they become proficient at a sport get bored and stop. Buying and allegedly "upgrading" can feed that improvement desire. But is it really improvement? The other day I was listening to Glen Plake talking about his career and skis. He said something to the affect of "new skis today allow people to do things they weren’t able to do 20 years ago, but it didn’t make them better skiers". Something to think about eh.
Thanks Dave. That was an excellent article.
June 3, 2024, 9:10 a.m. - Andy Eunson
Are bikes and other things we buy really better today than 40 years ago? Perhaps we look at the wrong metric. I’ll bet most of us remember our very first mountain bike ride. I do. Fall 1982 on the shop Ritchey. It was too big and I had my road shoes on but it was a revelation. My first bike was a 1983 Stumpjumper and I remember riding it home. So. Much. Fun. And it was mine, all mine. I think sometimes we "upgrade" our stuff in a vain attempt to recreate and relive that first revelatory moment. Some people myself included love to learn and improve at what I do. Even a new pattern and means of washing windows or clearing snow from my driveway. Some once they become proficient at a sport get bored and stop. Buying and allegedly "upgrading" can feed that improvement desire. But is it really improvement? The other day I was listening to Glen Plake talking about his career and skis. He said something to the affect of "new skis today allow people to do things they weren’t able to do 20 years ago, but it didn’t make them better skiers". Something to think about eh. Thanks Dave. That was an excellent article.