So what drives a MAMBO’s decision to buy? Here was my thinking:
- Needs to look good – I would use the term “cool” here and I am sure my peers would follow my thinking, but my son thinks I should use words like wicked and bad. So now I have reached the point where I am afraid to use the word cool as it may not be cool to use it and that would be really uncool of me – publish and be damned I say!
- Needs to be of a higher specification than average (say 75 – 80%) but not too expensive as that would be naff (uncool). Besides have you seen the price of the top of the range stuff! And anyway if you buy the best – you are going to become too much of a target in the “commuter bike race”. It has to be expensive enough to say – ha I have more cash than you but not so high range that it looks like you are trying too hard.
- At last a sensible reason – it needs to be a high enough specification that you aren’t going to upgrade it 2 months later (see pedals post later). Like most MAMBO’s I am competitive and I need the equipment that is going to give me at least some chance against all these young whiper snappers.
- At a price that the wife isn’t going to think you are stark raving mad for having paid such a price – as a general rule, I find that if I consider hiding the receipt at work then I have probably spent too much!
- Tricky one here – but to be honest I do take into account safety – are those lights bright enough or the jacket green enough.
- Brand loyalty – I find myself mostly buying Specialized for the bike and Endura for me.
- Does it all match! I mean really would you have a red bike with a blue top?
- Are you a modern or retro person – let me put it this way, if I was buying a motorbike I would go retro a nice Harley or something of that ilk – but you have to pedal a bike, therefore for me there can only be one choice – light and modern so I can get up that hill.
- Mountain Biker or racer looks – for me this is a no brainer – mid 40’s (come to think of it any age) even if I am in good shape I am so not having Spandex as the only thing between me and strangers eyes – besides once again we get back to the commuter race – if you are dressed in spandex and sitting on a Racer (sorry road bike they call them now) then you become a prime target.
So taking the above into account – there then follows a long balancing game between the above to make the right choice. And here’s the rub – no one rule works for everyone. Take for example you buy a Green bike obviously the theme of your clothing will follow a totally different theme than if you bought a black bike.
Pedals, Pedals and more damned Pedals.
Pump It - Louder - Pump it - the hidden pitfalls in buying a pump.
Thinking of buying a lock - then stop and read this - this really is an excellent lock, well worth reading
Pedals (again) this time clipless pedals - at last a follow up to my many purchases of pedals and some sound advice.
Selle SMP Stratos Saddle Review - the interface between my bum and bike!
