Does having a fancy tri bike put more pressure on me (Page 2)

The only thing I expect of a person with a tribike (fancy or not) is some level of competence.  Do you know how to manage your transition area?  Are you wearing appropriate apparel?  Do you mount/dismount when told?   Are you riding to the right and not drafting?

I have more lenience about that stuff when I think a person is a newbie (likely on a hybrid or mountain bike).    I don't have tolerance for getting in my way, etc, for a person on a tribike.

When I am getting passed I can't tell if you're as fast as you "should" be.   Also, I don't know what sort of  bike the podium winners rode.  

No one has higher expectations of me than I do.

x2

I notice things.  It's human nature.  If you drive a Ferrari, and are with a girl 30 years younger than you...I will take notice, and point you out to my friends.  I'm sure the guy with the Ferrari could care less. 

That being said...there are tons of P2s, P3s, speed concepts, etc at every race.  If you're riding one...sorry, *I* won't really notice.  If you've got a P5, a BMC time machine, or something crazy like that...yes, I will notice, and I will likely note your number and check your bike split.

Just being honest...*shrugs*...but you still shouldn't care what I think.

Absolutely - couldn't have said it any better...

This.  

I've passed $10k SHIV's on my FELT B12.  Didn't think much of it other than it was a nice bike.  My performance is not at a level where I can criticize others.  

My previous mountain bike was a $10k+ bike.  (S-works).  That bike put me on the podium so many times I was bumped to the next class.  Now it's everything I can do just to finish MOP.  Definitely not the bike.  

who cares what other people think! Your race pictures will look so cool with a nice tri bike, some aero wheels and a nice aero helmet, that when you change your profile pic to you on your sick rig on facebook you will LOOK fast, so who cares if you actually are!

There will always be faster people; the only people that care are people that are jealous of your nice things.

I have a tri bike now, but in my first race ever I podiumed with my hybrid in a duathlon....I did have a good laugh passing those on nicer bikes..they seemed *&^%-ed

but most of the time, no one cares , so just get what you like and can afford and train hard on it

This is an incredibly self-motivated sport. If having a better bike puts more pressure on yourself to train, then great, that's as valid a reason to spend the money as anything else. Personally every time I ride my beautiful tri bike I feel like I have to earn it, but that comes from inside.

In the grand scheme of things the reality is I bought it because I wanted it and could afford it, not because I was missing podium slots because I didn't have it.

If having a better bike means you worry about what other people think, your doing this for all the wrong reasons. You're wearing spandex in public, you could stop right there!

Perception is a human nature. No matter how you try to avoid it, it will happen to any one of us. Now it all depends on how much weight you want to put into it that will define how it will affect your own perception of yourself.

Just go out there and have fun. Having a nice fancy bike will just make you smile and want to ride it more often. People will always judge no matter what so just close a 'blind eyes' to it and ride on!!

Cheers!

Nah, lose weight.

Just please don't poop on my shoes.  TIA

I wish bryancd was still here so he could say "You can't see fancy bikes if they're behind you!"  :D

Jokingly, of course.

"Don't buy upgrades, ride upgrades"

                                                    .... Eddy Merckx

So you steal the upgrades?  They gotta get on your bike some how. 

+1....who cares.  If someone else is worried about what other people have and how they perform with equipment they decided to spend their hard earned money one, they probably have other issues as well and they are probably not someone you would associate with anyway.  I am a gear head....and I like nice things....I am not going to win an Ironman.....but this is my sport and I like having the best.  Looking at $400 S-works trivent shoes now......will the seconds they save me in transition going to help me turn pro.  Nope.  They are comfortable, have new technology, and look cool.

Plus...everyone I have met in this sport has been nicer than any other sport I have been involved in.  Sure, people admire other people's stuff....I might see a nice bike or component and ask about it....but I have never thought "why would this dude have this?".....I am new to cycling/triathlon and the people I have dealt with have been very genuine and helpful.

If you asked a top pro what they thought, I am quite certain they would say "Good for that person, good for the manufacturer, good for our sport".

At the heart of it....those who would judge you are dealing with jealousy.

that was one of the reasons my first bike is a cervelo p3C - I got it end of season, on sale, and figured 

1. I would grow into it why buy a lesser bike and have to upgrade - so long term saves $$

2. I definitely push harder knowing I am riding this awesome bike

3. I had the $$

so yes, I think it is positive pressure

x2. Video evidence.

I say if you are only going to do things to meet the expectations of others, you will never be happy. If you want a fance tri bike, get it. If you want to ride a beach cruiser, do it.