Is it the Indians or the arrows (new bikes vs. old bikes)?

[Reesha]

She sounds like a piece of work. I recommend riding alone at least some of the time. It is more Zen; easier to get and stay in your zone. As soon as you ask the question "is this fun" the answer is already "no", because when it is fun, you're not thinking about it. Riding your bike shouldn't be demoralizing, because every ride, you're getting more fit, stronger, faster, healthier. That should be great for your morale! So, it seems the problem is not the bike, or the rider, it's the partner, IMO.

Definitely agree with this! I say take a break from riding with her and see how different it feels to ride with someone more supportive!

[Catrin]

Definitely agree with this! I say take a break from riding with her and see how different it feels to ride with someone more supportive!

Yes, this! I enjoy riding by myself, and do ride solo most of the time. There are a few people I do enjoy riding with when our schedules work out, and occasionally I participate in club rides but I find myself riding solo then as well I am not all that fast, and that is fine.

Good words that I heard from a 9 year old yesterday

You do NOT have to be fast, but you DO have to have fun

[Tri Girl]

Good words that I heard from a 9 year old yesterday

You do NOT have to be fast, but you DO have to have fun

And 9 year olds know how to have fun- it's all playing to them! Love it!!!

[Owlie]

I agree--try riding by yourself at least some of the time. You can find your own pace and you don't have to compare yourself to others. I find I much prefer riding by myself (at least, on my rail-trail), because I'm a little competitive and self-critical and I keep finding faults with myself because I see what other people do. Riding needs to be fun.

I'll echo what everyone else has said--sometimes it's you, sometimes it's the bike. I don't climb well. Why? My bike doesn't quite fit me and is kind of heavy...and I'm not in the best of shape, or particularly light.

[Susan]

I'd say it's a little bit of both.

I had very good cyclists pass me uphills on their heavy 7-speed downhill bikes. Obviously if you are in very very good shape, you can still do great on a crappy bike.

On the other hand, there are hills that I could not climb on my commuter bike because it's too heavy and the geometry just isn't right that I have no problem with on my MTB. A friend of mine once switched his tires for ones that where more suited for downhill trails - he just couldn't get up the hills we used to ride because they where so heavy. So a the bike setup/a good bike does make a difference.

When riding with less experienced riders it usually helps if the slower rider has the better bike. I always ask my riding partners if they want to swap bikes if they are slower than me (most of the times however I am the one that rides the lightest "best" bike so that I can keep up with my male cycling friends). Or I try to stay behind them. Or at least I wait for them every now and then and tell them that they do a great job with such a heavy bike.

What your friend does is not nice and I understand that this isn't fun for you. I am not sure if the bike makes you feel bad or your friend.
If you think that you would enjoy cycling more with a new bike - get one it will be fun
If it is more you friend that makes you feel bad, maybe just ride by yourself or with someone else

[Trek420]

I bought an old '93 Bianchi, steel-frame, 7 speed road bike from my sister-in-law about 3 years ago so I could ride with my very experienced friend.

oooooh, '93 Bianchi could be or become a very nice bike

Only about 1/5th of the weight of the bike is the frame. And I'm guessing yours is steel? My Italian steel road bike's hand made for me by the man whose name is on the frame. There are hills and rides I could not do on my cheap old commuter or namesake Trek 420 old road bike however ....

Your bike has the potential to be as good or better than theirs with legs strengthened by doing the same rides on it.

And you have us ahem Unless your friend is here too. And if they are "BE NICER TO HER! Remember your first ride?"

Does it fit? Yes? Then ....

Hmmmmm. New wheels are the most cost effective improvement to a bike. Takes weight and more important rotational weight (weight you gotta get going to move) off. the right wheels will make your bike more efficient too.

Whatcha got on that sweet steel Bianchi

[owlice]

Just go to your LBS and try out a few bikes; you'll definitely see that a bike can make a difference! I was shocked (shocked, I tell you, just shocked!! ) at how easy climbing up a hill was on one bike I was test-riding in comparison to a couple of other bikes I tried. Same hill (one near the LBS), completely different experiences.

So sure, Indian counts, but so does the arrow.

[Bombshelter]

I didn't mean it to come across that my friend was discouraging. So just for the record, the opposite is true. She's helped me many a time to get up some really steep climbs. She's just unwilling to switch bikes with me. This whole thing comes down to a struggle with my own ego. Even the ladies with their newer bikes would wait for me at the top of the hills & some even hung back with me to keep me company. I came to the conclusion yesterday that quite frankly, I am not willing to put in the work required to keep up with these other ladies on their newer bikes & that's purely my decision & has nothing to do with them. So if it's not fun for me to keep up with them, i just won't ride with them. No big deal. Or I'll just bring my iPod next time! I do love my S.O.B. (Sweet Old Bianchi) & enjoy riding her very much and the only person that can make you happy is yourself

So that's it, I'm done whining now

[emily_in_nc]

Or I'll just bring my iPod next time!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but please reconsider that. It's unsafe to ride on the road and not be able to hear cars come up behind you (or even other cyclists calling out that they are passing, a chasing dog behind you, etc.) iPods are great for the gym, but please leave it at home while riding on the road. Enjoy the sounds of nature instead!

[Geonz]

There's also technique.
I got a whole lot stronger on hills when I learned to focus on making my stroke efficient all the way around the circle -- "round and round, not up and down" was what the lady said on the video we were watching doing an indoor ride in February. I remember physics class and learning that the forces work best if they're pushing perpendicular, so I practiced... and it really made a difference on hills.
Your friend might really be trying to encourage -- get you to accept that it's okay not to be Queen of the Hills. Still, the whole philosophy that talents are Set In Stone holds a whole lot of people back (including the good athletes, who are sure it's their talent behind success, not technique and hard work).
When I added the Xtracycle extension to my bike, alas, I was no longer the person who charged by people on the uphills. Now I'm the one lagging (unless it's a really long hill)... and my ego misses it... but I can always get out the 7.5FX if I *want* to and whoopeeee!:P

[Trek420]

She's just unwilling to switch bikes with me.

Few people will. I hesitate to let anyone else ride my road bike, heck, I don't even like strangers touching it . Three TE'ers though have ridden my bike. All 3 are riders who I know/trust their bike handling skills .... and are my size. When you're 5' nuthin there are few choices out there. So when a few "height challenged", skilled riders are together and there's an opportunity for each to try a Seven a full custom Mondonico (mine) and a lovingly refurbed/upgraded Bianchi there will be test rides.

What I found out is that all 3 are great bikes, but I like mine best.

New bikes are not necessarily better than old.
More expensive bikes not necessarily better than less etc.

Fit means a lot, technique too. But seriously if your bike fits you well you absolutely can have a much better bike. We'd be glad to coach you through the remodel.

After all we get all the fun of a rebuild ... with your money.

[sarahkonamojo]

Hmm... She didn't want you to ride her bike. She has to be aware that she has a nicer bike. Or maybe just a more expensive one. But seems like letting you try her bike will either confirm that the extra $4,800 is worth it or she really can kick ***. Seems like a no brainer because she wins either way. And you get to try a nice bike.
I'd ask again...
S

[emily_in_nc]

Hmm... She didn't want you to ride her bike. She has to be aware that she has a nicer bike. Or maybe just a more expensive one. But seems like letting you try her bike will either confirm that the extra $4,800 is worth it or she really can kick ***. Seems like a no brainer because she wins either way. And you get to try a nice bike.
I'd ask again...
S

But only if it is the right size!

I'd happily change bikes with my friend who's riding a mountain bike and way slower than me, but she's about 4" taller than me. My munchkin road bike just wouldn't work AT ALL for her.

[shootingstar]

Honest...I didn't pay attention to this thread....because of the phrasing of Indians and arrows.

It turned me off.

I've never heard of that expression before... I have nothing else to add.

[Trek420]

You have a point. I must admit I avoided the thread for a bit thinking the same thing. I got that it'd be bikes and I thought long and hard about the expression (never heard it before either).

I'm not Native American myself so I can't speak to how I'd feel if I was one. And it's not one for me to say "oh, that was harmless" If I was would I feel hurt? Maybe. Unwelcome here? Maybe. Or bemused by a cycling group using an analogy that hunting by traditional ways takes much individual skill, attention to tools and more. Hope so.

I can't speak for the OP or the group but as a long term TE'er I hope nobody here took offense. Few places in cycberspace do as much to be welcoming to all, are sensitive to nuance and fast to catch and discuss this kind of stuff. Thanks Shootingstar for bringing this up.

It's why I stick around and hope everyone here will too.