A few thoughts on new bikes

Do new bikes contain some sort of supernatural powers? Why do new bikes seem to always elevate one's riding ability to the next level? This is something I have been pondering the past few days as I have been enjoying my own new bike. New bikes are powered by a force greater than you or I.

Could it be that the flashier and more trick the bike, the more ability boosting power it contains? Nah! Not possible. You would not argue that the kid that moves up from a department store bike to an entry level $300 bike does not in fact look like Superman on crack. Just the plain and simple fact Huffy's and Murray's "are not cool" make that $300 bike seem like the most badass bike you can find. Although a bike's powers may not be affected by its degree of trickness, certain things like aluminum frames and suspension forks undoubtedly contain extra power.

A few components and parts contain surplus magic. One of these things would definitely suspension forks. Arguably, everyone's first ride on a suspension fork contained that state of mind that you were invincible. That you could ride over any obstacle imaginable and that just maybe a suspension fork could be a substitute for full suspension. This ride usually ends by the new overzealous rider returning home with a sore rear-end, thinking to himself "Well, maybe I can't ride over EVERYTHING..." Another one of these mystical components would be clipless pedals.

Remember your first pair? After several months of trying to bunny-hop on platforms in vain, you were transformed into Hans Ray on a sugar high, bunny-hopping small houses and low flying aircraft. This, of course, usually lasts until the time you need to clip-out, tarnishing your claim to fame as the next trials superstar. This is another interesting topic, just when does your ability climb to the next level? What boosts one's riding abilities up the ladder of talent? What event in the mountain biking world is more confidence inspiring than getting a new bike? Sure, winning a race is great but not everyone races. And the way most races are today, the ones winning are sandbaggers who long before experienced this proverbial power-up.

Aside from this and possibly accomplishing some outstanding feat, such as finally bunny-hopping mom's Volkswagen, hitting 80 mph on a local fire road, or managing to once-and-for-all get your own cantilever brakes adjusted properly, obtaining a new bike is like upgrading from a black and white television to a big screen color television the size of small third-world countries. The experience of a new bike is one we can all enjoy over and over again. Remember the tricycle to bike with training wheels upgrade? Remember your first real cool BMX bike? How about your first multiple speed department store bike? After that probably came the $300 bike. Then we reach the gray area where hard tails and full-suspension rigs move in. The new bike experience is a great one, enjoy it.

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