By blackmountaincycles,
There it is. You’ve posted a picture of a beautiful vista. A setting worthy of a photo. You think. You think others will dig the view as you do. You laid your bike down in the foreground, out of the way of the view, but visible. The bike is placed in the shot merely to show the viewers how you got to that spot. It’s the proverbial tree in the forest. And then there it is: “What bars are those?”
We are so focused on the minutiae of daily life that we have to know the details of everything. Everything. What bars are those? We forget the big picture. We view the world in minute detail through a phone. We forget to look up and appreciate the big picture.
No one asked Picasso what bars are those.
(What’s playing: The The “Uncertain Smile”)
La Cabra
La Cabra Flat Bar Builds
8 responses to “No One Asked Picasso”
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what bars are those though?
Well said, but What tires are those? haha
OK, but why is the bike in the photo then? You obviously thought that the bike was important to the “big picture” when you were there. If it bothers you to have people asking about the bike, then simply leave it out.
I agree with you, really. So, what’s the vista and where was the picture taken?
” Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole…”
Hard not to pinch myself everyday living in Fairfax. So beautiful it makes me nervous sometimes!
I literally built a website based off of this idea. ( WhatBars.com )
There are generally two types of people that I’ve come across who are asking these types of questions:
1. The cyclist who is out there riding every single day, pushing their bikes, breaking parts, and really pushing the boundaries of their setup. They don’t care about rain, snow, wind. They’re out there grinding it out because they truly love cycling. When they ask “What Bars”, they’re genuinely asking to figure out how to enjoy their ride more.
2. The social media cyclist. This is the cyclist who is constantly on Instagram, looking at other peoples builds, dreaming up changes to their bikes, trying to curate the best bike to get the more views, more likes, more shares, etc. These bikes probably don’t ever get ridden other than to the park down the street to get that perfect shot.
I love talking to the Type 1 people and hearing all of their questions, and their passion for riding their bikes. The Type 2 people are the people who I think you’re speaking to with this post.
I started commuting up here in Manitoba, Canada on a single speed Trek cruiser bike. I had no clue where to start, so I picked up a Marin Muirwoods as a bike to ride in summer and winter but it just didn’t feel right. I went down a rabbit hole and found the Curve GXR, which I couldn’t get in Canada, nor did I have the funds but my local bike shop recommended the Soma Wolverine as an alternative.
After dropping $2500+ on my Wolverine, I realized I hated drop bars for how I was riding it. I genuinely asked “What Bars” to everyone who would respond, genuinely looking for advice as a newbie how I could make this bike more comfortable.
Unfortunately, I got sucked in by social media shortly after and was also obsessed over “curating” the “perfect build” with only the finest components.
I have been super lucky, WhatBars.com has allowed me the privilege of riding some of the most Gucci of Gucci bikes, blingy components from every manufacturer including AXS Mullets, Titanium, fine steel and even a custom handmade bike made just for me… and I’m grateful for every one of those experiences.
There is a concept called the “Minimum Effective Dose”, which basically just means “the smallest dose that will produce the desired outcome”. Recently, I find myself “downgrading” my bikes to components that are cheap, reliable, but still get me to all the places I want to go. I feel like I have found the “minimum effective dose” when it comes to components…
I worry less about my parts, because they don’t cost a small fortune to replace. I feel free to beat the tar out of my bikes and don’t stress when something goes wrong. I’m still able to keep up with my friends on bikepacking trips, or my roadie friends on their ridiculously expensive carbon road bikes.
What did it take to change my mentality?
Riding my bikes. A lot.
Thanks for contributing, Chip. I hear you on both points. And most loudly on the “minimum effective dose.” The bikes that I ride the most because they give me the most joy from the act of riding are my 1981 Bruce Gordon and my 1985 Eddy Merckx. Both built as they would have been in those years (with the exception of clipless pedals on the Merckx). Stripping away all “technology” to arrive at a pure riding machine that works and performs perfectly 40 years on. And I really like those Cinelli Mod. 66 and 64 bars.
Additionally, it’s my feeling that folks quest for the perfect bar is maybe a bit misdirected. Instead of the perfect bar, look closer at how do you (the rider) fit to that bar. Put that bar in a location where it works best.
Nice to read something in these times that inspire a smile 🙂 Thanks Mike – Happy Holidays and many tailwinds for 2022.
Tailwinds! You too. Thanks, Christian.