I am, mainly through the passage of time, a more patient person than I used to be. Maybe it’s all that headwind, streaming over my shoulders that’s abraded the harder edges of my psyche and smoothed them to a more aerodynamic, more unflappable version of my former self.
I used to get annoyed by half-wheeling, for example. But I have enough self-confidence now to let whoever is riding next to me do whatever silly nonsense they like. I won’t be drawn into beating by my own fragile ego or someone else’s poor etiquette.
I am still annoyed by creaking sounds, fluttering derailleurs, chain slippage and brake rub, acknowledging that each of these things are, at root, my fault, and fully within my abilities to correct. Maybe that makes them even more annoying, in fact, because not only do they disturb my pedaling equanimity, but they also promise some later frustration as I try to get my derailleur adjusted just so. Electronic shifting helps with a few of them, but even a robot derailleur struggles shifting with a bent hanger.
Oooh, another really aggravating one, also fully within my control, is poorly wrapped bars. You know that feeling when your finger finds the sticky-outy bit of tape just below the shifter on the front side? Then, of course, I’m obligated to pick at it and pick at it until I make it worse.
Flats are really annoying, but I get so few of them anymore that it would be churlish to spend too much time lamenting them here now.
What about that spot you missed with the chamois cream? The one you become aware of an hour or two into your ride that becomes actually all you can think about for the rest of the day.
What about that friend who cheerful chit-chats into your ear as you suck wind and try to find your rhythm despite being woefully out of shape?
What about that component of your bicycle that you find out later is proprietary and irreplaceable? Or the way the industry abandons a long-time standard (say rim brakes for example) when you already have a basement full of wheels that are, in the space of two seasons, more or less worthless.
It seems I could actually go on and on, but that’s not the point of this exercise. It’s to find out what things bother you about bikes and riding them?
Having to take the time to do anything but ride them is somewhat annoying. Especially when it’s discovered as I wish to leave for said ride!
Bonus points for knowing it from previous ride but ignoring it until it’s time to ride again.
At this moment I’m so excited about the weather change and the many rides to come that I can’t think of any negatives! Um… maybe giant tree falls, I’m sure to find some soon.
Deciding on type of ride, route, clothing, etc. Then the consequences/regret of your choices at times. Bikes are like life in that regard.
Also how bikes/parts don’t look as good as they used to. Old stuff can still be ridden but replacement parts and compatibility is a challenge.
Wheel size bothers me the most. I did the majority of my cycling on 26″ wheels. While I don’t deny the benefits of a larger hoop, they don’t look or feel right to me. Giving in, I bought a 27.5″ MTB a few years ago only to find out that it wasn’t long until it had grown outdated also.