So, it is now six weeks out from my initial back injury. I went and saw a doctor, who is also a cycling teammate. After my examination, he said it is time to try a Medrol Dose Pack. Unfortunately, I had already gone down that road.
"Then it's time for an MRI."
Now, I believe I have said in the past that having an MRI is definitely on my list of things I don't want to ever do. This is due to the extreme confinement one experiences while in the machine; however, I am at the point now with the pain in my butt, ankle, foot, as well as the periodic tingling, that I welcomed the chance to have a magnetic aided peek into the inner workings of my back, and what could possibly be going on.
Ironically after I made the appointment, my back started feeling better. I was very happy. I thought I may finally be seeing the end of this. But the next day it was back with a vengeance, but then the next day it felt good again. I am in a cycle of waxing and waning, with some progress, but it has still been 6 weeks, and I am tired of this crap. So, I have my two Xanax to take before the MRI, and I will hopefully have some idea of what I am dealing with later this week.
The Colnago C59 frameset is selling for $5900. The retro Master 30th is selling for $4000, and it's a lugged steel frame. What does this tell me? One, Colnago has developed themselves as a great brand in cycling and has a rabid following allowing such crazy pricing. Two, the cycling world has gone NUTS! Now, I can understand some cost of R&D being transferred to the consumer. And, while I don't have a comprehensive understanding of frame building, the time put into making a frame by hand increases its cost. Maybe that is the logic behind the pricing of these frames, and they are limited editions.
But then how does one justify the cost of a Pinarello Dogma? For the Dogma 65.1 Think 2 the going price on Competitive Cyclist is $5300. I am fairly certain this is a frame that is made in Taiwan, the same as 90% of all other frames. Yes, read the elaborate, and well written, copy on the CC website, and you will see how Pinarello has done this and that, done analysis to add carbon here, take it away there, wind tunnel testing for air cheating aerodynamics. They even have nanoparticles that "explode" on impact to lessen the effect an impact has on the carbon. This last point is the best. Nanoparticles. Pinarello is now in the nanotechnology field. How does this even help the frame? As far as I can tell, it is cat effect: first impact exploding nanoparticles, one life left, second impact frame exploding. So I guess you get a second chance to destroy your carbon frame after your first crash.
I've had it with the exponentially exploding price of cycling. My wallet and budget do not have nanoparticles that can take the impact of a $5500 frameset. That is why I have decided to go steel.
The constant pursuit of less weight, more aerodynamics, better nanoparticles...it's absurd. I don't know about all of you, but I have been dropped by guys riding old steel frames with what looked like wheels that were made with spare parts salvaged off a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail (does that bring back memories of the classic game?). I have been dropped by guys riding no name frames, wearing a white tank top as their cycling jersey. I have also been dropped by a guy that had to be pushing 70, with a belly, wearing an old Motorola jersey (I tell myself this must be one of the original members of the Motorola team, probably Lance's first mentor). I am not a great cyclist, but I am no slouch. The point of this is that it is the engine, not the bike.
I know you have all heard that overused cliche before, but it's true. It is so hard to accept, though. We as cyclists are an achieving, competitive group to begin with. We look for any edge we can get, just so we can finish one position higher on the city limit sprint on the Tuesday night ride. But the fact is 99% of us would need an engine hidden in our downtube to give us the advantage we think the latest frame will give us. So, I am going custom steel. I am going to get a bike that is classic, comfortable, and made by a craftsman, just for me. We will see how it goes, for better or worse. My prediction? Once I get back into my old form, I think the same guys will be kicking my ass all over the road, and most likely the same guys will be behind me, though few they may be (the latter part, unfortunately).
