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Yes, I'm sure you're right - racing certainly doesn't give everyone immunity - but the realisation that you're never going to out sprint or out climb certain individuals, or do a 45 minute 25 without the aid of mechanical doping is a bit of a dampener to lavish spending.
Also, you might have thought that old age would bring immunity but I'm afraid there are some cases where it does not.
Another question: would anyone be brave enough (financially) to ride a fourth cat. race at Hillingdon on a £10,000 bike ?
I admit that there are exceptions, but my basic thought is that participating in actual racing brings realism.
clubman-
Another question: would anyone be brave enough (financially) to ride a fourth cat. race at Hillingdon on a £10,000 bike ?
I haven't been for eight years, but wouldn't surprise me if there were £10k bikes in the 4th cat.
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the realisation that you're never going to out sprint or out climb certain individuals, or do a 45 minute 25 without the aid of mechanical doping is a bit of a dampener to lavish spending.
Depends on your budget. My experience of working at a velodrome tells me that there are a lot of people who know that they are not physically competitive but they have the cash to be mechanically competitive.
And as for expensive kit in 4th cat races, I’ve seen people write off what must easily be 4 figures worth of lycra and helmet in crashes during the first part of their track accreditation and be back the next week with brand new kit to resit the class.
People turning up to do their first track league in the D group with Looks and Cervelos and Disc/5 spokes wheels is surprisingly common.
I’d actually say there’s a machismo pride element to writing off expensive kit. Broken bike = excuse to buy a new one.
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M_V
I'm not sure the modern brand of bike racers are immune from periodic upgrade syndrome from what I've observed...