I'm currently in middle school 1st year and I'm writing this because I'm feeling discouraged
I used to think that if I just rode a flagship bike, I would become incredibly fast
That's why I kept looking for and wanting to change equipment like frames, wheels, and hubs, and I eventually bought a flagship bike
But when I actually kept riding, reality was different
Whether on the Hangang River or in competitions, people who are really good at riding weren't necessarily using the most premium equipment
People who trained consistently while riding ordinary equipment were really strong
On the other hand, I've also seen cases where even if someone rides a bike worth tens of millions of won, if they lack stamina or skill, they can be caught up with more easily than expected. That's my case
Today during a ride, someone on a Giant aluminum bike caught up to me and then overtook me before I knew it (though they looked like they go to the gym a lot)
When I changed equipment, I definitely felt 'wow, this is better,' but the moment I felt the biggest improvement was when I trained consistently
I felt that when my FTP increased and my calf muscles got bigger
Of course, good equipment is definitely worth it. It's true that it's lighter, more rigid, and feels better
But I think equipment completes your skill, it doesn't create it
After all, it's not the frame that moves the bike, it's the person
Investing in equipment is fine, but if you invest equally in training, you can feel much greater changes
Instead of a 10 million won bike, if you get a 9 million won bike + register for a 1 million won cycling academy, I think your health will improve much more. That's my opinion
Thank you for reading this long post
