It’s bicycle season. I hibernate during winter, and when summer finally arrives its time to dust off the bike and go for a ride. The first ride, being out of practice for so long, reminds me how many muscle groups we all have. I can feel each of them right now. It gets easier after that.
It also reminds me of this analogy between a bicycle and the Mac.
I found my bike when I shopped around for a newer model. I got tired of the old one, it wasn’t fun and didn’t age well, so I decided to look for something better. I checked out the mass market brands, but just didn’t feel for any of them. Then I saw this bike and I knew it will be mine.
It was love at first sight, and it didn’t matter it was over my budget. I needed it.
It came ready to ride, all set up and tuned, along with a matching pair of shoes (the previous owner was my size). It’s so easy to operate, I can keep my eyes on the road at all times. The ride is smooth as silk, you don’t feel any bumps. Yet, it’s ready to tackle any hill in sight, and stays stable at high speeds.
It’s a blend of exotic materials and cutting edge parts. The frame is a marvel of aesthetics, one of a kind design. Even the wheels have a unique twist to them. It’s incredible fun to ride and maintenance is the occasional wet cloth and chain oil.
Just what they say about the Mac.
But it’s not a Mac. It’s featherweight light, rock solid and doesn’t require a care package. It’s hard to come by, but the parts are interchangeable and easy to find. The only lock is the one I bought. It has two pedals, no quirks besides the weird top tube. Nothing needs to be justified or excused. Not even the price.
I started writing a detailed post about my experience with the Mac, but this analogy will have to do for now. I guess I expected too much, and it didn’t match the hype.
Meanwhile I’m happy with my lightweight carbon, with its interchangeable parts and rock solid performance, that works just like I expect it would. The one that runs Linux, and the one I can take for a ride.