20 grams. Let’s just get that out of the way. That’s the weight difference between a 10 speed 105 cassette and a 10 speed Ultegra cassette. 255 grams versus 235 grams. I don’t even know what 20 grams looks like, because I’ve likely only ever used it as a measurement for cumin or paprika in a recipe for something middle eastern that I cooked once while trying to impress a girl. She probably couldn’t taste the 20 grams of whatever I put in. She also was most likely unimpressed by me. People often are.

But back to my point. 20 grams doesn’t matter. In anything. And yet I’ll debate the decision of my cassette purchase for hours. I’ll price match. I’ll ask advice. I’ll shop. I’ll worry I made the wrong choice. I’ll reconsider. I’ll put items in my virtual shopping cart then take them back out again. Then add them back one more time.

And I let my loved ones watch this happen.

The upside of putting them through this is that they often don’t know the difference. TO them, this could actually be an important decision. This might actually make a difference. Product A might actually make me ride my bike faster than Product B. But I know the truth. I know that it doesn’t matter. I just like thinking about bike parts, and this comparision shopping gives me a way to prolong the process.