--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still feel that variable gears are only…" description: "\"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/henri-desgrange-80805_artifice_i-still-feel-that-variable-gears-are-onl_2699287.png" --- # I still feel that variable gears are only for people over… ![“I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... As for me, give me a fixed gear!” quote by Henri Desgrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/henri-desgrange-80805_artifice_i-still-feel-that-variable-gears-are-onl_2699287.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/henri-desgrange-80805_artifice_i-still-feel-that-variable-gears-are-onl_2699287.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/henri-desgrange-80805_artifice_i-still-feel-that-variable-gears-are-onl_2699287.png) > “I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... As for me, give me a fixed gear!” [Henri Desgrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-desgrange/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker prefers simple, fixed‑gear bikes over complex derailleur systems, implying older riders favor simplicity and strength. **In simple terms:** Prefer simple gear. Key Takeaway Choose fixed‑gear bikes. Themes simplicity strength age bike culture Mood enthusiastic nostalgic Type opinion culture When to use this quote - commuting - fitness - cycling clubs Key Concepts mechanics nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - Why do some riders avoid gears? - Can simplicity improve performance? A Different Perspective Fixed gear limits versatility on varied terrain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artifice/) [Artifice Derailleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artifice-derailleur-633958/) [Bicycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle/) [Cycling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycling/) [Derailleur Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derailleur-getting-2720776/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed/) [Fixed Gear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed-gear-361365/) [Forty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) [Gears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gears/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Muscles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Variable Gears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variable-gears-2720775/) [Variables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variables/) ## Related quotes > [Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-desgrange/isn-t-it-better-to-triumph-by-the-strength-of-your-muscles-than-by/) [Henri Desgrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-desgrange/) > [I got a bike - a fixed-gear with bright blue wheels, custom-made to my specifications. I am a San Francisco techno-hipster, so this selection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/i-got-a-bike-a-fixed-gear-with-bright-blue-wheels-custom-made-to-my/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [You can always add something to a bike, but you come to a point where you can’t take anything away and that's a fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-obree/you-can-always-add-something-to-a-bike-but-you-come-to-a-point-where/) [Graeme Obree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-obree/) > [By the word simplicity, is not always meant folly or ignorance; but often, pure and upright Nature, free from artifice, craft or deceitful ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-the-word-simplicity-is-not-always-meant-folly-or-ignorance-but/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [If a close examination of the evidences of Christianity may be expected of one class of men more than another, it would seem incumbent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/if-a-close-examination-of-the-evidences-of-christianity-may-be/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [Each day is a miracle that intoxicates me. I want more. I greet every morning like a new pleasure. And yet I am keenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malika-oufkir/each-day-is-a-miracle-that-intoxicates-me-i-want-more-i-greet-every/) [Malika Oufkir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malika-oufkir/) > [The girl in the mirror caught my eye briefly...It is an uncanny feeling, that rare occasion when one catches a glimpse of oneself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/the-girl-in-the-mirror-caught-my-eye-briefly-it-is-an-uncanny-feeling/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [Cupid is naked and does not like artifices contrived by beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/propertius/cupid-is-naked-and-does-not-like-artifices-contrived-by-beauty/) [Propertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/propertius/) > [Being blond is definitely a different state of mind. I can't really put my finger on it, but the artifice of being blond has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/being-blond-is-definitely-a-different-state-of-mind-i-can-t-really/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [But since the Modernists (as they are commonly and rightly called) employ a very clever artifice, namely, to present their doctrines without order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-x/but-since-the-modernists-as-they-are-commonly-and-rightly-called/) [Pope Pius X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-x/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Films are artifice. We're telling stories on film. At the same time, when it works, there is a real tough immediacy and spontaneity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mcgann/films-are-artifice-we-re-telling-stories-on-film-at-the-same-time/) [Paul McGann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mcgann/) > [To the extent that I've ever understood postmodernism - and I'm sure there are people out there who do, but I'm not one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/to-the-extent-that-i-ve-ever-understood-postmodernism-and-i-m-sure/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [I did plays in college, and I have half of a play. But I'm kind of stuck. I keep revisiting it so maybe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-did-plays-in-college-and-i-have-half-of-a-play-but-i-m-kind-of/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) ## More by Henri Desgrange > [With the broad and powerful swing of the hand which Zola in The Earth gave to his ploughman, L'Auto, journal of ideas and action,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-desgrange/with-the-broad-and-powerful-swing-of-the-hand-which-zola-in-the-earth/) [Henri Desgrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-desgrange/) > [Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-desgrange/isn-t-it-better-to-triumph-by-the-strength-of-your-muscles-than-by/) [Henri Desgrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-desgrange/) [Explore all 3 Henri Desgrange quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-desgrange/) ## More Artifice quotes > [I did plays in college, and I have half of a play. But I'm kind of stuck. I keep revisiting it so maybe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-did-plays-in-college-and-i-have-half-of-a-play-but-i-m-kind-of/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [To the extent that I've ever understood postmodernism - and I'm sure there are people out there who do, but I'm not one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/to-the-extent-that-i-ve-ever-understood-postmodernism-and-i-m-sure/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [Films are artifice. We're telling stories on film. At the same time, when it works, there is a real tough immediacy and spontaneity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mcgann/films-are-artifice-we-re-telling-stories-on-film-at-the-same-time/) [Paul McGann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mcgann/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [But since the Modernists (as they are commonly and rightly called) employ a very clever artifice, namely, to present their doctrines without order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-x/but-since-the-modernists-as-they-are-commonly-and-rightly-called/) [Pope Pius X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-x/) > [Being blond is definitely a different state of mind. I can't really put my finger on it, but the artifice of being blond has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/being-blond-is-definitely-a-different-state-of-mind-i-can-t-really/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Cupid is naked and does not like artifices contrived by beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/propertius/cupid-is-naked-and-does-not-like-artifices-contrived-by-beauty/) [Propertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/propertius/) > [The girl in the mirror caught my eye briefly...It is an uncanny feeling, that rare occasion when one catches a glimpse of oneself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/the-girl-in-the-mirror-caught-my-eye-briefly-it-is-an-uncanny-feeling/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [Each day is a miracle that intoxicates me. I want more. I greet every morning like a new pleasure. And yet I am keenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malika-oufkir/each-day-is-a-miracle-that-intoxicates-me-i-want-more-i-greet-every/) [Malika Oufkir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malika-oufkir/) > [If a close examination of the evidences of Christianity may be expected of one class of men more than another, it would seem incumbent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/if-a-close-examination-of-the-evidences-of-christianity-may-be/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [By the word simplicity, is not always meant folly or ignorance; but often, pure and upright Nature, free from artifice, craft or deceitful ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-the-word-simplicity-is-not-always-meant-folly-or-ignorance-but/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The younger and healthier a woman is and the more her new and glossy body seems destined for eternal freshness, the less useful is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-younger-and-healthier-a-woman-is-and-the-more-her-new-and-glossy/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [What! Would you make no distinction between hypocrisy and devotion? Would you give them the same names, and respect the mask as you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/what-would-you-make-no-distinction-between-hypocrisy-and-devotion/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Art lies by its own artifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/art-lies-by-its-own-artifice/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Browse all 166 Artifice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artifice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... 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