Any bicycle riders?
 

Is it worth spending 300-500 on a bike rather than a 200 dollar mountain bike?

How does cycling make you feel?

I'm not a hardcore cyclist, but I suppose how much you decide to spend depends on what you want ...not to mention what you can afford. Weight seems inversely proportional to price and I like reasonably light weight but strong and reliable. I think the smooth, reliable shifters, brakes etc. all cost more than cheapo stuff.

Since I got a really good deal at the bike shop where my daughter is a mechanic (but still well over $300), I ended up buying a "middle of the road" Marin Fairfax bike last year that I still very much really enjoy riding, but it's a road bike not a mountain bike. The Marin mountain bikes I tried also seemed very well done.

I ride mostly alone except when I ride with my kids. When I'm with them, I feel like a parent watching over them but I still enjoy the rides and we have lots of fun exploring trails and back roads. When I'm cycling alone, it makes me feel serene and independent, my brain seems to engage in a different gear with different thought patterns when I ride alone and I like it.

I'm a beginning rider, and I got a Trek 3500 for about $200. It's about the best bike you'll get for the money, and it's easily upgradable. I decided that it wasn't worth spending $400+ on a bike until I saw how often I used it, what kind of biking I tended to do (street vs. off-road), what kind of features might be good for me, etc. I love biking - it makes me feel healthy. And I'm going to start using it instead of my car for small trips where it makes sense.

If the bike is going to be your primary mode of transportation, splurge on one with the features that are going to make you happy, comfortable, and safe. If you're just using it for recreation or casual exercise, go with something cheaper until you decide whether you want to invest in something for a more focused purpose.

Spend the money, go to your local bike shop and get a decent bike. The differences between them and a wal-mart bike are worlds apart. First off the bike will be assembled by somebody who knows what they're doing, not the kid with a crescent wrench who is a sophomore in high school and has to finish that bike before he can go home on a friday night. Second, new cables stretch...it's a fact, they just do. Typically your local bike shop will do your first tune up on a bike you bought from them for free. Who's going to tune up your wal-mart bike? Third, what happens when you break or wear out parts?

You can get a decent bike at your local shop without spending tons of money. But i do agree with cj2112 - go to a shop and not to WalMart or Target. They'll let you ride the bikes around, give you advice, and that free tune-up is a good thing.

Shit, I bought a beach cruiser for $25.

Easily upgradeable with streamers and a bell.

If you're concerned about the money factor, see if there's a local bike co-op in your city. (you can check google and type in 'bike co-op' with the city name). They often have cheap bikes (the quality of them vary, but they're repaired pretty well, depending on the place). The co-ops also usually have workshops if you'd like to get more knowledge with bicycles and bike repair as well.

I have a couple bikes (both of them are from garage sales) but I'm pretty frustrated that I've have not been able to ride for a month or so, ecause both of them are in need of good repair.
One needs both innertubes replaced and the other, the bar holding the pedals in place is shot (I may just end up replacing this bike, since it was cheap to begin with).

I love bike riding, and would like to talk about them on the TFP (I don't know if Tilted Motors is the best place to discuss it: perhaps it should be renamed 'Tilted Transportation' )

As everyone else stated, don't go to a big-box retail store for a bike. It's just not worth it and you'll be better off if you go the co-op or bike store route.

Catcha back on the flipside,
keyshawn

Go to the bike shop for one, better advice and service.

Spend as much money as you can on a bike, get one thats nice and light, and suited towards the enviroment you plan to use it in most. No point getting duel suspension if you plan on only poodling around the city.

A further concrete example of bike shop vs big discount store experience: I bought what looked like a pretty nice bike for my 8yo boy at Costco. The second day he was riding it around the playground ...on the dirt not pavement... the crank broke; crank is the part the pedals are attached to; I examined it and saw that the front sprocket was also already distorted. Two bike shops I took it to, including the sage advice of my expert bike mechanic daughter, said that it isn't even worth fixing. Fortunately, Costco has a liberal return/refund policy and took the junk back.

My lesson: forged parts on better quality bikes are more durable than stamped steel sprockets and cheap cast cranks.

I'd strongly suggest looking for a quality used bike in that price range. Generally bikes will lose 1/2 their value the first year they are ridden. I guarantee you that quality parts and a frame from even 5 years ago are worth more that the equipment on the current crop of $200 bicycles. Buy a used one and ride it for a year. If you take to the sport, then you can sell the used one and feel confident spending more on a new, higher end bike. If you lose interest just sell the old one again, and you probably won't be out much money in the long run.

As far as how it makes you feel, well I have trouble putting that into words. You'll have to get out and see for yourself.

Bike shop all the way.

Another thing Bike shops offer that A Wal-Mart will not, is they MEASURE you for a bike. If your frame, seat post, handlebars, and cranks aren't the right fit, you will be VERY uncomfortable if you ride for any length of time, which only leads to you not being as interested in cycling.

I see the same thing happen when someone I know who wants to get into the internet and computers, and they go buy some $200 used computer. They hate the thing for how much it crashes, it's lack of support, and how slow it is, and they ultimately just give up on the whole idea of a computer before they have seen how it COULD be.

I am not saying go all out, but getting a bike that fits YOU, is worth double the price of the Wal-Mart bike.

I must say that although bike shop bikes are better than what you will find at Target and Wally World in general, this is not the rule. I have a Schwinn (Pacific) S-25 from Target that I picked up cheep, it's a great bike for the money, and has many of the same components and shifters that my wife's $300 shop bike has. I have been assembling bikes for Target and Kmart for 5 years now and I must say that most of their bikes are such shit that (even when well assembled by a knowledgable tech) will fall apart and simply never work right (especially the breaks). Pacific, however, makes several very good quality bikes in the under $200 price range. These bikes may be named Pacific, Schwinn, or Mongoose, just look near the crank for a shiny sticker on the downtube to see if it's a Pacific bike.

Ha ha ha! That one actually made me LOL. And I NEVER laugh out loud when I'm reading stuff online.

I ride my bike 5 miles to and from work everyday over relaively flat paved streets. I'm usually able to cover 5 miles in 20 minutes (17 minutes has been my personal best - I was late :-P).

I have tried 3 different bikes. The first one was a dedicated road bike (albeit an old road bike) a Contential Schwinn. Then it was a hybrid "City Bike" made by some company in Japan (it's also old) and the most recent one was (and still is) a red mountain bike (unknown mfg).

I gotta tell you, for road biking, get an ACTUAL road bike. The Schwinn was a dream (but it got stolen) and the City Bike isn't too bad it's decent, but the red mountain bike is an ELEPHANT. It's bitch to ride!

The only good thing I can say about using a mountain bike for road work is that I get a decent leg workout. :lol: You should see the pump I get in my legs after the ride.

http://www.texasracingscene.com/imag...es/_hijack.gif

On another matter, I need a dedicated road bike, but I'm pretty hard on my bikes (being I pedal about 80 RPM on the hardest gear). I'm 6'2", 230 pounds (currently cutting down to 200 pounds) and my inseam is 30". Can someone reccomend me a name to bring up at the local bike shop? How about a discount internet site?

Thanks!

cj2112 couldn't have put it better. Spend the extra money and get a quality bike. A discount store bike will only give you grief.

I love cycling. I live in an area where anything other than my outdated piece of crap Univega Rover 305 (looks bad but runs rather well, mind you) would get stolen in a heartbeat.

It depends upon your needs. What will you be using it for? Is it your every-day transportation to work? Will you be honing your racing skills? Are you just looking for a fresh way to work out?

Go to a local independent bike shop. Ask what the benefits are of each major bike style: Road, mountain, cruiser...

Figure out what is best for you, and the area you live in. If you'll be riding up a lot of hills, you're not going to want a cruiser. Do your research.

The best generic advice that I can think of is to pick up the bike, feel its weight. Could you sling it over your shoulder and walk 100+ paces? How about up and down a staircase? Go for an aluminum frame, and be sure you get quality shifters, derailers, and the tools you need to fix it on the fly.

DON'T PURCHASE A BICYLE FROM:
Costco
Toys R Us
Target
Wal-Mart
Play it Again Sports
Salvation Army/ Good Will / local swapmeet

You CAN purchase inexpensive bicycles at quality independent bicycle stores. They will be more reliable overall - and will last years longer than some sort of cheap, heavy junk from the aforementioned retailers. Also, most of the independent cycle shops usually offer friendly maintenance tips, and give you a deal on repairs if you bring in one of their bikes. They also have cycling clubs, if you're looking for a regular group to train with.

oh!

it's just a trend that I've noticed, but... don't just go for the bike with the cushy-est looking seat. The bike itself is usually crap. If you find the bike of your dreams, but you want a different seat than the display, just ask.

"How does bicylcling make you feel?" -

Able to take on the world. I love racing by the cars that are just crawling along. I love laughing at the imbiciles that bring their shiny, fancy bikes, lock them up insufficiently, and expect the bike to be waiting for them when they return from 8 hours in the library. It's rewarding to ride my bike 4 miles to the grocery store, barely break a sweat, cram everything in my backpack, and get home before the folks that left with a car at the same time. I can't imagine life without a bicycle. I can't imagine it being very fun. Been riding since I was a kid, and never stopped. One can't know complete independence until they've ridden a bicycle: freedom to dart from one side of town to the other, to not be burdoned by rising fuel prices, and to start a day of work energized after a solid dose of fresh morning air.

I really like my bike, its a Trek 4900 alpha
think we paid about $350ish for it, had it for 4 hard years and I've only had to replace the chain and the rear sprocket (chain got crusty from being outside on the bike rack 24/7 and that caused teeth on the back gears to get bent x_X)

mainly use it for flying around campus as fast as I can... its way fun :)

use it for riding to friends houses and sometimes bars to...

its definently fun to fly by all the guys stuck in traffic.

I've taken it to the grocery a couple times... but I go so rarely that I need more cargo space then the bike can provide...

I've got a Trek I got for about 200 from a sporting goods store. It's reliable and has lasted years. I ride it quite a bit, but mostly just aorund town. I don't go on any long cross country bike rides, nor am I training for the tour de minnesota.

In my opinion, you don't notice the extra quality of a real expensive model (of anything) until you've used a cheaper model for awhile. So, go for the cheaper (but not cheapest) one. If you like it, buy a nice one in a year or two. That way, if you don't like it, you won't be out much.

i agree, if you don't really use it that often, then there's no real need to get something over the top right away. just go with a medium-ish priced mountain bike & see how you like it! trek does make great bikes - but there are plenty of brands/models to choose from. you'll be able to figure it out after you get used to riding - then you'll have a better idea of what to look for when you're ready to upgrade.

[[[[[[[[[[ TylerDurden0083 ]]]]]]]]]]
[[[[[[[[[[ Listening to : Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California ]]]]]]]]]]

Reading this thread I just realized I have too many bikes, well, no not really. I have a BMX for fun riding, a mountain bike for trail riding, and a touring bike for long trips and eventually getting to work.

The mountain bike was given to me by a friend and is way too tall for me. If you are going to buy a bike go to a local bike store, they will fit you properly on the bike.

I love biking, it's another means of pure freedom, being able to cover any distance, or a variety of terrain.

Enoy the ride.

On a totally unrelated topic...

I was in a bike shop with a friend of a friend, looking at bikes, and I saw some for more than $3000! For that price, I doubt that they'd let me test ride it but I would like to 'cause I'm really curious to know what a three thousand dollar bicycle must feel like... Really, what are you getting for that kind of money?

I'm not real familiar with all the technical aspects of a quality bike versus a cheapo one BUT...
My in-laws bought me a cheapo from K-mart. It rides fine and gets me where I need to go. I ride it fairly often to just get places in town instead of driving the car. Hubby's bike is the one that we put the connections onto in order to hook up the bike trailer for the little kids.
Hubby has a very nice bike that he paid a couple hundred for from a bike shop. He has even taken it back after an accident and they checked things over and made some minor repairs and tune-ups at no charge. Because they warrentied it. That was a big benefit.

What I can definately tell you is that even those my bike is newer, has the same number of gears, and is similar in size... I can ride his bike longer and harder without getting tired. I can ride his bike up a particularly long and steap hill on the edge of town, with the trailer hooked up and full of 2 kids but I cannot make it up that same hill without stopping and walking my bike. I do not know all the particulars but the more expensive bike has a smoother ride, easier to ride, more comfortable seat, and better gearing (or whatever it is that lets me make more power without straining so hard).

Good question. I've got a couple of those. In fact, when I put one of my road bikes in my old hunk of junk car, the value of the total package doubles!

I'd say most of the improvement comes when you go from $300 up to about $1000. You will get a much lighter bike, with more advanced and reliable components, and a much more comfortable ride over longer distances. If you're just riding to the local library and grocery store, it really doesn't matter much.

North of $1000 you are looking at small incremental improvements, if any, and spending increasing $$ to get that last 5% improvement in performance. Much of the time that extra money is going toward the latest trend or fad, which may look hot and be really popular, but do nothing for you as a cyclist. Some current examples would be carbon fiber seatposts, handlebars, and other carbon doo-dads. They're really meaningless in terms of performance, but they're the in thing, and people want them.

I think the best value in road bikes right now is to buy a classic lugged steel frame on EBay, and build it up with components. I realize that takes some bike knowledge and tools which may not be easily available. The frames are going for around $400 and ride like a dream....probably better than most bikes on the market for triple that price.

One final comment: Don't get a mountain bike unless you plan on mountain biking. They're heavy, inefficient, and ultimately uncomfortable for road riding, which is what many people end up doing with them.

Does anyone use a bike bell or horn? I just dug out an old road bike from my parent's garage and am looking to see what's necessary and what I can live without. For sure I'm getting new tires, new chain, and some steel wool to get rid of surface rust. I took it to a local shop to have it tuned up/looked over, so I guess we'll see what the verdict is.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/...30e418.jpg?v=0 <br> Univega Arrowpace, I'm guessing late 70's, early 80's.

I am an avid rider. I usually do 20-60km rides daily so I know a little bit about bikes. I am home for lunch right now and have to head back to the office so I'll post more in a bit and try and answer some questions.

One factor to consider is your lock situation. The more expensive the bike, the more someone is going to want to take it. If you plan on leaving your bike locked up somewhere for long periods of time I would suggest either investing in a good HQ lock or getting a used bike that you would not cry over losing.

I have a couple of bikes that I use for different situations. I keep a cheap jalopy around for when I ride to the library or get a few groceries.

I would suggest getting your bike at a cycle shop as suggested above. Normally you'll get much better service but again most of these shops have low profit margins so they'll try and sell you....but again state your price, main use and they'll put you in a ride that suits your needs.

If they don't measure or size you up while showing you bikes or allow you to test ride it around the block i'd try another shop.

Get a helmet too!!!! nothing more important than a helmet on kids AND adults.

The 25 dollar bike that I got from craigslist was fine for getting around town.

Until, it got stolen a few weeks later. (Get a bike lock)

Yes, a good lock will save you a lot of heartache. I use a Kryptonite U-lock with cable: The Kryptonite locks come with a guarantee (you have to fill out the paperwork) that says if your bike is stolen as a result of the lock failing, they'll replace your bike (obviously only as much as the original bike was worth).

First off, shop around. Prices vary from bike shop to bike shop, sometimes considerably. If you're going to use the bike to carry stuff at all, you'll want to consider getting a rack or panniers. If you're going to ride at night, you'll need a light for the front and a red light for the rear. You'll need a helmet. Bells are good for letting pedestrians know you're approaching; if you live in a town with a lot of pedestrian traffic I would recommend one. I just have a little dinky bell but it does the trick. If you're planning on riding any sort of distance, or riding for fitness purposes, get a cyclocomputer to track how fast you ride and how far you go. You might also consider replacing the saddle on that bike, depending on how it fits you. Having a saddle you like is important. Furthermore, learn some basic bicycle maintenance; around here Parks and Rec offers classes and so do a couple of the bike shops and the university. And lastly, get to know the bike shop guys! Find a good bike shop that you like, and get friendly. They are a great asset--use their expertise!

I love my bike, and I love riding it--it's my main mode of transportation.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

I haven't used my car in the past 10 days, and have put about 100 miles on my bike in that time.

I would recommend getting a speed/distance computer if you plan to ride for exercise or just for fun. Get a lock that has a way to mount to the bike frame when not in use. And wear a helmet. Don't trust your ears to hear cars at stop signs and lights, use your eyes. Get some white-lithium grease spray and use it on the moving parts. Keep your tires inflated. Stretch your legs and knees out before you ride and after you finish. And make sure the brakes are in good shape, use the back one normally and the front one (as well as the back) in emergencies. Backpacks work well for transporting stuff as well. I usually wear shorts and a t-shirt to ride, but change into work clothes in the bathroom at work when I get there.

I got "spend the money" advice. I bought a used mountain bike off Craigslist for $80 2-3 years ago and it's stood up to incredible abuse without ever crapping out on me. Not only do I often take it to work and the gym, but I occasionally toss it in the back of the Eclipse and take it up into the Santa Cruz mountains for the day. All I've ever had to do was realign the rims a few times and replace the tubes all the time.

I could have been lucky, I dunno. Still, the best $80 I've ever spent.

Where is he of the sharp edges? I know blahblah454 is a cyclist, maybe he can offer some insight. Mine is more general.

As a general rule, price is no guarantee of quality. I use my guitars as an example; some of my guitars are worth less than $200 but play like the equivalent $800 instruments. I can pull that off because I know what to look for and what to avoid.

If you don't know what to look for and what to avoid in bicycles, find someone who does. snowy's suggestion of the bike shop employees is probably a good bet.

My experience with bike employees is if you're not riding a bike above $800, you're sub-human. Of course they're not all going to be snobs, but it's a possibility.

I own a bike that cost considerably less than $800, and I've never been treated poorly by a bike shop employee in this town. Of course, I live in a town full of college students who use a variety of bikes as transport and bike enthusiasts. My roommate rides a beat-up Schwinn mountain bike, and hasn't run into any problems either--and he spends considerably more time in bike shops than I do.

Every bike shop is different; shop around and find one whose employees and prices you like.

Mary's SO made her bike for her out of random retro parts that he collected and it is one of the nicest looking bikes I have ever seen. It probably cost about $100. However, he is a bike mech for a living. He left last Sun from VA to bike to OR. He expects he will arrive sometime in Sep. Woot!

My friend J sort of collects bikes. He says his purpose in seeking them out is for resale or to cull better parts for his own bike, but I believe he just likes collecting them. I dont believe he has ever sold one. He buys and has bikes that probably cost as little as $5, all the way up to $2500.

So, whatever bike you get, know that you can change parts out and tweak it to your liking. And be careful out there.

I've known a number of people around this town who have cannibalized other bikes to make new bikes. The university here sells a variety of things at surplus, including all sorts of bikes that they impound off the racks at campus for various reasons, and a friend of mine once got 10 bikes for $20 that he managed to put together into 1 working road bike.

That old Univega is cool. Try to find a "bike kitchen" or co-op in your area. They will work on it for free if you help, basically you do most of the work with their tools under their supervision.

Since it's been sitting so long I'd suggest repacking the hubs, bottom bracket and headset. While it's apart the kitchen staff can tell you how much life is left in the bearings and races. Might as well ditch that pie-plate too, unless you like it. Without the spoke protector (useless on a correctly adjusted bike) shop employees will take you more seriously when you go to the LBS (local bike shop).

I like "dry lube" for my chains, I've been using Rock-n-Roll lube lately and love it. Wet lube lasts longer but it attracts dust here in Denver.

Learn to change a tube, ask about "the cotton ball trick" to find small things stuck in the tire and learn how to patch. Use good patches. Keep an extra tube around so you don't have to patch the tube just to go somewhere. I tie knots in the tubes that need to be patched and sit around and do them when I get a few built up.

That's really about it. Keep your chain lubed and stay out of the glass and you don't really have to spend much money on biking.

Four people, six bikes in the family. Soon to be seven bikes because the youngest just learned the joys of riding a geared bike on his moms.

If you live in a desert area, you should get these kevlar tube inserts. They will prevent lots of flat tires (I never got one in 5 years after putting them in, but got 3 in the first 2 weeks).

Came back from a really short ride, about 10 minutes around the neighborhood (roughly 1.5 miles, according to google maps). Thought I could take a small hill, winded the hell out of me! Felt good though, waved to everyone I saw.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/...5e850e.jpg?v=0

New break pads, new tires (Armadillo), new handlebar wrap (Cinelli). All I need now is some stamina.

It doesn't take very long. I've been riding a few times a week for 3 months now and 3 miles is nothing.

i ride as much as i can. I ride into work, and periodically go for lunch time rides (12-15 miles). if you plan to ride a lot, spend the money. If you can wait, a lot of bike shops have their off season tent sales and you can get a bike at 15-30% off (which means you can get an upgrade for free almost).

and as for the cheapies on Craigslist, they work great too. But be prepared to learn how to maintain them. Not to say thats a bad thing or anything, but you could nickel and dime yourself to death quite easily.

You'll get used to riding pretty quickly, especially if you keep at it. I can do a 10 mile ride (with hills), easy, and I never ever thought I'd be able to do that. I biked 20 miles in a day recently with a long ride for pleasure in the morning and a few shorter trips throughout the day after that. I'm kind of a chicken when it comes to testing myself, but this summer one of my goals is to push myself to take longer and longer rides.

Woo, just got back from a 28.5 mile ride. For the past 2 weeks I've been doing 10mile rides, but this was just too much. Glad I had my 10 speeds! I'm going to collapse in a heap now.

Yay for collapsing in a heap! My bike is currently out of commission with a front derailleur issue; I've been gone on holiday so I haven't taken care of it yet (rather, my SO hasn't had a chance to look at it yet). I expect to have it fixed by this weekend, but I won't get to go riding until Monday at the earliest anyways.

I can't see well enough in the picture, but if that bike has horizontal drop-outs, you can convert it to a fixed gear. HO-LY MO-LY is that like crack. I got on my friend's new bike at the end of April for all of 7.4 seconds, fell off of it a couple of times while trying to get my feet into the pedal straps and then found myself HOOKED FOR LIFE. I dipped into my rent money two days later and ordered one on sale for $300 at Bikes Direct. Let me tell you, it was the best $300 I've ever spent in my life. Hands down. I ride that sucker to school every day (when school's in session) and a lot of evenings when I get home from work too wound up, I go out and just tool around the neighborhood for a couple of hours. I should post pictures of my new shirt as soon as I get to doing my laundry... it has a picture of a bike and says "PUT THE FUN BETWEEN YOUR LEGS" :lol:

Where did you get that shirt? I want one.

I'm going to be riding a lot tomorrow. I even have a bicycle date with a cute girl. :)

I think my bike cost about $500 altogether. I bought the frame and the drive train components myself and then my awesome roommate bought the parts for and put together a wheel set for me. I like it a lot. It's a fixed gear Surly Steamroller.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8350/dscf7513io1.jpg
Sometimes they shut the freeways down.

I also know people who wouldn't even consider buying a new bike, but since I live in a pretty bike friendly town, there are many cheap used bikes to be had. If you go that route, or actually even if you don't, you'd probably be better off if you also familiarize yourself with the most common maintenance tasks, like changing a flat.

A lot of people who ride fixed gears swear by them. They are about as simple as you can get with a bicycle without going back to the 1820s.

great pic!!

Here is my trusty steed. She does me well for around town cruising. Did 45km today out and about in the heat....

A Rocky Mountain Fusion, IRC metro road slicks, velo computer...

I go to work every day with my roadbike. best thing i could have got for myself.

What is everyone's top speed?

mine has been 47km/hr on flat ground and just over 50km in a hill.
I'd like to practise keeping these speeds for longer periods of time if possible. The last time i went over 45, someone was driving(SUV) behind me for a long time all impressed. it was nice. "dude! you're going 45! "... -I know.

I've taken it back up after a 24 year hiatus. I've rode 20 miles today, and am getting ready to go for another ride this evening. The Marin Coast Trail I recently bought though is not half the Bike my old Takara 960 was. Man I miss that bike.

I've always been a casual rider. Never into the spandex nor pretending I was in the Tour De France.
Sadly I moved out to the suburbs where the mentality is "the more gas the better". Not the greatest place for bicycling. However this hasn't stopped me from using my bike for all my errands. My kids are also on two wheels. They ride to the video store and the grocery store with me. My youngest son just started BMX dirt track racing. He has the most expensive bike in the family.
I ride a 15 y/o Fugi Mountain bike. My wife rides an old rock hopper. My daughter has the sweetest ride of all, I picked her up an old 70's huffy banna seat bike. 9 bucks!!!! then the 60 to get street worthy, still worth it.
i spend hours on craigslist looking for old bikes. I wish I had expendable cash cause I would fill my garage up with bikes and try and get everyone in my nieghborhood on two wheels.

I just recently got back into bike riding. Used to do a lot of it when I was younger. You can definitely tell a difference between a walmart bike and a bike store bike. I think the biggest reason to buy from a bike store is that they know what they're doing. This means you'll get a bike that fits you, is made more for what you're going to use it for, and most importantly, if something does go wrong they'll be there to help you fix it.

I ride casually, usually to go work out or a 7 or 8 mile ride in the evening around town. The town has put in some bike paths which are very welcome but very crowded at times. Last Sunday evening I came up on a couple walking on the bike path. So I rode off the path and after I got by them I wiped out trying to get back on the path. The bike path's surface was about 2 inches higher than the ground level. The grass was high enough that I didn't notice until my front wheel hit it. As I was falling I extended my hands to break my fall and I thought for sure I'd break my wrists. Luckily I didn't. I have a really ugly looking right knee. Plus other scrapes elsewhere. While I was lying in the weeds, face down the guy I just passed said "are you OK, sir?" Sir? Damn it, I was face down in the weeds with a bike helmet on and I still looked like a sir to him! Hurt worse than the scrapes. :D

Wear a bike helmet, regardless. I popped my head pretty hard and it saved me from much worse injury.

Ouch, glad your ok! Hey at least they did not laugh at you! Do you have a bell? There a must have on multi-use pathways. I do notice one effect with the bell though, that everyone seems to just fucking stop what there doing and turn around. So instead of just moving over to the correct side of the path they stop, turn and then SOME times get out of the way...

BTW add gloves to that must wear along with a helmet Craven!

Gloves give you padding on your hands against the handlebars, better grip if you get sweaty and if you take a header they get ripped up and not your hands.

On friday night we had some big storms pass through and I went out for a ride Saturday morning, I came up to a long patch of mud very quickly and tried to steer out of it but it was too late. My back brake locked up and i went surfing on one foot and the bike half on it's side. I did manage to stay on my feet and was amazed at no damage to me or the bike!

Today my neck is so freaking stiff when i turn my head to the right! Could feel it all during my ride today, luckily the lady friend is coming over to massage it and several other aches and pains out...

Good on ya evilbeefchan :)
I got back on the road bike this past week after recovering from pneumonia... (However the heck ya spell it)
It is a 20+ year old Miyata 710. New bars/tires/tubes/cables and brake pads.
Let me tell ya the guys who I tear by on their $5k+ bikes didn't look to thrilled....
**until they saw me almost puking 5 blocks later from pushing it hard!**
I have a long way to go!

A little a bout my bike. I ride a Trek 460, circa 1984. I bought this bike at a place called Helping Hands which is a thrift store. I paid $20. Tuned it up. To date I have only put about 800 mi. of it as I haven't had much time to ride. I have put a set of clip on pedals, a computer and a new saddle. I recently had to put a new set of wheels on it as I ahve now joined the over the bar scar club. While riding with some friends and at about 30 mph just kinda run off the road. I crumpled my front tire and broke a rib. as a result. Other than that the bike recovered very well. I have put about another 150 mi on it after the crash.

The bike is an old steel frame and I really love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and when I get done traveling I will buy a new bike but will always keep my steelie. I too can't stress the helmet issue enough. When I went down, my hips hit first then my shoulder producing a whipping effect with my head. I broke my helmet, adn believe that if it hadn't been for my helmet the crash may have been fatal.

I love to ride, I just don't have time, and I feel like the king of the world after riding 25-30 miles.

Scot

Yep, going to pick up a bell. Actually was considering that before I wiped out. And now that I have, I'm also thinking about gloves, too.

Takes all the fun out of visiting the Titty Board when your palms are all scrapped up. ;):lol:

I've been riding too. Started for the 2007 MS bike tour in my town, and have been keeping it up more or less since. My favorite two riding routes are 30 or 40km respectively. I have an old roadbike donated by a friend for the MS cause. I add a new part or two, and keep it going. Wiped out in training this spring on a night when my left pedal and crank fell off, then (after reattaching) I almost hit a porcupine, and finally lost it on the pea gravel 20 feet from my garage. That hurt! So I second the gloves and helmet advice! Wearing one protects your brain, and proves you have one.

I'm getting interested in garage hacking of bikes.

My two boys and I just came into the house from testing our first build, a Spin Cycle.

To see what I am talking about - check out atomiczombie.com.

Cycling ROCKS ! Human powered vehicles - lets go !

Holy crap! atomiczombie.com...... I'd be up now starting to build, but 4:52am might have me pissing off neighbors with the grinder going!!!
Where are the pics of the spin cycle ? :)

Here is mine. Still somewhat prototyped the seat will be upgraded and the metal painted someday.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...ke_resized.jpg

I ride a BMX-type single speed around the trails here. Love it. My wife has a $80 walmart special that she's been using for a couple of years, seems to work fine for her. We have about 70 miles of concreted "greenbelt" that we go on, which I ride with no hands because it makes me work harder. I have no idea how many miles we cover, but in the texas heat it doesn't take long to wear down ;)

I'm saving up for a mountain bike at the local shop, about $750, but it sure felt nice when I tested it.

This bike shop in Boulder, Co hooked me up with a Giant mountain bike, the model name was Boulder (strangely). Thing was awesome, they understoo. I was on a budget and didn't try to upsell me. So I'm not sure if Full Cycle is all over the country or just local, but they're good guys.

Looks like their only locations are in Boulder and Fort Collins, but what's funny is that we have a bike shop here called Full Cycles (Full Cycles Bike Shop - Call Toll Free 866.752.9010) and they're really awesome too. It's the closest bike shop to the university here, and the guys are incredibly helpful. Plus, if you need a simple repair done, they'll show you how to do it and the labor costs aren't bad at all. It's nice to have an easy-in-easy-out bike shop so close to campus.

is that serious!?!? i want to see videos of you on it! looks fucked up! :thumbsup:

i ride an old motobecane super mirage.
it was an excellent city bike---out here in ruralia, though, it's a little heavy.
today was my first ride on mountain bike clip pedals.
i managed not to fall off when i stopped.
i almost decided to make it a fixed gear, but think at some point i'll opt for a lighter frame instead.

most excellent photo, filtherton.
admirable action as well.

Can anyone recommend some good winter cycling gloves? I'm on a budget, but if it's something under $50 for AMAZING I can splurge. I'm the type to get numb/painful fingers throughout winter in my faux leather gloves and often get clammy in mittens. Ideally, I am going to keep riding to school when it gets cold this year because I'm going to plan ahead and buy the proper gear.

roachboy - You can convert mountain bikes into fixies!?!?! :hyper: I thought most mountain bikes had vertical dropouts...?

Tirian - that looks hot, but the first thing I thought was OUCH. My ass is so bruised just looking at that flat wooden surface and thinking about all my weight sitting back on it. Hope you get the upgrade soon!

i looove cycling! I'll ride all day and night if i had the time...



buying a bike is like buying a car... the more you spend on it, the more you'll get from it...

Haha ate concrete today riding around in the rain. I hit a clay patch and then didn't consider that fact when I took a sharp turn right after that. Front wheel went out from under me and I slid several feet. My knee looked like hamburger and below my elbow was rubbed through the skin. Ah well, just got up and rode home LOL. Did a number on the shoulder though, that's gonna hurt for a while, but hey, at least I can still ride :D

Supple--I got some gloves from Specialized last year for less than $40 from my local bike shop that rock my socks. They're highly water resistant, wind resistant, and keep my fingers toasty warm. I too get super-cold hands in winter, so it helps a lot. I love them so much I wear them sometimes when I'm not biking. :) http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=34677 They also make heavier gloves if you need them, but these did the trick through an icy cold winter.

Another realtively cheap approach to this problem: Get a pair of silk or polypro liners that go under your regular gloves. (Make sure your regular gloves are big enough to accomodate the liners without cutting off the circulation to your fingers or this "solution" will make things worse, not better.)
Then you have regular, weatherproof gloves over a liner. Should keep you warm and dry, and when you start to sweat you remove one of the pairs of gloves for a while until you cool down.

sc: my old blue motobecane is a road bike.
the pedal clips are mountain bike clips because they're smaller and you can plausibly walk around a bit wearing the shoes.
it's a clippity-cloppity walking.

Thanks for the tips, guys! RB - I just reread your original post and now realize that you said mountain bike pedals. Heh, big difference. I guess I've been dreaming of a fixed gear mountain bike since I got my Windsor Hour because I'm like the princess on the pea when I ride that thing. I can practically feel it when I run over ants.

How did I miss this...
Well I'm a big rider when I have the time, and when my car was having problems I road the 5 miles to and from campus in Lubbock. I love my bike, it's been great. I got a brand new road bike for my graduation present. It's a Mercier, I sized myself at a local shop and my dad ordered my bike online for me. It's about a $1800.00 bike (we didn't pay that much!), but completely worth the money. It's been nothing but wonderful for me.

Here's James and I at the Moonlight ramble which goes 20 miles through downtown Houston in October. It was a blast!

Seven years ago I purchased a cheap steel (heavy!) mountain bike for $100something from Wal Mart when I was living temporarily in Florida... and left it there when I moved a few months later.

Two summers ago I visited one of our three local bike shops and purchased a Trek 7.2FX for about $400. I was struck immediately by how much lighter this bike was, with an aluminum frame and no suspension. I started cycling the four miles each way to and from our local transit center as part of my commute to work and kept it up pretty consistently through the summer, fall and spring.

After a year of "research" on bike commuting blogs and forums, I set my heart on getting the extremely versatile Surly Crosscheck, which I picked up from the other local bike shop a week ago. That trip to the shop cost me about $1,300, between the bike, clipless pedals and shoes (a first) and some other accessories (rear rack, two bottle cages and a bell).

I love this bike! The pedals have taken some getting used to (only a couple of near falls) but overall the upgrade has been totally worth it. Riding for me feels fun, exciting and liberating, and even moreso on my new ride. At the end of this month I'm doing my first long(er) distance ride, 45 miles in the LiveStrong Challenge. I am nervous about going that far—my "training" hasn't yet amounted to distances much over 15 miles yet and there's not much time left—but I'm still excited.

I'd like to try riding fixed gear someday. I'll probably fall but that's half the fun, right?

They make stickers, too. :D

Nice bike, spinelust.

I too recommend trying out a fixed gear. I don't want to say that they're more hardcore because I don't want to feed into the all the bullshit bravado that a lot of fixie riders seem to have, but they're definitely more something. It's nice to brake with your feet (though I still have a front brake for the unexpected). I almost fell the first time I tried it; it definitely makes you rewrite your muscle memory.

My problem right now with mine is that I overused a chain and deformed the teeth on my drive train. I got a new chain, but it isn't deformed like my gears, so that when I pedal it makes an annoying "settling" noise. I guess next time I won't wait until my chain is completely fucked to replace it.

Yeah, that's the one! My shirt's like the sticker but more vertically oriented. :thumbsup:

I just noticed we're almost neighbors! You can come try my bike out anytime if you want a taste of the crack.

Ugh, not a fan of fixed-gear bikes. But I rarely ride street though, so that may be why.

Some really nice bikes on here. I ride a Specialized Tricross Sport, using it to commute the 15 miles from home to Uni. It's ideal for me because as a crosser it can take going on dirt tracks if i feel like a detour, and handles extremely well in the wet. As you can see i don't have clipless pedals but i've never used them before and am a tad unsure about them.

I'm also thinking of getting slicker tyres for it as the Borough CX tyres are quite big for a road bike.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...33461_4341.jpg

Of course my dream bike, that I one day hope to own is the Specialized Tarmac Comp 06. That is a sweet looking bike.

Supple, thanks for the offer. I'd be happy to take you up on it at some point. :D

Sensei, ditto on having a Cross bike, and nice choice with the Specialized. Would you ever consider going clipless? And having mentioned that your Specialized handles well on wet roads, does it take fenders and are you considering getting them?

I had fenders on my last bike. They did surprisingly well in keeping the wetness off my legs and clothes in the rain but occasionally went out of alignment and started rubbing against my wheels. I'm not yet sure if I want to get them for the Surly. From what I understand, they also make removing the wheels a bit of a pain.

I want to upgrade to cliples as soon as I have the opportunity, as i hear they really help on the hills. Would be a damn shame not to, because I live in Cornwall, Britain, and it's all hill.

As far as Fenders go.. no way. I think it would ruin the aesthetic of the bike, and i don't mind getting wet. Having said that, I don't know if you can fit one on anyway.

Anyone use Bikely and mycyclinglog.com?

I figured I'd post some pictures taken after finishing my first long distance ride today: the 45 mile LiveStrong Challenge ride along the winding, hilly roads of Montgomery County, PA. The weather today couldn't have been more perfect for it.

Awesome, spinelust!

Biking is my latest passion. Whenever I get free time I always ride. So back in March I bought a real bike. It's an 07 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR that I paid $1800 on clearance. After upgrades I've easily got $2500 in the bike, and it's worth every penny. I ride a lot of trails so getting a road bike wasn't an option, and I think road bikes are boring as hell. Why would anyone want to be confined to riding on concrete or asphalt? On the rare ocasions that I only ride on the road I lock out my suspension and rip around town, but I usually find things to jump or head to the trails and really have fun. I easily ride 20-30 miles whenever I head out.

Nice ride Sixate! I ride a mountain bike see previous pages, but also this road bike. I like to jump sometimes, other times I like to ride fast. Real fast.

I think it all depends upon what you intend to get out of your bike. I have a coworker who has a bike riding group from her health club that regularly make 50-100 mile day trips. They are serious about their biking and I doubt one of them own a bike that retailed for less that 3k brand new.

If you are just thinking you want to get some exercise and go for short trips, bike 10-20 miles here and there I am sure you can easily find a bike that will suit your needs without bleeding your bank account. Know what it is you want to do with it, where it is you expect to be biking. Is it on bike trails with good asphalt surfaces or dirt trails. Go to a bike shop they will make sure that you are fit with a bike that you like, that will fit you properly as well. I think that is a big issue with a lot of people, finding a bike and getting it adjusted comfortably. Also keep in mind if you have back troubles for instance you may want to consider a recombinant bicycle.

to say i am a "rider" might be an understatement. biking for me is part of life. it makes me feel happy, excited, content, healthy, alive, lots of things. i'm on a bike every day, if not several bikes within the same day.

i would recommend for everyone to get into cycling, but you have to realize there are many different types of cycling. do you want to commute? do you want to race? do you want to do tricks? are you going to be on the dirt? on the road? all of these things are things to consider when buying a bicycle, but i whole-heartedly agree with what has been said already about avoiding walmart, etc. regardless of what kind of riding you want to do, having a decent bike to do it on can make all the difference in whether you love it or hate it.

since others are posting their bikes, here we go... ;)

Rocky Mountain road bike
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/135/p8140073vk1.jpg

IRO fixed gear
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2...074033pdw2.jpg

Pake single speed
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8682/p8170028dw5.jpg

Giant mountain bike
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3317/p8170025ge7.jpg

bike for the winter snow (i know it's a summer picture)
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4599/p8024385ze7.jpg

Planet X trials bike
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3082/p8270047dr0.jpg

vintage Haro trials bike
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/20/p8270049dt2.jpg

work in progress :thumbsup:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3822/p8170031fj4.jpg

Our 4yo just got his first bike with training wheels and wants to go out riding at every opportunity. We've also got a kids seat on the back of my bike for the 2yo.

Nothing too strenuous yet, but Sydney is blessed with quite a few safe places to take a small child (Sydney Olympic Park and surrounds is probably the best example). We've been there a couple of times and are likely to return again soon.

Road Tires
 

Can anyone recommend a road tire for a Specialized Rockhopper Sport that will mount on the current rims (Specialized/Alex HR26)? What size tire will I need to get? The knobbies are 26x2.20. Budget: $15-40.

Thanks in advance.

Your local bike shop should be able to determine the correct size and probably have a few you can choose from for a less aggressive tire.

I currently have a set of IRC Metro's II's on my mountain bike for tooling around town and grocery getting. i swap them out when i am going off road.

IRC Tire | www.irctire.com

Would anybody here be interested in participating in a TFP group for cyclists? I'm not yet too familiar with how active the groups are or whether starting a group would be too exclusive, but I figured I'd ask.

My uncle gave me a bike a week ago, a trek 820, he had it 'tuned', new locks for wheels and the seat (we live in NYC). Did I mention it was the first time I had ridden a bike since July 1989. Rode it home 5.2 miles, and my butt hurt for 2 days I would guess. Since then this week I rode it twice for quick 2 mile spreads trying to learn the gears, but it is fun.

I do know I am definitely out of shape though!

Picked up a set of road/hybrid tires at the LBS, $20 each. Smoother, quieter, much better for pavement - just what I was looking for. Thanks.

2006 Specialized Rockhopper...good, solid, low cost bike. I think they look pretty good...for a hardtail.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_6450.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_6446.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_6448.jpg

Knobby tire that was replaced.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_6457.jpg

I joined the group you started, spinelust. :) Hopefully others will follow suit, and then we can figure out what these social group things do anyways.

Yay!!!! :D

With bikes you really get your dollar's worth. So, you really would be best off spending the little bit more money for the better bike.

I am a new user who is also a roadie as well.
I hail from the Denver metro area and commute as well. All together I average around 7000-9000 miles a year.
At that mileage I literally destroy xmart bikes. I either purchase mine at a bike shop or build up a frame.
My bikes are:
07 Tarmac Expert. Club rides and long distance rides.
07 Hardrock mountain bike. Mainly used to haul my son around on a trail-a-bike or for winter riding.
08 Salsa Casserole SS\FG. This is my main commuter that I built up.

My older bikes were terminated in various incidents with vehicles. One on a trunk rank and we were rear ended. The other when I was right hooked while riding in a bike lane.

Next year I plan on moving towards faster club rides with possibly some racing thrown in. That and upping my mileage to exceed 10,000 miles in a year for the first time.

Anyhow, I highly recommend bike store bikes. Also, if you have a decent store that sells used you can find some good deals. Well... you could before gas prices whent up. Plus cycling is getting insanely popular here in Denver. More so than the past.

I love you

Just a couple of pic's from my iphone from my latest ride. 110km ride out in the country, not realizing how much of a tail wind I had until I ventured out too far! Nothing like a 20km/h headwind on the way home argh!

Not many cars passed me, just lots of livestock and hawks..no dogs! I did have a stretch were a farmer had just spread his field with manure....upped the tempo for a km or two...

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...IMG_0255-1.jpg

very boring here in ontario. I did have a nice place to take a picture on top of a small climb but there was a house right on the top and the home owner was hanging out some laundry. Thought she might be creeped out if she saw a camera since she was in her pj's.

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/IMG_0251.jpg

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/IMG_0269.jpg

turn away!
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/IMG_0262.jpg

Stinky! There's a stretch on my morning ride that smelled distinctly like vomit for a while there, but it has subsided as of late.

Lovely pictures!

My commute goes by an open air sewage treatment plant. Yummy ... not