Also I don't have any gear. Looking to buy a helmet (for trails/possible dirt jumps) but I really hate how they look, was thinking of getting this...
...prolly too much eh? Heh I dunno anyways yea MTB is something I am looking to get into this summer.
Unless you're lance Armstrong suck it up and get a gel padded seat.Has anyone here had the rather unpleasant experience of dealing with saddle sores? I've been riding for a few years now and have just now experienced the painful little pests. I'm starting to think my saddle may be wearing down. I've had a professional bike fit so I don't believe that's the issue.
What saddle is CyclingGAF using to keep the dreaded sores away?
You could take that off road no prob with appropriate tires. Remember original MTBers road on basically reinforced road bikes. Atires and geometry are the real requirement and this would be fine for moderate plus trails. I wouldn't go crazy, but I've done plenty on a Gary Fisher Mendota and a Trek 7500fx and both are similar to this.I'm thinking about buying a Specialized Crosstrail Disc but I'm hesitant about buying a "hybrid" like this. Do owners of such bikes feel that the compromises inherent to a hybrid limit their ability on either end of the spectrum (strictly road or strictly MTB)? Any long distance fatigue or easily bent wheels?
Link to Bike
Flatted yesterday during a 50km ride. It was in the home stretch, but walking 5km in road shoes will make me more prudent on future rides. I usually have an extra tube, but I forgot that I gave it to a friend. I am now carrying 2 tubes and 2 co2 cartridges at all times.
Edit: How does everyone feel about chain cleaners? Is this worth $20? Filzer CC-2
Has anyone here had the rather unpleasant experience of dealing with saddle sores? I've been riding for a few years now and have just now experienced the painful little pests. I'm starting to think my saddle may be wearing down. I've had a professional bike fit so I don't believe that's the issue.
What saddle is CyclingGAF using to keep the dreaded sores away?
I've been riding every day since getting it, and my butt is sore - I suspect things will toughen up back there in a week or two.
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Cheers all!
I want to buy a bike before in the next week or 2...
Is there a bike people would recommend for under $1000?
Is it possible to get a bike with disc brakes and suspension for that price?
Thanks
I just put some money down on a 2013 Specialized Sirrus in a sweet looking matte blue. I'll post some picks when I pick it up. I'm new to biking and my wife and I are getting into it for some exercise and recreation. Can any of you experianced riders recommend anything to help us get started. Also, she ordered a 2013 Specialized Myka.
Get a nice gel seat. i cannot say this enough to people. You are causing completely unnecessary pain, for no reason beyond aesthetics. The value of a narrow light seat is probably important to a competitive cyclist, but comfort should be your first concern. Doesn't have to be some big couch on a stick. Try something like this:
Serfas makes fine seats and this one is fairly small. Net result is that after a fifty mile ride, my ass is not in tatters as it would be with the oem seat, or a road bike seat.
:cry
I didn't see that mini crater until it was too late, bam! £80 out of pocket
some of the roads around here are an absolute disgrace.
Pics?
Gaf, I'm looking to buy a bike, but I do not know the difference between a bad bike and a good bike. I am completely clueless. I'm only planning to use it on trails in the Summer. My friend is asking me if I want to buy this brand new bike off of him. He is asking me to make him an offer, but I do not how much to offer. http://www.amway.com/Shop/Product/Product.aspx/Shogun-21-speed-Mountain-Bike?itemno=749746 Yes, he is part of Amway, unfortunately. He is a good guy, though. They have it listed for $200 but I am skeptical of the quality because well...it's Amway. So help me out.
Hey Bicycle-Gaf, I decided to get back into shape and have always enjoyed riding bikes... so I picked up a new ride last Saturday!
I've been sick of Wal-Mart/Canadian Tire bikes so I decided to do some research (some of which was this thread) and decided on a hybrid Trek FX 7.3 (black).
It's such an awesome bike!!
It's so nice to have a decent quality bike under me... something that doesn't weigh 60 pounds of heavy steel, lol.
I've been riding every day since getting it, and my butt is sore - I suspect things will toughen up back there in a week or two.
My model (everyone is familiar with it I'm sure):
http://s18.postimage.org/79ppjg71l/Trek_7_3.png[IMG]
Cheers all![/QUOTE]
You got yourself a very nice bike. I got a 7.3 FX back in May and after riding 40-mile-rides twice a week since then I can now report back my thoughts so far.
As far as Trek is concerned, the 7.3 FX is a great starter bike. It looks cool, handles great and the price is not to high. My main complaints is that the ride can be a little rough given that that both the fork and the frame are aluminum. Another thing that could be better is the saddle. Perhaps my body hasn't adjusted to the saddle yet, but with about 300 miles down I don't think that's the case. After 30 miles of riding my butt hurts.
For people looking for a first bike with a LBS that sells Trek, I would actually recommend, if the budged allows, to go for the 7.4 FX, which has a carbon fork.
Since I'm here already, I would like to ask BicycleGAF for advice regarding a future upgrade to a road bike. The two models I'm considering are the new Trek Madone 2.1 and the Cannondale CAAD105. I really like the Cannondale look and it has gotten outstanding reviews for being the only aluminum road bike that matches riding characteristics found in higher-end carbon road bikes.
[url]http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_2_series/madone_2_1#[/url]
[url]http://www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes/road/elite-road/caad10/2012-caad10-5-105-20093[/url]
A problem is that my LBS only sells Trek and I really want to keep them in business, so if I end up getting the Cannondale they don't get my money.
You got yourself a very nice bike. I got a 7.3 FX back in May and after riding 40-mile-rides twice a week since then I can now report back my thoughts so far.
As far as Trek is concerned, the 7.3 FX is a great starter bike. It looks cool, handles great and the price is not to high. My main complaints is that the ride can be a little rough given that that both the fork and the frame are aluminum. Another thing that could be better is the saddle. Perhaps my body hasn't adjusted to the saddle yet, but with about 300 miles down I don't think that's the case. After 30 miles of riding my butt hurts.
For people looking for a first bike with a LBS that sells Trek, I would actually recommend, if the budged allows, to go for the 7.4 FX, which has a carbon fork.
Since I'm here already, I would like to ask BicycleGAF for advice regarding a future upgrade to a road bike. The two models I'm considering are the new Trek Madone 2.1 and the Cannondale CAAD105. I really like the Cannondale look and it has gotten outstanding reviews for being the only aluminum road bike that matches riding characteristics found in higher-end carbon road bikes.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_2_series/madone_2_1#
http://www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes/road/elite-road/caad10/2012-caad10-5-105-20093
A problem is that my LBS only sells Trek and I really want to keep them in business, so if I end up getting the Cannondale they don't get my money.
You got yourself a very nice bike. I got a 7.3 FX back in May and after riding 40-mile-rides twice a week since then I can now report back my thoughts so far.
As far as Trek is concerned, the 7.3 FX is a great starter bike. It looks cool, handles great and the price is not to high. My main complaints is that the ride can be a little rough given that that both the fork and the frame are aluminum. Another thing that could be better is the saddle. Perhaps my body hasn't adjusted to the saddle yet, but with about 300 miles down I don't think that's the case. After 30 miles of riding my butt hurts.
For people looking for a first bike with a LBS that sells Trek, I would actually recommend, if the budged allows, to go for the 7.4 FX, which has a carbon fork.
Since I'm here already, I would like to ask BicycleGAF for advice regarding a future upgrade to a road bike. The two models I'm considering are the new Trek Madone 2.1 and the Cannondale CAAD105. I really like the Cannondale look and it has gotten outstanding reviews for being the only aluminum road bike that matches riding characteristics found in higher-end carbon road bikes.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_2_series/madone_2_1#
http://www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes/road/elite-road/caad10/2012-caad10-5-105-20093
A problem is that my LBS only sells Trek and I really want to keep them in business, so if I end up getting the Cannondale they don't get my money.
1. Stock saddles are garbage. They are designed to be inexpensive and disposable as everyone has different preferences in terms of comfort. Ask your shop if they have any loaner/demo saddles you can try.
2. In terms of road bikes, what are you looking to get out of your bike? Do you want to race? ride for long distance? high speeds? etc. This will help me give you advice. Above $1000 in road bikes there really aren't "bad" bikes, just different.
Ride them both.
If you think the 7.3FX is harsh on your ass, you will love the CAAD10.
I love my CAAD10, but it is a racy aluminum bike, it is not an exceptionally comfortable bike. I can do 60 milers without too many issues, but I'm not especially looking forward to my upcoming century training.
This week I'm stopping at my LBS to see if I can get a loan saddle. This problem is now at the point that is affecting my performance since my legs can still go further but I just can't stand sitting.
I want a starter road bike for longer rides that is durable (long term 10+ years). Carbon bikes at this point seem like overkill because I'm not at the point where I can benefit from their advantages. Also, I'm paranoid that carbon bikes are more prone to damage. This might seem like a chromoly touring bike is a better choice for me, but I haven't liked any of the ones I've seen with the possible exception of the Trek 520, but the color sucks.
My goal before starts snowing this year is to do a century. Would you get a different bike if you had the chance?
I am about to pull the trigger on a bikesdirect.com bike: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst_al_carb_x.htm
I realize this website draws a lot of discussion from high praise to heavy scorn; however, I just need this bike to kick around town and commute to work a few days a week (15 miles each way). Anyway, I come to ask a sizing question. If I am between sizes 58cm v. 60cm, should I err on the side of smaller or larger? I easily clear the standover height on both sizes but was concerned on how "stretched" I would be on the larger frame.
For reference, I'm 6'1-6'2" and ride a 59cm Lemond on longer road rides.
Would you get a different bike if you had the chance?
I'd like to add that Raleigh also has a great lineup of steel road bikes as well. I have their 2010 Record Ace road bike which I use for long rides (I completed my first century just last month with it =) and a 2012 Furley single-speed cyclocross bike which I use as my commuter.There are some really comfortable, lighter weight steel bikes out there that are perfect for riding distance. When I ran a bike shop I loved, Jamis and Surly for those kind of bikes:
(snip)
Hope this helped. I spent seven years selling bicycles for people interested in distance riding/touring/adventure cycling so I have sold dozens of each of those bikes and know them well.
I'd like to add that Raleigh also has a great lineup of steel road bikes as well. I have their 2010 Record Ace road bike which I use for long rides (I completed my first century just last month with it =) and a single-speed Furly cyclocross bike which I use as my commuter.
http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/steel-road/
One thing, though, is that their 2012 Record Ace is pretty disappointing compared to my 2010 model...they've downgraded the drivetrain from Shimano Ultegra to 105 (105 is very good in itself but still a downgrade!) and switched out the awesome Brooks Swallow leather racing saddle for their own in-house generic leather one...AND STILL PRICED IT THE SAME (about $1800 retail).
My bike was stolen last night.
WTF didn't you lock it up or put it away?
Also, IN GENERAL for casual/entry riders, is the premium price point on a "2012" bike really worth it over the "2011" models?
The 2013 models are just around the corner so LBSs will start slashing prices on 2012s very soon, if not now.In general no, you are better off saving the money and getting the 2011.
In general no, you are better off saving the money and getting the 2011.
The 2013 models are just around the corner so LBSs will start slashing prices on 2012s very soon, if not now.