Bicycle age

Didn't get out last weekend and I'm feeling it. :(

Am going to try and get out Saturday and Monday (probably only a couple of hours on Monday) so that I don't find myself going stir crazy by the end of the week.
 
I am so enjoying my break from riding my bike everyday this week I have only done 50km + 60km tomorrow at the river to reef ride and sunday who knows. but probably max 200 km :), December is when I get back on bike fully for the 2013 season.
 
heading down to Hood River, OR tomorrow for one last 200k for the year. Worst case I figure I'll take it super super easy. Should be fun with quite a few people signed up for the ride (for a rando ride in the area -- ~20 ppls).
 
Psychotext said:
Didn't get out last weekend and I'm feeling it. :(

Am going to try and get out Saturday and Monday (probably only a couple of hours on Monday) so that I don't find myself going stir crazy by the end of the week.
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Sometimes it is good to take some time off. Just got off a 1 week break and it was really nice to be back on the road. Legs felt like shit for the first 20 minutes but whatever, got over it.

How is most everyone coping with the coming snow? Time to pick up a trainer tire and going to team spin classes.

Winter sucks.
 
Psychotext said:
Didn't get out last weekend and I'm feeling it. :(

Am going to try and get out Saturday and Monday (probably only a couple of hours on Monday) so that I don't find myself going stir crazy by the end of the week.
Click to expand...

I rode back from the pub last night and since I was thoroughly sozzled and on the P1, I did some urban tomfoolery. It put a huge grin on my face although my thighs are griefing me today.
 
vidcons said:
How is most everyone coping with the coming snow? Time to pick up a trainer tire and going to team spin classes.

Winter sucks.
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I bike to work all winter! Have plenty of winter clothes for the rides. Worst day last year it was 5 degrees and my glasses would fog over at stop lights, but would then turn to ice once I started moving again. Had to take them off half way to work haha. The ride is 11 miles each way.
 
I feel like I should go for a ride tonight even though it's like 50 degrees out and I'd probably regret it. Gotta get used to it though if I have any hope of getting into the habit...
 
What are the most puncture-proof tyres/inner tubes? Broken glass is almost unavoidable as I have to ride a pathway next to a football stadium. These Michelin tubes I have seem to pop every month.
 
vidcons said:
How is most everyone coping with the coming snow? Time to pick up a trainer tire and going to team spin classes.

Winter sucks.
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maxxis_highroller.jpg
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Winter, what's winter?

Seriously though, this year I'm not stopping. I have wet weather gear and I'm going to use it. It's just too easy to fail to get started every year.

Jill Sandwich said:
What are the most puncture-proof tyres/inner tubes? Broken glass is almost unavoidable as I have to ride a pathway next to a football stadium. These Michelin tubes I have seem to pop every month.
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I have armoured tyres (Schwalbe Marathon Extreme) on and thicker (Michelin Protek Max) tubes. So far, so good. A lot of people I know swear by slime in your situation though, or Stan's no-tubes.
 
Daven said:
I am so enjoying my break from riding my bike everyday this week I have only done 50km + 60km tomorrow at the river to reef ride and sunday who knows. but probably max 200 km :), December is when I get back on bike fully for the 2013 season.
Click to expand...

muu said:
heading down to Hood River, OR tomorrow for one last 200k for the year. Worst case I figure I'll take it super super easy. Should be fun with quite a few people signed up for the ride (for a rando ride in the area -- ~20 ppls).
Click to expand...

You guys should join Strava.

vidcons said:
How is most everyone coping with the coming snow? Time to pick up a trainer tire and going to team spin classes.

Winter sucks.
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Snow? Lol

Biggest problem here with winter riding is it the short daylight. Even when we get rain in winter it isn't that bad. Toes, ears and fingers get a little cold.
 
So I did go on that bike ride. Something like 14.8 miles on the High Trestle trail here. A nice ride in the crisp evening, with deer and rabbits and such rustling in the trees and brush. Glad I went.
 
Sounds nice. I'm up in 5 hours for a bit of an exploratory ride around the local area (never really done it, just heading off in random directions to see what I can see). Not tired though. :(
 
Exploring was a mistake. I found quite possibly the muddiest path known to man and ended up having to turn back as it took about 20 minutes to go 100m.

Still, found some fairly good trails, but none long enough to use regularly.
 
Trasher said:
Can anyone recommend some fixed gear bikes? I don't know anything about them or their pricing.
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Eh, not a lot to them. www.bikesdirect.com is probably where'd you first start looking. Something like the Kilo TT. I've been thinking about getting one just for fucking around but two bikes in the apartment is already a pain to live with.
 
If you're not riding track then don't get a fixie.

Just don't.

This has been elaborated on to death. Get a freewheel with a front brake. It looks just as good.
 
Brera said:
I'm going to get my self a 29er on the UK Cycle 2 work scheme.

You pay every month from your wages and it's deducted before tax so save around 30-40% depending on your salary. It's a good deal apart from the fact that higher earners save more!
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I'm doing exactly the same thing in November and I'm getting this -

VoodooHoodoo29er11.jpg


Cycle 2 work is a really good deal, can't wait to get mine!
 
vidcons said:
If you're not riding track then don't get a fixie.

Just don't.

This has been elaborated on to death. Get a freewheel with a front brake. It looks just as good.
Click to expand...

The fixie trend is baffling. I don't know when, where or why it started but I look forward to it going away.

Single speed, I understand. Fixies seem to be purely for poseurs though. Perhaps why I see most of 'em being pushed rather than ridden. Bah.
 
Jaymo said:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_790309_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#tab2

Although, I just noticed a "Product cannot be purchased at this time" notice under the price : /

Well, I don't get my voucher from work until January, so hopefully it'll be available again by then. If not, I'm sure I'll find something else :)
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The Voodoo line isn't going anywhere (they've been very highly rated by the specialist press) so even if that one isn't available, there will be another one to buy at some point.
 
Psychotext said:
The Voodoo line isn't going anywhere (they've been very highly rated by the specialist press) so even if that one isn't available, there will be another one to buy at some point.
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I remember Joe Murray forming Voodoo. It was a proper 'WTF' moment as a big Kona fan. In a way, I'm kinda bummed they achieved the success they did because they're so different now from when the brand was conceived. I don't even think they make a single steel model :(
 
ameratsu said:
If you don't know anything about them, how do you know it's the right kind of bike for you?
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That's exactly the reason I'm in here asking for input. I know how they work and what they are about. I just don't know what the good quality brands/prices are.

For what it's worth, I'm mainly looking for a bike for my commute to work which is completely flat, and something that's decent for cruising around where I live (Santa Monica). I'm also looking for something that will only set me back around $300. I like the simple style of most fixed bear bikes that I have seen. And they look way better than those stupid cruisers.

Sorry for coming into this thread asking for some simple advice. I guess I'll take my questions elsewhere... Liu Kang being an asshole per usual. Thanks to the couple people who actually tried to give me some decent input.
 
Trasher said:
That's exactly the reason I'm in here asking for input. I know how they work and what they are about. I just don't know what the good quality brands/prices are.

For what it's worth, I'm mainly looking for a bike for my commute to work which is completely flat, and something that's decent for cruising around where I live (Santa Monica). I'm also looking for something that will only set me back around $300. I like the simple style of most fixed bear bikes that I have seen. And they look way better than those stupid cruisers.

Sorry for coming into this thread asking for some simple advice. I guess I'll take my questions elsewhere... Liu Kang being an asshole per usual. Thanks to the couple people who actually tried to give me some decent input.
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Don't take it too personally dude, you use happened to have stumbled upon a trend that ain't terribly popular with long time cyclists. I have a rigid, single speed bike in the stable that I love for it's simplicity so I know where you're coming from. It's just that the 'Fixie' has been co-opted by people that are more concerned with matching their bikes to their scarves than they actually are with riding them. Even the mention of such a configuration is enough to get the majority of cyclists bristling.

Sadly I don't know anything about fixies so all I can really say is that it might be worth you googling some enthusiast websites.
 
dummydecoy said:
What's the consensus on bikes with suspension?

http://i.imgur.com/7g6mZ.jpg[IMG]

Just browsed the past 10 pages and all the bike pics I've seen have none.[/QUOTE]
My poor ignored FSR! She was on the last page!

[img]http://s9.postimage.org/73ydp4ma7/Field_Of_Dreams.jpg

Suspension is great but it's also expensive. The bike you posted will almost certainly be made of hi-tensile steel and weigh about as much as a family car. If you're buying a 'beginner' bike, I'd honestly advise that you avoid rear suspension. Once the bug bites and you're looking for a second bike, full suspension might well be a viable choice. It's tough to avoid suspension up front at any price range but don't expect miracles.

In essence, it's great in theory but not worth the trade-off on low end bikes.
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Technosteve said:
expect to pay around 400 to 500 for a half decent bike and expect all bikes to made in Taiwan unless you can find a local bike shop that carry the more expensive made in usa bikes by cannondale, iron horse and scott. i know for mountain bikes there is mtbr.com
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Those are for good bikes. If you get an average mountain bike it is $200 or less.(From what I have seen)
 
SmokyDave said:
Don't take it too personally dude, you use happened to have stumbled upon a trend that ain't terribly popular with long time cyclists. I have a rigid, single speed bike in the stable that I love for it's simplicity so I know where you're coming from. It's just that the 'Fixie' has been co-opted by people that are more concerned with matching their bikes to their scarves than they actually are with riding them. Even the mention of such a configuration is enough to get the majority of cyclists bristling.

Sadly I don't know anything about fixies so all I can really say is that it might be worth you googling some enthusiast websites.
Click to expand...

I must admit I do hate the term "fixie" lol. Can you recommend some single speed bikes by chance?
 
Trasher said:
I was looking at the ones from here. Has anyone heard any reviews on these? I really dig their simplicity, but I'm curious as to how their quality is.

http://purefixcycles.com/
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hi-ten steel, avoid. get a Windsor The Hour or Kilo TT instead

vidcons said:
If you're not riding track then don't get a fixie.

Just don't.

This has been elaborated on to death. Get a freewheel with a front brake. It looks just as good.
Click to expand...
riding fixed is fun, and it's not really like a freewheel at all

SmokyDave said:
The fixie trend is baffling. I don't know when, where or why it started but I look forward to it going away.

Single speed, I understand. Fixies seem to be purely for poseurs though. Perhaps why I see most of 'em being pushed rather than ridden. Bah.
Click to expand...
there is a large poseur fixed gear scene, but that doesn't mean that they can't actually be ridden. I've ridden mine for over a year and it's still really fun
 
Trasher said:
I must admit I do hate the term "fixie" lol. Can you recommend some single speed bikes by chance?
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Genesis, On-One and Charge all make nice single-speeders. I'd probably have a '13 Kona Unit if I was in the market for a new bike. It really depends how much you want to spend and what you need the bike for though. Single speeders can be fairly punishing!

thezerofire said:
there is a large poseur fixed gear scene, but that doesn't mean that they can't actually be ridden. I've ridden mine for over a year and it's still really fun
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I honestly can't see the attraction over a single speed freewheel. I guess it doesn't help that every fixie I've ever seen was being pushed rather than ridden, usually by someone in thick framed glasses out shopping for Bix Beiderbecke LPs.

The trend for 100mm wide bars doesn't exactly scream 'I ride my bike hard!' either.
 
SmokyDave said:
Genesis, On-One and Charge all make nice single-speeders. I'd probably have a '13 Kona Unit if I was in the market for a new bike. It really depends how much you want to spend and what you need the bike for though. Single speeders can be fairly punishing!


I honestly can't see the attraction over a single speed freewheel. I guess it doesn't help that every fixie I've ever seen was being pushed rather than ridden, usually by someone in thick framed glasses out shopping for Bix Beiderbecke LPs.

The trend for 100mm wide bars doesn't exactly scream 'I ride my bike hard!' either.
Click to expand...
It's not something I can really explain very well. There's something great in feeling the whole motion of the bike, when you go it goes, when you slow down it slows down. You can't be lazy on one (unless you're pushing it, of course). After a while you don't even miss coasting. That's just the riding it part, in terms of maintenance they're pretty hard to beat too.

The whole appeal of 100mm riser bars is that they look cool. That explains much of fixed gear bikes' popularity in the first place. They look super clean, with no superfluous parts. I want some riser bars because during the year I just tool around my campus, but I have bullhorns on there currently. I rode my bike 20 miles a day during the summer and I needed the hand positions
 
thezerofire said:
riding fixed is fun, and it's not really like a freewheel at all
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Riding fixed is fun! Leave it on the velodrome.

and I did not say that they were the same thing other than looks.

Trasher, post a link to your areas craigslist and we can scout for bikes. You can do the conversion yourself or just take it into a shop.
 
vidcons said:
Riding fixed is fun! Leave it on the velodrome.

and I did not say that they were the same thing other than looks.

Trasher, post a link to your areas craigslist and we can scout for bikes. You can do the conversion yourself or just take it into a shop.
Click to expand...
why though? it's just as fun on the streets

and Trasher if you want to buy a fixed gear buy a fixed gear
 
I rode my bike with a freewheel for over a year before I got up the nerve to ride fixed. Shit, I even posted in this thread that I thought it was too dangerous and I was too old to learn.

Wow! Have I ever changed my mind. I will never go back unless I am on a MTB or serious rode trip. Fixed just feels so much better, more control (track stands, going backwards, etc...)

You also can't be lazy. 2 hour bike trips on it is really a work out, but before I barely broke a sweat. My leg muscles are noticeably more toned and overall I am just having more fun.
 
@Trasher

the one thing to look for in a fixed gear or single speed bike/frame is that the rear wheel mount faces straight to the back. it's designed that way to allow for tension in the chain. high tension -> higher efficiency.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_end

other than that, any old frame from a reputable bike manufacturer is fine. and most of them make a single speed frame to cash in on the fad.

see if you can get a bike with a flip-flop hub. fixed in one direction. flip the wheel, single speed free wheel on the other.


i got a road bike first and later added a fixed to my stable. most of my commuting is on fixed because 1) it's fairly short. 2) it's waaaaaaay more fun. my road bike is overkill for stop n' go traffic without any stretches to wring it out. i've been entertaining thoughts of commuting on bmx...
 
robox said:
@Trasher

the one thing to look for in a fixed gear or single speed bike/frame is that the rear wheel mount faces straight to the back. it's designed that way to allow for tension in the chain. high tension -> higher efficiency.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_end

other than that, any old frame from a reputable bike manufacturer is fine. and most of them make a single speed frame to cash in on the fad.

see if you can get a bike with a flip-flop hub. fixed in one direction. flip the wheel, single speed free wheel on the other.


i got a road bike first and later added a fixed to my stable. most of my commuting is on fixed because 1) it's fairly short. 2) it's waaaaaaay more fun. my road bike is overkill for stop n' go traffic without any stretches to wring it out. i've been entertaining thoughts of commuting on bmx...
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the kind of steel is pretty important too. hi-ten steel is pretty much garbage, and places like Pure Fix way overcharge you for it. you can get a decent cromoly bike for ~$300 anyway on Bikesdirect
 
I suppose. I've been getting my bikes off Craigslist and was assuming that method. I got a masi for 300 bucks. "double butted chromoly steel"

tYiZCl.jpg

My stable
 
robox said:
I suppose. I've been getting my bikes off Craigslist and was assuming that method. I got a masi for 300 bucks. "double butted chromoly steel"

tYiZCl.jpg

My stable
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not bad at all. I have a Windsor The Hour I picked up off craigslist for 200 and I've swapped out a bunch of stuff on it. it's dark and the bike is outside or else I'd post a picture
 
thezerofire said:
It's not something I can really explain very well. There's something great in feeling the whole motion of the bike, when you go it goes, when you slow down it slows down. You can't be lazy on one (unless you're pushing it, of course). After a while you don't even miss coasting. That's just the riding it part, in terms of maintenance they're pretty hard to beat too.
Click to expand...
I have ridden a fixie and I almost understand the appeal but I just find them so limited compared to a mountain bike, even a rigid single speed mountain bike. They're fine if you're sticking to a paved road but anything other than that and they just aren't as useful as a mountain bike. My ride home involves lots of 'urban traversal' that a fixie simply couldn't handle.

I definitely feel you on the maintenance angle. A single-speeder is easy, a fixie must almost maintain itself!

The whole appeal of 100mm riser bars is that they look cool. That explains much of fixed gear bikes' popularity in the first place. They look super clean, with no superfluous parts. I want some riser bars because during the year I just tool around my campus, but I have bullhorns on there currently. I rode my bike 20 miles a day during the summer and I needed the hand positions
Click to expand...
Eh, to each his own I guess. More people on bikes, the better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a paragon of practicality myself, here is my daily ride:

Meanie.jpg
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Believe me, not being able to sit down builds up the calves!
 
ROBOX:

Whats the brand name of those vertical bike stands you have? Awesome! I have a super small apartment (49m²), and those would be really practical.
 
So. I have no idea how many of you have been victims of bike thefts.

I caught a bike thief a couple weeks ago.

BikeThief.jpg


Wasn't my bike. The guy and his friends had stolen the seat off my friends bike about 15 minutes earlier and we were headed back out to give her a ride home, and saw then surrounding her bike. They scattered, except fot he big feela there, who came running at me. Turned out he was trying to get to his bike. I honestly had no idea.

Just kept him there until the police came.
 
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