|
| Wheels (Read 1085 times) |
| view log Ifartedonzoomyintheshowr |
posted: 6/4/2007 at 2:44 PM |
| Quote from Trent on 5/11/2007 at 12:38 AM: What kind of bike do I need?
- Biking to and from work ~ 8 miles each way on road and greenway
- Occasional recreational biking on roads
- I am NOT permitted to start biking competitively or participating in triathelons (but may bike on weekends with friends who do)
Thx
Clearly you need a nice custom Seven. Or maybe a Calfee Bamboo. Shouldn't be more than, oh, say, $12,000.
did
|
Riding 105 Miles to Cure Diabetes - in Death Valley!
2008 fundraising goal: $4000 (or more) -
Secure Online Donation Form Now Online! Give Early! Give Often! |
|
|
| view log |
posted: 4/19/2008 at 11:32 PM |
I am also looking at my first bike, for cross-training purposes. The local shop recommended Giant bikes as a good value and in the end it came down to picking from among the OCRs 1-3 and the FCRs 1-3. The I took the Giant catalogue home and saw the Cypress series (comfort), which looked good.
I am having a really tough time deciding among the bikes. I really do not want to spend too much for marginal benefits and see myself riding, at this stage, 30-40 miles/ride MAX and am concerned about shock/impact on my body. |
|
|
fxdgear |
posted: 4/20/2008 at 12:08 AM |
| Gears?!! You don't need no stink'n gears...well, maybe one . Check out the Bianchi Pista. |
|
|
|
| view log Log Stalker |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 4:59 PM |
I don't know, Trent... it's sort of like asking "What do you want at the supermarket?"
What are your goals and how much can you spend?
It boils down to these two questions. I like looking at the frame materials first, as this will determine the maximum that you can do with your bike. I can offer you this advice, though - once you figure out your goals and price range, ride as many different bikes as possible.
I'll make an assumption that if these three things are truely your goals, you probably want something that is comfortable, durable, and inexpensive. You should probably start by looking at steel framed bikes. Yes, they are "old school", but they have come a long way in the past 20 years. Get a good frame, and you can add paniers on the bike to carry stuff (clothes, laptop, etc) to and from work. Bianchi and Lemond have some good and inexpensive (relatively) steel framed bikes. The Lemond brand is going away, so you can probably get a good deal on these. A significant number of manufacturer's also sell "Cyclocross" bikes that are steel. (Cyclocross is a combination of road and trail biking done on road geometry frames). You could also go completely "retro-grouch" and look at the Rivendell brand.
The most common material used in frames are Aluminum. These are (usually) lighter than steel, much stiffer (better power transfer to the wheels), and can be very inexpensive. However, you feel: Every. Pebble. On. The. Road. Yes, I know that there are inserts and seatposts and all sorts of stuff that you can buy that can dampen a lot of this, but I equate an aluminum frame to a bell. Once you hit something, it rings for a while and there's really nothing you can do about it. There is talk that aluminum is inferior to steel because the frames crack, (because they are so much stiffer) but I don't buy it. There were issues in the past, but most (if not all) have been solved. And lest you think I'm regurgitating info garnered from somewhere else on the web, I spent close to 2000 miles in the cockpit of my Trek 1000.
If you want to go fast and still remain comfortable, I'd look at some carbon frame bikes. Full carbon frame bikes (not just in the fork) are very light and responsive and not quite as "buzzy" as aluminum. They are (in general) expensive and can be found from many differenct manufacturers. The main advantage of carbon fiber is that you get the weith of aluminum, with the compliance of steel. Unfortunately, it usually comes with a big price tag. My current high-milager is a Specialized Roubaix, because I wanted to get down to one "do everything" road bike. I can commute (with a backpack) or go on weekend jaunts with other bikers.
There are other things that you need to consider (grouppos, cranksets, frame geopmetries, and things like that). But I think that's a good start. |
|
|
|
| view log Log Stalker |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 5:58 PM |
Quote from zoom-zoom on 4/21/2008 at 5:44 PM:The Pro is did's mistress.... 
Mine's an Elite. I like it, it's all carbon, but it's "cheap". They skimped around the bike a lot in order to bring it down the price level (the rims, brakes, are house branded), but it's the . The Zertz makes a difference (but not huge). I rode a Felt 3c before buying the Roubaix... what a sweet ride. >$3000 though!
Had I bought a Pro, I would have needed a mistress - because DW would not have put up with it! "How many bikes do you NEED, anyway?!?" |
|
|
| view log "berry" happy |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 6:09 PM |
| Quote from girmann on 4/21/2008 at 5:58 PM: Had I bought a Pro, I would have needed a mistress - because DW would not have put up with it! "How many bikes do you NEED, anyway?!?"
Lessee...did has his roadie ("Ruby"), "Frank"...a road being converted to a cyclocross, his 29er Cannondale mtn. (I don't recall if he named this bike, yet), a POS tandem mtn. bike that he picked up for $200 at a resale shop, his old Viner with a cracked frame...and I think maybe one other bike.
Yeah, I could pretty much buy running shoes every month without him being able to complain too loudly.  |
Kirsten
• Ladies Locker Room •
.: 2008 Goals :.
• Get down to 123#s and STAY there!
• Run 1500 miles
• Make it to 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k |
|
|
| view log Playmaker / nemesis |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 7:01 PM |
Quote from zoom-zoom on 4/21/2008 at 5:44 PM:The Pro is did's mistress....
Wow. Did is laying down Elliot Spitzer-level coin for that mistress. No wonder you buy so many shoes. Aren't you due for Mac upgrade?  |
20th Century: 800m: 2:04 |1600m: 4:37 |3200m: 10:06 |5k: 16:23 |10k: 35:38 |15k: 54:20 |25k: 1:35:59
21st Century: 5k: 19:42 |10k: 43:00
globule@getm.com |
|
|
| view log Negative Creep |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 7:07 PM
modified: 4/21/2008 at 7:07 PM |
| Quote from mikeymike on 5/11/2007 at 1:17 PM: Get a low end road racing bike. It will be fun to blow past people on their $3,500 carbon fiber bikes with full Dura-Ace component group on your $700 steele or aluminum bike with Tiagra component group.
Did that during my first two tris on an old steel frame bike that squeaked. The seat post also had two welds on it. A real piece of work that bike was. Weighed about 25 lbs too.
That had to have pissed some people off too as I blew by them..."On your left, on your left....good day, looking good" |
| The Gaijin Samurai. a.k.a The attorney dissin' attorney.
Read and Listen
|
|
|
| view log My sweet new crank! |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 8:53 PM |
along that line, if i ever get the boss to clear me for an ironman, i want to do it on a fixie, not so much for time, but to watch Mr. Tri-Cervelo-Zipp-Aero-BentoBox crap as a blow by....
 
I may even go old school, cotton sox, wool cycling jersey...leather helmet, they would say "that dude is bad-ass" |
Ryan O'D
Madison WI USA
Team In Training - Chicago
Running Log
RACE CHARITIES |
|
|
| view log Negative Creep |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 9:07 PM |
Quote from odonnellryan-23 on 4/21/2008 at 8:53 PM:along that line, if i ever get the boss to clear me for an ironman, i want to do it on a fixie, not so much for time, but to watch Mr. Tri-Cervelo-Zipp-Aero-BentoBox crap as a blow by.... I may even go old school, cotton sox, wool cycling jersey...leather helmet, they would say "that dude is bad-ass"
I like your style. Even the bike I did the Ironman on was modest in comparison to most. |
| The Gaijin Samurai. a.k.a The attorney dissin' attorney.
Read and Listen
|
|
|
| view log "berry" happy |
posted: 4/21/2008 at 10:49 PM
modified: 4/21/2008 at 10:49 PM |
Quote from jEfFgObLuE on 4/21/2008 at 7:01 PM:Wow. Did is laying down Elliot Spitzer-level coin for that mistress. No wonder you buy so many shoes. Aren't you due for Mac upgrade?
AND he just bought a new HP PC with 24" HD LCD monitor and Doom 3. Yeah...my 'puter is 3 with a POS 19" CRT. I'm definitely due, man. |
Kirsten
• Ladies Locker Room •
.: 2008 Goals :.
• Get down to 123#s and STAY there!
• Run 1500 miles
• Make it to 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k |
|
|
| view log Log Stalker |
posted: 4/22/2008 at 12:20 AM |
Quote from zoom-zoom on 4/21/2008 at 10:49 PM:AND he just bought a new HP PC with 24" HD LCD monitor and Doom 3. Yeah...my 'puter is 3 with a POS 19" CRT. I'm definitely due, man.
Hmm... Too bad Apple doesn't sell the "tangerine" Mac, anymore. Could I suggest this?
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/
I'd love to dust a few people in the local duathalon on my 1991 27lb stock Trek 1000. |
|
|
| view log "berry" happy |
posted: 4/22/2008 at 12:32 AM |
| Ha! That MacBook Air is cool...but I don't really need a super lightweight laptop. I'd rather have more desktop for the same money. I'll probably end up with a new Mini and a new monitor...I'd LOVE an Apple monitor, but they are so $$. |
Kirsten
• Ladies Locker Room •
.: 2008 Goals :.
• Get down to 123#s and STAY there!
• Run 1500 miles
• Make it to 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k |
|
|
|
|
