another 20 miles down, 1:06. not bad but i know i can do alot better if i did not have to do 5 miles in and out of the neighborhood. i think i am going to drive to the front of the hood and then see how much faster i can do 20.

any one doing tour of booty in atlanta this year? i am going wondering if anymore TWWers will be there. any one doing the charlotte ride? i could not register in time but would still like to ride if anyone bails out.

6/21/2010 8:22:33 PM

i'm starting to have major issues with my outside tendon in my right knee (the leg i clip in and out of)

most of my rides i'm having to clip in and out frequently because of the bike trail up here - any recommendations on stretching that out or dealing with that? it only really starts to bother me if i'm going further than 30 miles or so.

6/22/2010 10:41:58 AM

google ITBS treatment or IT band stretches

I had some mild IT band pain and I was able to get through it by doing a handful of stretches before workouts for a while and resting for a few days.

6/22/2010 10:45:27 AM

My new bicycle's sitting in a box in my lab!! Can't wait to take it home! W00t!

6/22/2010 11:48:14 AM

^^ good advice. IT band stretches are crucial. I've neglected stretching them all of my life, I know better now. Get yourself one of those rolled up foam cylinders. They kind of look like fun doodles you play with inthe pool. You can find them at dicks or wherever you get yoga paraphernalia. There are also helpful videos on YouTube.

6/22/2010 2:11:07 PM

awesome, ty

i will definitely be trying that out... thanks all!

6/22/2010 2:16:04 PM

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/06/22/husband-lines-wifes-bike-route-with-love-notes-to-win-her-back/?icid=main|main|dl4|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://www.lemondrop.com%2F2010%2F06%2F22%2Fhusband-lines-wifes-bike-route-with-love-notes-to-win-her-back%2F

Quote :

"Husband Lines Wife's Bike Route With Love Notes to Win Her Back If you thought the days of men making sweeping, romantic gestures to woo women were over, there's hope yet. Unfortunately, they don't seem to work. Paul Kendall, of Leicestershire, U.K., lined the London to Brighton Bike Ride Route, where his estranged wife was cycling in aid of charity yesterday, with large 12-by-3-foot signs declaring his love for her. Note: Despite his very public (and semi-embarrassing) declarations of love, she still refused to go home with him. The information technology engineer covered the 54-mile stretch with banners featuring family photos and tender messages of love and support. One read: "Zoe, I accept I've made mistakes. Please, forgive me!" while another said: "Zoe, the bond that we both share could be deeper and stronger than ever. Give us that chance and allow our bond of love to blossom again." Yet another sign, with images of the happy couple on their wedding day, read: "Come on Chicken -- WAH! Flap those wings and shake that tail feather. You can do it! I'm roostering for you! Wing!" Despite putting it all out there, Kendall didn't get the reunion he dreamed of, telling the Daily Mail, "It hasn't gone according to plan. I didn't even get a peck on the cheek. We had a small bit of chit chat. She said she wants to talk about it, but I don't hold out much hope." While we admire the effort, a giant PDA like this isn't everyone's cup of tea, and neither is having the world know your hubby's pet name for you is Chicken. But what we really wonder is, what did he do in the first place that required a 54-mile-long apology?"

a nice gesture but still... it didnt work which i agree with the article, begs the question--- wtf did he do?!?

6/23/2010 1:11:42 PM

So i would like to fix up my parents old Gitane road bike. I believe they said it was a 72' and its a Grand sport deluxe. It has been ridden very little and is in pretty decent shape for how old it is. Would this be worth fixing up or would I be better off going for something newer? Kind of a noob when it comes to bikes.








thx

6/24/2010 11:36:23 PM

I'd suggest something newer, but it's all based on opinion and what you want to do with the bike.

6/25/2010 4:16:58 AM

My dad put together a bike for me with those types of shifters and I hated it. The ones on the handle/brakes are much easier to use.

6/25/2010 6:42:00 AM

^^I would mainly be riding it as a commuter to work. Right now its about a 7 mile ride each way. Would like the option to ride on longer treks, maybe 20 milers.....

I have a trek mountain bike ive been riding now and figured a road bike would be more efficient.

^They used to be on the lower part of the frame but my dad moved them up there cause my mom couldnt ride with them down there. I would definately change those out if I fixed it up.


edit: Or i could just convert it to a fixie and sell it in brooklyn to some hipsterfor $texas

[Edited on June 25, 2010 at 9:21 AM. Reason : hipster]

6/25/2010 9:20:17 AM

A few things:

-Yes, you can fix it up. But the first thing to see is that it fits you. Are you the same height as your father?

-I can't tell if that's a cottered crank or not, can you take a closer shot of the crank?

-No, you can't change out the shifters. At least not for any reasonable amount of money. Friction shifters are fine, easy to use, and simple. Just get used to them.

-Otherwise it should be able to ride no problem with just some grease and some new tubes.

-I might want to buy that front rack from you

[Edited on June 25, 2010 at 9:27 AM. Reason : ]

6/25/2010 9:27:24 AM

-Yea it fits me, he said it was a 66 cm frame. Im 6'1 so that should be fine for me.

-
best i can do atm

-Since i havent spent any money on this bike, would it be worthwhile to replace the rims and handle bars with some newer more updated pieces? Maybe get lighter rims and more comfortable handle bars? Although im not sure what the original handlebars look like under all that shit my pops put on. Im guessing they arent that comfortable if he put that much wrap on.

thanks tww

6/25/2010 10:37:43 AM

^No, see here's why:

You can get a brand new bike for about $300-400. If you replace the handlebars, the shifters, the crank, the derailleur, etc. etc. etc, before you know it you'll have rung up a tab of $300+ with parts and labor, and at that point you might as well just purchase a brand new bike.

I know this from personal experience having made that mistake, so trust me on this.

As far as the handelbars, mechanically they're fine. Definitely re-wrap them, though, and that's something that will run you like $20-30 at a shop. There's no point in getting lighter handlebars, because it's an old steel bike and thus heavy by design. It would be like putting a carbon fiber hood on an old Buick LeSabre. Besides, you're just going to be commuting anyway, so there's no need for cutting weight. Rewrapping them will make them look new, and no, everyone wraps handlebars, even on new ones. It just makes them more comfy.

And I'm not sure what you mean about "the rims," if you're referring to the wheels, no, that would be really expensive. The most you'd want to do is take it to a bike shop and see if they need truing. Otherwise just put some new tubes in and you're good to go.

EDIT: Oh, and the crank looks fine. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't cottered because those are a pain to work on.

[Edited on June 25, 2010 at 10:43 AM. Reason : ]

6/25/2010 10:43:02 AM

Gotcha. definately a noob when it comes to bikes as evidenced by my 'rims' instead of wheels comment.


Although i will get a better seat cause the original is not that comfortable.

6/25/2010 10:58:45 AM

that's not a brooks saddle, is it?

6/25/2010 11:00:37 AM

please dont waste your money on this, sure, fix it just enough to ride safely, but no more

save to spend $3-400 on a new-to-you used bike that will be 1854x better

6/26/2010 11:32:01 AM

^ To the Gitane -

Those are cotterless 3-piece cranks. I'd go ahead and fix it up, since it's set up for commuting already with a front and rear rack and decent pedals. I'd clean it up like clean the chain, get new cheap tires if those ones on there are dry-rotted, add toe cages, a rear pannier, some handlebar tape, and some lights and a lock and you should be excellent to roll.

You could save up your money for a $300-400 bike, but you still need to buy all the damn accessories to be safe for commuting- at least lights and a lock.

I'm a big fan of solid steel road bikes for commuting. You don't need anything that fancy to get from point A to point B- I ride a Schwinn Le Tour converted to a fixie with fenders. It ain't the lightest or fastest bike, but it serves the "move me around" function adequately. Additionally, if you want a quality road bike, you're looking at least $300-400 for decent used.

And handlebar tape doesn't cost 20-30 if you put it on yourself- it takes 10 minutes and costs 10-15 at most.

6/27/2010 1:14:54 AM

between last sunday and this sunday i've put 129.5 miles on my bike

6/27/2010 8:43:06 PM

i keep getting emails about sales on road bikes... really really really want to get one

6/30/2010 10:53:48 AM

oh yea? what models? who you got emailing you deals?! share the wealth!!

6/30/2010 11:39:49 AM

Just performance bike... Fuji road bikes on sale for like $600

6/30/2010 12:05:27 PM

got 26 in tonight. nice weather for a ride down here at the beach.

6/30/2010 8:20:29 PM

ooh, nvm, thanks though!

heading to venice, fl tomorrow for a week.

definitely ready for some FLAT riding for a change, little excited to see what kind of times/avg mph ill be able to comfortably roll

6/30/2010 9:32:50 PM

7/1/2010 4:47:05 PM

Wait, God's a boy? Why did I think you were a girl?

7/1/2010 6:21:13 PM

You're thinking of G.O.D.

[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 6:53 PM. Reason : ]

7/1/2010 6:52:49 PM

^^ I thought you were a dude.

7/1/2010 7:29:45 PM

I started riding my bike (road bike with skinny tires) to work and it was going great. BUT I got a flat tire from riding over some railroad tracks sunken in a jagged asphalt canyon. (I can't avoid the tracks and there's no good path to go over them) I was probably going too fast and I think the tires weren't inflated enough. Will slowing down and filling up with air prevent flats in the future?

Also the bike has hardly been used since I was in high school, would it be a good idea to take it to a shop and have them tune it up?

7/1/2010 10:48:06 PM

Quote :

"I was probably going too fast"

Maybe

Quote :

"and I think the tires weren't inflated enough."

This is probably correct. I usually fill my tires to within 5 psi of max (ex: 100 psi if max is 105 psi) before every time I head out. I never get flats.

Also, make sure to lean back when going over something like that. That is, don't put all of your weight on the front handlebars. Lean your weight onto the pedals and lift off the handlebars.

A tune-up probably wouldn't hurt, but shops tend to overcharge for things like that.

7/2/2010 8:28:06 AM

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=410701&highlight=formula+inflation+tire

7/2/2010 10:24:26 AM

also note that road tires will lose pressure pretty quickly. When I was commuting every day, even with new tires and tubes, I was pumping up every other day or so. It probably would have even been better if I had pumped up every time I rode.

I also pump up my tires to near max pressure and haven't ever really had a problem with flats.

7/2/2010 10:27:45 AM

^ Additionally, you want to pump your tires up for different conditions. Near max is fine for smooth surface and rolling efficiency in good weather, but if riding a bike on snow/ice, it helps to decrease tire pressure a bit to gain traction. I think you're supposed to go a bit lower too when on singletrack or dirt, but I'm not a mountain biker and could be totally wrong.

I also usually ride my tires a little underinflated to help with cushioning on the road and to roll over obstacles- my boyfriend is notorious for getting blowouts because he ignores this concept.

7/3/2010 4:26:05 PM

I'm 5'4.
Roughly what height frame should I look for?

I'm itching to pick up a bike to ride - I live in a mountainous area now; it's very bike-friendly (estes park, specifically). Any words of wisdom? This may seem like a silly question, but I'm gonna ask it anyways: how many gears/whatever? Is there a particular style of frame or tire or wheel that can handle rough roads, dirt roads, and loose gravel over another? I don't even know if I should be after a road bike.

7/4/2010 2:21:35 AM

^a cyclocross bike with an extra set of tires (1 for off road, 1 for on road) would probably be ideal for you.
I'd say probably 50-52 cm for you, but you really can't go on height alone.
As far as # of gears, if you're in a really mountainous area, you're going to want a compact double or a triple. If you go with a new bike that's probably going to mean 20 or 30 speeds. However, an appropriate range of gears is probably more important for you than # of gears so don't get too concerned with #.

7/4/2010 9:32:12 AM

You may also want to look into hybrid bikes. I've ridden something like this:


Both on packed gravel at Umstead Park and on the road. I have no complaints. It's more of a comfort bike (with all terrain tires), if you're going to be commuting long distances and riding on packed dirt/gravel the cyclocross may be the ticket for you.

Just FYI a cyclocross bike is essentially a road bike with different frame dimensions, tires, pedals etc. So don't take it on anything single track or really aggressive terrain.

7/4/2010 9:55:36 AM

I'm going to sound like a bike snob here, and I'm sorry.

Don't get a hybrid. Hybrids are for moms with too much money who want something that "is good for everything!!1"

The truth is that a hybrid is like a jack of all trades, master of none. And boy is it a master of none.

Hybrids are slow, bulky, and heavy. This means that they can't go fast on the road. They're also not designed for anything beyond basic dirt trails. This means they can't go fast off the road. They can't do anything well.

I know you are saying to yourself, "Well, I just want to ride around!" If so, then get a road bike. Sooner or later you're going to want to go faster than 5 miles per hour, and you're going to wish you didn't have a heavy as shit bicycle with useless front suspension.

I know a lot of people say, "Well I want it to be able to handle rough roads, etc!" I always ask them how rough they really mean by that statement. A steel frame road bike can handle dirt roads. A steel frame road bike can handle rough roads. If you're talking about singletrack with two foot jumps, then... yeah... maybe not a road bike. But a dirt road can be tackled fine on almost any basic road bike.

In conclusion, get a road bike. If hills are an issue, make sure it's a triple.

EDIT: And response to your height question, I would say something around a 47cm frame. However it's best to just go to a local bike shop and get properly fitted.

[Edited on July 4, 2010 at 11:45 AM. Reason : ]

7/4/2010 11:43:50 AM

^if shes only getting 1 bike she should get a cross bike. I guarantee she/he won't be able to tell the 1/2 degree change in the angles or the potential bottom bracket height difference between a true road bike and a cyclocross bike. It will also give her the benefit of larger tires if necessary and most likely rack and fender eyelets should they ever be needed. And you can definitely take it on light singletrack ifyou want. Almost every cx race I've been in a
Has some singletrack.
I am almost as fast on my cx bike (with road tires) as I am on my road bike.
But you're right, hybrids are the worst of all worlds and really offer no benefit unless you're 90 and can barely flex your back (and I still wouldn't get one then.)

And a 47cm frame is probably too small but you are right in that she should get properly fitted.

[Edited on July 4, 2010 at 12:25 PM. Reason : A]

[Edited on July 4, 2010 at 12:30 PM. Reason : A]

7/4/2010 12:22:12 PM

27 solo yesterday. trying to get motivated for a solo 30 today.

7/4/2010 12:57:51 PM

^ I actually prefer riding solo gonna try to get in 40 tomorrow am - starting early since it's supposed to hit 100 tomorrow and tuesday up here

Quote :

"Hybrids are for moms with too much money who want something that "is good for everything!!1""

i beg to differ. i was not a fan of road bikes when i had to get a new bike (after the old one was laid to rest after going up on a hood of a minivan...) and i went with a Fuji Hybrid. I love it. It's a lot lighter than the bike I had before (which was a relic), the tires are perfect for the trails around here and it's incredibly comfortable, even on the 63 miler i did two weeks ago.

and let's be honest, God, you come off as a snob in this thread all the time

what i have:

7/4/2010 1:05:47 PM

I'm not sure exactly what kind of hybrid you have, but traditionally they tend to come with sprung saddles, front suspensions, triples, flat bars, and upright seating geometry. All things that make a rider slower.

When I meant a hybrid, I'm talking about something like this:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/hybrid/7200/

Which is slow as shit.

Anecdotal, I just did a ride with my stepfather. He was on that bike I just linked. I was on a 30 year old steel frame road bike. I literally had to try my hardest to go slow enough to not leave him. He would be pedaling as hard as he possibly could in the highest possible gear, and I would just easily pedal along to stay at his pace. There's a huge.. huge.. difference in efficiency between a hybrid and a road bike.

Now, if you have something that's more on the road bike end, something that's more of a cafe style flat bar road bike with a bit more of an upright geometry, then that would be slightly different. If you're going to get a hybrid, Ambrosia, please please PLEASE just don't get one with a front suspension. You won't need it, ever.

However, I still stand by my statement that you should get a road bike for riding on the road.

7/4/2010 1:14:03 PM

Quote :

"I actually prefer riding solo gonna try to get in 40 tomorrow am - starting early since it's supposed to hit 100 tomorrow and tuesday up here"

That is impressive to do 40 solo. I have never done more than 35 solo. I am working towards doing 50 solo. Doing 50 in a group is no problem but solo it should be a challenge. But I also try not to have an avg speed slower than 17.5 mph on any solo ride.

7/4/2010 1:25:26 PM

cross bikes are the new hybrids, except they don't suck. I love mine, i ride with roadies, commute to from work (25miles each way) on comfy 28mms, and ride singletrack with 35mm knobbies.

If you're commuting, i'd recommend fitting as big of tire you can to lower the risk of pinch flatting and to be a little more comfy. riding on rough streets on 23mms when you're going somewhere you HAVE to be is asking for trouble, imo. i've found 28mms Conti Gatorskins to work really well for me. light enough, roll nice, tough, wear well.

7/4/2010 1:28:45 PM

^^ thanks. i did that ride for charity and it was 63. my dad was supposed to do the ride with me. unfortunately he "forgot" to register. so i did that solo technically, so doing 40 by myself isn't that big of a deal.

i usually keep it between 16mph and 20mph on my rides. there are a ton of hills (not huge ones just rolling really) on the trails, so i'm no speed demon

7/4/2010 1:31:14 PM

27 again today. damn i have not ridden at 2 in the afternoon in a while. it was hot.

7/4/2010 10:15:10 PM

For someone who needs help finding a bike, you need to give us more info other than yeah I live in a place where bikes are allowed and there are some dirt trails, oh yeah and a road.

How fast do you want to commute? How comfortable do you want to be? ..........blah blah blah

Pearls of wisdom from God: a hybrid doesn't do anything superbly.....No shit, it doesn't take your breadth of knowledge of the cycling world to figure that one.

Hybrids have their niche and are more than appropriate for certain riders. The question, is it right for you?

[Edited on July 4, 2010 at 11:55 PM. Reason : Talk to your LBS and get what you want]

7/4/2010 11:53:38 PM

God I want the shit out of this bike:



http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outcast29_x.htm

7/4/2010 11:55:11 PM

85degrees, 33% humidity, nice breeze. Took about a 20 mile cruise through Brookline, through BU campus, along the Charles River Esplanade which is full of hot ladies and the river is full of sailboats and kayaks. Then rode through Harvard Square and stopped for a snack while listening to some hippie play guitar and people watching. Then back home down Mass Ave through Cambridge.

Life is good.

I do miss the convenience of having the Cary Greenway in my backyard and being able to easily take that to Crabtree and Umstead, though. I have to drive for mountain bike trails.

7/5/2010 5:00:26 PM

30.59 miles through Cary and Apex today. Managed to keep a pretty decent average speed (17.01 mph) even through the hilly parts of Apex. Not too bad, but it was hot as hell today.

7/5/2010 5:09:15 PM

I got talked into doing 30 second sprints up Mt. Sinai for a 25 mile loop yesterday. I nearly pked on the first ascent.

My new bike (Douglas Fusion with carbon steerer and seatstays and aluminum frame, carbon seat tube, Circuit wheelset), was pretty darn cushy. A lot more comfortable than my all aluminum frame.

Oh, Ambrosia, to give you an idea of frame size for road bikes, I'm 5'4" and ride a 50 cm for 2 of my bikes, and 52 for my newest. It's also going to depend on how long your torso/arms are- I need a shorter stem than most to accommodate my short torso. You also want to figure out how wide you need your handlebars to be- some women have narrower shoulders than others.

So yeah, go get fitted at a good bike shop .

7/5/2010 9:45:29 PM