Any bicycle riders out there?

[SowegaBrews]

Here's a video I made last November of part of our local trail system. My mountain bike was still setup for dirt jumping at the time so traction was a little hard to come by. Hope you enjoy! Be sure to push the HQ button. :rockin:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPDlCssTAKw]YouTube - Flint River MTB[/ame]

 

[Hugh_Jass]

I took my hard tail mountain bike and bought an inexpensive set of rims for it. One set has off road tread and the other has road tires. When I'm riding with my wife and children, it works pretty well.

 

[flyangler18]

I took my hard tail mountain bike and bought an inexpensive set of rims for it. One set has off road tread and the other has road tires. When I'm riding with my wife and children, it works pretty well.

That's what I think I'll do, John. More than anything else, having a road bike would be a good way for me to keep in shape during the rugby off-season. Don't think I'm playing sevens this year, so I'm trying to plan ahead.

I'm trying to keep the price for my bike under $200, if possible - so if anyone has recommendations, I'm all for 'em!

 

[s3n8]

I'm trying to keep the price for my bike under $200, if possible - so if anyone has recommendations, I'm all for 'em!

Craigslist.

You wont be happy with a $200 new bike.

 

[flyangler18]

Craigslist.

You wont be happy with a $200 new bike.

I guess more accurately, $200 -$300.

 

[Tonedef131]

I guess more accurately, $200 -$300.

You wont be happy with a $300 new bike either. Road bikes are expensive, but there is nothing better than riding an in-tune road bike down a nice smooth road. You get what you pay for up to about the $2k range, then it starts getting exponentially more expensive for not that much better of a bike. For example, the difference between a $4k and a $5k bike is the weight of a few paperclips.

 

[flyangler18]

I dunno, dudes - I'm not looking to drop serious coin on an off-season trainer. I'll keep researching.

Appreciate the honesty just the same.

 

[Tonedef131]

I dunno, dudes - I'm not looking to drop serious coin on an off-season trainer. I'll keep researching.

Appreciate the honesty just the same.

I guess I should have been more clear, I was just saying to look used. Craigslist is incredibly competitive with bikes, but you can score some serious deals if you keep up on it.

 

[s3n8]

yeah, you can get a pretty nice used bike on craigslist... Take advantage of someone who dropped $800 2 years ago and rode it twice. You should be able to get something decent but maybe 5-10 years old. It will ride better for longer than a new 300 bike.

I picked up a nice old steel Batavus frame and fork for $5 and cobbled together a fixie for less than $300. I had some parts though.

 

[FullDraw]

I'm in the riders club now. Or back into it. I just (today) picked up a used mountain bike at the local bike shop. I've got 30 days to beat it before it's checkup. Somehow I think I'll be the one beat up though. I will add that if I tried to buy this bike new, it would have been double the price. A few scratches here and there, but overall, I'm stoked.

 

[BeaverBrewer]

I just did the craigslist route after riding a hybrid bike for a year. I got an old fixed up bianchi for 200 bucks and it was worth it. riding is a lot more enjoyable and its fun to tinker around with as well.

 

[Hugh_Jass]

Jason,
sorry I've missed this thread the past couple of days.
+ 1 on the Craig's list search. I bought my first road bike on Craig's list for a fraction of the price. Some sellers are even willing to ship for ~$50.
If I were looking for a bike that I could take both on trail and ride with the Mrs., I'd look for a hard tail mtn bike in good shape. buy another set of rims to fit the bike from a local LBS; one set of rims for off trail tires and another with traction tires.
It's not the best solution, but without getting off your wallet to the tune of several thousand dollars, it's an economical solution.

FWIW, there's nothing quite like dropping into a downhill ride on a road bike where the road is surrounded by trees and all else is quiet. The bike accelerates from 20 to 55 mph in a manner of seconds, and the only noise you hear is the increased airflow around your helmet. The silence is both deafening and exhilarating.

I wish you well on your choice.

 

[snails]

it's cool to read that a lot of people ride bikes on this forum.

didn't own a car last year and currently have 8 bicycles..
road - 06 lemond croix de fer /// 60's peugot 10sp
mountain - Giant Trance X3 /// GT hardtail 3x traingle
cross/commuter - 08 IRO rob roy fixed/single
commuter/polo bike - 07 windsor hour, mix matched parts
bmx - 99 Standard STA500 /// 94 gt robinson racing

i almost love brewing as much as bicycling

 

[The Pol]

I love to bicycle...

Snapped my chain today about 6 miles from home. Thank God we have a GPS in the car so that my wife could get to me and bring me enough tools that I could jerry rig my chain so that I could ride it home.

I have had my bike about 3 weeks, and have put over 100 miles on it.

 

[RonRock]

You guys should ride RAGBRAI. It left from Council Bluffs this year. It is said to be the biggest, longest running bicycle ride. This was year 37, with over 10.000 riders registered. At least that is what I was told.
I spent 12 hours on the grounds yesterday at the EMS tent and on the Gator helping injured. Another 12 today filling in on a truck so others could work the field.

Huge event, a major blast across the state of Iowa.


http://ragbrai.com/

 

[fastricky]

Long time road cyclist here. Also have a 29'er I use as a commuter...

 

[The Pol]

Anyone out there recommend a NICE mountain bike that is reasonably priced? Or recommend a place to find used bicycles? Mine is not a super high quality bike, but I have the bug and I love to ride... getting more serious about it.

It was the same with brewing, my first system was so-so... then I found I really enjoyed it and built my current rig.

I want a more serious bike, but I do not want to spend $1000

I have seen some Treks for 400-500, are they THAT much better than a $100 bike from Target?

 

[Bopper]

I haven't been riding consistently lately. However, in 2003 I did a 1500 mile ride from Boston to Jacksonville Florida with two friends. I organized the ride and did 15 straight days of centuries and raised $13,000 for cancer research. Amazing trip!

I ride a 2002 Giant OCR Elite 1 and also have an old inexpensive Mongoose mountain bike.

 

[The Pol]

So I go to get a new chain today, and I start looking at the Trek and the Gary Fisher bikes. I really fell in love the GF Tarpon on the floor... it was marked down to $325 from nearly $400.

Are these bikes worth it? I really want to get more serious about my biking. I am sure the dude at the shop would say yes, otherwise he cannot sell anything. So, what say you?

Gary Fisher Tarpon - a1cyclery.com

 

[Joker]

IMHO the bike is worth what you get out of it. I have thousands of dollars tied up in my bikes and find (typically) the more you pay the better quality you are going to get. Especially true if the bike comes with better components. Nothing is worse than going for a ride on a bike that doesn’t shift or brake correctly.

 

[CodeRage]

So I go to get a new chain today, and I start looking at the Trek and the Gary Fisher bikes. I really fell in love the GF Tarpon on the floor... it was marked down to $325 from nearly $400.

Are these bikes worth it? I really want to get more serious about my biking. I am sure the dude at the shop would say yes, otherwise he cannot sell anything. So, what say you?

Gary Fisher Tarpon - a1cyclery.com

mtbr.com has a pretty extensive list of reviews for mountain bikes.

I personally love Gary Fisher Bikes, I have an 08 HiFi Deluxe and was well worth its price tag. That bike is a pretty vanilla entry level bike, not to say it isn't a good bike but, you will notice a difference between that bike and some lead sled from wally mart. It will be a much more enjoyable ride to say the least. It'll give you a chance to evaluate if mtb'ing is something you want to pursue.

The important thing is make sure you talk to some one who is knows how to fit a bike! if you get a cheap bike it may be due to the fact it is a small frame and they can't get rid of it. Too big or small will make for a miserable ride.
I live in roadie central and had a hard time getting fitted for a mtb. ended up driving up to atlanta from Melbourne Fl to get the price I wanted and fitted properly.

If you can be patient, between october and january, bike shops will start cutting prices on that years models to make room for next years.

Also, people have a pref of one brand over another, GF, Trek, Kona, Gt, etc etc.. they are all great bikes if you get it from a reputable dealer. The best bike is the one you happen to be saddled on so go out and get an epic ride on edit- Crap! how could I forget Specialized!

 

[The Pol]

mtbr.com has a pretty extensive list of reviews for mountain bikes.

I personally love Gary Fisher Bikes, I have an 08 HiFi Deluxe and was well worth its price tag. That bike is a pretty vanilla entry level bike, not to say it isn't a good bike but, you will notice a difference between that bike and some lead sled from wally mart. It will be a much more enjoyable ride to say the least. It'll give you a chance to evaluate if mtb'ing is something you want to pursue.

The important thing is make sure you talk to some one who is knows how to fit a bike! if you get a cheap bike it may be due to the fact it is a small frame and they can't get rid of it. Too big or small will make for a miserable ride.
I live in roadie central and had a hard time getting fitted for a mtb. ended up driving up to atlanta from Melbourne Fl to get the price I wanted and fitted properly.

If you can be patient, between october and january, bike shops will start cutting prices on that years models to make room for next years.

Also, people have a pref of one brand over another, GF, Trek, Kona, Gt, etc etc.. they are all great bikes if you get it from a reputable dealer. The best bike is the one you happen to be saddled on so go out and get an epic ride on edit- Crap! how could I forget Specialized!

This is all good info. I mean, I dont need some competition level bike, just trying to evaluate if getting a GF would be beneficial for an avid rider, not competing.

This shop here in town is pretty serious, everyone there seems ultra knowlegeable and they come highly recomended. I got most of those recomendation while I was limping my busted mtb home the other day after snapping a chain.

I wouldnt be buying til August or Sept. I think... so I am trying to get some solid info, to see if it is worh my investment. I have never ridden a GF, so I really do not know what they are like.

 

[CodeRage]

pic of what 2k will get yah.

 

[The Pol]

Including the rig? lol

 

[Joker]

edit- Crap! how could I forget Specialized!

And Cannondale.

I agree with everything Code wrote.

I have no preference of bike I have owned Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Motobecane, Diamondback, and Gary Fischer bikes and loved them all for various reasons. The best bike is the one that fits you and you get out and enjoy.

If I could figure out how to afford a Santa Cruz Blur LT I would be a happy man (the $4k price tag is more than even a bike lover like me can swallow though)

 

[The Pol]

So I go to MTBr.com and see BikesDirect.com and start looking there.

Bikes, I have never heard of... but with some really great reviews... anyone with any knowlege of BikeDirect? Motobecane bikes?

 

[CodeRage]

yeah, it's not the same motobecane from years back. I looked at them a while ago and wasn't really impressed. TBH, if you can swing a good deal at the LBS and they are good folks do it. It's nice to develop a relationship with them. Oh lets say you bend a dérailleur hanger the day before you leave for santos and you call them up and the hold the store open of an extra half hour for a $15 piece of metal.

That and if you mail order a bike like that you will have to put it together. it isn't rocket science but, you need to know what you're doing to get everything tuned up real nice. Odds are, you will have to take it the the LBS to ask them assemble it for a fee. Ackward situation to say the least.

As for the feel of a brand of bike, they vary from model to model. Geometry of the bike is important to the kind of riding you want to do. A really raked out front fork is good for descending, steeper head angles are nimble but more prone to chucking you over the bars when descending, however they can climb like a goat. and that is just one of the many geometry variables.

All the more reason to work with the LBS and find out what kind of trails are available locally. Cross country trails are available just every where. Probably would be a good place to start. But do what you find interesting. Like I said before though, don't worry about it too much, ride what you can afford.

Also, if you have a 300-400 budget you are better off looking for a used bike on CL. Can get more bike for your money that way.

Edit- I know I am kind of all over the place with this, been up for about 36hrs. The noodle is a little frayed.

 

[Joker]

I currently have a Motobecane road bike and love it. The bike is very well built and the components are the same you would get anywhere else. However, I have been riding a long time and know the geometry I was looking for and was sure the bike would fit me and my riding style.

I would also recommend going to a local shop (with good staff) and have them help you find the correct bike for you. It makes a world of difference.

 

[The Pol]

I currently have a Motobecane road bike and love it. The bike is very well built and the components are the same you would get anywhere else. However, I have been riding a long time and know the geometry I was looking for and was sure the bike would fit me and my riding style.

I would also recommend going to a local shop (with good staff) and have them help you find the correct bike for you. It makes a world of difference.

Thanks for the tips guys... I was thinking the same thing, I do want to develop a relationship with a local dealer, especially a good one. It is nice to have someone to help mentor you as you delve into a new hobby.

They have some sweet bikes, and I have been looking over CL in my area, but the bikes are crap

 

[s3n8]

I have said this before (maybe even in this thread) but check craigslist for deals on used bikes. Its tough to find a deal in DC since there are so many bikes coming and going, and so many riders vying for the same deal. I have been able to find a couple good deals though because I am freakishly tall, and 60cm bikes dont move that fast. I picked up a nice old steel Batavus frame for $5

Just passed ride number 100 for the year. Mostly road though.