Advise for someone starting?
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Advise for someone starting?
I want to travel, and am thinking about either walking or biking around. I've never ridden a bike before, so not sure what kind to get. Any tips?
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With the information you provided I think this should do:
https://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/...g%20wheels.gif
https://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/...g%20wheels.gif
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Are you saying you don't even know how to ride a bicycle? We need to know that in advance,how far will you be travelling round trip? What kind of terrain will you be riding on?
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If it is possible, you should borrow a bike from a friend or family for a few weeks. Make sure the bike is the correct size for you and in good working order - brakes work, tires are inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the sidewall, etc. Then try riding regularly for a few weeks, gradually increasing the mileage. When you are able to ride more than 40 miles in approximately 3 hours, you will have a good idea if cycling is for you. At that point you will also likely have a feel for if you would prefer a road tourer, a mountain bike, a cross bike, etc. and you might also have a feel for whether you want to splash out on a new bike or a used bike.
The type of bike you will have a preference for will depend upon how long you want to travel - is it a week, a month or a year? Is your traveling restricted to a small geographical area or are you going to travel the world? Will you stick to roads or do you want the option of going off-road?
You are not really giving us enough information to answer your query.
Welcome to BikeForums.
The type of bike you will have a preference for will depend upon how long you want to travel - is it a week, a month or a year? Is your traveling restricted to a small geographical area or are you going to travel the world? Will you stick to roads or do you want the option of going off-road?
You are not really giving us enough information to answer your query.
Welcome to BikeForums.
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#5
You gonna eat that?
Before even thinking about getting on a bike, make sure you have a helmet. Although some people claim it isn't necessary, if you're going to have a wreck and land on your head, it's most likely to happen when you're just starting out.
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I like that pink bike, it would probably suit me well, and I agree about the helmet. I plan on landing on my head many times.
If you want more information, I guess I'll ramble some.. I'm about to graduate from college, and have no interest in joining the workforce just yet. I have no destination, but I was in Oregon once, and I thought it was beautiful. I might travel there... I'm in Virginia now.
I don't like the idea of traveling on roads, but is it even possible to get around without trespassing?
Thanks for the quick replies.
If you want more information, I guess I'll ramble some.. I'm about to graduate from college, and have no interest in joining the workforce just yet. I have no destination, but I was in Oregon once, and I thought it was beautiful. I might travel there... I'm in Virginia now.
I don't like the idea of traveling on roads, but is it even possible to get around without trespassing?
Thanks for the quick replies.
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I say Brill needs to give us some background b4 we can help him, does he knows how to ride a bike? that's the focus point but he ain't saying much yet.
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No, I don't know how to ride a bike. I'd rather that not be the focus though, since I wont be able to travel for about three months. There's time to learn.
Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.
Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.
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If an inexpensive bike is your choice for learning, any Xmart bike is better than from Ebay,since quality is not your priority plus you can save shipping cost as well.As for travelling,do you mean within a town/city or cross country from state to state?
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I think he has posted all that is necessary to get a pretty good idea of his intent and I think my recommendation is solid.
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No, I don't know how to ride a bike. I'd rather that not be the focus though, since I wont be able to travel for about three months. There's time to learn.
Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.
Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.
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#12
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In that case with the bike in that link, his leg can compensate for the training wheels,instead with help from another person, he can find a safe area with any hill or incline,let the gravity do the magic,good luck.
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But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.
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No, I don't know how to ride a bike. I'd rather that not be the focus though, since I wont be able to travel for about three months. There's time to learn.
Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.
Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.
For bike advice, ask the question in the Classic and Vintage subforum. For touring advice, ask the question in the Touring subforum. For general advice, ask the question in the General Cycling Discussion subforum.
For bad attitude and ideology, ask your question in this subforum.
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First, learn to ride a bike. There's no time like the present. Maybe, borrowing a bike from a friend or relative is a good idea, as long as the thing fits you.
Next, I get the impression that you intend to tour. Check the touring forum. They've got all the answers. If you're looking for cheap, I guess we'll have to know what counts as cheap for you. You could, conceiveably, ride a nice old ten speed from a garage sale if you can make it support racks. If you're graduating from college and you intend to go cross-country, I hate to break it to you, but you're going to be on roads. If that's not your thing, then try sticking to bike paths in your town for a while.
You'll have to develop and follow a plan. I mean, if you intend to tour on your bike for an extended period, you'll have to fund the adventure.
Must be nice to have the freedom to pack up and go on a bike trip.
That's my two cents. Good luck. Ride safely.
Next, I get the impression that you intend to tour. Check the touring forum. They've got all the answers. If you're looking for cheap, I guess we'll have to know what counts as cheap for you. You could, conceiveably, ride a nice old ten speed from a garage sale if you can make it support racks. If you're graduating from college and you intend to go cross-country, I hate to break it to you, but you're going to be on roads. If that's not your thing, then try sticking to bike paths in your town for a while.
You'll have to develop and follow a plan. I mean, if you intend to tour on your bike for an extended period, you'll have to fund the adventure.
Must be nice to have the freedom to pack up and go on a bike trip.
That's my two cents. Good luck. Ride safely.
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I found some good links in that section of this site, thanks.
But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.
But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.
In many places, once you get off the road, you are not on terrain that is conducive to riding a bicycle ... or walking either for that matter. Nevermind being without a home or hotel ... think about making your way across a pasture, or through a forest, or up and over a mountain. Roads tend to be the convenient way to get around and through those sorts of things.
And really ... ask these questions in either the Living Car Free or Touring forums. This kind of topic has nothing to do with Advocacy.
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#17
----
you may get the help you need in the touring forum or living car free forum. As far as long distance touring and avoiding main roads and using back roads, dirt roads and trails it would be possible with a good mountain bike set up for touring- possibly with a bob trailer rig off the back.
I started mapping a route that went from Western MA up through VT to the Canadian border using logging roads, fire roads, dirt roads and trails with very few sections on paved roads or highways just to see if it was possible. It would take some work (research and really good maps), mean a lot of miles and way more climbing than you might do otherwise to tour in this fashion consistently- but it could be a lot of fun and give you an amazing perspective of North America.
If you've never ridden a bike before and are literally starting from scratch then a mountain bike might be an easier bike for you to ride anyway. You can drop the seat all the way down and you'll be able to easily put your feet flat on the ground, the wider tires, upright style bars and frame geometry also makes the bike easy to handle for a beginner.
and it doesn't sound like you're a rider that's necessarily interested in speed and so, again, a mountain bike set up for touring might do the trick.
edit: you might check the mountain bike forum too. since your question involves off-road riding.
Last edited by buzzman; 03-21-09 at 04:49 PM.
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There's a current discussion about touring on old mountain bikes beginning on this page in Classic and Vintage, although the subject deserves a thread of its own.
#19
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It comes down to this one simple thing. Comfort. Get a bicycle that you will feel comfortable riding... If you aren't comfortable, you won't keep riding. Go around, test ride some at the bike shops and decide what type of bicycle you want, if you do decide on a bicycle.
I wish you well.
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To machka, I actually live in the country and am currently surrounded by trees. I would imagine it to be rough to get around with a bike, but with some detours and hopping off the bike at times, it looks possible... probably have to wear goggles so I don't get my eyes poked out too.
My only hesitation about not having a bike with me is that ~20 miles a day might be a little too slow in some places.
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No need to do that. You can get a perfectly decent old mountain bike for very little money. For example, check some of the prices in this thread
Last edited by Blue Order; 03-21-09 at 05:56 PM.
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No need to do that. You can get a perfectly decent old mountain bike for very little money. For example, check some of the prices in this thread
#23
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But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/
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If you are serious, this site may provide ideas that fit your needs and concept of travel:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/
"Please tell me where, have all the hobos gone to.
I see no light a'burning down by the rusty railroad tracks.
Could it be, that time has gone and left them,
Tied up in life's eternal travelling sack."
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With the information you provided I think this should do:
https://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/...g%20wheels.gif
https://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/...g%20wheels.gif