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Advise for someone starting?

Old 03-21-09, 12:26 PM
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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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Old 03-21-09, 12:46 PM
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With the information you provided I think this should do:

https://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/...g%20wheels.gif
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Old 03-21-09, 01:00 PM
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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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Old 03-21-09, 01:02 PM
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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.

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Old 03-21-09, 01:04 PM
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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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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 03-21-09, 01:25 PM
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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.
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Old 03-21-09, 01:35 PM
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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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Old 03-21-09, 01:41 PM
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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.
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Old 03-21-09, 02:01 PM
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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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Old 03-21-09, 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by KungPaoSchwinn
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.
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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Old 03-21-09, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by brill
I don't like the idea of traveling on roads, but is it even possible to get around without trespassing?
What are you planning to travel on, if you're not planning to travel on roads?


Originally Posted by brill
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.
If you want to find out more about travelling by bicycle (or "cycletouring"), ask in the Touring Forum.
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Old 03-21-09, 02:32 PM
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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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Old 03-21-09, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka
What are you planning to travel on, if you're not planning to travel on roads?

If you want to find out more about travelling by bicycle (or "cycletouring"), ask in the Touring Forum.
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.
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Old 03-21-09, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by brill
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.
If you want helpful advice, this subforum is not the place for that.

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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Old 03-21-09, 04:28 PM
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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.
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Old 03-21-09, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by brill
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.
You live in a city, right? Have you travelled much around your own area, outside the city? It doesn't sound like it.

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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Old 03-21-09, 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by brill
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?

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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Old 03-21-09, 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by buzzman
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.
The Mountain Bike subforum is more oriented towards current mountain bikes, though (I think). For touring what he'd need is an older rigid mountain bike. Classic and Vintage would still be the place to go for that (I think), although it couldn't hurt to ask in the Mountain Bike subforum.

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.
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Old 03-21-09, 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by brill
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?
Brill you are going to be offered all sorts of technical and other advice here when it comes to bicycles. Everyone is different when it comes to bicycles.

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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Old 03-21-09, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by buzzman
...
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.
Thanks for the advice buzzman, I think I'll try to find a crappy mountain bike to start off with.

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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Old 03-21-09, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by brill
I think I'll try to find a crappy mountain bike to start off with.
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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Old 03-21-09, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Blue Order
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
Cheap! I wont have to feel bad about breaking it when I try to dis/reassemble it!
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Old 03-21-09, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by brill

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.
If you are serious, this site may provide ideas that fit your needs and concept of travel:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/
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Old 03-21-09, 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
If you are serious, this site may provide ideas that fit your needs and concept of travel:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/
Hahahah, I can only wish that I still could.

"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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Old 03-21-09, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
With the information you provided I think this should do:

https://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/...g%20wheels.gif
As a guy who taught himself to ride a bike at 40, I have some experience on the subject. There's no need for training wheels. The OP should be able to learn balancing without them.
 

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