Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Patrick A
07-15-05, 12:30 PM
My last bike was stolen a few weeks ago, and I've been riding second hand bikes for years now, gearing them up with fenders and lighting and such. Jandd panniers and a $10 bike, that's how I've been doing it. :D I don't think I've bought a new bike since I got a Raleigh Record 10 speed for my birthday years ago...
So I was coming around to the idea of buying an entry level hybrid and outfitting it with commuter gear. Under $300 or so. There's only one LBS here in town, in fact I think it's the only shop for about 50 miles. They're a great outfit, but they're almost exclusively a Trek dealer. I was torn because I really wanted to buy an American made bike, but at the same time I always buy from the LBS first and foremost, and these guys weren't really keen on having a bike shipped in from another manufacturer and screwed together by them. Plus I thought that Trek, while not a bad bike, wasn't a Surly or Kona. But then again it can be looked at like a Honda. :p :D
Reluctantly I started looking at the 7000, the solid front fork, entry level hybrid...700 wheels, aluminum frame. I was a little weary of aluminum because I've always been a steel guy, but again, this is what I had at my disposal - so why not take a look? The more I looked at it and the price (@ $260) the more I liked the idea of gearing it up instead of saving for a Specialized Globe or an L200. I don't ride enough at night to warrant a hub generator. I figured by the time it's ready for it's first tuneup I can upgrade to some better components. The aluminum frame wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. And for a lowball type of bike, it was surprisingly smooth and comfortable. OK, so most of it is made in China...but an American company would be getting the $$$ and more importantly so would the LBS, which has been open since 1947.
My commuting habits have also changed a great deal...I now work from home, and I live in a small town/city. The geography is relatively flat, and traffic is very manegeable. I didn't need a cyclecross or touring rig to buzz out for coffee or to pick up some groceries. An upright seating position is real pleasant when tooling around an old Mississippi River town. And I am getting older...:D
Well, anyway, my girlfriend and I had been kicking around getting me another bike, because I don't own a car. She kept putting it off for this excuse or that excuse...And then this morining she woke me up and told me that there's something I should see on the back porch. I was kind of crabby and groggy and when I looked out there I wasn't sure if I was seeing it right. It was a brand new Trek 7000. Boy, that was a good thing to wake up to! I totally didn't see that coming...my birthday isn't till Sunday, but we're going to be in Kansas City for the weekend so she wanted spring it on me before we left. I actually got a little choked up, over this bike! What a nice thing to do! Do I have a great woman or what?!
Now, I know lots of folks will pooh-pooh the bike as a big name, uncool, cheapo type thing, but man, it's the nicest bike I've owned in a looong time. I view bicycling as transportation, and this new bike fits quite nicely with that philosophy. Already got some freddy's and a rack on it. It going right to work!
Well, sorry for the long ass post, but I'm just happy as a pig in sh t right about now. Just wanted to share a little. :)
So I was coming around to the idea of buying an entry level hybrid and outfitting it with commuter gear. Under $300 or so. There's only one LBS here in town, in fact I think it's the only shop for about 50 miles. They're a great outfit, but they're almost exclusively a Trek dealer. I was torn because I really wanted to buy an American made bike, but at the same time I always buy from the LBS first and foremost, and these guys weren't really keen on having a bike shipped in from another manufacturer and screwed together by them. Plus I thought that Trek, while not a bad bike, wasn't a Surly or Kona. But then again it can be looked at like a Honda. :p :D
Reluctantly I started looking at the 7000, the solid front fork, entry level hybrid...700 wheels, aluminum frame. I was a little weary of aluminum because I've always been a steel guy, but again, this is what I had at my disposal - so why not take a look? The more I looked at it and the price (@ $260) the more I liked the idea of gearing it up instead of saving for a Specialized Globe or an L200. I don't ride enough at night to warrant a hub generator. I figured by the time it's ready for it's first tuneup I can upgrade to some better components. The aluminum frame wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. And for a lowball type of bike, it was surprisingly smooth and comfortable. OK, so most of it is made in China...but an American company would be getting the $$$ and more importantly so would the LBS, which has been open since 1947.
My commuting habits have also changed a great deal...I now work from home, and I live in a small town/city. The geography is relatively flat, and traffic is very manegeable. I didn't need a cyclecross or touring rig to buzz out for coffee or to pick up some groceries. An upright seating position is real pleasant when tooling around an old Mississippi River town. And I am getting older...:D
Well, anyway, my girlfriend and I had been kicking around getting me another bike, because I don't own a car. She kept putting it off for this excuse or that excuse...And then this morining she woke me up and told me that there's something I should see on the back porch. I was kind of crabby and groggy and when I looked out there I wasn't sure if I was seeing it right. It was a brand new Trek 7000. Boy, that was a good thing to wake up to! I totally didn't see that coming...my birthday isn't till Sunday, but we're going to be in Kansas City for the weekend so she wanted spring it on me before we left. I actually got a little choked up, over this bike! What a nice thing to do! Do I have a great woman or what?!
Now, I know lots of folks will pooh-pooh the bike as a big name, uncool, cheapo type thing, but man, it's the nicest bike I've owned in a looong time. I view bicycling as transportation, and this new bike fits quite nicely with that philosophy. Already got some freddy's and a rack on it. It going right to work!
Well, sorry for the long ass post, but I'm just happy as a pig in sh t right about now. Just wanted to share a little. :)