Commuting - Who wants to see my new bike?

I rode my first commute home on my brand new ride today, and not since I first got my training wheels off was I ever so excited to get onto a bike. This thing rides like a dream! The Campy components make shifting and braking absolutly effortless, the frame feels like silk on wheels (stupid, I know.) The wheels are so light and quick I almost feel like the thing might just shoot out from under me.

Plus... the thing is oompa loompa orange. How does it get better than that?

You're commuting on THAT?! Be careful, don't get it stolen...

You're commuting on THAT?! Be careful, don't get it stolen...

I work on a big campus and the bike gets parked in the semi-secured parking garage (It takes a key card from the company to drive in. Theres no one around it except employees. Plus theres a camera pointed at it. Not specifically for my bike but it is comforting.

Although I am going to insure the thing. I don't have renters insurance but I've heard that my bike would be covered for theft under it. Anyone have any experience with this? Had a bike stolen and gotten insurance to pay up?

beautiful bike!

I'm not sure how it works with renters insurance, but I will tell you about how it works with homeowner's and you can call your agent to check on it. I took out a "Personal Articles Policy" on my camera equipment (haven't done the bike yet). I have just over $4k in camera gear. For about $60/year, my gear is completely covered. It doesn't matter if it gets stolen, lost, if I drop it, whatever. It will be replaced for full purchase value and with NO DEDUCTIBLE! That's the problem with just claiming under your normal homeowner's insurance, you have to pay the deductible which is typically 1% of the cost of your home. So $60/year is a drop in the bucket for the piece of mind that I have.

I really like the orange. I saw a picture of the new Poprad in that color and got all excited.

Although I am going to insure the thing. I don't have renters insurance but I've heard that my bike would be covered for theft under it. Anyone have any experience with this? Had a bike stolen and gotten insurance to pay up?

I had two successful insurance claims for stolen bikes in Tucson AZ with renter's insurance. I even got replacement cost, which was more than I payed to buy the bike used. I had Allstate and this was in 1995. It don't work in NYC because the insurers won't take the risk - unless it's stolen from your apt. Be sure to ask very specifically about coverage for a bike while out on the street. good luck

Nice looking bike! :beer:


You live in "rainy" Seattle but I don't see any fenders. How are you going to stay dry? ;)

I hate you.



No really, I don't but you now have the bike I wish I could get. A steel Lemond with Campy... and in that sweet orange color too! I'm so disappointed to know that next year they are changing the color and going to Shimano for the Sarthe. :( Anyhow, congrats on the sweet ride!

I had a bike stolen and covered under renter's insurance through Gieco. They were very good about the process. I filed a police report and they wanted that report #. They called a local shop and got a price of a new bike with similar parts and valued that bike at that. There was a catch; I could only get the full value (less deductable) if I bought that bike that they valued. If I took the cash, they depreciated the bike at roughly 7% per year. I took the depreciated amount and bought another used bike. All in all, I ended up with a much better bike for only a few hundred out of pocket.

That is a sweet ride, no doubt about it. The lack of fenders/Seattle part of the equation is a little ifffy, however. Jake looks great in the buff as well, but he didn't make it out the bike shop door without getting my old crappy fenders strapped on to him. He grumbled for a while (lube fixed that), and won't win any sex appeal contests (poor guy, now he's got a nerdy bar-end mirror as well, enough to make any self-respecting drop-bar bike throw a BB bearing in disgust).

2000 kms later, I sure don't miss the reverse skunk tracks up my back...

A note on insurance: I had two mountain bikes stolen out of basement a few years back (a decent Giant and a great Gary Fisher), and I suddenly discovered that my insurance only covers bikes with a flat $500 maximum PER OCCURENCE. That didn't even pay for the Giant. I was told that's pretty standard on homeowner/renter and condo packages.

Act accordingly.

Great bike! Also, it looks like you have a balcony and I would suggest even when its muddy to not keep your bike out there. I have heard many stories of bikes being stolen off of them. I know it seems a little paranoid, but better to avoid the having to make the claim to your renter's insurance in the first place. And even though you have a secure parking place at work I would invest in a bomber lock. I use the New York Kryptonite U-lock. It's heavy, but you could just leave it locked to the rack rather than carry it back and forth. Happy commuting and stay dry.

It is a beaut!

I want one.

I work on a big campus and the bike gets parked in the semi-secured parking garage (It takes a key card from the company to drive in. Theres no one around it except employees. Plus theres a camera pointed at it. Not specifically for my bike but it is comforting.

Although I am going to insure the thing. I don't have renters insurance but I've heard that my bike would be covered for theft under it. Anyone have any experience with this? Had a bike stolen and gotten insurance to pay up?

I just had my bike stolen. I'm wanting to claim it on my home owners but my Insurance company is throwing a bi*ch fit over it. Just make sure you're deductable is low enough so you're not paying $500.00 out of pocket and make sure you have the serial and all other obvious info on hand. My insurance company, allstate sucks.

Your bike is beautiful though. :) Enjoy it! :)

She's a looker! Congrats.

Second commute home and its even better today. I brought another lock to work today and I felt better about it. I've got a kryponite mini U (not the bic pen model) AND a cable now. I will be investing in something beafier pretty soon.

I've already got some of those SKS race blade fenders but it looks like I might have to make some adjustments for the front fender because the front fork is kind of aero shaped and I'm not too sure they'll clip on real easy. Plus I'm thinking of turning my old Univega into a fixed/ss so I'll have that for real rainy days.

I think my next purchase (or next AFTER the lock and insurance policy) will be some tougher tires. I've got tuffies for my 27 x 1 1/4 wheels and I haven't had a flat since I put them in, but I'm thinking about getting something like a set of armadillos. Any other recomendations?

Great bike! Also, it looks like you have a balcony and I would suggest even when its muddy to not keep your bike out there. I have heard many stories of bikes being stolen off of them. I know it seems a little paranoid, but better to avoid the having to make the claim to your renter's insurance in the first place.

Trust me, this bike will NEVER be locked up outside overnight, no matter where it is. I just might cuff it to my leg while I sleep in case my girlfriend gets any crazy ideas. :D

Of course, shes got an early 90s masi so I think shes satisfied.

I'd hit it.

It's like having a Porsche for a commuter. If only...

It's like having a Porsche for a commuter. If only...

Well the way I see it, why not. I've got an 18 mile one way commute. 95% on a trail. There are other fast roadies there to try to keep up with so that makes it fun. Plus, the old Univega just wasn't cutting it. The sarthe will stay indoors on the worst weather days, but I think nice bikes are made to be ridden, so thats what I plan on doing.


Plus... chicks dig it.

sexy bike man!

and I second Bkrownd's comment as well. I would also hit it.

Of course, shes got an early 90s masi so I think shes satisfied.

Masi's ARE quite satisfying!! ;)

http://roxysmama.blogs.friendster.com/photos/masi/

Hit it? Please educate me!

That's a really pretty bike! Orange is my favorite color, too. I'll bet it's a dream to ride. Have fun!

Hit it? Please educate me!

That's a really pretty bike! Orange is my favorite color, too. I'll bet it's a dream to ride. Have fun!


They want to have sex with the bike. ;)

To the original poster:

Nice bike.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hit+it

Your renters policy would cover your bicycle, in Ohio, most companies offer a replacement cost option on contents and you can buy a lower deductible...insure that beauty..

Steve

They want to have sex with the bike. ;)

To the original poster:

Nice bike.

Gee, that makes sense. :o

I've really lost touch since I don't teach middle school any more! ;)

Gee, that makes sense. :o

I've really lost touch since I don't teach middle school any more! ;)

good one, LH

I commute 30 miles round-trip on a Trek 2300, which is a similarly-spec'd bike: full Ultegra, Bontrager Race Lites, hell, I even have Look Keo pedals. I carry it upstairs and park it in my cubicle, where it belongs. If I had to, I guess I'd buy a beater bike for the commute, but I know I'd hate every mile of it, knowing the Trek is sitting at home, lonely.

- Warren

I want one.

- umm, shouldn't that be:

"I want one. PM me your address."

:-)

signed,

an ex-Delmarva biker

I commute 30 miles round-trip on a Trek 2300, which is a similarly-spec'd bike: full Ultegra, Bontrager Race Lites, hell, I even have Look Keo pedals. I carry it upstairs and park it in my cubicle, where it belongs. If I had to, I guess I'd buy a beater bike for the commute, but I know I'd hate every mile of it, knowing the Trek is sitting at home, lonely.

- Warren

Ahh, there's something mystical about commuting on an old PoS frankenbike. ;)

But seriously, nice bike.

I think my next purchase (or next AFTER the lock and insurance policy) will be some tougher tires. I've got tuffies for my 27 x 1 1/4 wheels and I haven't had a flat since I put them in, but I'm thinking about getting something like a set of armadillos. Any other recomendations?

I say the Armadillos are the way to go. I got mine a few months ago, and love them. They are heavy on paper, but I find they roll pretty darn good when kept at 120psi or so. My 8 mile commute is through a nasty industrial strip - I hit glass, metal, construction workers, all without damage. Stones make a scary noise when they fly off sideways with enough speed to put a hole in a car door, but other than that they are great. Look for the Specialized 700 x 25 All Condition Armadillo, as they are called. Not cheap, but totally worth it. I own four.