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.Felicity
08-19-06, 06:09 PM
I am not sure I would classify myself as a cyclocross person but.... I used to ride roads pretty fast but never liked racing. I had a mountain bike but never liked the cloddiness of it (plus driving to start every ride always seemed silly to me) and tearing down unidentifiable trails was not my idea of fun. I sold them both and bought a hybrid back in the late 90's but was never terribly happy with that bike because it was not as nimble as my road bike and the change to full time upright was too much of a contrast and I longed to lean down and really book. Now I also want to ride my bike on errands as I am moving from a subural area closer to a town.
Can one bike make me happy? I was at the bike store and was drawn to the Bianchi Volpe and Axis and the sales guy explained to me about this new sport when I told him what I liked to do: ride roads fast solo, accompany my kids for rides here and there, go on dirt roads with low to moderate hills, and run around town, and he seemed to think I was on the right track with this style of bike. He did not have the bikes in my size (I am 5'10" with a 35" inseam) so it is still an unknown for me! What are bikes are available besides besides those from Bianchi? Since I was a bit concerned about not having shocks for the dirt riding, he said that the bikes with steel frames don't need them as much since they are inherently more forgiving.
Any thoughts from the experts? As far as cost, I don't want to spend more than I need to but I am anathema to buying something that I won't enjoy just to save $$. I would probably still cave to a high end hybrid if I could find one that I really liked. Thanks for your sage wisdom....
Can one bike make me happy? I was at the bike store and was drawn to the Bianchi Volpe and Axis and the sales guy explained to me about this new sport when I told him what I liked to do: ride roads fast solo, accompany my kids for rides here and there, go on dirt roads with low to moderate hills, and run around town, and he seemed to think I was on the right track with this style of bike. He did not have the bikes in my size (I am 5'10" with a 35" inseam) so it is still an unknown for me! What are bikes are available besides besides those from Bianchi? Since I was a bit concerned about not having shocks for the dirt riding, he said that the bikes with steel frames don't need them as much since they are inherently more forgiving.
Any thoughts from the experts? As far as cost, I don't want to spend more than I need to but I am anathema to buying something that I won't enjoy just to save $$. I would probably still cave to a high end hybrid if I could find one that I really liked. Thanks for your sage wisdom....