General Cycling Discussion - Faq?

Not for the forums, but for bicycles?

Here's what I'm looking for:

I've spent a good chunk of my online time for the weekend reading and learning a lot about bikes and cycling here at the bike forums. But is there a good place for complete, detailed explanation of all things cycling...even the basics, if you follow me.

Thanks to folks here, I know a lot about important minutia about gearing choices for my fat ass, about tire sizes for the conditions I might see, and other good stuff. But I'm still missing some basic info in a lot of areas. Examples? Handlebars...what are the reasons for all the styles and shapes? (although I did tune in to a discussion on bar width.) And I still don't know what a "hybrid" bike is, other than almost no one thinks it is a good idea. ;)

There is a lot of other stuff I want to know, not just the examples above. Is there a "bible", either online or a book? The bike encylopedia?

Thanks

I started laughing when I first read this, but then I thought--you know, why are there so many handlebars and that's when I really started laughing because it occurred to me that I didn't know :D .

About hybrid bikes, though--most people think that hybrids aren't a great idea because, like all compromises, they want to be two different things at once. It's not a road bike, so it can't be a great road bike, and it's not a mountain bike, so it can't be a great mountain bike, so it's kind of an ok road bike and kind of an ok mountain bike.

I don't know if there's a FAQ for answers to the types of questions you have, but I think you will start generating some replies in asking here ;) .

East Hill

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/

The best FAQ around:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

The best FAQ around:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

+1

Not a FAQ, but pretty good site on training concepts. Detailed enough, but not overwhelming.

www.cptips.com

The best FAQ around:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

The answer to almost any question about bikes lies somewhere in his website.

....About hybrid bikes, though--most people think that hybrids aren't a great idea because, like all compromises, they want to be two different things at once. It's not a road bike, so it can't be a great road bike, and it's not a mountain bike, so it can't be a great mountain bike, so it's kind of an ok road bike and kind of an ok mountain bike....
Tsk tsk tsk.
Hybrid bikes originated because casual US riders preferred the more-comfortable riding position of MTB's to road bikes, but didn't need heavy-duty MTB construction.

The same enthusiasts who insist that hybrids are a poor choice are a lot of the same people who say that comfort bikes are a poor choice as well--but in 2005, the combined number of hybrid and comfort bikes sold in the US was nearly equal to the number of MTB's and road bikes sold:
http://nbda.com/page.cfm?PageID=34 (scroll down to "Specialty Bicycle Sales By Year, Units, 2002-2005")
IF you buy a comfort or hybrid bike, you certainly won't be alone.

...What a lot of enthusiasts simply don't like to admit is that two of the post popular bicycle features now are a suspension fork and suspension seatpost. This is because ordinary casual riders are attempting to mitigate the saddle pain and hand numbness associated with upright bicycles.

---------

If you want maximum comfort, consider a recumbent (or a semi-recumbent).
http://www.norcom2000.com/users/dcimper/assorted/inanities/recumbent/field_guide/bents.html
Much of the pain of riding an upright bicycle doesn't really occur at all on a recumbent--and a bicycle that hurts to ride is no bargain at any price.
~

Tsk tsk tsk.
Hybrid bikes originated because casual US riders preferred the more-comfortable riding position of MTB's to road bikes, but didn't need heavy-duty MTB construction.

Covered myself by saying most people :D .

My experience with a 'comfort' bike was that I found it most uncomfortable :p . I've never ridden a modern hybrid bike, only my one Raleigh mixte which does not have drop handlebars.

I agree, I think most casual riders find a more upright position (a la MTB) to be more comfortable over a short distance. I'm just odd because I found even for short distances that I much preferred the road bike riding position. Or, as some would say, 'your mileage may vary'.

East Hill

...My experience with a 'comfort' bike was that I found it most uncomfortable :p . I've never ridden a modern hybrid bike, only my one Raleigh mixte which does not have drop handlebars.

I agree, I think most casual riders find a more upright position (a la MTB) to be more comfortable over a short distance. I'm just odd because I found even for short distances that I much preferred the road bike riding position. Or, as some would say, 'your mileage may vary'.

East HillWell, that's kinda where my hybrid question came from. I have never been comfortable riding drops, even though most of my bikes (from the time I outgrew my Sting Ray back in the 60s) have had them. I usually rode them in the up position with brake handle extensions. Well, the brakes suck like that and it keeps your hands too close to the center for comfort.

A decade ago, I made my own kinda-hybrid, by putting MTB bar on my road bike, but it isn't really a good setup either. Now that I am taking up serious riding again, I was curious what "hybrid" meant...what pieces are taken from MTBs and what pieces are more like a road bike, for example.

Note: at least to start, most of my miles will be on the KATY Trail - Missouri's rail-to-ride trail - and not on the roads. (The roads around here are too vertical for my current fitness level. ;) )

I may even consider a recumbent for the comfort, but (as a tall guy) I don't like being that low to the ground...

Should I get one of these? :D
http://www2.jsonline.com/desk/histwis/images/hist5big.jpg

The best FAQ around:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/
Thanks...that is a great site.

The best FAQ around:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/


+1
+100

Also:
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm



Should I get one of these? :D
http://www2.jsonline.com/desk/histwis/images/hist5big.jpg
Sure, if you want. I kept a haircut like that for 20 years, easy to care for. It doesn't look like that anymore though. A little over a year ago I woke up one morning, standing in the bathroom with the clippers in my hand, and said, "Hey, I'm retired. I don't have to do this anymore.":D

Well, that's kinda where my hybrid question came from. I have never been comfortable riding drops, even though most of my bikes (from the time I outgrew my Sting Ray back in the 60s) have had them. I usually rode them in the up position with brake handle extensions. Well, the brakes suck like that and it keeps your hands too close to the center for comfort.

A decade ago, I made my own kinda-hybrid, by putting MTB bar on my road bike, but it isn't really a good setup either. Now that I am taking up serious riding again, I was curious what "hybrid" meant...what pieces are taken from MTBs and what pieces are more like a road bike, for example.


I believe that hybrids don't usually have the suspension generally found on MTBs, and they also have either much less knobby tyres, or 'slicks' to make riding on a road easier. They will have a more upright riding position.

I think there was a TV program called "Different Strokes"--and that certainly applies in bicycles! Everyone's got some idiocyncrasy :D , and all that means is that everyone's different.

Oh, and if you want the Penny Farthing, look in Alt Bikes. There's a very interesting thread about the properties of Highwheelers there.

East Hill