Introductions - Hi, Introducing myself here.

Ciao from Italy,

I bought my first "real" bike today. Before, I had the cheaper bikes that you just buy to have a bike. :D Today I bought an HM Sedona. Pics:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/ericnupp/Bike/Stored.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/ericnupp/Bike/Lookingforward.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/ericnupp/Bike/Side.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/ericnupp/Bike/Front.jpg


I really don't like the pedals. They're the toe clips and they're kinda annoying. The pedal itself is plastic, which I'm not too fond of. So while I introduce myself, I guess it's OK to ask some questions while I'm here and posting. :) 1st off, how can I tell if my tire is has a tube or is tubeless? What makes a good tube? What makes a good tire? Also, I'm looking at pedals from Performancebike.com which of the following would you recommend and why?
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=21087&subcategory_ID=10046
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=21088&subcategory_ID=10046
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23367&subcategory_ID=10046

Ciao from Italy,

Hey SaxNbass! Where are you in Italy?


1st off, how can I tell if my tire is has a tube or is tubeless? What makes a good tube? What makes a good tire? Also, I'm looking at pedals from Performancebike.com which of the following would you recommend and why?

TUBES:
Your tires are almost certainly tubed tires. Any tube (of the right size of course) will work. If weight is not an issue, I'd go with the cheaper tubes.

TIRES:
Again with the tire, it's all about what you want from your rubber. Do you want a light weight, sticky tire for racing? Do you want a hard compound tire for long life? There are MANY choices depending on your needs.

PEDALS:
I hate to keep beating the same drum, but ...... do you want clipless? There are many choices - your budget and personal preference will determine which ones. FYI, if you want to be able to do some walking while in your clipless shoes, I'd recommend getting mtb shoes/pedals. If you'll be on the bike for the most part, a road shoe/pedal would more likely be the call.

Finally - welcome to the Forums! :)

... Brad

Hey Brad. Thanks for that info. Why would I not want clipless? I will look into the MTB shoes/pedals, but I think road ones will do fine, as I would have a backpack (like a CamelBak to keep hydrated) with a change of clothes and extra pair of shoes.

By the way, I'm in northern Italy. About 30-45 minutes (depending on traffic) from Venice. (by car, not by bike, BTW). :D

damn right, sleeping next to the bike.welcome, almost everyone here is nice. you will soon become addicted

Yep, bike is being stored at the foot of my bed at the moment. I may hang it there off the wall and move the mirror or I may move a box next to my desk and hang it there, either way, it'll be in the same room I sleep in. Speaking of the addicted part, I was browsing Performancebike.com and already have a cart of about $200 worth of stuff (a set of gloves, a cyclocomputer, lights (head and tail), Wall Mount bike rack (to hang the bike on the wall by the front wheel/tire), 2 bottles and a bottle cage, a maintenance book, a short sleeved jersey, and a set of clipless road pedals.



Another question. The pedals I'm wanting to buy are Forte, but I have (so far) only seen them on PerformanceBike, are they an odd brand? Are they good?

Don't need shoes to go with the pedals, but I am going to get some. Not online though, will be getting the shoes locally to make sure they fit right. If not doing a wall mount, what would be a good way to store the bike? My parents said if it's in the house, it's in my room and I don't want to leave it outside.
What would you recommend for lights? Especially headlight to see? Here in Italy/Europe it's a law that you have to have lights (to be seen, not to see). So I need the lights if I will be riding in the darker hours, which I will be.

The bottle cage will be installed, I will be using the bottles when I'm on shorter trips (like just riding around with the family or riding to a friend's house who lives in the same town or the next town from me). CamelBak would be for longer trips or when I'd need a change of clothes and/or shoes. CamelBak would be the more used option out of the two.

Congrats, a real bike,a real NICE bike !

Is that a sound board behind the bike in the first picture?

Yes, it is. It's not being used. I'm a musician actually. Going to go to college this fall in England and be a music major. I'm also a computer geek. My job currently is HP (computers, laptops, printers, etc.) SalesMan and I am also a Sound Tech on the side. I also play bass for the church contemporary band, but that I don't get paid for. :D

Hello saxnbass, it looks as if you are making your way around the board without problems, and I hope you have got the clipless pedal thing figured out (just remember, there WILL be at least one slow motion fall whilst clipped in during the learning phase :D ).

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Hello saxnbass, it looks as if you are making your way around the board without problems, and I hope you have got the clipless pedal thing figured out (just remember, there WILL be at least one slow motion fall whilst clipped in during the learning phase :D ).

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Yep. Got a pair of LOOK KEO Sprint pedals and a pair of Sidi shoes.

I've already had 2 falls, both when stopped, right after stopping. Had the left foot unclipped to put on the ground, but ended up falling to the right. :/

You are well on your way to being a real cyclist, then :D .

East Hill