General Cycling Discussion - Just Placed Deposit For Two New Bikes!

Just came back from the LBS and put a deposit down on two new bikes.


1) GT Avalanche 2.0 - This bike will be used on the local trails. I upgraded the pedals to clipless.

2) Raleigh FT2 - This bike will be used to commute to work (11 miles round trip) as well as exercise/fun. I upgraded to clipless pedals and also am having lights, mirror, water cage & a seat bag mounted.

This was the first time I ever rode a real bike after only having my Toys R Us bike for the last 10 years. The difference was noticeable right away. Even the cheapest bike I rode today felt head and shoulders better then my current one.

Can't wait to pick them up!

Yay!:thumb:

nice, two bikes at once. getting an early jump on N+1........ i like it!

N+1+1=N+2
Now go out and buy 2 more bikes! :D

lol, thanks.

I wanted a bike to commute to work (10 miles round trip) but I also wanted to take it for longer rides here and there. The LBS suggested a used road bike, I forget the brand but it was around $700. I took it for a spin but I wasn't so thrilled with the handlebars. It felt a little awkward, but this was also the first time I rode anything like it. I didn't like the fact that the brakes were not always as close to my hands as I am used to. The LBS did offer to add a second set of brakes though. I ended up going with the Raleigh because of the flat handlebars. They are adding some bars to the ends of the handlebars to offer a different grip if I want.

Hip! Hip! Hooray!... 4CM!

.............:love::lol::speedy::lol::love:



- Slim :)

I upgraded to clipless pedals and also am having lights, mirror, water cage & a seat bag mounted.


Sounds nice but really, isn't this something you could do yourself in your own living room?

Yes, but I'd rather just have them do it and be done with it.

Does anyone have any comments on the bikes I chose?

Does anyone have any comments on the bikes I chose?

Guessing you need someone to validate your purchases...

In that case, GT - good bike, Raleigh - good bike. Just go out and ride!

Raleigh FT2 :thumb: :thumb:
GT Avalanche 2.0 :thumb: :thumb:

We need pics after you get them dirty. ;)

Raleigh FT2 :thumb: :thumb:
GT Avalanche 2.0 :thumb: :thumb:

We need pics after you get them dirty. ;)
Don't get ahead of yourself, we need before pics too! :)

lol, gotta pay for them still. I won't have them for 2 weeks or so.

Alas, I'm still waiting on the bikes. I was expecting some extra funds around Columbus Day that never happened. Those funds should arrive towards the end of this month. Keeping my fingers crossed!

grats on the bikes! my rule of thumb though when waiting itll take longer usually. like mailmen and frigging ups guys :notamused: not waiting mail shows up 12:30-1:30ish regular. waiting for delivery 3 and after wtf :bang: and ups...theyre worse than frigging cable guys..well be there between 9am and end of day which if you check can mean just before midnight :troll: but sorry for straying off topic a bit and being a little down. again congrats on the bikes and no we want...nay need before during and after pics:thumb:

Hey, I'm a mailman and am always on time consistently. You just need to move to my route! lol

I dropped by the LBS yesterday just to let them know I'm still picking the bikes up. I'm still waiting for a few bucks that were supposed to come in 2 months ago! At this point I asked my family to just give money/visa gift cards for me for Christmas so I can get the bikes.

Bikes can be bought new?

Woo Hoo!

I'm finally picking them up tomorrow. When I got home from work today I put the bike hitch on my van, patiently awaiting 2pm tomorrow afternoon. In about 16 hours I'll have 2 brand new bikes! Can't wait!

10-18-11 02:05 PM was your first post on this. what? are they delivering them by desert tortise or something? why the long delay?

I was expecting a check to come in in October, that's why I put the deposit down. If I had known the check wouldn't have come till a week ago then I would have waited. Can't wait!

Congrats! We await pics and ride reports.

I know how excited you are! I was the same way when I bought his and hers bikes for Christmas 2010. I stuck them on layaway in November and picked them up the 2nd week of December when my wife went out of state for business. I couldn't wait 'till Christmas, so the day i picked them up, I took mine out for a couple miles!!! LOL:D

OK, some pics for your viewing pleasure.

232804232805232806

The last picture above is the hybrid I'll be taking to work. It has a headlight and a tailight. Today I installed some more stuff. I put on the rear rack and a basket to hit the local store on the way home from work.


233272

I also put on a second headlight and a second tailight, this one just under the basket. I also have another head light and tailight in the mail and I plan to attach those to my helmet for a grand total of 3 headlights, 3 tailights.

Nice! I have a GT Avalanche 3.0 from 2005. The only issue I have with GTs is the triple triangle makes things annoying sometimes, like putting it on a car rack as pictured (I have a similar style one), or mounting things around there.

And I have a soft spot for Raleighs. Looks like a super commuter. I have 3 headlights (one helmet, one for cars to see me, one for me to see the pavement) and 2 tail lights (one helmet) when I commute in the dark.

I was FINALLY able to take the bike out today. I had only ridden it about 2 miles before my 12+ mile trip today. I choose my goto route which is pretty much a busy, 2 lane each way road for 80% of the trip. I've done the route a few times before on my POS MTB and was never able to break an hour. I was also began riding a few times a week to I built up some stamina.

Today, with the help of the new bike and clipless pedals I broke the hour barrier. I haven't ridden in 2-3 months so whatever stamina I built up was probably gone. Today was also the windiest day so far so I had that working against me.

As for the clipless pedals. lol I practiced getting in and out of the pedals when I installed the cleats 2 weeks ago. I did it maybe 6 times each foot. That's it. Before going out on today's ride I rode around the court in front of our house getting in and out of each pedal. I did it for 2 minutes or so and then felt comfortable. Off I went!

Luckily I didn't get stopped by any lights right away. I continued getting in and out when I was coasting a few times too. I started to feel more and more comfortable. About 8-9 miles into the trip I was approaching a light that was green for a long time and I figured it would turn soon so I began to slow it down. Sure enough it turned yellow and I was trying to get my foot out. No luck. This was the first time I actually NEEDED to get out. The light wasn't changing green and I couldn't get my foot out so I just turned right, went about 20 feet, turned around and then made a right to continue on my path. A little detour, no biggie. lol As soon as I got back on track I tested my foot again and it came out with no problem. lol

I was able to make it further without getting stopped. Then came the last light with about a mile to go. This is a one lane each way road but it also has a 3' designated bicycle lane. Again, the light was green for a long time as I was approaching and turned red. I was slowing down and again trying to get my foot out. I was about 50' from the light when the lead car decided it wanted to go right so it pulled into the bicycle path. There's a no turn on red sign. The car was about 30' ahead of me and I kept trying to get my foot out. Again, no luck. I had to keep slowing down and you know what happens next. Boom. I was on the ground, still in the pedals. lol I was fine, the bike was fine. Maybe a little embarrassed but that's about it. I got back on the bike and just sat there with one foot on the ground, sipping my camelbak. I waited for a few light cycles to pass, just to compose myself. All my lights and accessories were still on the bike so off I went.

I checked the bike out better when I got home and the side of the right pedal had some dirt and a scratch or two. Nothing big. The rear basket also had some paint removed as it hit the curb but again no problem. If anything, the basket looks like it may have taken the brunt of the damage since it's actually wider then the bike itself. Good thing!

Heh. I fell over in my pedals once last year, and I've been riding clipless for over 10 years...

There are only three things for certain in life. Death, taxes, and falling over while clipped into your bike.


Nice bikes!

Muscle memory is your friend. Always unclip the same foot from the same pedal position. Pretty soon you don't think about it at all. I like left foot at bottom of pedal stroke. Just a little pop of the heel out to the left and all is clear and foot is near the ground.