Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - In need of guidance

Now that i have my bike, and theres no "random thoughts" thread in this section, i guess i'll update this one periodically.


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Don't see a thread with the requirements for help, so i'll post as much as i can to assist ya'll.

Im 5 ft 7 :( 201 pounds 21 years old, yeah, it's not pretty.

I measured myself with shoes, flat footed theres 31.5 inches from the ground to my man parts. Tip toes adds another 5 inches.

Why i need help.

I know nothing about bikes, road them when i was younger, but never for fitness/commuting.I don't know why some bikes are more expensive than others, i didnt know what Shimano was until i googled :lol: I want to nip this weight gain in the bud before i spiral out of control, of course im gonna manage my diet better. Im not a good runner, and id love to explore using a bike while helping my situation.

Budget.
I know cheap and good quality shouldnt be in the same sentence, but im gonna try anyway:thumb:.
450 give or take is my budget willing to add a bit more if need be, but i'd like to keep it within that range, although its not set in stone.

What are my plans/goals
I plan on traveling to the gym, roughly 10 miles away according to googlemaps.
More than likely ill do that 4 times a week.Other three days i'll be cycling, miles? not sure, depends on how i feel.

Road conditions.
Roads in my city arent the greatest :lol: i worry about car tires while driving on all those bumps, so bike tires i'll have anxiety issues when im out :lol:. I need something thats durable and wont get a flat easily. (I'll even consider specialized tires if they're not bank breakers).There arent many bike lanes here, about 1/4 of my gym trip has a bike lane, rest will be side walks, and im positive they'll have glass on them. And curbs, not all have a ramp, so i'll have to slow down and hop them. with those skinny tires i see this potentially being a major issue?

What type of bike i want.
Wouldnt mind a road bike with a flat bar, but they seem hard to come by, so its not a requirement.I want it to be relatively fast, light, and strong enough to take my weight, plus the few extra pounds i'll have in my backpack (maintenance gear) etc.

One thing that is a requirement
My funds are on paypal, so the site i buy from has to accept paypal, i know this throws a wrench in the plan, but i don't have any other options.
I was looking here http://www.bikesdirect.com/ , but as i said before, i know nothing about these types of bikes and why others are better and what to look for.

Thanks for reading.

Look for a non-suspension hybrid style with V or disc brakes and clearance for wider tyres.
Rack and fender fittings give you all weather/utility use. Every errand done on a bike saves you money and adds to the exercise.
A more sporty all-rounder style is cyclo-cross but you cant get cheap ones. Same goes for touring bikes.
Almost every brand does a flatbar roadbike/rigid hybrid. There are variation in the brake style, tyre clearance and gearing.

Thanks for the quick response MW :)

I understand V brakes, the rest, seems like chinese and i only speak english :lol:

Good luck, I hope you find a great bike that fits you and you enjoy riding.

I have switched to commuting to work by bike, and it is really great exercise. Before the bicycle commuting, I was working the treadmill at the gym, but the bicycling is a better workout for me, much lower impact on my knees, and something I usually enjoy rather than dread. Instead of abandoning my gym membership, what I do now is work upper body strength a couple of times a week at the gym (and bike there too). The bicycle commuting is the main exercise, though. And the pounds are dropping off of me. My commute is 6 miles each way, and the gym is only 1.5 miles.

I'm not a bicycle expert, but you will get lots of advice on this forum. One thing I have on my bike that I like is "puncture-resistant" tires. They are Kenda tires with "Iron Cap", kind of like a kevlar reinforcement. Not 100% puncture proof, but supposed to be helpful. No problems yet.

Good luck, and be safe when riding.

Thanks, was looking into new tires a week ago. Best thing i THINK i came across were Armadilo tires? they cost a pretty penny, but i guess they're quality?

What you are searching for is commonly called a hybrid bike. It will have straight handle bars, wide tires, but not the shocks (and expense) of a mountain bike.
Since you will be riding pavement, you should go with tires with tread that is more "smooth" than "rough". There are lots of choices for hybrid bikes, and most of the manufacturers should have an entry level bike at or near your price range. Here is an example from Trek, a popular and well regarded brand.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_2_fx#

Best advice I can give is to buy from a local bike shop (LBS) with a good reputation for service and repairs. They will be your ally in your cycling journey.
Not sure how you will be best able to convert your paypal money into something the LBS will accept, but hopefully there are others who can give advice there.

Go to a few bike shops, test ride several bikes, and it should become obvious which shop and which bike is right for you.

Your weight really isn't a big issue on your bike choice, your riding style is. If you plan to jump curbs to ride the sidewalk (which I wouldn't suggest - sidewalks are for walking but that's another topic), I would go for an MTB. Were it not for the PP caveat, I'd say used MTB from the early '90s. The problem with going BikesDirect is that you need to know something about bikes to assemble, adjust and maintain it once the box arrives. I'd think something around a 17" frame like this if you go the BD route: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/windsor_cliff4700.htm.
Then swap out the tires for slicks or semi-slicks with kevlar belts to help prevent flatting (and keeping them near the top end of their recommended inflation will help with that as well).

Clarification, i dont plan on jumping curbs like a mad man, too old for that!

I will slow down and hop up.

MTBs are considerably slower than road bikes? don't think i want to sacrifice speed

I know side walks are for walking,but the streets without bike lanes are narrow, and i don't want to get ran over, people here will keep going and leave you injured.

That Trek is a sexy bike, i shall investigate it.

Just googled all my LBS, here are my choices

'12 KHS Urban Soul (http://midtownbikeco.com/product/12khs-urban-soul-160807-1.htm)399
'12 KHS Urban Xcape (http://midtownbikeco.com/product/12khs-urban-xcape-160797-1.htm)399

'12 KHS Flite 150 (http://midtownbikeco.com/product/12khs-flite-150-160720-1.htm)469
'12 Rocky Mountain RC 10 (http://midtownbikeco.com/product/12rocky-mountain-rc-10-154361-1.htm)549
'12 KHS Vitamin A (http://midtownbikeco.com/product/12khs-vitamin-a-160834-1.htm)440
'13 Trek DS 8.1 (Gary Fisher Collection) (http://www.peddlerbikeshop.com/product/trek-ds-8.1-gary-fisher-collection-171802-1.htm)530

'11 Trek Bodega (Gary Fisher Collection) (http://www.peddlerbikeshop.com/product/trek-bodega-gary-fisher-collection-72277-1.htm)520
'12 Trek 7.1 FX (http://www.peddlerbikeshop.com/product/trek-7.1-fx-131009-1.htm)470



Didnt know where were so many bike shops in Memphis :lol:

My standard replies:

1. Visit a shop in person if you can and sit on as many bikes as you can until you get a better feel for what feels good to you. Then once you're down to two or three that you think you like, ask the staff if you can put one of the bikes on a trainer so you can see how the bike feels and so you can get a sense of what it will be like riding it. All the while keep in mind that as you get more comfortable you might find your taste in bikes will change, some do and some don't so just keep it in mind.

2. Save some of your budget for a helmet, gloves, shoes, lights and flasher, tire pump for home, some sort of pump or CO2 or both to carry on the bike, tube patch kit and tire levers, and maybe a multi-tool for basic repairs and adjustments.

3. If you are mechanically inclined then you can sometimes save a lot by buying a used bike, or can not save money but get a better bike used than the same money will get you in a new bike.

4. There are too many options and comparable choices that easily overwhelm a new or returning rider. Just pick a decent brand and pick out a couple options, life will be less stressfull and in the end it will probably be just fine regardless of what you get.

"That you ride" is more important than "what you ride" .

Keep us posted, and enjoy the ride.

ps, just looked at some of your choices and at the shop's location, based on that I'd probably avoid a singlespeed bike unless you really want one, and I'd include a good lock setup and spend some web time watching proper locking methods. Be a real shame to get a new bike and have it gone in 60 seconds.
Hope I helped some.

All right thanks, ill see if i can visit a shop some time this week.

And i posted the single speed by accident, was trying to weed those out. I searched for everything within my budget on their site, it slipped thru :)

Still think that Trek FX2 is the sexiest bike ive seen.

Just remembered i can request a check from paypal. So that requirement is out the window.

+1 to finding a good bike shop. $450 will get you a decent starter bike. Don't remember what I paid for my Trek 7.2FX, but it wasn't far from that.

D


What are my plans/goals
I plan on traveling to the gym, roughly 10 miles away according to googlemaps.
More than likely ill do that 4 times a week.Other three days i'll be cycling, miles? not sure, depends on how i feel.


Ok - don't forget your longer term goals:
- stick with it
- upgrade the bike
- get cycle gear and clothing
- learn to maintain the bike and gear
- do longer rides
- do social rides
(examples, make your own list your own way).

So it's important not to get deterred or bummed out from the beginning. Some things that could become a downer: bike gets stolen; bike's not comfortable over distances; feel like you can't afford it; feel like you can't keep up with somebody; cycling makes you feel like eating more.

So keep these risks in mind and try to manage them. I just threw that last one in there because it could happen, your situation may differ.

Putting your budget in there is good but there are some items to plan for other than the bike itself (gear, clothing, eventual replacement parts like tires). So these are good to plan ahead for.

Yeah security will be a big concern. Guess i should have said it in the first post.

But that will always be separate, the budget i listed is for bike online, i'll take care of the bike lock and gear

...
Still think that Trek FX2 is the sexiest bike ive seen.
....


I think you just answered your own question. ;)
Enjoy your new bike. Post a ride report when you get it.

I used to work with a guy who got an FX model for his 10 mile commute, he really liked that bike and I assume he still does.

LOL, wouldnt say i made my choice, but maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan im leaning towards that sexy beast.

Is the 7.2FX the best choice for me? is everyone in agreement.

Im a noob here, i don't wanna have buyers remorse lol.

The price of this thing and my health rapidly changing , i WILL be sticking with this, even if i dont go to the gym as much as i planned i WILL get out and ride.

The Trek FX series is well liked here. If you can stretch a bit the FX 7.3 has better components. But for the price the FX 7.2 is good.

There is a good chance that riding on sidewalks at your age is illegal where you live. It can also be very dangerous for pedestrians. Injure one and you could be in a world of hurt.

What you are searching for is commonly called a hybrid bike. It will have straight handle bars, wide tires, but not the shocks (and expense) of a mountain bike...

Best advice I can give is to buy from a local bike shop (LBS) with a good reputation for service and repairs. They will be your ally in your cycling journey...

Go to a few bike shops, test ride several bikes, and it should become obvious which shop and which bike is right for you.

Listen to this guy! Especially the bolded type. Bikesdirect are good ... in fact a very good value, but it is only for people who know exactly what they want, what size they need, and who can do minimal mechanical adjustments themselves. You don't sound like you are there yet.

Your town is large enough to have a bunch of bike shops. Visit several this weekend. Find a sales rep who will take you seriously, explain to him or her your wants, needs, and budget and he or she will steer you to the most appropriate bike. As mentioned, set aside enough for a helmet, flashing rear light, (yes, even in daytime), gloves, underseat bag to hold tire irons and a spare tube, a frame pump and another pump for home use. (You may be able to negotiate to have these "thrown into" the bike purchase.) Then, you'll be set. In time, you can add a rear rack to haul your stuff as you ride.

Forget the sidewalk. Just stick to the right side of the roadways. If you must "hop curbs", come to a complete stop, put your feet on the ground, and lift your bike over the curb. Don't ride off or hop onto curbs. That is a sure way to trash your bike.

Good luck in your quest.

Man, ive been driving since 18, ive seen countless times how horrible the drivers are in Memphis.

Riding in a bike lane i'll be paranoid, riding on the side of the road without a bike line im positive someone will run me over and claim it was my fault.

YES people in this city are that low down.

Sigh, i'll visit some shops this weekend.

2-3 weeks to finally make the purchase, thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

http://midtownbikeco.com/articles/rentabikenow-pg816.htm maybe this can help.

There are too many options and comparable choices that easily overwhelm a new or returning rider. Just pick a decent brand and pick out a couple options, life will be less stressfull and in the end it will probably be just fine regardless of what you get.

"That you ride" is more important than "what you ride" .


+1 to the whole post, but +1000 to this part in particular.


To the OP, go sit on some bikes and take 'em for a spin. That will tell you far more than a bunch of internet people can.
Don't get paralyzed by the seemingly endless choices. For one thing, you'd probably be surprised at how many brands are rolling out of the same factory in Taiwan. Especially at your price-point. Just get something that will keep you riding. You'll become educated in time, and can fine-tune things as you go. If you end up really racking up some miles and loving it, you will probably find yourself wanting a drop-bar road bike to zoom down the road, so you may likely find your tastes changing over time.

The Trek FX series is well liked here. If you can stretch a bit the FX 7.3 has better components. But for the price the FX 7.2 is good.

Ha! just looked at the prices of those. A stretch to me is standing on your tip toes to reach something. This type of stretch is like going to an advanced yoga class:lol:

That's a little too steep for my blood.


Anywhoo. once again thanks everyone, i'll bump this thread on the weekend once i test some bikes out.

Okay okay, i have more questions hahaha


Im looking at the comparison between the Trek FX 7.2 and 7.1

The difference that matters to me (with my limited knowledge) that i noticed are the tires.

7.1 comes with Bontrager H2
7.2 comes with these http://bikeline.com/product/bontrager-h2-plus-eco-tire-700c-76308-1.htm


7.1 being 80 bucks cheaper, should i opt for that and get the Specialized Armadillo tires? saw a review and out of all of the "puncture resistant tires" it was the only one to not get a flat.

Ive become OCD like im researching PC parts :lol:

Good news is the bike shop (which is only 5 miles away) has both 7.1 and 7.2 :)

Didnt google the distance till a few minutes ago and was surprised how close it was, thought all of the bike shops were in the "good" parts of town

I think the 7.2 is worth the extra money. With a 8 speed you're getting a Shimano freehub rear axle plus much better derailleurs. The 7.1 appears to be a freewheel axle and I've heard posters complain about the inability to find quality replacements. I was talking to the Trek rep for Illinois and Missouri about tires and he was really hyping the new Bontrager Tires. I have H4 plus's on a bike with over 4000 miles and the only thing I dislike about them is the weight (heavy) and price ($50 ea.) He said the new tires are much lighter and still give the kind of life I'm getting. (They're still pricy.)

I think the $80 will pay itself back if you put a lot of miles on this. If you see yourself getting a different bike down the road then maybe not.

Ahh okay.

Thanks for the info.

I think the 7.2 is worth the extra money. With a 8 speed you're getting a Shimano freehub rear axle plus much better derailleurs. The 7.1 appears to be a freewheel axle and I've heard posters complain about the inability to find quality replacements. I was talking to the Trek rep for Illinois and Missouri about tires and he was really hyping the new Bontrager Tires. I have H4 plus's on a bike with over 4000 miles and the only thing I dislike about them is the weight (heavy) and price ($50 ea.) He said the new tires are much lighter and still give the kind of life I'm getting. (They're still pricy.)

I think the $80 will pay itself back if you put a lot of miles on this. If you see yourself getting a different bike down the road then maybe not.


I would go for for an 8 speed simply because of ease of upgrade, and $80 isn't a life-changing difference for me.

As an aside: I cannot look it up right now (at work, certain sites can't be accessed), but I really doubt that the 7.1 is using a freewheel. I'd be pretty surprised if any regular, modern, adult bike uses a freewheel. I may be wrong, and if I remember to do so, I'm going to look this up tonight at home. I'd really find that to be a curious choice for Trek to do that.


Edited to add: I'm not being argumentative, as I don't know. It just seems unlikely to me.

If you have a reputable local bike shop with knowledgeable staff they should be able to recommend a good bike for you. When I went to the LBS in my neighborhood (which has a great reputation) and told them my needs they recommended a choice between two Trek hybrids - the 7000 without a suspension fork and the 7100 with a suspension fork. I opted to go with the latter and I'm glad I did every time I go over a bump (which I barely feel thanks to the suspension).

Get educated about bikes. Go to bike shops, test ride bikes, ask lots of questions. Be cheep. Don't buy your bike from a local bike shop. Once you have answered your own questions, get a bike through bikesdirect.

Ignore all other advice on Bike Forum. My wisdom and knowledge knows no bounds.

Oweee.... bike is 600.06

They sold the 7.2 an hour before i came, but they had one in stock my size that just needed to be assembled.

Rode a DS Trek while i was there, felt smooth, but the brakes werent tuned i noticed.

Flat bar felt great, didnt try the drop bars.


Told her what i planned on doing and she immediately said "What you're looking for is a Trek 7.2 FX" i said amazing, thats the one i called about too!

Also she showed me a 2013 model, visually it only had red highlights in certain places, she said they were all the same price, i put the matte black on layway, or hold rather.

Is there any difference between the '12 and '13 FX 7.2 ? im gonna google, but you guys are more knowledgeable

If there is a shop in the area that sells Kona or Jamis, that adds a few affordable options to your list. The Kona Dew and Jamis Commuter series both include some bikes in the $400-$500 range. The Jamis Commuter models come with racks, which is one less expense for you. Don't overlook Giant, either. They do some reasonably priced hybrids as well.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/commuter/12_commuter1_bl.html
http://www.konaworld.com/asphalt_commuter.cfm?content=dew_city
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/via/9017/48861/
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.2/8910/48614/

That Giant Escape is sexy too. how does it compare to the FX 7.2 in quality and performance?

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.2/8910/48614/


a LBS about 11 miles from me sells it. If i get that , i'll have money left to get better locks and a kit for on the road repairs

That Giant Escape is sexy too. how does it compare to the FX 7.2 in quality and performance?

I don't know, I don't own any of these. You are just going to have to ride a few bikes to see what feels best to you. All of the bikes in this price range will be about the same in terms of equipment and quality. It's a price range that a lot of people buy in, so none of these companies are going to take themselves out of the competition by offering something drastically worse or better than the others.

Well my baby is finally mine :)

I wanna thank everyone for their help.

Pics as promised

http://ist1-1.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/5/6/2/9/56292/1/5/n/a/15naM/IMG_20120625_175208.jpg (http://www.pimpandhost.com/image/16057056-original.html)

*shameless promotion *
http://ist1-4.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/5/6/2/9/56292/1/5/n/a/15naO/IMG_20120625_175251.jpg (http://www.pimpandhost.com/image/16057058-original.html)


Bike is surprisingly light and fast to me. Was doing 12-15 cruising a lot of the time, and i got up to 24 while hauling ass on a straight lane :D

My trip was 4.8 miles according to the tracker. FWIW in my defense! most of the time i was on the side of the road trying to get something out my eye, dont know what it was, but it made me stop about 5 times. think my trip took 25 minutes honestly.
http://ist1-2.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/5/6/2/9/56292/1/5/n/a/15naP/IMG_20120625_175120.jpg (http://www.pimpandhost.com/image/16057059-original.html)

Congratulations! Your FX is a fine looking bike!

Thanks.

I almost got ball checked on the way home.

Was coming to a residential street i had to cross so i stopped to make sure no car was gonna run right, as i took my foot off the pedal coming to slow down, i mistakenly hit the brakes, BARELY and went flying forward :lol:

Im not used to have brakes that are that responsive, guy coming from the side street laughed at me....i laughed with him.

Appears as if i bent my back rim :(

I didnt curb hop, only bumps i went over were the ones i encountered on side walks and in the street......sigh

Appears as if i bent my back rim :(

I didnt curb hop, only bumps i went over were the ones i encountered on side walks and in the street......sigh


Are you lifting yourself up out of the saddle when going over bumps/potholes/etc. ?

Yes,i slow down and i stand up, front wheel goes over i shift my weight backwards, back tire i shift my weight forward.

I googled, i don't know if its damaged, or just needs to be "trued"

But it rubs my left brake pad

-----------------

On a more positive note.

Those tires are a lot better than i expected.

I come across a LOT of glass, about 30% i simple cant avoid so i choose the go over the smallest shards of glass.

Tires still inflated :), unless i have a slow leak :D

Yes,i slow down and i stand up, front wheel goes over i shift my weight backwards, back tire i shift my weight forward.

I googled, i don't know if its damaged, or just needs to be "trued"

But it rubs my left brake pad

-----------------

On a more positive note.

Those tires are a lot better than i expected.

I come across a LOT of glass, about 30% i simple cant avoid so i choose the go over the smallest shards of glass.

Tires still inflated :), unless i have a slow leak :D

I've got the same tire on the back of my bike. I put in a Mr Tuffy tire liner to give myself a little extra protection.

I ride in an urban area and run across a bunch of broken glass. There's just something about a curb that makes some people throw beer bottles, I guess. :(

That doesn't even count all the broken safety glass laying about as a result of stupid driver tricks.

EDIT: And congratulations on the bike!

Tuffy tire liner, never heard of it, but it is now on my to do list!

In need of head/rear lights/mini pump/ and tuffy tire liner :)

On a side note.I wanted to support the local companies here,and im glad i did. BUT. i felt as if they over charged me for the road kit =\

I paid 70 bucks for something that fits under my seat.

Edited

Tuffy tire liner, never heard of it, but it is now on my to do list!

In need of head/rear lights/mini pump/ and tuffy tire liner :)

On a side note.I wanted to support the local companies here,and im glad i did. BUT. i felt as if they over charged me for the road kit =\

I paid 70 bucks for something that fits under my seat.

(EDIT: Sorry about the long post)

Yeah, that's the downside of supporting local business. Often enough you'll pay more. I know that when I got back into bicycling after a decades-long layoff I was stunned by the prices. I have had to rationalize the spending sometimes.

"Sure, the bike is expensive, but when you look at the cost of car insurance, gasoline, maintenance, car payments it's not bad at all. Furthermore, when you look at the cost of a gym membership over a long period of time and the time it takes to get to the gym, do an effective workout, and get home......and that doesn't even count the health benefits....."

You see where I'm going w/ this. :)

Plus, once the money is spent, you've got the added convenience from that point forward. I can take many of the adds I have on my hybrid and put them onto the next bike I will get, and then sell the bike I have now to recoup some of the money spent.

Another benefit of the deal is that by spending the time finding a bike shop I like and then supporting them I have them as a resource for future questions/issues. A good mechanic is a great person to know.

I prematurely fired off (and subsequently deleted) a post earlier about finding a LBS that you like and then supporting that bike shop. Thanks for the opportunity to recycle some of that post, because I think it's pertinent. Others may have a different opinion on that.

Not long ago I gave my son a '73 Special Road Racer. He started attending university last August. We were talking about the riding I have been doing and he mentioned that he would like to get a road bike for commuting to school/pleasure riding. I guess parking is a pain in the butt at the school and he likes the idea of riding right up to the buildings where he has class.

I had the Fuji in a not-so-secure storage on my father's property. I had purchased it w/ the idea of riding it myself. I was in the middle of getting it up to speed when the bottom fell out of the economy so I put it into storage. The bike was a little tall for me and the handlebars were a bit narrow. I was scanning around for some new handlebars when the economy crapped out.

Unfortunately (and unknown to me at the time), one of my step-nephews decided to play amateur bike mechanic with it and removed/lost some bits. Furthermore, someone else decided that the space my bike was occupying would be better served by having his stuff there, so my bike was moved and then something fairly heavy was put atop it. The chainstay and the seat stay on the right side were bent enough that you couldn't fit the back wheel onto the bike.

I was incensed - to put it mildly.

Anyway, my son was still very happy about the bike. He took it to the LBS in the town where he lives. The LBS owner was a bit taken aback by an eager 20 year old kid popping up w/ a (nearly) 40 year old bike. The LBS owner straightened up the frame. Then he told my son "you really should know how to do the rest of this stuff on your own if you're going to take up bicycling as a long-term pursuit." He showed my son how to do the remaining maintenance.

That kind of resource you can't put a price on.

Another example:

Not long ago I started popping spokes on my back wheel. I'd had that wheel for about five years. I took it to the LBS near my job and they replaced the spoke. That night I broke the spoke right next to it. I took it back the next day and they told me "yeah, when it starts happening like that chances are that it will just keep happening. Your best bet is to replace the wheel. We can rebuild the wheel you have, but it would end up costing as much as another wheel."

I was a bit broke at the time, so I was unhappy - not with them, but with the timing of it.

It turns out that they had another wheel they had build for a big guy a year prior. He never showed up to pick up the wheel. They offered to sell me that wheel (Deore hub, Sun CR18 rim, 14 gauge stainless spokes) for $60. I looked up the parts online that night. Buying the hub and the rim online would have cost me that much - never mind the spokes and the labor. They even deducted the price of the spoke they had replaced on my bad wheel the day before.

Yeah - buying bits at a LBS can get expensive, but having a good relationship w/ a reputable LBS is priceless.

Skippy would you mind editing your post and removing my quote.

I think i miscalcutated again. The kit was only 63 bucks (taxes included)

It was a spare tube, a genuine innovations 2508 kit, multi tool and a pack that it goes in that sits under my seat. Im new to biking, i just feel like thats too much, whats your opinion on it?

And i rode up there, just got back, they agreed that my back tire was slightly bent but nothing bad, fixed it for free, and now my rim isnt rubbing my brakes.

I told him im strapped for cash(true) and he said no problem, ill give you a refund for it. And that was it. Nice folks. Don't wanna give anyone bad feedback for no reason.

Thanks again for editing your post :)


-----------------

BTW you're looking at a guy who rode 16 miles on his 3rd day :) i didnt pass out like i did the first day i got it, and that was only the trip home, a measely 5 miles :), but today i did 6 miles for my daily routine, and felt good enough that ill visit the bike shop :) 16 big ones....and im still alive......barely

Skippy would you mind editing your post and removing my quote.

I think i miscalcutated again. The kit was only 63 bucks (taxes included)

It was a spare tube, a genuine innovations 2508 kit, multi tool and a pack that it goes in that sits under my seat. Im new to biking, i just feel like thats too much, whats your opinion on it?

And i rode up there, just got back, they agreed that my back tire was slightly bent but nothing bad, fixed it for free, and now my rim isnt rubbing my brakes.

I told him im strapped for cash(true) and he said no problem, ill give you a refund for it. And that was it. Nice folks. Don't wanna give anyone bad feedback for no reason.

Thanks again for editing your post :)

No problem. Post deleted. I'm glad that it worked out for you!

RE: the kit - I have no idea. I'm a cheap SOB. I have a $10.00 Schwinn foot pump, a set of tire levers I've had forever, a patch kit and a hex set in my trunk bag.

Seeing as the LBS near work sells CO2 inflators for about $23, and inner tubes for $6.00, there's half of that kit cost. I have no idea how much they'd get for a multi-tool, but I'd be surprised if they get any less than $10-15 for the underseat bag.


BTW you're looking at a guy who rode 16 miles on his 3rd day :) i didnt pass out like i did the first day i got it, and that was only the trip home, a measely 5 miles :), but today i did 6 miles for my daily routine, and felt good enough that ill visit the bike shop :) 16 big ones....and im still alive......barely

You'll be surprised at how quickly you build stamina. When I first started my commute my legs felt like hammered jelly. Now - only a couple of months after starting to commute on the bike - I get done, take some time to catch my breath and guzzle some ice water, and then I'm ready for what life is going to throw at me next.

Little updates.

Ive traveled 60.3 miles, new max speed as of today is 26.5 MPH on flat land

I ride around my apartment complex, its almost 1 mile around, and about 10 ft of that lap is broken glass. My tires arent flat! I definitely did not expect the stock tires to hold up to that well.

Brakes are really good, no weird noises when i press them.Was going about 12 mph on my ride today and a car was turning too close to the curb, i hit the back brake and the tire skidded and stopped me in about 3 feet :lol: can't ask for more, they do their job.

Bike is holding up damn good. For those looking to get one id recommend it.

75.1 miles on my bike :)