Full chain case, dynamo lights = what people want
#151
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 123
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#152
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Burnaby, BC
Posts: 4,144
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Usually there is a minor difference in the time it takes me to get to work on my road bike vs. my all rounder. When I'm really pushing it, there's maybe a 5 to 7 minute difference between the two. However, there's a big difference in how they ride, - which is why I prefer the road bike most days. Some people prefer to drive a sports car to work even though speed limits, traffic, and traffic lights mean that they won't get to work any faster than they were if they were driving a dump truck.
#154
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
^^ you previously said that the ONLY reason to commute on a race bike is for the appearance of speed; that there is absolutely no speed difference between a stripped-down race bike and a fully decked-out rando bike. [...] a stripped down race bike has a higher top end speed than a decked-out rando bike. it's physics.
#156
born again cyclist
I agree with Commodus, the real world difference may be within the uncertainty. In Hamburg many times people on the Breezer like bikes keep up with me because of the traffic lights. If I wanted to go significantly faster then them i'd need to stop following the traffic regulations.
Commodus made a rather absolutist statement that there is no speed difference what-so-ever between a stripped-down race bike and a deck-out rando bike when commuting, but he forgot that not everyone on the planet has the same type of congested & trafficy commute route that he has. for some types of commutes (such as those that are wide open and free for miles on end), if you want to ride as fast as you can, there is a reason beyond appearance to ride a stripped down speed machine.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 03-28-13 at 03:04 PM.
#157
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
in the real world not everyone has an urban commute that is nothing but traffic lights. on the 7.5 miles of my commute along chicago's uninterrupted lakefront path, i can go much faster on my road bike than i could ever hope to achieve on a breezer-like bike. for some types of commutes, if you want to ride as fast as you can, there is a reason beyond appearance to ride a stripped down speed machine.
#158
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
13 Posts
I agree with Commodus, the real world difference may be within the uncertainty. In Hamburg many times people on the Breezer like bikes keep up with me because of the traffic lights. If I wanted to go significantly faster than them i'd need to stop following the traffic regulations. Kinda what couriers do.
Bike lanes here can sometimes be like that, - you can get stuck behind a slower moving cyclist or two in front of you. However very little of my commute is on bike lanes. I do need to be careful about foot traffic in places where people tend to cross without looking. Mostly I'm free to go as fast as I want.
#159
born again cyclist
and i get along just fine with small battery-powered LED blinkies, why would i want a bike with a dynohub (the good ones are very spendy)?
and i'm a back-pack commuter, i much prefer to have the weight on me as opposed to the bike (sprung vs. unsprung weight) so why would i ever want to bog down a svelte little race bike with racks and such?
if you prefer riding a bike with such add-ons, that's super-cool. ride whatever puts a smile on your face. but i fail to see how they'd help me get along when i have opposite preferences.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 03-28-13 at 03:17 PM.
#160
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
13 Posts
Sure, that's true for the Breezers, but do you really think that 7.5mi is enough to show the difference between a racing machine and a fast rando bike? My experience is that unless you ride in a group the difference is rather small. Weather conditions and the level of tiredness matter way more, but that's my experience.
#161
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
oh, it's not an earth-shattering speed difference, but the fenders, racks, and dynohub will create a little bit more drag compared to a bike without such things. if the weather is nice, why ride a bike with fenders? i have a different bike with fenders that i ride when it's crappy out.
and i get along just fine with small battery-powered LED blinkies, why would i want a bike with a dynohub (the good ones are very spendy)?
and i'm a back-pack commuter, i much prefer to have the weight on me as opposed to the bike (sprung vs. unsprung weight) so why would i ever want to bog down a svelte little race bike with racks and such?
if you prefer riding a bike with such add-ons, that's super-cool. ride whatever puts a smile on your face. but i fail to see how they'd help me get along when i have opposite preferences.
and i get along just fine with small battery-powered LED blinkies, why would i want a bike with a dynohub (the good ones are very spendy)?
and i'm a back-pack commuter, i much prefer to have the weight on me as opposed to the bike (sprung vs. unsprung weight) so why would i ever want to bog down a svelte little race bike with racks and such?
if you prefer riding a bike with such add-ons, that's super-cool. ride whatever puts a smile on your face. but i fail to see how they'd help me get along when i have opposite preferences.
#162
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am sure about that, i am just not sure how many watts will be added by the low profile fenders and +100-200 gr dynolight. In summer I will strip down my bike to bare necessities (no real lights, no dynamo, no fenders, sometimes no gears) but that's only for my joy, there is not so much difference in performance. It's flat here, but very windy, damn westerlies.
#163
born again cyclist
if i were a one bike person, then yes, something like commodus' rando bike would be more versatile than my road bike that really only does one thing well (fair-weather).
but i much prefer having a stable of bikes over having just one do-it-all bike, and i'm blessed to be able to afford such, so, yay me!
#164
DancesWithSUVs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Foreign Object Damage. Military term for damage caused to aircraft by something they picked up off the ground. Also used to describe the foreign objects.
True,but they're pretty much only found stock on heavy bikes. I've never heard of a road(race) or cross bike that came with one. Also,the aftermarket ones that fit derailleur bikes aren't common,and only handle up to 48t rings,so if you're running a der drivetrain with a big ring larger than a 48,you're out of luck.
__________________
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#165
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i agree that the effect is not great, but it's still there. it's not something that i spend much, if any, time worrying about, but if i don't want/need things like fenders, racks, and dynohubs on a given bike, then why should i have them? what are they doing for me other than hanging around as dead weight?
#166
DancesWithSUVs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I'm sure the 20,000 Capital Bikeshare members can't wait until the day that the bikeshare bikes no longer have IGH, full chaincase, dynamo hub. They've got to be so darn eager to get rid of these inconveniences. Capital bikeshare better shape up before they lose their customer base.
Second,we don't have a choice. It's not like Bike N' Roll where you get to pick which type of bike you want. They're all the same,take it or leave it.
I use the Cabi's all the time for going back and forth to Metro. I'd love to see them go on a diet. An 8 or even a 5 speed hub would be an improvement;I won't climb the mondo hills on those things. I always carry a rear light because the ones on the bikes are a joke. And just today I was riding one through G'town when I got hit by the wind. Between the sit-up-and-beg riding position,and the nice flat vertical piece on the front rack,it cranked up the suck level a good 3-4 notches.
I'm no fan of these things,but they're better than leaving one of my bikes locked at a Metro station,or dragging a folder around during rush hour,and they allow me to come and go from different stations. So I deal with them. But they're not the bikes I would have specc'd for DC.
__________________
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#167
ride for a change
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 2,221
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Wow 7 pages on this? Bike Forums - Make a blanket statement and you'll never be lonely.
#168
Senior Member
I'm in with the folks that think that the speed difference will be negligible, based on my own experience. It takes me an hour to commute on my MTB w/ slicks, fenders, rack, pannier. It takes me 59 minutes to do the same ride on my 16 pound road bike, attired in spandex, and with nothing more than a water bottle on the bike.
That said, I'd never try to ride a bike like the Breezer for more than a few miles. It would feel like a slug. Even my MTB can move when I want it to, but I've been on some of these cruzer bikes and I don't ever want to ride more than a few minutes on one.
That said, I'd never try to ride a bike like the Breezer for more than a few miles. It would feel like a slug. Even my MTB can move when I want it to, but I've been on some of these cruzer bikes and I don't ever want to ride more than a few minutes on one.
#169
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times
in
75 Posts
same. even though i find my IGH drive-train to be a touch heavy and slow, i still prefer it to a derailleur drive-train for messy winter riding. but when the weather allows, i'd always MUCH rather be on my derailleur road bike.
i absolutely adore the hydraulic disc brakes on my winter beast. they can get a little noisy in the wet, but that doesn't really bother me, they still operate just fine. and they've never needed adjustment, just one brake pad replacement thus far.
i'm a full convert now, i will never again own another bike intended for foul-weather use that doesn't have hydraulic disc brakes. they're the real deal.
i absolutely adore the hydraulic disc brakes on my winter beast. they can get a little noisy in the wet, but that doesn't really bother me, they still operate just fine. and they've never needed adjustment, just one brake pad replacement thus far.
i'm a full convert now, i will never again own another bike intended for foul-weather use that doesn't have hydraulic disc brakes. they're the real deal.
+1 to all of this. I love my IGH when things are not sunny and warm, but prefer a derailleur otherwise. That said, I'm still riding my IGH bike as my primary transportation as it is my only bike at the moment, and it does not bother me.
I like my Avid BB7 mechanical discs - they've served me well, even when completely packed with snow and ice. I'd imagine hydraulics to be even better due to the completely sealed system.
I can understand Aaron's point against dynamo lights on multiple bikes. Makes sense to me (expensive to do that). I really like my dynamo setup on my commuter, but will not use such a setup on my road bike.
The bike originally posted would not be optimal for my current commute, but I'd consider it to be a great bike for a shorter urban commute.
Last edited by canyoneagle; 03-28-13 at 07:56 PM.
#170
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 295
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
And we have a winner.
#171
No one carries the DogBoy
A 'normal' bike with derailleur and say a V brake,chain and tire swap would take like 20min. This took about 45. And required 3 different tools(15mm wrench,3mm hex,Phillips).
The fact is that DC is not Copenhagen;we have bad roads with lots of FOD. Even Marathons with liners aren't going to guarantee you won't flat. Much easier to deal with a derailleur drivetrain when something goes wrong,to say nothing of the significantly wider gear range and lighter weight.
The fact is that DC is not Copenhagen;we have bad roads with lots of FOD. Even Marathons with liners aren't going to guarantee you won't flat. Much easier to deal with a derailleur drivetrain when something goes wrong,to say nothing of the significantly wider gear range and lighter weight.
Given the quality of rechargeable lights - no - I don't think dynamo lights make any sense, especially if you have more than one bike. It's more money, heavier, less flexible and easy to move, use a little pedal energy, can't be placed on my helmet, involve more wires (one more thing to go wrong) and have an annoying flicker. If you're riding a randonneur event - sure, they make sense.
#172
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 15,944
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1254 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
174 Posts
These what kind of bear is best arguments are kind of silly - all bikes are tools, some are better at specific things than others. When you pick a bike, you're balancing what positives you most care about and what negatives matter less. That balance is different for all of us. For me, I don't want to carry a 50lbs bike up and down my basement steps and QR wheels are a hard requirement, not optional. I have multiple bikes, so dynamo lighting is out. For me - I like these two best for around town commuting...but my around town needs more often than not require moving things and carrying them:
One of the things I like best about both of these bikes is versatility. The Koga has enough pep to still be fun, it's extremely comfortable and it can do pretty much anything I want.
The "Huffy" is impervious to rust or dings, so I like it for parking. I feel safer with the camo. It eats up pot holes and gravel.
One of the things I like best about both of these bikes is versatility. The Koga has enough pep to still be fun, it's extremely comfortable and it can do pretty much anything I want.
The "Huffy" is impervious to rust or dings, so I like it for parking. I feel safer with the camo. It eats up pot holes and gravel.
Last edited by KonAaron Snake; 03-29-13 at 07:55 AM.
#173
Senior Member
40 lbs, ugh, why not just carry a boat anchor. My commute is 18 miles, one way. Sometimes a cross check, sometimes a mountain bike. The mountain bike is the "ideal" bike for me because I can get 8 miles of dirt on a 20 mile commute home, everyone should be so lucky. One of my winter commuters is a beater road bike, 1x8 drivetrain with a thumb shifter on the stem, perfect with 700x 35 mm studded tires. The other winter commuter is rockhopper with 26 "x 1.95 studded tires and disc brakes and a sus fork up front. Rim brakes work poorly in the New England winters. Sometimes I take the Karate Monkey for a longer off road ride on the way home. My ideal commuter depends on the day, the season and the weather.
#174
GATC
#175
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,971
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,534 Times
in
1,044 Posts
Do you mean racing or speed/distance performance oriented cyclists? If so, you are probably right.
If "hard core cyclists" means people who cycle in all kind of weather, year round due to lack of alternative means of affordable transport, or because they prefer bicycling to the alternatives, then you are wrong, world wide.
If "hard core cyclists" means self described Serious/Real/True Cyclists™ don't think you find so many in Europe, they are mostly a product of North America.
Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 03-29-13 at 10:15 AM.