pastorbobnlnh 

Dear 50+ (and 50-) Friends,

If you were given $1000 and told to spend it on yourself on something that you don't need but would enjoy, how would you use it? Obviously I'm talking about bikes since were in the BF. I'm looking for your wise and thoughtful guidance.

While talking to my Dad yesterday he told me he wanted to do this. I was dumb founded! He was doing the same for my brothers and wanted me to pick something out. His conditions were that it couldn't be something for the house, or a vacation for the family, or just to deposit in the bank.

If it's a bike, what do I buy?

I already ride the Cannondale on the dirt roads and trails, the '79 Traveler stays on the pavement and the trainer, and the '66 Paramount will be restored by the end of spring for more serious rides. How can I find time to ride a 4th bike? But if I were to purchase a new bike for around the $1000, do you have any recomendations?

Awaiting your sage advise!

Bob

BluesDawg

Bob,
Tell us a little more about the bikes you have now. It sounds like you have the classic steel road bike covered with the Paramount, and I guess the Taveler is a tourer or commuter(?), but I'm not clear on what kind of bike the Cannondale is.

Garfield Cat

I would consider the $1,000 as a partial payment to a dream bike. If I had 3 bikes already, I would consider giving up one and maybe taking off that group and putting it on the new frame.

linux_author

- since you appear to like working on bikes, why not some or all of the following:

bike tools or a complete tool set
a nice stand
spare set of wheels
spare drivetrain parts
Wippermans for your rides
some nice tires
new shoes and pedals to match
lights for night riding
bling for your bikes (upgrades)

- on the other hand:

a ss/fixie
a Ti frame
'cross bike

- very nice of your Dad, btw! (mine passed away 40 years ago this year)

DnvrFox

I have been thinking about a recumbent - just for a different riding experience.

(Maybe I will rent one first!)

Anyway, it might be nice to have one in your portfolio. How big is your garage or whatever?

michaelnel

I'd build a fixie / ss bike for those days when I don't need fenders and lights for my commute.

pastorbobnlnh 

Thanks for your input so far! Let's see, where do I start:

"Traveler is a tourer or commuter(?), but I'm not clear on what kind of bike the Cannondale is." by Bluesdawg
The Traveler is a made in Japan Schwinn a notch below a Le Tour that I've upgraded with better vintage and lighter componets from ebay. The Cannondale is an '03 comfort bike with Headshok, seat post shock and a SRAM Dual Drive 9 speed. (The C-dale is what brought my sorry self back to biking.)

Linux author: Great idea. A good bike stand, bike specialized tools, upgrades in pedals and shoes, etc.--- all wonderful ideas.

" have been thinking about a recumbent - just for a different riding experience." by DnvrFox:
Another Great ideal but I do see storage as problem because of their larger size.

"I'd build a fixie / ss bike for those days when I don't need fenders and lights for my commute." by michaelnel:
I will confess that the hills in your wonderful city of San Francisco are steeper than most of the mountain roads I ride here in NH--- but this too heavy pastor couldn't begin to think of climbing hills with no gears to drop down to. I was in SF in October and stood in amazement as I watched fixie/ss zip, zoom, climb and descend your steep streets--- but all the riders I spoted were at least 20 years younger and 100 lbs lighter!

Thanks for your help!

Bob

BluesDawg

I think I would thank the C'dale for reintroducing me to riding and find a new person for it to help. I would then take the $1K plus whatever I could sell the comfort bike for and spend it on a mountain bike. Full suspension is possible, but you'd get a better bike at that price by going for a hardtail. Maybe add a Thudbuster to make things easier on your aging back.

I-Like-To-Bike

I'd buy a bargain air fare to Germany. Buy for € 699, a Dutch made Gazelle like the one portrayed at:

https://www.gazelle.nl/c2006/de/detai...1&Bike_ID=123#

German export, rather than the Dutch domestic model to get the larger tires 622 x 47 and the coaster brake (Rücktrittbremser) with the 7 speed hub which is not usually sold in The Netherlands. Don't know if they still come with Brooks B-66 saddle. Might have to swap out at the store as part of the sale.

Might cost a little more than $1000 counting airfare but I'd chip in a little more to treat myself to a Real bicycle as well as a European vacation.

cyclezealot

$1000 would not do it. But, first. A newer , better touring bike. My question would a Bianchi Volpe ? be good enough for some serious touring? If not, maybe I need plea for $5000. Other bike needs. A full kit of tools and a bike stand. Better rain gear.
Where I live now. Minor needs. Fenders. California it rained like 20 days a year. Here, like 50.

PaulH

For a $1,000 bike purchase, I think I would buy a Rohloff 14 speed and have my LBS replace my Nexus-7 with it.

Paul

I-Like-To-Bike

Question for Paul, possibly OT,

I understand the desire for something new with "free money," but what would 14 speeds do for you in DC that the 7 speeds don't? BTW, novelty or high tech gee-whiz factors are possible reasons that don't require any excuses to anyone.

stapfam

Hate to say it, but $1,000 would not buy a great deal over here. I am into mountain bikes and Tandems, and it will not come anywhere near a real Tandem, but in the US there are a couple of Manufacturers that are around that price for a "Beginners" Tandem. Raleigh make one and so do KHS. Not bad tandems, even for a cheap one, but not ones to get really aggressive on.

On Mountain bikes- it is about this level that you start to buy a respectable bike. Forget Full suspension by the way as they would be getting on for double that price for a respectable one. Forget manufacturers, unless you have a favourite one and Cannondale is not bad, but for the 1K you should be looking at Hydraulic disc brakes, minimum of LX groupset, Front suspension that does work and a frame that is well made. Wheels may be a bit to be desired, but they will be of sensible quality.

If you are happy with your current bikes though- why not think about upgrading them. Hand built wheels are a dream to ride on- by that I do not mean the expensive OM wheels fitted to some bikes. Go to a wheel builder and discuss your riding, your weight, your type of riding and you could be shocked at how cheap they are in comparison to the Bontrager or Specialised wheels that have a great number using them. They will be better in any case.

Choice is yours, but wife or parishioners stoking for you sounds a good investment to me. OR even be a way of dad to get out and find out what this biking is all about and what HIS investment is all about.

Little Darwin

I would find a good home for the '79 Traveler and replace it by building up a Surly Long Haul Trucker for daily road use, and potential touring.

I am perhaps a little pragmatic, but in my mind, the majority of cost should be invested in the item you use most, as it would provide you the greatest benefit.

Artkansas 

If I had enough bikes, then I'd get a workstand, tools, compressor etc.

pastorbobnlnh 

More great suggestions! Keep them coming. Bike stand and tools to keep the two old ones running makes a great deal of sense. I also like Stapfam's suggestion of custom built wheels. Such a person lives only 25 miles down the mountain.

Bob

PaulH

The ability to climb steep hills with less effort, particularly when carrying a child. The wider gear range also means I'd be able to comfortably go faster on the flats and downhill. Besides, I enjoy using fine machinery.

I like Gazelles, too. I was putting together a plan to import one when I found a Kettler that was already in the country.

Paul

Travelinguyrt

Buy a tickey to Paris.... Box my bike and head to MIA ASAP
ride south to Madrid and spend the rest prudently to extend the stay
My current ride is a great one don't need a status thing

roccobike

I would put a little of my own money into the pot and buy a dual suspension MTB, probably a Specialized, and convert the C-dale for street use.

Shifty

A new compact crank set up and a good time evening out with friends.

michaelnel

I live in a flat part of SF and my commute is predominantly flat too with just a couple small hills. A fixie will do just fine. And if you know the city you can generally find ways around the worst of the hills, depending on where you're going.

When I build the fixie, it will be for nice summer days on my commute when I don't need fenders and lights and rain gear and all the other crap I carry in the rainy season (note I didn't say winter... we don't really have one of those here).

jimshapiro

I'm with the folks suggesting a fixie. I built one last year for about $400, most of that for hand-built high-flange wheels. The experience of riding a fixed gear bicycle is hard to describe, but one thing's for sure, and that is that you get a lot of exercise in a short time compared with a geared bike. I have 6 (or is it 7?) bikes and, unless my tour is covering a lot of steep hills, the fixed gear is always my first choice.

And don't forget a nice 15mm wrench (like I once did) to get those wheels off when the inevitable flat occurs.

jppe

How about leveraging the dollars? Match it with another $1000 shop for a nice carbon fiber road bike. You would forget there were even any hills in NH.

Raketmensch

Tough one! The $1K item I personally crave is a power meter. (Okay, probably a tad over $1K.) Power's the thing for training, and I think it would be a great training aid. And besides, I'm a bigtime techno-geek, so it appeals to my sensibilities. But your mileage, obviously, may vary.

If it's a major add-on to an existing bike that you're looking for, a good lightweight wheelset is tough to beat.

And one other thing that could be cool would be to spend it on travel to the far-off cycling destination of your dreams. There's nothing like a change of scene to add some real fun to your cycling. My personal hope (at least at the moment) is to find a way to ride l'Alpe d'Huez someday. But pick whatever destination would turn your crank.

Have fun with this one, dude... whatever you pick, you really can't miss!

GrannyGear

Just a thought....do a google for a Rans Rocket (short wheelbase recumbent...lotsa fun and "different" to ride...it takes up no more space than a road bike). Also the medium wheelbase Rans Tailwind...I owned one for a year and had lotsa fun ... recumbents are a very different riding experience, can be a groove with the rear wheel on a trainer in front of the TV, they descend like a bowling ball, climb like molasses.

Anyway, both Rans models new are around $1K. There are many other makes/models as well...some more utilitarian, others very slick.