treadtread

I quite understand keeping just one bike, but why would you prefer the hooligan?

loimpact

CBR, I was going to suggest a couple of the aforementioned choices as well.......

#1 .) Go to....or......ride to.......a place where it's safe. Here in Southern California the riverbeds & retired railroads have trails made "specifically" for bikes. In fact, you'll find youtube videos covering things like Santa Ana River Trail, Mountain to Sea 1 & 2, Pacific railroad trail etc. There are LOTS of dedicated places. For those I usually toss my bike in the truck & go to the location.

#2 .) Group ride with the local bike shop. I didn't ride it this weekend, but for the first time, I went down to the local bike shop & watched them start. There was a large group (about 30 bikes) and they ate up a whole lane. Cars HAD to respect the group cuz they were in the lane of the road. Tail lights flashing, group escort riding the outer edge & constantly overlooking the next lane of traffic. It was definitely cool!! I am going to hook up with them soon just to enjoy being part of a group that OWNS a lane of traffic.

If you still like your Sirrus, I'd highly recommend investing 1 or both of the above & see what you can hook up for your area before selling. Summer's coming!!

Null66

Not safer when measured in deaths per million miles.
But there are strong patterns to motorcycle fatalities. These characteristics are found in 1/2 of deaths, note they overlap a lot as the characteristics are not exclusive.
1) no licence
2) new to bike or not ridden in awhile
3) alcohol
4) after market pipes


less then 1/2 but still very significant
1) no safety training
2) tired
3) cold
4) older rider (45+ I think, but lots of re-entrants...)
5) new to high displacement machine.

cbr9927

You're right Lo Impact, I never thought of a group ride and should try one out.

cbr9927

I tried a 20 inch folding back months ago for a few blocks in Downtown Bellevue, where the rich folks are and had a laughable time cause it was so agile. The salesperson told me the Hooligan was even more fun due to being stiffer so I had to buy one without trying it, they are sold out for 2014.

Stevie95

Do Hooligans have multiple gears? I am getting tired of my hybrid to be honest.

EDIT: Appears they have 3. Is that pretty standard?

anon06

You should be careful, though; road cyclists who are a part of group rides, or racing each other, don't always choose safe routes or roads.

For two years, during spring through fall, I used to occasionally see a group of cyclists riding together as a group- or racing each other- along a busy road, with a few dangerous, hilly curves that are blind spots for motorists where the speed limit is listed as 35mph, but vehicles actually move at least 45mph.

That road doesn't have any bike lanes, nor shoulders, and it would cause an accident because motorists wouldn't turn a corner expecting to suddenly find a slower cyclist/ group of cyclists in front of them; they expect all traffic on the road to be travelling around as fast as they are (they drive as though they think it's a race track or highway).

I didn't see the groups of cyclists last year, so I guess they realized that that wasn't a safe road to ride or race on.

MickeyMaguire

More fatalities occur from car-bike collisions when the bike is on the sidewalk than when the bike is on the road. Typically, cyclists get hit on the sidewalk from a car turning into a driveway or when they reach a cross-walk in a busy intersection.

In Ohio, where I am, a bicycle is a "Legal Road Vehicle" and cyclists are expected to ride on the street. They are more readily visible to motorists. In some municipalities, a cyclist can be fined for riding on the sidewalk.

dynaryder

You've obviously never ridden a mini velo.

The current ones imported to the US have a 3spd hub. In the past they also had a 1x8 derailleur model. I have one of each(first years). On my 3spd you would need to drill holes for the der hanger,not sure about the newer models. They do have 135 rear spacing,so you could go with a 5-11spd hub.

draco_m

CBR don't sell your bike yet! We just need to find some good riding areas for you. No need to mix it up with the 18 wheelers - there are a huge number of great roads and trails to ride on.

If you're in the city of Seattle, use this map to plan your ride. There are all sorts of awesome multi-use trails and bike lanes:

Seattle Department of Transportation: Bike Program

If you're outside the city, the King County bike map is full of literally hundreds of miles of bike trails.

Regional Trails System (RTS)

Don't give up! You just haven't found the good places to ride.

Finally, this blog is full of useful information:

Seattle Bike Blog

Again - don't give up. Seattle is one of the best places in the world to ride a bike!!

KonaRider125

Don't be a drama queen. Find another place to ride your bike, get a mirror on your handlebar or helmet to see whats coming behind you.

cbr9927

Damm stupid, did you not read the 1st page. How many other posters have said the same thing you wrote. Moron!

Delmarva

This says more than your opening paragraph about why you keep swapping bikes and come across as perpetually aggravated. My recommendation would be to sell all your bikes, let time settle things down and try bikes again in a few years.

In the interim try reading the results of a google search for bike trails in Seattle.
https://www.google.com/#q=bike+trails+seattle

badger1

OP, this ^^^ really is pretty good advice. To be honest, you did spend pretty big over the past little while, without really knowing what you wanted to do with a bike/what kind of bike you wanted.

I'm NOT being patronizing; you've now found that you don't like road riding (mixing it with traffic), at least not for now. Some people do; some don't mind; and some simply never get comfortable with it. Group rides won't help; they are road rides, and they also involve close riding with other cyclists who will "yell at you" if you don't get the etiquette/technique of riding/drafting at close quarters.

If you do want to keep going -- and I would hope you do -- why not try the trails/MUPs in your area as Delmarva suggests. Also, don't forget you live in the Pacific Northwest -- G_d's country, as far as I'm concerned (I'm from Vancouver Island, now in exile in Ontario!), and MTB Heaven! Have you thought maybe of trying mountainbiking?

KonaRider125

Going on a bicycle forum and complaining how you don't like to ride bicycles is a lot more stupid than my constructive advise(and joke about being a drama queen) I tried to give you. Geez lighten up.