Suggestions on possible changes to my bike because it makes me hate riding

[mrbdm99]

Hi. Long time on and off reader, finally joined to ask a few questions here and there...

Anyway, to shorten up the story, I've ridden bikes my whole life. Nothing competively, but I was always on a bike. Someone gave me a decent Trek MTB in college that was subsequently stolen a few months later. Fast forward a few years and I was really missing riding, so I purchashed a Diamondback Approach (like this one: http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=us) from someone on Craigslist. This was about 5 years ago, maybe 6. I have hated riding it ever since. I spent about six months commuting to work during part of the week and I was forcing myself to do that. I finally couldn't take it, so now it just sits in my garage, gather dust.

I can't fully explain why I don't like it. It fits well enough, size wise. I took it to a LBS and spent more than what I paid to have a new chain put on (the old one snapped on a tiny hill), new brakes, and a whole bike tune. That helped, but still, every time I get one it, I just want to get right off. This makes me mad because I really do like to ride, even if just a short commute to work, and this bike makes me not want to at all.

We have been looking at getting some new bikes, one for my wife, one for me, and a trailer to pull the kids, but that's not in the cards right now as I'm using my cash for other purposes. Well, I say that, but it will probably still happen. BUT, before I spend 800 dollars or more on a bike I really like, I wanted to ask you experts... Is there anything that can be done to make this a better riding experience?

[erg79]

Can't really suggest any changes unless you can specify what it is about the bike that makes you hate the ride.

[mrbdm99]

It is marginally better from getting from point A to point B than running, but that is about as much praise as I can give it. Ha.

Aside from the fact that it is slow, which I expected for a hybrid bike, and the unsmooth shifting, which I also expected from this age/caliber of bike - both of those things I can get over - it just feels wrong. Like I said, it is hard to describe, but I will try. It is unruly. It wants to go where it wants to go. The balance of the whole thing just feels off. Every time I make a turn that isn't a big, long, slow turn, I feel like it is going to just fall out from under me. I'd have to go get on it and ride is some to really say more, but it is pouring rain today.

[badger1]

Two things to check or have someone check (very likely one, the other, or both are the problem):

1. Headset is binding and/or badly pitted.
2. Frame and/or fork alignment (I'm assuming wheels are fully/squarely set in the dropouts).

[zerogravity]

it just feels wrong.
How So?
Like I said, it is hard to describe, but I will try. It is unruly. It wants to go where it wants to go.
In what way? You turn left and it goes right? You hit the brakes and it wants to keep on going?
The balance of the whole thing just feels off. Every time I make a turn that isn't a big, long, slow turn, I feel like it is going to just fall out from under me.
This can be a few things. It could be that the bars are too narrow and too far forward extending your positioning giving you less control and limiting the ability to bend your arms at turns. It can also be that your stem and bars are too tall that would give you the "tip over" feeling. It can also be that your tires just do not give you the grip you need to feel confident.
I'd have to go get on it and ride is some to really say more, but it is pouring rain today.

I am no way a pro, but i think with a better description of your issues will help people make some suggestions based on their experiences like i did. My suggestions could be totally wrong in your case, but based on the info you posted, i suggested accordingly. "It is unruly. It wants to go where it wants to go" is really too vague to give you any real advise on your bike but maybe when you ride again, having a better description might help us and YOU understand better what you want out of your bike and find solutions to make it more enjoyable for you. Good Luck!

[10 Wheels]

Post a pic of you and the actual bike.
Guessing it does not fit you.

[jbchybridrider]

Study this picture well then see if your bike suffers the same problem !!

[zerogravity]

WHOAH...i don't even know what to say...

[erg79]

Leaving the seat issue aside, when Ikea gave bikes away to their employees, there was one widely circulated photo showing one of the bikes with a backwards fork.

[mrbdm99]

Well, I do know the wheels are no longer straight. The streets here are brutal. As far as the fit and the frame, I had the LBS take care of all that. They didn't indicate any problems with it otherwise, though that is not to say there isn't. I don't put many LBS's up very high on the pedestal.

For the unruly feeling... Well, this probably isn't very helpful, but I've always felt a bike to be an extension of me. Be it BMX style bikes from my young days or the MTB's from Jr. High forward (granted only two bikes before college and then one in college that was snatched before I got a good feel for it). Even bikes I borrowed from friends, I could bend to my will (figuratively speaking). What I am saying is that I am not (or was not rather...) a stranger to bikes and the feeling this gives me is eluding me. It has been bothering me for six years and I'm ready to do something about it. Maybe I just haven't ridden enough in so long and put on enough extra weight where things just aren't balanced like they should be or maybe this is karma for all those times I road off the spillway into the lake as a kid.

When the rain stops, I'll be riding it back and forth to work a few times a week, regardless of how much I don't like it, while I prep for a run in May. I can report back some more after that.

[zerogravity]

Well, I do know the wheels are no longer straight. The streets here are brutal. As far as the fit and the frame, I had the LBS take care of all that. They didn't indicate any problems with it otherwise, though that is not to say there isn't. I don't put many LBS's up very high on the pedestal.

For the unruly feeling... Well, this probably isn't very helpful, but I've always felt a bike to be an extension of me. Be it BMX style bikes from my young days or the MTB's from Jr. High forward (granted only two bikes before college and then one in college that was snatched before I got a good feel for it). Even bikes I borrowed from friends, I could bend to my will (figuratively speaking). What I am saying is that I am not (or was not rather...) a stranger to bikes and the feeling this gives me is eluding me. It has been bothering me for six years and I'm ready to do something about it. Maybe I just haven't ridden enough in so long and put on enough extra weight where things just aren't balanced like they should be or maybe this is karma for all those times I road off the spillway into the lake as a kid.

When the rain stops, I'll be riding it back and forth to work a few times a week, regardless of how much I don't like it, while I prep for a run in May. I can report back some more after that.

Adding weight will change the way you ride too. Your center of gravity is different, body parts that were not in the way before are in the way now...the list goes on. Sometimes it very well may be that the bike itself just doesn't give u a good feeling regardless of fit or adjustments. If other bikes have felt better, maybe you just need a new bike..something different to rejuvenate your passion for riding. It isn't the best solution..but is is an option. Either way, i hope you figure things out and get to riding more often.

[ChowChow]

Maybe a lighter, quicker hybrid bike with much better components may help. Like a Fuji Absolute 1.0 or a Fuji Absolute 2.0.

[jbchybridrider]

You could just test ride all the different style bikes you can in shops then you might discover whats different or wrong about your current bike. Don't get serious about buying anything to soon "If buying another bike is what you want" treat it as a learning experience to find the best style of bike comfortable for you.
To me a hybrid style bike is what you are looking for and this covers a wide range of bike styles in it's self. Some are more road oriented or for speed and performance, some are more for off road or tougher, some are for just being comfortable at a easy riding pace but there all trying to pack some of these merits into one package to some degree. So I suggest taking your time test riding and looking over the merits of these different style bikes to learn what you feel comfortable with.

[SlimRider]

If your forks not backwards, then just sell the bike for cheap, and get yourself a new Jamis Coda Comp___DONE!

[mrbdm99]

I think I'm just going to hit up the LBS as I have time and test things out. I don't want to start putting money into this bike and still not get better results. The shops around here are not all that great, in my opinion. So far, the only recent bike I tried was a Fuji Absolute 3.0. It was much nicer, indeed, but I have learned my lesson on buying without checking out other options. I'll be in a much better bike shop town in two weeks, so I'm hoping to have better luck (and they actually have a Jamis dealer there...).

[Igo]

I dun see nuthin' wong wid it!

Study this picture well then see if your bike suffers the same problem !!

[robbyrocks12345]

Buy a better bike off cragislist.