Originally Posted by
Scrodzilla
"Hi, BikeForums. I am a NY messenger who already knows everything but I'm going to ask a question - just to test your intelligence (naturally) - and proceed to get my skinny jeans tied in knots when you don't give me the precise answer I wish to hear".
Dude, you said yourself in your first post that you don't want to risk your "dream bike" being "stolen damage etc.", yet you go on to say "not all people in nyc get there bikes stolen only idiots who free lock (wheels to their frame)". Are you serious? Do you really think you'll be a "faster" messenger if you need to take time to carefully lean your precious "dream bike" against something and lock it up proper without scratching it? Secondly, bikes light, stiff, responsive, etc but bikes on their own aren't fast - riders are fast. You want to be faster? HTFU and ride more.
You're asking for advice but it sounds to me like you just want a pretty bike for all your other "messenger" friends to drool over. Big deal. Buy whatever you want. It's your money.
Ok several things, first off to the geared bike response, I have two wheels, one with a three speed hub and one with a fixie hub. Second, I used to ride a road bike but got tired of changing brake pads so i use a coaster brake when im not riding the fixed. Also, road bikes get have more problems in terms of cleaning out the derail-er adjusting the shifters etc. etc.
Now, as for the bike being dinked up i wrap it with a vinyl tape and I have the thickest kryptonite chain with an american lock so it has to be a very big coincidence that a bike theif will be having his tools and ready to steal my bike within 7 to 8 minutes, but hey it can happen.
In addition i used to ride a 30 pound bike, and once i got the pista which is about 20-22 pounds i noticed a difference in speed so yes weight does matter and it does matter in terms of energy spent to move the thing around. Do i agree with the fact that a lighter bike won't make much of a difference and that leg power and endurance count more yes. But, there is also the difference of parts that helps as well i noticed this in riding other bikes with better parts, their cranks, their hubs, it just performs better.
Am I going overboard spending all that money on a cervelo t1 maybe? But, I rather have that bike for 5 to 6 years and be happy with it then getting another crappy bike and wanting to switch it like maybe a year or two later so really its an investment on my part. If it does get messed up so will another bike that i get so will anything in this world get messed up eventually overtime that happens i know that.
Lastly, I would like to add about that comment that this is the internet and what do i expect? I guess i expected more but based on what I am seeing my expectations were too high and people have still offered no alternatives expect saying don't buy a bike at all and this leaves me in my current situation which is!
MY bike is too big its a 59 cm so its uncomfortable for me, I got a deal on it and it was all i could afford at the time. On top of that I lent someone my bike once at the handball courts and they got hit by a van bending the frame 4 inches, (which i fixed) but my fork is still slightly bent. The hub is messed up my gears are skipping and its very annoying although i know these internal hubs do mess up on their own I have only had it for like 3 months so . . .
Yeah but all in all i said too much now