Tohtruck says:
I guess I'll keep everything stock for now. Well, except I think I will swap out the handlebars if/when I purchase the Buzz One.I can deal with the saddle for now. I'm sure I'll eventually figure out if it's necessary to
change the saddle. Hopefully by then, I'll have some idea of what I want.
Most people would upgrade the handlebar and the saddle together. Dial those in and you're good to go!
So I can go to a shop that will measure my ass and taint bones???
Yeah, and you could also go to the Crazy Horse Saloon, where they have a wide assortment of...
I was actually looking at the gel filled ones at REI. What's wrong with those? They feel like they might be comfier to sit on. I mean some of them look ridiculous. But they do seem like they would take the sting out of potholes and cracks in the street.
The gel-filled saddles are just fine. Choose one, by all means.
What's the deal with carbon? What's wrong with carbon handlebars?
Carbon would be an expensive option for you. It would partially help to dampen vibrations and smooth out your ride. CF handlebars are usually reserved for expensive bicycles...
Are handlebars kind of the same deal as choosing material for frames? Cro-moly has give, Reynolds 531 is nice, Aluminum is nice but stiff, high tensile steel is cheap... etc. etc. ???
Kinda sorta...However, if you have an aluminum stem, you'd like to also have aluminum handlebars, or at least a material that won't galvanically react with aluminum.
Should I get special gloves just for riding the bike?
It all depends upon what you call, "special"... If it's special, in the sense that you've taken the time to match the proper material, color, and texture to your needs, then yes, it's special!
I was hoping to not change much else on the bike. Why exactly might I need to change stems? Is that just to compensate for changes in dimensions to compensate for the flat handlebar? Otherwise, the clamp size will basically be standard, correct?
You won't have to change anything after you change both the handlebar and saddle.
Thanks for the heads up on EMS. I think I might still give the bike a test ride.
It did seem like they were very limited, in terms of bikes around my price
range. I think the employee was just trying to explain that it's more versatile
and practical to have a geared bike than a single speed. He was also explaining
that derailleurs and gears are very reliable these days and I shouldn't worry
about it. But I don't know. Is it difficult to learn to ride a geared bike? Are
there a lot of variables? Is there some kind of method to it? Or is it just
flipping switches until you find the right gear?
Yes! Please do give the Coda a test-ride. It could quite possibly open your future up to much greater horizons!
Of course, if you turn out to be a die hard single speedster, then there's no hope in the greater horizon aspect of life!
- Slim