rekmeyata

All helmets no matter of price have to pass the same CPSC federal regulations, what you get as price goes up is better ventilation, and looks. However, this next part has always been controversial here but it's one that I believe is important, whether I'm right or wrong it surely won't hurt either. The only helmet manufacture that I know of that sells road helmets in America that voluntarily submits their helmets for more rigorous Snell testing then the CPSC federal guidelines so that their helmets go a step further then the others and is tested to pass so they can have the Snell sticker applied in addition to the CPSC sticker is Specialized.

Fit is indeed important, how do you determine that? see this: https://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/p.../easystepsweb/ The only step they leave out which I think is an important step is in step 6 they rock the helmet back and forth to make sure it doesn't rock more then two fingers widths, they should have said the same thing for side to side.

As far as typos go, there are some pretend English teachers here that will take every chance they can to show you how little of english you know (because you're stupid) to their proper english (because their superior in intellect to the rest and they feel inclined to let us all know they're superior), as long as I can read it I don't care! Some will write using text shorthand, that I can't understand. But I get in a rush doing this crap and I don't have time to make sure it's 100% perfect King James prose and I don't expect others either to make sure theirs is perfect.

dreamer0891

Will I still loose weight that way? I have been reading about "interval training." I kick my butt as hard as I can on the bike, then take a "break" by not working so hard... Then kick my butt... Then take a "break."

dreamer0891

So... If Walmarts has a cool enough looking one, then it shouldn't be a piece of junk like their mountain bikes? LMAO! Just want to make sure!

mymojo

There is no such thing as a cool looking cycling helmet.

dreamer0891

I am probably annoying people with it I'm starting to annoy myself as well. I have dreams about riding bikes every night. I *HATE* going to work because it just means I can't watch cycling videos. Society is getting in my way and it is starting to tick me off It is all I write about on Facebook anymore. Example: I posted the following this morning--> " I have decided that my clothes can stay in the laundry room. If a tornado were to come the safest place for us to go is in my bedroom's walk in closet. Therefore my bike should be in there too: safe. My closet will now become my bike garage... Or more like... A bike den... Or... Yes! My bike cave!!! Perfect. " Followed by--> " I was picking on my son Tyler & told him that in the event of a tornado there will now be no room for him in the closet since the bike will take his place. I told him he will have to crawl under my bed and hope for the best. He wasn't even phased- LOL- he just said "I don't care- it just means I wouldn't have to go to school!"

dreamer0891

I think they are cool! But then again... I stare at pictures of bikes all day long... Looking at their lines. Their curves... Reading about them. Hoping my supervisor doesn't catch me.... DUDE! They need to make centerfolds of BIKES! Or do they already have that?!?!?!

dreamer0891

thanks for the link!

pierce

different heads are different shapes. in the motorcycle world(my other 2-wheel hobby), some brands of helmets (Arai in particular) make two lines of helmets, some for 'round oval' heads, and others for 'long oval' heads. I'm in the latter camp, the crown of my head is longer front to rear and narrower side to side than the 'average'. Arai's "Signet" line of helmets, made for this 'long oval' shape fit me like a glove in size XL (did I mention, my long oval head is also big?). The one affordable bicycle helmet I have that really fits me right is a Specialized "Max", which they describe as a XXL. its a little too wide side to side, but it fits my forehead without pinching. Virtually every other helmet I've tried has put pressure on my forehead.

cycle_maven

Yes, that looks like a good bike. It has panniers and everything. Nobody's laughing now

The best thing to do to start losing weight and getting fitter is to begin by riding steadily at a slightly slower pace, for extended times. It's called "LSD" or Long Steady Distance training. It builds a base of fitness that harder workouts (intervals, threshold training) can build upon later. Plus it's more fun if you're not killing yourself on every ride.

Anyway, the next thing to do is learn to pump a tire, patch a tube, and oil a chain. That, and cleaning the bikes after rides is 95% of the bike maintenance I do.

pierce

and, as I said before, learn to adjust derailleurs and brakes. its really quite simple and easy once you understand it and will save many $$ trips to a bike shop.

see both Sheldon Brown's and Park Tools websites for extensive howto articles on this.

FastJake

While buying a bike at Walmart is almost never a good idea (you found that out yourself) buying a helmet there is fine. That's where mine came from.

And yes, spinning a higher RPM in a lower gear will actually give you a better workout than slowly cranking a high gear.

dreamer0891

Awesome! Thanks!

I can't wait for the weekend!

I get to go pick up the bike! Good thing I *LOVE* to drive- it is 2 hours away.

I plan on bringing my baby... I mean... I plan on bringing my bike back in my truck.

I have been looking at different mounts and racks.

The prices are crazy!

What is the cheapest way to do this? Just a mount screwed into the bed of my truck?

If it makes a difference- I own a 1989 Chevy Silverado.... (Don't laugh at my truck either all you Ford people!)

In the long run I would like to haul 3 bikes in it- but for now a set up for one bike will suffice. Financially, as it were...

Any recommendations?

,)

dreamer0891

Oh. I DON'T want to have to take a wheel off my road bike either...

,)

FastJake

You have a truck? Put it in the back. What do you need a rack for? Get a hold of some old carpet for the bed so the bike doesn't bounce all over and get wrecked up.

pierce

if you want to carry three nice bikes in a truck without getting them banged up, a fork mount is a great way to go. yeah, you gotta pop the front wheel off, big deal, takes 10 seconds. clamp the forks in the crossbar, and the bike stands up and stays put.

dabac

Whether you'll be losing weight or not ultimately depends on what/how much you're eating - but you'll certainly be burning calories.
For calorie burn, the overall most important factor is how may extra heart beats you are packing in. And a longer time at at steady(but lower) rate is likely to burn more calories than interval training does.

Interval training is great for lactic tolerance/lactic threshold and the overall cardio workout, so you may well keep it as a part of your routine. But for sheer calorie burn, the consistent grind is hard to beat.

Lil_Black_Mowse

Dreamer...I am starting off on a K2 Echo Hybrid Bike... no special suspension... no bells no whistles....it's hella fast....

It doesn't matter where or what your bike is.....as long as you're happy with it

alecw35

If you examine the shifters, I think they are twist grips, going by the photo. There maybe an adjuster where the cable leaves it. Or there will be an adjuster where the cable goes into the gear mechanism at the back wheel.
Any bike will need some maintenance a little while after being built, as parts bed in and cables stretch.
I suggest you look up cable or gear adjustment videos on youtube. Maybe have a look at the Park tools website, as they have maintenance videos.
If you can hang your bike up, maybe by hooking the saddle on a strong tree branch, or on a washing line. Then turn the pedals by hand, while trying to shift gear. you can try adjusting the cable adjusters.

rekmeyata

You can make a bike rack for the bed of your pickup out of 1" PVC schedule 40 pipe for cheap. Here is one such plan: https://www.instructables.com/id/PVC-...Bed-Bike-Rack/ However I strongly recommend you make it out of 1" pipe and parts, it will make for a sturdier rack with less movement, then cover the pipe with either foam pipe insulation or truck liner paint as they mention because PVC deteriorates in the sun; pipe insulation also helps to keep the wheels more secure in the uprights. Of course you will have us adjustable straps to hold the cage in place and some more to keep the bike(s) from sloshing about in the rear. Also you can use either PVC pipe glue which requires priming the joints first then gluing, but this glue dries fast so you have to make sure your fittings are spot on the first time; or I used Gorilla Glue and a small 1/4" wide paint brush (which will be destroyed after use, so you may want to get two), "paint" a thin layer of the glue on the male fitting and insert into the female end, you have at least a minute to make any final adjustments, but allow it to dry for about 24 hours before using the rack. Notice the fit of the rack in the photos, they made it so it would butt flush against the tire wells so the rack would have minimum sliding action, thus you will have to measure the distance between your wells and change the design if necessary, but don't make it too tight or you'll have to cut and shorten the rack. Also you can trial fit the rack without using glue, once you know you have the right fit then glue the joints.

Tool wise you can use a hand saw, a jig saw, or buy a PVC pipe cutting tool, I did't find a reason to have sand paper but I always have some on hand anyways; and I didn't see a reason to wear safety googles unless your using a powered jig saw which could throw small particles of PVC, but I had a pipe cutter from living in California and needing one to fix my lawn sprinkler system.

To make it all 3 bikes simply add an upright in the center of the rack. Though you will have to measure and cut without directions since the site I gave is only for two bikes.

I did think up something that may help keep the section of the bike not supported by the rack is to build a second rack and use it to block the bike at the rear of the truck, thus you would have both front and rear secured then simply strap the racks in place. But that may be an overkill, just depends on how secure you want them to be.

The cost for this sort of rack is cheap at around $25 to $30 for one.

If you don't like the above bike rack plan there are others like this one that will allow for more bikes easily; see: https://www.bogley.com/forum/showthre...ike-Rack-*NEW* this one will cost a bit more due to all the T's, expect to pay around $50 not the price he quoted, and will take longer to build due to all the cutting, assembling, and gluing. Again use 1" PVC pipe not the 3/4". Also note he made his slots wider to accommodate MTB tires, if you want some of the slots to accommodate road tires then make them as wide as the slots given in the first plan I gave you. With this plan you could accommodate both road and MTB's by simply making some slots a different size.

dreamer0891

Lactic... Lactic... Will have to look that up LOL! I am learning so much so fast I feel like I am going to explode! Thanks so much! You will all be the death of me! Just kidding. As for diet-- TONS of veggies (I am a vegetarian, but no, it is not because I think it is sad that animals should die. I understand and respect that there must be death for life to continue). I cut out all junk food. I kicked my Mountain Dew addiction out the door. I now only drink TONS of water. A little bit of orange juice about every other day. Milk here and there. I have added in breakfast. I never used to eat it before. I am following "The Biggest Looser Diet." I don't eat much bread... Oh! And I have looked at two different charts that detail how much protein I should be taking in. I am getting enough. Did you know their is protein in vegetables? But... My favorite protein is scrambled eggs. *LOVE!* And I did loose 18 pounds in a month and 3 weeks. I have been really kicking my own behind! I am hoping to increase that number a little bit when I get the bike! I completed my first 5K last Saturday. I will NEVER do it again. I finished. I did not come in last. But my feet can NOT take it! I am still in pain from it. And I must apologize again because for some reason it is not allowing me to hit enter to begin new paragraphs...

dreamer0891

I will look into this when I get home! Thanks! I know I won't have the time to get it ready before Saturday-- but I am very interested in it!

dreamer0891

Ah!



I was actually considering wrapping it in an old blanket, putting bungee cords around it... That way it doesn't get scratched up as I drive down the interstate this Saturday... Yes. I am going to wrap my bike up in a blanket...

But in the long run I will be hauling more than one bike at the same time. Therefore, a rack of some sort would work better in the future.

Plus... I would be less likely to be made fun of for wrapping my baby... I mean for wrapping my bike up in a blanket...

Ferrous Bueller

I've used retired quilts and blankets for in-car transport. Great for cushioning one bike from the next.
Bikes like to feel cozy too.

oddjob2

Well, where are the photos or it didn't happen

bobotech

Did you get the bike?