Let's talk about the stuff we've heard about but haven't tried.

Like, 650b. I haven't tried it. But I'm actually kinda curious, so I won't talk about that.

Or sewup tires. I haven't tried them, but I recently acquired a bike that has them; I will probably ride it soon. So I won' talk about that.

But titanium frames? I haven't tried them, and am not about to. Could they really be that wonderful? I really doubt it. And carbon fiber? Oh, don't even get me started. Who needs that! Ditto 29'ers, ten speed cassettes, eleven speed cassettes, disk brakes, and... aw heck, the list is too long for me to go on with it. There's a whole lot of technology out there that I haven't tried. And I am absolutely convinced I don't need it.

What about you? Do you think minivelos are useless and lame? What about recumbents, full suspension, IGH's, dynamo lights, and Campagnolo?

You can talk about anything you want, provided you don't actually know anything about it. No first hand experience, please.

I'd love a ti bike, especially with my back injury, I bet the thing would weigh nothing with a good groupset on it

Ti is wonderful! Light weight, springy, no scratches, no corrosion...what more could you want? I don't understand how anyone could not want a ti frame!

Stuff I haven't tried:

Disc brakes...and I'd really like to give them a shot. I've read the good and bad, and want to see for myself.
Electronic shifting...I'd love to give it a whirl, though the current price tags make that unlikely.
Carbon Fiber...I haven't really ridden CF much; a few rides here and there. I like CF forks and would like to try a frame.
Wheels under 32h...no thanks, I like my wheels tough, and I like some ballast under me when going fast.
Tri bars...look awful, no interest.
Recumbent...I'd love to try one, but not on city streets. I like being seen.
Full suspension MTBs...I'm far too timid to need one.

The only 650b I've ridden is my tandem, and I'm not sure if that's representative. I love the wheels on it though; very smooth, roll well over grass and cobbles, they feel like they spin up quickly.

I've gone ti (Spectrum) and sew ups (thanks to a gift of 10 laced Mavic rims) on most of the steel bikes. I love Campagnolo and Suntour.

650b's - haven't gone there but wonder about it.

I'm not really into the new modern stuff - carbon, no. Not sure I see the benefit of the 10/11 speeds, electronic shifting, disc brakes. Full suspension I don't really have a need for. I'll use Nuun tablets in my water bottle for long rides - on everything else it's just water. Definitely not into the fixed gear thig (although I wouldn't mind acquiring the Gitane track bike at the lbs). I don't spend $100 on shorts and jerseys and don't have a need for the bib riding shorts.

The funny thing is the lbs owner used to talk to me quite a bit. Not so much now since he knows I won't ever buy a new bike there - I do buy used parts and have him do some labo on my bike.

One thing's for sure: this wonderful thing called bicycling causes some very strong opinions about all sorts of bicycle-related stuff. Owning a bike shop for the last four-plus years has pointed this out to me more than ever. As a businessman, I have to remind myself that it's in my best interest to strive for open mindedness. It's difficult, but I do try.

I don't know doodley squat about anything, so I can't speak to it. But I often try to.

I'm not sure how other LBSs work, but mine knows I'll never buy a new bike there and they don't seem to care a whit. Actually they don't make their money on new bikes, they pay bills with service and small items. Selling a new bike is more a chance to establish a relationship and make money on tune ups down the road.

...and how is this different from 99% of my posts?


Clipless pedals. They scare me.

me too. kind of remind me of my old Miller ski bindings. sure to break something..

Haven't tried:

11 speed ( heck I never use all 10 on the bike that has them )
Ti, though I'm in the market !
650b - don't care as long as my wheels are round
Suntour - life beyond Campy ? I don't think so...
French or Japanese bikes.....St. Ghisallo forbid !
In ref to above- my family is from Italy. According to them, the sun rises and sets on Italian bicycle makers, and to try anything else would get me disowned !

Cheers,

Joe

I knew I liked you! You get my vote for new member of the year.

I've never owned a non-diamond frame design (not counting a tandem and mixte). I'd like to have something with non-traditional stays or fork (hellenic, flying gate, diadrant).

As it turns out, fellow forumite kiwigem (who I thought was a guy, BTW) started a similar thread back in February. I posted a list of stuff back then, but I need to adjust it now based on personal experience and whatnot.

650B: [strike]I believe 650A is just fine for most applications and is attainable for mere mortals like me.[/strike] I drank the kool-aid and am a 650B believer at least in the context of a tandem. I still think 650A is a great choice for many applications.

Derailleurs: It is no secret that I have an abiding dislike of derailleurs. I will likely continue to use a derailleur on my tandems that currently have them, though I could change my mind on that.

Unicrown Forks: Aesthetically they are not pleasing to my eye. I'd like to get rid of the unicrown fork on my wife's Linus.

Groupsets: I don't get them at all, but then again I like English 3-speeds... Can someone explain what this is all about?

Period Correctness: I collect bikes so I can ride them. I would rather have a bike with working wheels that are not period correct and that I can ride, than to have one that is period correct without any wheels.

Fixed Gear: [strike]Maybe some day, I may be silly enough to try that Kool-Aid, but for now I'm continuing to respectfully decline.[/strike] Actually, I am toying with the idea of a fixed gear bike, though it would probably be a 3-speed. I like gear choices.

Recumbent Bicycles: I hope I do not need to explain myself on that one given this is a C&V crowd.

Carbon Fiber: I have a deep and abiding distrust of CF. I guess I'm just not fond of the idea of a frame or fork having a catastrophic failure.

I guess this sums it up for me, though if I thing about it some more, I'm sure I'd have a much longer list.

Lugged frames with unicrown forks baffle me. TIG frames with lugged forks baffle me. I think a Unicrown fork looks appropriate on a TIG frame, and they go together nicely.

I want to try electronic shifting. Not that I want to BUY, just TRY.
I've never ridden fixed - something makes me want a winter fixie. (How bad on old knees?)
Deep down, I want a ride-able bike from the pre-WWII era.

650b has been a pass for me but I have 2 rigid mtn bikes to ride. One of them is often seen with narrow (38-42mm) 26" tires.

Tubulars - all I can say about them is that they make every quality road bike better. If you ride enthusiastically you must try them, on 2 of your finest vintage.

I've never ridden anything with Campy.

I drank that koolade. At this point, my FG is my go-to bike for most rides, although I do switch around from time to time. Unless you live in a very hilly area, you will probably find that a single speed is fine.

I have never actually ridden a bike.

They make gaspipe beaters better, too. I think it's probably a greater improvement since cheap bikes normally have heavy wheels.



I want to try a titanium bike, but I don't have that kind of money to spend on a bike.

Andy Rooney lives on!!

I love tubulars, I can take ot leave Ti it really depends on the design of the frame wether it is better riding than steel. 7spd is plenty for me but I do have some 8 and 9s. Carbon is OK.

As one of the first in my area to ride a 700C Mountain bike, back in '94, I love them! The larger wheel is much better for my riding style than the chubby 26'ers.

I would love a minivelo!!

fify!

BG - how do you like your Bianchi ti? Was that actually made by Bianchi? The headtube is really cool! I'm looking at one now and the OS tubes look like a winner to me.

Honestly, I see this type of thread as being negative and bound to be divisive. We all have preferences, we all have likes and dislikes and attacking stuff others like seems silly to me.

So you've not actually ridden a PROPER bicycle yet ? I'm terribly sorry for your misfortune ! Perhaps we should start a fund for you...


ALL in Jest of course !!

Cheers,

Joe

In other words, we should keep our opinions to ourselves because someone might disagree and get upset?

No - we should recognize that others like different things and that if we're not contributing to the knowledge base, and are merely attacking the taste of others, what we're saying is probably not very relevant. I realize that would eliminate a substantial number of your posts, but I don't see that as a bad thing

There is a difference in criticizing something based on function and something based on taste. Please explain to me why anyone should care about your aesthetic opinion on unicrown forks.