Neil_B

So what's some of the worst advice about cycling you've ever been given? I'll start, and to keep this thread civil I'll avoid hot-spot topics like clipless pedals and helmets.

Worst of all for me was the advice that I should remain bolt-upright on the bike at all times. My physical therapists were great at improving my posture, but none of them knew anything about bikes. I felt much better once I left bike fitting to my shop.

"You shouldn't ride with a suspension fork because it will make you less stable." I'd put 1500 miles on my suspension-forked Navigator by the time I was given that news flash. He then clarified things by explaining all riders are less stable on bikes with suspension forks.

"You should ride against traffic on the road."

"Taking the lane means acting unpredictably so cars have to slow down and think about what you are doing." This person demonstrated his technique by riding back and forth across a road in a drunken manner, preventing cars from passing him.

Tom Stormcrowe

My favorites:

You're too big to ride a bike!


I kicked that one in the head

Second:

You shouldn't be riding while wearing O2, you could have a heart attack. You aren't in good enough shape to ride: Yep, another one kicked in the head.

It's too dangerous to ride on the road. Fail, again.

uncadan8

Worst advice? I dunno, I never really asked anyone for their opinion, and must have a way of getting the idea across that I really DON'T want their piddly thoughts anyway. I must have an aura or something.

Anyway, probably the worst thing would be someone telling me I should get a bigger saddle because I'm a bigger guy. Ummm, anything in contact can be a source of friction right? So WHY would I want to cause MORE friction back there?!?!?!

Mr. Beanz

Don't waste you money on your wife's bike cause she won't continue to ride! Of course that came form fellow riders about 10 years ago. Guys that are no longer riding!

-Devil-

the worse advice i have gotten so far? ...

'the Top Tube fit is the only important measurement on a bike' .. said by the salesperson at the LBS that i prefer to not use now ... i am now stuck making my mountain bike fit me as best as i can till i can buy something bigger.

Mr. Beanz

Advice I should have avoided. Drink Extenze before riding in spandex with the wife. She'll be proud that you're her man. Thank goodness my saddle has a cutout!

Alathea

Did you find your ride more fulfilling and did you pedal with greater confidence?

Mr. Beanz

I was smiling like 'Smilin' Bob' all day Baaaaby!

That's a good one Alathea!...You got Gina busting up over that one!

flip18436572

Buy TREK. They are the only brand out there and all the others will go under because of their superior product.

bautieri

I see some pretty asinine advice flying around bike forums now and again but most (I hope) is a joke.

Lets see, bad advice I've been given:

"Sure you can do a stoppie on gravel, just actuate your front brake a little more." - Bad advice but I did it anyways and managed not to go down. Try not to do this.

After a half mile down an old ski slope. "It's amazing bautieri, touch my brake rotors, the discs don't get hot at all." - No thanks, I can smell them from here.

"Your fat, you need disc brakes." - No I don't.

"Pinch flats only happen to roadies."

It's amazing how all my crap advice was given about mountain biking.

bautieri

I've heard that one a time or two

neilfein

None, really, except for the usual "use the sidewalk" garbage. Msot of the stupid things
I've done, I cooked up the ideas all by myself.

kjmillig

Classic:
"You should ride on the left so you can see cars coming."
"Ooo. You need to careful. The crazy drivers around here will run over you just for fun." This one from a coworker whom I've seen driving crazy herself.

AbundantChoice

"nobody knows what the turn hand signals mean anymore, so don't bother to use them"

sdastroguy

I am in the same situation right now with my hybrid. At this time I'm not sure I'll be able to adjust it well enough to ride a metric century. I am NOT a happy camper about his.

Snapperhead

Carbon fiber is not for bigger guys. BULL!!! I love my carbon Specialized and I'm very glad I spent the extra coin to get it.

Condorita

"Maybe you should try a Townie."

I didn't say anything about wanting to put my feet flat on the ground, which you would have heard me not say had you been actually paying attention to what I was saying.

mpete69

"Wider riders need wider tires"

LittleChainring

"Don't spend any more than $90 fixing up your Hardrock -- that's all it's worth."

Hill-Pumper

If you are talking about the top tube length that determines frame size with traditional geometry, then there would be some truth to that. The problem is people confuse stand over hight with top tube length. If a bike shop tells you to step over the bike and just checks the distance of the tube to your crotch and says that it fits you, run away!!! This is particularly disastrous when you are talking about compact frame geometry which has a lower top tube as part of their design. As a related side note, finding a bike shop that knows how to fit you right is not always easy. I had two different shops tell me that I needed a different frame size on the same model bike. The one shop checked to make sure that my seat hight was right, told me to spin the pedals backwards while he watched, then said it was the right size. The other shop, asked how tall I was and my inseam length and put me on a bike trainer to be sure all my body angles were good. They then explained that with my long torso and short legs why I needed a bigger frame then what the other bike shop was trying to sell me. If I had decided to go with that brand and model of bike, I would have bought it from the second shop without a doubt. The shop I did end up buying from spent over 90 minutes fitting me and kept my measurements on file in case I buy another bike there.

Well TREK better hope that Giant never goes under, because they build all TREK's entry and mid range frames for them.

Shinyville

I don't think the "feet on the ground" thing is the only thing those bikes have going for them, though. What else did you say you were looking for? I find 'em comfortable, a great geometry to take in scenery, and still pretty capable of speed if you get one with a decent gear range, and potentially helpful for a variety of wrist/hand/back issues, etc.

Personally, I've probably heard some bad advice, but thanks to places like this site and a good network of local cyclists around here, I don't think I've taken any! Bad advice went in one ear and out the other.

PAJ3Cub

Yup, I got a similar reply from the first bike shop I visited. I was 327 lbs and wanted something to get me moving.

Thankfully, the second shop I went to had a totally different attitude and today I'm almost 65 lbs lighter.

Can you guess which LBS I patronize?

Best,
Brian

-Devil-

i ment standover height of the top tube .. but the words escaped me at the time, heh yeah all the L-BS did was have me stand over the bike and then they said 'yep that fits' .. and now i am stuck making it work....

CACycling

"Adults shouldn't be riding bikes, they are for kids!"

This was not directed at me, it was directed at another cyclist that a soccer mom had just clipped with her SUV when making a right turn, across a bike lane, into a school parking lot without signaling (or, apparently, looking).

Mr. Beanz

I have some snobs say you can't do a century on an aluminum bike. 30 centuries later, I'm still trying to figure out, why not!