What to get.....
07-10-07, 10:36 PM
#1
YAT-YAS
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What to get.....
Hey all,
This commuting thing is FUN! I've been commuting 5.5mi for the last couple of months... I hardly ever drive now (Its tough too, since I sold my truck). My old roadmaster (Duck the flying tomatoes!
) is an old war horse, but I think she deserves to be put out to pasture... or the the scrap yard 
. I would feel worse, if the welds didnt look like they were done by a drunken, blind monkey.
After this summer, I'm going to be looking for a new bike.... Probably new to me, used to everyone else. What should I be looking for? I'm 6' tall and weigh in at 215# (hooray Fat kid!). I'm thinking a steel frame would be a good idea... So said the clydsdale forum. But what should I be on the look out for?
I'm guessing the usual name brands would be a good idea... TREK, SPECIALIZED, GT.... I'm used to riding a MTN style bike... I dont think a roadie would be too comfortable (I'm a fat kid, remember). I spend alot of time going over curbs and through some ROUGH asphalt... I swear Hammond IN, has no road repair budget.....
Any gerneralized type sudgestions? Am I being too broad based on this question?
Thanks All
This commuting thing is FUN! I've been commuting 5.5mi for the last couple of months... I hardly ever drive now (Its tough too, since I sold my truck). My old roadmaster (Duck the flying tomatoes!
) is an old war horse, but I think she deserves to be put out to pasture... or the the scrap yard . I would feel worse, if the welds didnt look like they were done by a drunken, blind monkey.After this summer, I'm going to be looking for a new bike.... Probably new to me, used to everyone else. What should I be looking for? I'm 6' tall and weigh in at 215# (hooray Fat kid!). I'm thinking a steel frame would be a good idea... So said the clydsdale forum. But what should I be on the look out for?
I'm guessing the usual name brands would be a good idea... TREK, SPECIALIZED, GT.... I'm used to riding a MTN style bike... I dont think a roadie would be too comfortable (I'm a fat kid, remember). I spend alot of time going over curbs and through some ROUGH asphalt... I swear Hammond IN, has no road repair budget.....
Any gerneralized type sudgestions? Am I being too broad based on this question?
Thanks All
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Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
07-11-07, 12:01 AM
#2
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I dunno man, a friend of mine is around 5'10, 220# and he rides centurys on a specialized tarmac. 
I'm not talking about muscle-man either, he has quite a beer gut! You'd be surprised how comfortable a road bike is. Think about it, some people ride for hundreds of miles at a wack on fully loaded road-style bikes doing tours.
That said, one of my brothers had similar concerns and a similar commute distance. I got him a specialized sirrus and he likes it very much. I had a specialized globe for a while and it felt kinda slow being so upright and my hands got numb from being locked in 1 position.
See if there are any bike rental shops in your area and try to get a road bike the right size for you. Give it a try for a few days and see what you think.
I'm not talking about muscle-man either, he has quite a beer gut! You'd be surprised how comfortable a road bike is. Think about it, some people ride for hundreds of miles at a wack on fully loaded road-style bikes doing tours.That said, one of my brothers had similar concerns and a similar commute distance. I got him a specialized sirrus and he likes it very much. I had a specialized globe for a while and it felt kinda slow being so upright and my hands got numb from being locked in 1 position.
See if there are any bike rental shops in your area and try to get a road bike the right size for you. Give it a try for a few days and see what you think.
07-11-07, 05:30 AM
#3
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Originally Posted by devildogmech
After this summer, I'm going to be looking for a new bike.
I'm used to riding a MTN style bike.
I spend alot of time going over curbs and through some ROUGH asphalt.
I'm used to riding a MTN style bike.
I spend alot of time going over curbs and through some ROUGH asphalt.
How about a flat bar road bike? Perhaps something in the Jamis Coda line?
They're steel bikes and priced right.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
07-11-07, 06:05 AM
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I dunno, the choice really depends on what you are going to use it for. I have at the moment a racing road bike and a mountain bike. They are 20 and 9 years old respecively. I used to race when I was younger, and I got the mountain bike thinking I would hit the trails. But now, I don't race, and I almost never go on real mountain trails. Now I would rather have a touring bike and a folding bike for the commuting and transportation that I do.
So for you, I guess my vote is for a good touring or cross bike, the recomendations here are often for something from Surly. If you need something that is heavy duty for the potholes, go for a mountain bike with some road tires, the 26 inch wheels should hold out against abuse better than 700c.
So for you, I guess my vote is for a good touring or cross bike, the recomendations here are often for something from Surly. If you need something that is heavy duty for the potholes, go for a mountain bike with some road tires, the 26 inch wheels should hold out against abuse better than 700c.
07-11-07, 08:09 AM
#6
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I vote for a new old war horse. Go get a high quality, but older Mt. bike from a pawn shop. They sell old quality rigid bikes for about $50 and hard tail bikes for about $150. No good deals on full suspension bikes really.Those are all at least $300.
I got my rigid, 1988 Jamis Diablo from a pawn shop for $50. It was in fine shape and even included a headlight and batteries! I put $12 in fenders on it, a $2 rear Blackburn mtn. rack on it from the flea market, and $2 dice valve caps ('Cause that's how I ROLL!) I put 100+ miles a week on this bike.
I got my rigid, 1988 Jamis Diablo from a pawn shop for $50. It was in fine shape and even included a headlight and batteries! I put $12 in fenders on it, a $2 rear Blackburn mtn. rack on it from the flea market, and $2 dice valve caps ('Cause that's how I ROLL!) I put 100+ miles a week on this bike.
07-11-07, 08:27 PM
#7
YAT-YAS
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Thanks all... I've been keeping my eye's peeled on Craigs list... TREK's are gone before I call! This is going to be fun...
I think I might just go whole hog and spend $500 or so on a new bike next season...
ARGH this is a tough decision.....
Thanks again!
Billy
I think I might just go whole hog and spend $500 or so on a new bike next season...
ARGH this is a tough decision.....
Thanks again!
Billy
__________________
Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
07-12-07, 05:28 PM
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I just bought a Bianchi Castro Valley and must say that it's really a sweet ride. I'm just now putting together the other elements for a true commuter (rack + Jandd pannier) but for now I'm loving the bike and saving gas. Anyway, it's built on the same frame as their cyclocross bike and has a flatbar. Check it out, you might like it:
https://www.bianchiusa.com/07_castro_valley.html
https://www.bianchiusa.com/07_castro_valley.html
