Why a beater?
04-08-10 | 05:06 PM
#26
Comfortably Numb!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 943
Likes: 1
From: East Jabip
Bikes: Jamis Commuter 3.0
I use a 13 year old mountain bike during the winter. It is old and worn, but still gets its share of TLC, because I need it to stay rideable. I wouldn't take my new bike out in winter because the slush and road salt and crap would gum everything up and wear it down prematurely.
04-08-10 | 05:06 PM
#27
Not a legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
My only bike is a beater. By this I mean it's old, the components are low-end, and the paint/decals are beat up/chipped/ugly.
I ride it because it's my only bike and it works great. If it didn't work, I would go buy something else. It does work, so I'm saved the hassle of finding a replacement.
I'm beginning to think of the potential theft loss not as "I lost $x dollars" but rather "I lost $X time to replacing this". I almost don't care, really, the cost of a replacement bicycle. It's more about how long I'm going to be out of commission and how long it'll take to get everything back configured right.
I ride it because it's my only bike and it works great. If it didn't work, I would go buy something else. It does work, so I'm saved the hassle of finding a replacement.
I'm beginning to think of the potential theft loss not as "I lost $x dollars" but rather "I lost $X time to replacing this". I almost don't care, really, the cost of a replacement bicycle. It's more about how long I'm going to be out of commission and how long it'll take to get everything back configured right.
04-08-10 | 05:06 PM
#28
Comfortably Numb!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 943
Likes: 1
From: East Jabip
Bikes: Jamis Commuter 3.0
I use a 13 year old mountain bike during the winter. It is old and worn, but still gets its share of TLC, because I need it to stay rideable. I wouldn't take my new bike out in winter because the slush and road salt and crap would gum everything up and wear it down prematurely.
04-08-10 | 06:41 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
I year round commute, and train for centuries according to a rigorous ten week schedule of daily mileage. Last June here in Boston would have been cut in half if I didn't ride in the rain.
I only took up the practice [of riding in the rain] last year inspired by some BF posts. I used to dislike getting the bike grimy, but a good suggestion was just wipe the chain and re-lube. I already had a mountain bike to use as a "beater,"...
Of note to [Ortcutt] the OP who lives near Boston, I did skip Tueday during our historic three day flooding rainstorm last week.
I only took up the practice [of riding in the rain] last year inspired by some BF posts. I used to dislike getting the bike grimy, but a good suggestion was just wipe the chain and re-lube. I already had a mountain bike to use as a "beater,"...
Of note to [Ortcutt] the OP who lives near Boston, I did skip Tueday during our historic three day flooding rainstorm last week.
04-08-10 | 06:59 PM
#30
Riding Heaven's Highways on the grand tour
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 3
My "beater" is an old Huffy....about 20 yrs old or more. It rides just fine. I commute on it, because I can't take my bike in the building at the office. If somethng were to happen to the Huffy, it wouldn't be as bad as if something happened to my good bike.
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