Old farts and drop bars...
08-18-12, 05:17 AM
#101
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I'm 62. Never been told that I'm too old. However, last time I picked my bike up after some work at the LBS, I asked the kid how my bike was doing. His reply, "Well, it's kinda old." My reply, "Yeah. So am I, so we make a good pair."
08-18-12, 02:35 PM
#102
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No not a hybred for my age but a cyclecross for my weight. I settled for a GT2 road bike with Apex. I have only 500 miles on it but like it more than my 35lb mountain bike. 15lbs lighter weight is noticeable on the road. However I'm short so my handlebars are only a couple inches below my seat and I don't know how my back would feel if they were any lower.
My 2 cents, my ideal bike would be a light weight (under 20lbs) with skinny high pressure tires, a suspended seat and holland (?)style handlebars. 20 0r 30 speed depending where I live.
My 2 cents, my ideal bike would be a light weight (under 20lbs) with skinny high pressure tires, a suspended seat and holland (?)style handlebars. 20 0r 30 speed depending where I live.
08-18-12, 04:40 PM
#103
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I was in a LBS last year. I was 57 and in great shape--5'8" and 135 lb (still am, tho not 57). Looking for a fast bike that I might someday race, I expressed interest in a higher-end Bianchi to the owner. He (having some grey in his beard) actually said to me, "It's best to leave more agressive bikes like that to guys younger than us." I left, never went back, and bought a Cervello R3 at another shop.
08-18-12, 07:19 PM
#104
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I'm 57 and do most of my riding on this bike. I did a century on it in June, and have another century planned for September.
08-18-12, 07:47 PM
#106
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I'm not that old. Maybe I look ancient, but I think early 50's is just hitting my stride. I'be gone in several BS's over the past couple of years to look over the inventory. I've had a couple of mountain bikes that I actually took in the woods, you know, off the road. For whatever reason, lately when I tell the folks I'm interested in a road bike they steer me toward the cruisers or the hybrids with shocks. I tell them that's not what I want and one kid actually said that people my age don't do well with drop bars. Maybe not, but I keep reading how the various hand positions available with drop bars are better for some folks than flat bars.
I'm just curious if anybody else has had an LBS employee look shocked when someone older than 40 expressed interest in a road bike with drop bars. The last time I bought a bike I got a good deal on a Rockhopper and now I'd like to try asphalt. I'm leaning toward just calling bikes direct and investing 3 or 4 hundred on a cheapo road bike just to see how I like it. I know enough about bikes from years ago when I had road bikes to put one together and tune it well enough. I don't remember them being uncomfortable.
Pardon the venting. I really don't think I look that old. The guys around here are making me feel like I should be shopping for a casket instead of a bike.
I'm just curious if anybody else has had an LBS employee look shocked when someone older than 40 expressed interest in a road bike with drop bars. The last time I bought a bike I got a good deal on a Rockhopper and now I'd like to try asphalt. I'm leaning toward just calling bikes direct and investing 3 or 4 hundred on a cheapo road bike just to see how I like it. I know enough about bikes from years ago when I had road bikes to put one together and tune it well enough. I don't remember them being uncomfortable.
Pardon the venting. I really don't think I look that old. The guys around here are making me feel like I should be shopping for a casket instead of a bike.
08-18-12, 08:33 PM
#108
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I love the sensation and glide of a road bike, and the mutliple handlebar positions. Unfortunately I had/have neck problems, herniations, so I experimented with a few stems to get the bars back up to a height that suits my peculiarly long torso but shortish T-Rex arms 
so far so good.
If it act's up again, I'll get a heavier duty steel fork and cut the tube longer to get an extra inch of rise.
Because of the T-Rex arms i can still stay relatively aero, if needed, but it's the multiple handlebar positions I cherish more.
so far so good.If it act's up again, I'll get a heavier duty steel fork and cut the tube longer to get an extra inch of rise.
Because of the T-Rex arms i can still stay relatively aero, if needed, but it's the multiple handlebar positions I cherish more.
08-18-12, 09:44 PM
#109
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this is a great thread! I am 57 y.o, and when I got back into serious biking, *I* wanted a hybrid, and the LBS obliged. Next, I wanted flat bars, the LBS obliged. I then realized I wanted drop bars (which I last used as a teen), so I wanted a Trek 1.1, and the LBS obliged, and took the flat bar in trade. Rented a Secteur, liked it better, 2nd LBS obliged and sold it to me. Oh, did I mention that when I traded the Secteur in for a Roubaix, the LBS obliged?
Moral of the story: LBS likes me, I think :-) And, they never tried to talk me out of anything along the way. I still have the 1.1 and of course the Roubaix. Gave my fiance my hybrid- oh, BTW, after ridig my drop bar bikes, she then bought a Dolce :-)
Moral of the story: LBS likes me, I think :-) And, they never tried to talk me out of anything along the way. I still have the 1.1 and of course the Roubaix. Gave my fiance my hybrid- oh, BTW, after ridig my drop bar bikes, she then bought a Dolce :-)
08-19-12, 08:26 AM
#110
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Just keep buying more and more stuff (i.e. N+1) trying to get what you "want." The LBS people will love you!
08-19-12, 04:21 PM
#111
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Why shouldn't the LBS like you? Why should they want to talk you out of buying stuff that you already decided you "want"? If you are like the OP you might get offended at getting advice that goes against your predetermined purchase selection.
Just keep buying more and more stuff (i.e. N+1) trying to get what you "want." The LBS people will love you!
Just keep buying more and more stuff (i.e. N+1) trying to get what you "want." The LBS people will love you!
08-19-12, 05:13 PM
#112
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Point 1: Just wear this in
Point two: That's just silly. Who is more likely to be able to afford a really nice road bike?
Point two: That's just silly. Who is more likely to be able to afford a really nice road bike?
08-19-12, 07:23 PM
#113
I'm not sure what resurrected this this post but here's the OP's (UADave) most resent post from another thread.
I'm very confused. UADave??
Well, I don't have any experience with 29ers, but I had a quandary a couple of years ago between a hardtail or a hybrid. I've ridden a few of the Trek FX bikes and was really leaning that way but my daughter talked me into a Rockhopper so I could ride mountain bikes with her. Great bike, but I really wish I'd gotten the hybrid or a road bike. My daughter now rides horses in her spare time so I'm sitting here with a mountain bike riding mostly on local roads. It just feels heavy compared to the hybrids I've ridden and as soon as I free up some cash I'm getting something else. This mountain bike, even with slicks, doesn't feel anything like the hybrids I've ridden. Hope you're happy with whatever you decide!
Last edited by BigAura; 08-19-12 at 07:26 PM.
08-19-12, 08:26 PM
#114
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A combined 124 Birthdays on this long bike.
And I've put 22,324.0 mi on "Bumblebee" (shown below, name complements of my grandson) over the past 3 years.
I was 61 when I started.
How many miles did that pimply faced kid do in the past 3 yrs?
And I've put 22,324.0 mi on "Bumblebee" (shown below, name complements of my grandson) over the past 3 years.
I was 61 when I started.
How many miles did that pimply faced kid do in the past 3 yrs?
08-20-12, 03:07 AM
#115
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Very nice. Is it relevant? To the OP, LBS personnel, or anybody else, young or old, looking to make a bike purchase/sale?
08-20-12, 05:33 AM
#116
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Here's what I'm riding, for the most part, these days. Yesterday I whipped up on a bunch a younger guys during the swim and bike phase of a triathlon (came in first in a group of one in my age bracket).
I guess you could call them drop bars.
I guess you could call them drop bars.
08-21-12, 05:33 PM
#118
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I'm 62 and recently received my new Schwinn LeTour from Bikes Direct. I love her, and nobody questioned my choice....
08-21-12, 09:22 PM
#119
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Hey, you're not as confused as I am lol. Holy crap I can't believe this thread is still around. The internet is forever I guess. Anyway my dear daughter has totally quit riding bikes so now i've bought three bikes over the last few years to try and ride with the family and still don't have a road bike and I ride alone most of the time. My niece got a FX and loves it which is why I was toying with the hybrid idea but now I'm just waiting for the sales to start in September and I'm grabbing some cash and going to a shop about 60 miles away and getting the most road Trek I can get for whatever money I have available. I've been super busy at work for the last year and don't have any time to ride but I don't care I'm getting it anyway. I can sit and look at it before I go to bed if nothing else. I've been to a few bike shops over the last year for clothes and stuff and the one 60 miles away is the one I like best and they sell Trek and Cannondale, so I'll probably go Trek since the Cannondales cost a little more. If I can dig up more cash in the next couple of weeks who knows what might happen. Certainly not me apparently. Zombie thread continues.
08-21-12, 10:31 PM
#120
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I'm not that old. Maybe I look ancient, but I think early 50's is just hitting my stride. I'be gone in several BS's over the past couple of years to look over the inventory. I've had a couple of mountain bikes that I actually took in the woods, you know, off the road. For whatever reason, lately when I tell the folks I'm interested in a road bike they steer me toward the cruisers or the hybrids with shocks. I tell them that's not what I want and one kid actually said that people my age don't do well with drop bars. Maybe not, but I keep reading how the various hand positions available with drop bars are better for some folks than flat bars.
I'm just curious if anybody else has had an LBS employee look shocked when someone older than 40 expressed interest in a road bike with drop bars. The last time I bought a bike I got a good deal on a Rockhopper and now I'd like to try asphalt. I'm leaning toward just calling bikes direct and investing 3 or 4 hundred on a cheapo road bike just to see how I like it. I know enough about bikes from years ago when I had road bikes to put one together and tune it well enough. I don't remember them being uncomfortable.
Pardon the venting. I really don't think I look that old. The guys around here are making me feel like I should be shopping for a casket instead of a bike.
I'm just curious if anybody else has had an LBS employee look shocked when someone older than 40 expressed interest in a road bike with drop bars. The last time I bought a bike I got a good deal on a Rockhopper and now I'd like to try asphalt. I'm leaning toward just calling bikes direct and investing 3 or 4 hundred on a cheapo road bike just to see how I like it. I know enough about bikes from years ago when I had road bikes to put one together and tune it well enough. I don't remember them being uncomfortable.
Pardon the venting. I really don't think I look that old. The guys around here are making me feel like I should be shopping for a casket instead of a bike.
08-22-12, 06:37 AM
#121
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jrporter - nice wheels man. I have lingering brand and model fondness for that brand and model
08-22-12, 07:02 AM
#122
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I think the important thing is the store listened and sold him what he wanted rather than what they wanted. In today's times, whether it's buying a bike or most anything else, store employees often don't take the time to listen.
