pnw newbie!
11-07-25 | 08:32 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
pnw newbie!
hey yall 
I've been riding bikes for transport and pleasure for 10+ years now. I got a cannondale mtb in college that was too small for me (I have a very long torso) and rode the hell out of it anyway. After graduating, I got a '86 trek 400-D elance with mostly stock components; at least until the wheelset got stolen from my apt complex :'( That was the bike that made me really love biking, and start commuting with it as well as riding for fun on weekends. Regularly did the "social rides" that happened in Austin and they were a total blast.
Anyway, I always just maintained that bike until recently, when I jumped from 23mm tires up to 30mm. It was awesome, the small gravel and offroad trails in my area became accessible to me, and even riding on pavement became much more comfortable. I got a Burley trailer to pull my toddler behind me, and I have been bit with the bike bug all over again. I'm realizing that I could use a much taller stem for my handlebars (again, long torso) because I took the current one up pretty far (past the "do not go past this line" mark, whoops) and it's sooo much more comfortable. I was looking at marketplace for a nitto technomic long stem and one popped up recently but it got snagged by someone else
I'm resistant to paying $60-$70 for one, esp bc we have another little one on the way.
My first question is, should I keep looking or is that a rare enough component that I just need to pony up and buy it new? I'm about an hour from Portland OR and I know there are great bike co-ops there, so feel free to recommend any resources in that area. I've heard of bike farm and whatnot, the issue is basically that I have a toddler and not a ton of free time lol
I'll introduce the 2 vintage mtb I bought recently to fix up in a later post...
I've been riding bikes for transport and pleasure for 10+ years now. I got a cannondale mtb in college that was too small for me (I have a very long torso) and rode the hell out of it anyway. After graduating, I got a '86 trek 400-D elance with mostly stock components; at least until the wheelset got stolen from my apt complex :'( That was the bike that made me really love biking, and start commuting with it as well as riding for fun on weekends. Regularly did the "social rides" that happened in Austin and they were a total blast. Anyway, I always just maintained that bike until recently, when I jumped from 23mm tires up to 30mm. It was awesome, the small gravel and offroad trails in my area became accessible to me, and even riding on pavement became much more comfortable. I got a Burley trailer to pull my toddler behind me, and I have been bit with the bike bug all over again. I'm realizing that I could use a much taller stem for my handlebars (again, long torso) because I took the current one up pretty far (past the "do not go past this line" mark, whoops) and it's sooo much more comfortable. I was looking at marketplace for a nitto technomic long stem and one popped up recently but it got snagged by someone else
I'm resistant to paying $60-$70 for one, esp bc we have another little one on the way.My first question is, should I keep looking or is that a rare enough component that I just need to pony up and buy it new? I'm about an hour from Portland OR and I know there are great bike co-ops there, so feel free to recommend any resources in that area. I've heard of bike farm and whatnot, the issue is basically that I have a toddler and not a ton of free time lol
I'll introduce the 2 vintage mtb I bought recently to fix up in a later post...
11-14-25 | 11:46 AM
#3
Freshman Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 5,867
Likes: 4,154
From: City of Angels
Bikes: A few too many
Welcome to Bike forums.
Best, Ben
Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
11-23-25 | 10:25 AM
#6
Edumacator
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 9,608
Likes: 5,101
From: Goose Creek, SC
Bikes: More than the people who ride them...oy.
hey yall I've been riding bikes for transport and pleasure for 10+ years now. I got a cannondale mtb in college that was too small for me (I have a very long torso) and rode the hell out of it anyway. After graduating, I got a '86 trek 400-D elance with mostly stock components; at least until the wheelset got stolen from my apt complex :'( That was the bike that made me really love biking, and start commuting with it as well as riding for fun on weekends. Regularly did the "social rides" that happened in Austin and they were a total blast.
Anyway, I always just maintained that bike until recently, when I jumped from 23mm tires up to 30mm. It was awesome, the small gravel and offroad trails in my area became accessible to me, and even riding on pavement became much more comfortable. I got a Burley trailer to pull my toddler behind me, and I have been bit with the bike bug all over again. I'm realizing that I could use a much taller stem for my handlebars (again, long torso) because I took the current one up pretty far (past the "do not go past this line" mark, whoops) and it's sooo much more comfortable. I was looking at marketplace for a nitto technomic long stem and one popped up recently but it got snagged by someone else I'm resistant to paying $60-$70 for one, esp bc we have another little one on the way.
My first question is, should I keep looking or is that a rare enough component that I just need to pony up and buy it new? I'm about an hour from Portland OR and I know there are great bike co-ops there, so feel free to recommend any resources in that area. I've heard of bike farm and whatnot, the issue is basically that I have a toddler and not a ton of free time lol
I'll introduce the 2 vintage mtb I bought recently to fix up in a later post...
I've been riding bikes for transport and pleasure for 10+ years now. I got a cannondale mtb in college that was too small for me (I have a very long torso) and rode the hell out of it anyway. After graduating, I got a '86 trek 400-D elance with mostly stock components; at least until the wheelset got stolen from my apt complex :'( That was the bike that made me really love biking, and start commuting with it as well as riding for fun on weekends. Regularly did the "social rides" that happened in Austin and they were a total blast.Anyway, I always just maintained that bike until recently, when I jumped from 23mm tires up to 30mm. It was awesome, the small gravel and offroad trails in my area became accessible to me, and even riding on pavement became much more comfortable. I got a Burley trailer to pull my toddler behind me, and I have been bit with the bike bug all over again. I'm realizing that I could use a much taller stem for my handlebars (again, long torso) because I took the current one up pretty far (past the "do not go past this line" mark, whoops) and it's sooo much more comfortable. I was looking at marketplace for a nitto technomic long stem and one popped up recently but it got snagged by someone else
I'm resistant to paying $60-$70 for one, esp bc we have another little one on the way.My first question is, should I keep looking or is that a rare enough component that I just need to pony up and buy it new? I'm about an hour from Portland OR and I know there are great bike co-ops there, so feel free to recommend any resources in that area. I've heard of bike farm and whatnot, the issue is basically that I have a toddler and not a ton of free time lol
I'll introduce the 2 vintage mtb I bought recently to fix up in a later post...
__________________
1987 Crest C'dale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin EL, 1990 Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Isoard, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 C'dale M500, 1984 Mercian Pro, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi ?, 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh Internat'l, 1998 Corratec U+D, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone, 1987 Bianchi Volpe, 1995 Trek 750
1987 Crest C'dale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin EL, 1990 Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Isoard, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 C'dale M500, 1984 Mercian Pro, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi ?, 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh Internat'l, 1998 Corratec U+D, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone, 1987 Bianchi Volpe, 1995 Trek 750
11-27-25 | 10:28 PM
#8
Commuter, roadie
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,747
Likes: 2,248
From: SE Wisconsin, USA
Bikes: Trek: Domane AL3, Checkpoint SL7; Priority Apollo 11, ZiZZO Forte + eBikes
Don't know, but welcome, from SE Wisconsin!
Have a good bike, as you'll need to get out for a sanity ride now and then. Doesn't have to be fancy just functional.
Have a good bike, as you'll need to get out for a sanity ride now and then. Doesn't have to be fancy just functional.
__________________
-Jeremy
-Jeremy
02-14-26 | 05:54 AM
#10
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 37
Likes: 3
Moving to the Pacific Northwest as a bike enthusiast has been amazing but intimidating at first. I remember struggling to find local routes, just like discovering a new hexclad pan at a store — small things make life easier. The community here has been fantastic, sharing hidden trails and safety tips. I’ve learned a ton about gear, weather considerations, and weekend rides. Meeting other riders through threads is the best way to explore. It’s also nice to ask for advice before heading out solo
Last edited by williscreg; 02-20-26 at 03:28 PM.
03-16-26 | 11:12 PM
#11
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Moving to the Pacific Northwest as a bike enthusiast has been amazing but intimidating at first. I remember struggling to find local routes, just like discovering a new pan at a store — small things make life easier. The community here has been fantastic, sharing hidden trails and safety tips. I’ve learned a ton about gear, weather considerations, and weekend rides. Meeting other riders through threads is the best way to explore. It’s also nice to ask for advice before heading out solo
I'm building up a 1991 trek 830 that can fit 2.35 width tires on it, hoping to get out there and explore. Moving from Texas, it's taken a few years before I realized that there was just as much trail off the road out here as there is on it. Maybe more!
