Auto/Tech junkie, but complete n00b with bicycles
04-17-12, 08:44 PM
#1
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Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
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Auto/Tech junkie, but complete n00b with bicycles
Hello all, I'm Patrick from the Memphis area. I would describe myself as a tech/gadget and automotive/mechanic junkie. I love all kinds of tech/computer/audio-video gadgets, and can pretty much take apart and put back together my Acura Integra GSR blindfolded, but I know next to zilch about bicycles, bike tech, bike terminology, etc. Hoping I can learn a bit here.
A bit about my bike: not long after purchasing my first home in 2005, I went looking for what I considered to be a "good" bicycle, something to replace the Wal-Mart POS MTB I got when I was a kid in the 90's. Perusing some local car forums, I came across a guy selling a KHS Alite 1000 MTB. Seems like a pretty good bike, had some nice parts on it from what I could tell. Rockshox front forks, Shimano Deore "ratchet" shifters, King headset, etc. The bike is WAYYY lighter than that old Wal-Mart steel-frame bike. I think I paid $200 or $250 for it.
So I rode the bike a little bit, but some years later I realized I much prefer ROAD bike riding. Here in Memphis we had a new paved bike trail called the Greenline open up in Fall 2010, made from an abandoned railroad line with 7 miles of straight, near-flat paved trail with several bridges and elevated paths through natural areas. I've ridden it several times, but I'm SLOW! It takes me about 1.5 hours to make the round trip, or maybe 10 mph at best. Part of it I'm sure that I've been out of shape for many years, but I think part of it is the fact that I'm riding a MTB on basically a road surface. Knobby tires, front shocks, and a frame that I think is a bit too small for my height/inseam length makes for a not so easy ride.
So now the last time I've ridden the bike was May 2011 on my local town's Ride of Silence ride. That was about 8.5 miles, and I struggled to keep up. I was the last in line for most of the ride.
I'd love to get a properly-fitted road bike, but that's just not going to happen anytime soon. I'm looking for the most cost-effective changes I can make to this bike to make it more road-friendly. I'm thinking the Hybrid forum?
Here's a few pics:
A bit about my bike: not long after purchasing my first home in 2005, I went looking for what I considered to be a "good" bicycle, something to replace the Wal-Mart POS MTB I got when I was a kid in the 90's. Perusing some local car forums, I came across a guy selling a KHS Alite 1000 MTB. Seems like a pretty good bike, had some nice parts on it from what I could tell. Rockshox front forks, Shimano Deore "ratchet" shifters, King headset, etc. The bike is WAYYY lighter than that old Wal-Mart steel-frame bike. I think I paid $200 or $250 for it.
So I rode the bike a little bit, but some years later I realized I much prefer ROAD bike riding. Here in Memphis we had a new paved bike trail called the Greenline open up in Fall 2010, made from an abandoned railroad line with 7 miles of straight, near-flat paved trail with several bridges and elevated paths through natural areas. I've ridden it several times, but I'm SLOW! It takes me about 1.5 hours to make the round trip, or maybe 10 mph at best. Part of it I'm sure that I've been out of shape for many years, but I think part of it is the fact that I'm riding a MTB on basically a road surface. Knobby tires, front shocks, and a frame that I think is a bit too small for my height/inseam length makes for a not so easy ride.
So now the last time I've ridden the bike was May 2011 on my local town's Ride of Silence ride. That was about 8.5 miles, and I struggled to keep up. I was the last in line for most of the ride.
I'd love to get a properly-fitted road bike, but that's just not going to happen anytime soon. I'm looking for the most cost-effective changes I can make to this bike to make it more road-friendly. I'm thinking the Hybrid forum?
Here's a few pics:
04-17-12, 09:12 PM
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
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Thanks. Can't really even do that right now. I'm really just looking to change the tires and front fork, hopefully.
04-17-12, 09:14 PM
#4
Galveston County Texas
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Welcome to Bike Forums.
Slick narrower tires will give you a better ride.
Slick narrower tires will give you a better ride.
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