Comments on: Road Bikes http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/ Creativity x Technology Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amos the Poker Cat http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2773 Amos the Poker Cat Tue, 16 May 2006 23:12:40 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2773 Hmm, Surly Crosscheck look interesting. Surly. Ha. Paying more attention to the specs of the Trek 1000 (I just threw it out there because I saw it listed under road bike.), I see that it has a carbon fork. That is not going to take much abuse from this hairy tattooed fat man to break. By "road bike", you really mean an all steel frame aznd fork bike with HD rims and spokes which other might call "touring", or "cyclocross". Hmm, Surly Crosscheck look interesting. Surly. Ha.

Paying more attention to the specs of the Trek 1000 (I just threw it out there because I saw it listed under road bike.), I see that it has a carbon fork. That is not going to take much abuse from this hairy tattooed fat man to break.

By “road bike”, you really mean an all steel frame aznd fork bike with HD rims and spokes which other might call “touring”, or “cyclocross”.

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By: psu http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2772 psu Mon, 15 May 2006 23:44:59 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2772 Without looking at the specs, I assume this is a standard straight up road bike with stupid skinny tires and a frame that is not great for general purpose riding... Looking at the specs, I see a standard straight up road bike that doesn't have clearance for wide tires or other things, and a frame that is not great for general purpose riding. The low end Shimano parts set doesn't look as good as low end Shimano used to be. Look for a Surly Cross-Check or the Jamis Aurora or something. Without looking at the specs, I assume this is a standard straight up road bike with stupid skinny tires and a frame that is not great for general purpose riding…

Looking at the specs, I see a standard straight up road bike that doesn’t have clearance for wide tires or other things, and a frame that is not great for general purpose riding.

The low end Shimano parts set doesn’t look as good as low end Shimano used to be.

Look for a Surly Cross-Check or the Jamis Aurora or something.

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By: Amos the Poker Cat http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2771 Amos the Poker Cat Mon, 15 May 2006 23:11:08 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2771 Bicycling Magazine did their 2006 Editor's Choice awards. Best Entry-Level Road Bike: Trek 1000 ($700) http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,3253,s1-15272,00.html?category_id=361 Any comments? Bicycling Magazine did their 2006 Editor’s Choice awards.

Best Entry-Level Road Bike: Trek 1000 ($700)
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,3253,s1-15272,00.html?category_id=361

Any comments?

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By: Amos the Poker Cat http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2770 Amos the Poker Cat Sat, 13 May 2006 02:12:56 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2770 No recommendation other than a $2500 frame? No recommendation other than a $2500 frame?

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By: Doug http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2769 Doug Wed, 10 May 2006 22:58:41 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2769 Oh, one piece of advice I forgot to give was on tires. My bike originally came with racing tires. They were kevlar based, very light, rode easy, and got holes in them every ride. I replaced them with copperhead tires which were much sturdier, a little heavier, and have only had one hole in about 1000 miles. It was from a 2 inch long box staple. Go for sturdy unless you are racing. Even then I think I would still go for sturdy. Oh, one piece of advice I forgot to give was on tires. My bike originally came with racing tires. They were kevlar based, very light, rode easy, and got holes in them every ride. I replaced them with copperhead tires which were much sturdier, a little heavier, and have only had one hole in about 1000 miles. It was from a 2 inch long box staple. Go for sturdy unless you are racing. Even then I think I would still go for sturdy.

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By: green la girl http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2768 green la girl Tue, 09 May 2006 20:02:43 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2768 Wish I'd read this before last night, when I bought my bike -- at Helen's Cycles, like Doug :) I got a townie -- so far, I really like it! It's pink :) Wish I’d read this before last night, when I bought my bike — at Helen’s Cycles, like Doug :)

I got a townie — so far, I really like it! It’s pink :)

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By: Chris Morrow http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2767 Chris Morrow Tue, 09 May 2006 05:24:53 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2767 The best advice for 'new' cyclists is, in my opinion, don't get the first thing that flashes in front of you. Take the time to visit a few quality cycle shops (your local cyclers can always recommend who to visit and who NOT to visit). Take a long time riding any bike you consider, any good shop will allow you to 'test ride' any cycle in their shop. If you are hitting the pavement/trail for the first time in a long time make a budget, don't kill yourself with a $3500 , start out modest as Peter said, the only real difference between high end and middle-of-the-road is components, which are infinitely upgradable. Finally, I'd vote for 'leaderbike' .... www.leaderbikeusa.com :) I really do like my road bike from them... though my trusty/dusty canondale M700 from 1994 is going to be stuck taking me from Telluride to Moab this summer. Have fun! The best advice for ‘new’ cyclists is, in my opinion, don’t get the first thing that flashes in front of you. Take the time to visit a few quality cycle shops (your local cyclers can always recommend who to visit and who NOT to visit). Take a long time riding any bike you consider, any good shop will allow you to ‘test ride’ any cycle in their shop.

If you are hitting the pavement/trail for the first time in a long time make a budget, don’t kill yourself with a $3500 , start out modest as Peter said, the only real difference between high end and middle-of-the-road is components, which are infinitely upgradable.

Finally, I’d vote for ‘leaderbike’ …. http://www.leaderbikeusa.com :) I really do like my road bike from them… though my trusty/dusty canondale M700 from 1994 is going to be stuck taking me from Telluride to Moab this summer.

Have fun!

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By: Doug http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2766 Doug Tue, 09 May 2006 03:37:56 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2766 Find a shop you with people you trust, let them help you. I got a road bike from Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica, CA that is awesome... and fits perfectly. I had not had a road bike since I was oh, 14 or so but the guy who helped me was very good at finding what fit me. I've used it for commuting, 50-80 mile pleasure rides, and Cycle Oregon, a week long 500 mile ride with ridiculous hills. I have to agree, hybrids suck. I've also never seen a quality hybrid. Now there are some specialty town bikes out there that are supposedly pretty nice. They have enclosed chains and gear systems to keep you clean when you ride them around town. I'd like to test drive one. Find a shop you with people you trust, let them help you.

I got a road bike from Helen’s Cycles in Santa Monica, CA that is awesome… and fits perfectly. I had not had a road bike since I was oh, 14 or so but the guy who helped me was very good at finding what fit me. I’ve used it for commuting, 50-80 mile pleasure rides, and Cycle Oregon, a week long 500 mile ride with ridiculous hills. I have to agree, hybrids suck. I’ve also never seen a quality hybrid.

Now there are some specialty town bikes out there that are supposedly pretty nice. They have enclosed chains and gear systems to keep you clean when you ride them around town. I’d like to test drive one.

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By: psu http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2765 psu Tue, 09 May 2006 02:33:36 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2765 A road triple is just a gearing system with three chainrings in the front, similar to what they do on mountain bikes. But, the various parts are designed to work well with the brakes, wheels, and shifters that come on road bikes. These are different in various subtle ways than mountain bike parts. The particulars are not important. You just want the wide gear range. A road triple is just a gearing system with three chainrings in the front, similar to what they do on mountain bikes. But, the various parts are designed to work well with the brakes, wheels, and shifters that come on road bikes. These are different in various subtle ways than mountain bike parts. The particulars are not important. You just want the wide gear range.

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By: Jeff Hunter http://tleaves.com/2006/05/08/road-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-2764 Jeff Hunter Tue, 09 May 2006 02:10:07 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=614#comment-2764 I did actually ask you which type of bike to buy. You may be a curmudgeon, but you aren't that bad. :-) It sounds like a perfectly configured road bike might indeed be better for me than a hybrid. The problem is that I've never purchased a bike for myself before, and I don't know much about cycling. Thus, if I bought a road bike, I'd probably end up with the wrong type of road bike, with narrow tires and poor gears. (I have no idea what a "road triple" is.) It seems to me that although a hybrid bike might be worse than a road bike in some absolute sense, in the average case, I'm more likely to get a bike that I can live with if I get a hybrid. Thanks anyway for your input. :-) I did actually ask you which type of bike to buy. You may be a curmudgeon, but you aren’t that bad. :-)

It sounds like a perfectly configured road bike might indeed be better for me than a hybrid. The problem is that I’ve never purchased a bike for myself before, and I don’t know much about cycling. Thus, if I bought a road bike, I’d probably end up with the wrong type of road bike, with narrow tires and poor gears. (I have no idea what a “road triple” is.) It seems to me that although a hybrid bike might be worse than a road bike in some absolute sense, in the average case, I’m more likely to get a bike that I can live with if I get a hybrid.

Thanks anyway for your input. :-)

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