Comments on: A bicycle built for one?

By: what is it now?

what is it now? — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:33:42 +0000

if you’re on a bike, you’re not a pedestrian.

By: Jamesm

Jamesm — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:03:30 +0000

DO NOT get a mountain bike, DO NOT get a beach cruser, they have more weight and you don’t need any suspension or silly shock absorbers for street riding.

A good road bike or light hybrid is what you need. Something that is easy to propel with less effort so that you get the joy of riding back.

If you live up stares, or have to lift the bike up to put in on a wall overhead hook, or even have to peddle it up a steep hill you will appreciate a light bike. That means no more weight or stuff on it than you need. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a carbon fiber or fancy bike. A standard road bike that was once competitive 15 years ago can be converted into a very good commuter bike.

You don’t need fancy racing peddles or bike shoes. This will just get in the way of you jumping on and riding down to the coffee shop or using it for short trips around town. Have it ready to go with the minimum of fuss. If you can, park it by your front door pointing out, ready to go.

Talk to your local bike shop that sells a lot of used bikes and your local bike club. They will probably understand exactly what you need even if you don’t. Just make sure the bike is light, simple, and easy.

By: Ken E

Ken E — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:14:18 +0000

I have been riding to work for 17 of the past 19 years, it’s just about 3/4 mile each way. Most of it is on quiet streets of dedicated cycle paths, so cars and not the problem, it’s witless pedestrians who can’t walk in a straight line at 8.20am.

I have to endorse most of the answers you already have. My boss is an ex-velodrome and road race rider and is probably streaming the T de F right now. What he says is that the frame does not matter so much as long as it fits you, the value is in the wheels, brakes, gears etc. Spend the money on these rather than an really expensive frame, those are the bits that break down in the el cheapo chain store cycles.

That said I’d avoid carbon frames unless you were in it for sport. Sure they are light but they are also expensive and for the riding style you mention they are like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Get an alloy frame, some people still prefer steel but steel frames are probably pretty scarce. Pashley still uses them, that’s a super-classic English brand.

I would not bother with suspensions. They make the bike heavier and for the sort of riding you’ll be doing you won’t need them.

Consider getting mudguards/ fenders. Saves you a wet stripe up the back or front if there is a shower of rain and road grime isn’t easy to get out in the wash.

My current cycle has 27 gears, of which I use about 6. Maybe. Once in a while I select another chain ring to “spread the wear”. There are the classic 3 and 5 speed hub gears still available, probably all you’ll ever need and the Germans are making one with 11 or 15 gears, I forget how many but they are not cheap. Hub gears stay in adjustment for years at a time and are not damaged if you drop the cycle on the right.

If you are riding on pavement, avoid the knobbly tires, they just mean extra effort for no gain. Go for thorn proof if you can, I’ll bet there is plenty of glass lying about.

Your first answer mentioned the Bianchi brand, until recently these were the finest available and are still pretty well up there. Might be overkill for your riding. A knowledgeable bicycle thief will target them, they are always the same blue-green colour.

Get a solid chain or cable lock and if you lock the bike to a railing, do so tightly to make it hard to get bolt cutters in.

The Sheldon Brown series of sites are excellent, probably the best cycling sites on the net.

Distance from top of saddle to pedal at bottom of travel is 1.09 times your inside leg measurement. Men’s frames are usually slightly longer than women’s frames as men tend to be longer hip to shoulder.

Get a helmet, don’t bother with the rest. Some kind of light cargo equipment is handy for nipping down to the corner store or a bottle of vino and a chicken sandwich.

Run a net search for “Tweed Rides”, there are plenty of photos on Flicker and it’s time NY had one.

By: mctemplin

mctemplin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:59:35 +0000

The reason I ride my because I like it. Some times I had no other choice. When I was growing up got my lisence planned to buy a car. Found out it’s too expensive. But couldn’t stay home. After years of riding to and from work I relized I was allot healthier than few other people. I understand it’s too far for most people their health has gone down and taking perscriptions drugs. Me i’m 55-years-old some one says I got a body of a 19-years-old.

By: Mansel Woolsey

Mansel Woolsey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:40:43 +0000

I’ve read over several of these comments and while the information contrained in them is generally true, they do not answer the questions you asked. For safety’s sake do the “fit” first. This is determined by the standover height: when you straddle the topbar with your feet on the ground, you should have a 1-2 inch clearance. Mountain bikes are generally heavier and have a lower gearing ratios. Built to sustain heavier impact. They also have the advantage of a dual suspension to help cushion riding impact. An important feature for a new rider. Road bikes are lighter and go faster. They also have a much stiffer ride to enable more of the crank effort to be translated directly into driving the wheels.
My best advice would be to find a bike that is relatively inex- pensive, attractive to you, and is comfortable. This will allow you the opportunity to discover for yourself whether or not you find enough pleasure in the sport to pursue further. What you will learn along the way will teach you what you might want in your next bike. Do not let ego tempt you into “century” rides in the first week. Like any other exercise, your body needs time to develop and adjust to this new routine.
As an avid and enthusiastic pleasure rider, I hope you have as many happy adventures on your rides as I have had.

By: randy

randy — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:58:19 +0000

dont buy anything from walmart or any department store. a few good and affordable brands are diamond back, trek and specialized. these brands will have something to fit your needs. a good bike will cost from 300 up to a thousand bucks. a helmelt should enough protection.

By: j

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:33:01 +0000

I’ll make this short and sweet. Mountain bikes are for dirt. Street bikes are for street. Touring bikes are for long touring. A street bike would be good for you. Though, mtn bikes tend to be more comfortable – larger seats, more upright postion, generally more gears, softer ride…. No, you don’t need the elbow pads etc. Those are for mountain bikers who race down mountains. Even cross country mountain bikers don’t wear that gear.

Don’t get a folding bike. If you bike every day, it will not suit your needs and be very uncomfortable to ride. There are many options for hanging your bike either on the wall or the ceiling (a google search will get you some results to ponder). Generally, the ceiling ones are just hooks that you hand the tires on. You could even buy some large hooks at a hardware store (do they have those in NYC?).

By: Silverbullet

Silverbullet — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:19:09 +0000

As for where to keep it….. if you’re that obsessed, you’ll find a place. Fortunately for me, I’ve got a house in the burbs with a garage and a basement for all my 2 wheeled friends. Back in the day, when I lived in a small apartment, the bike lived in the bedroom. Even when I lived in my van for a while…..

By: Silverbullet

Silverbullet — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:12:28 +0000

Some good answers. I’ll throw in my 2¢.

1. You need a helmet regardless of the type of riding you do. You may think its hard to hit yourself on the top of your head, but when your mileage goes over 6 digits as mine has, you realize there are a lot of strange things that can happen, even at low speeds in Central Park. Helmets are cheap effective protection for your most important body part. .

2. If I could have only one bike, it would be a mid-range hardtail mountain bike. It’s the least common denominator for ALL riding surfaces and weather conditions. A good set of semislicks would be the best tires for anything you’ll find in the park or city. Not for speed necessarily, but for durability and control.

2a. For general purpose errand riding, a garbage picked junker can be the ultimate in recycled efficiency. Theft resistant, ie, no one would want it, and cheaply replaced if someone worse off than you decides to take it. Pic shows one I pieced together a few years ago from a couple of junk bikes and a few bucks worth of parts and spray paint.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8620552@N06/3687296395/

By: Annie

Annie — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:45:40 +0000

I like my Trek. My dad got me a bike for my birthday a few years ago, we paid a lot and we went to a reputable shop and they helped me order the bike I liked in my correct size he sized me up and I told him what I wanted my bike to have and he installed what I wanted, like I wanted a good device for keeping track of my distance and speed, and he got my dad a rack for his bike. If you go to a reputable salesperson they can tell you safety needs and they will assemble it and help you get things like car racks and apparel.