Thinking about doing the NYC Bike Tour next year......

[GeoffM]

Thanks a ton dude! I know we have had our differences, but I really appreciate you stepping up and offering advice.

From what I can tell, they suggest going with either a hybrid or road bike for this and not a mountain bike, or only as a last resort. I guess since they are usually the heavier of the 3, it's just more weight to pull especially the good ones with shocks etc.

I really want to do this just to do it, and to experience it, but I think if I could get into cycling and do it reguarly, then it would be a great way to stay in shape and get everyone off my back as far as excercise goes lol.

Ya I have nothing but nature where I live, so Im eager to get out and ride. Good time to think and just relax. I use to LOVE riding as a youth. I rode all over my neighrborhood, to the beach and back, and we use to rock a 3 wheeler with a basket to get around to skateboard spots. Used to carry chips and soda with us LOL. Getto fab.

Im definitely going to get a camel back and bike clothing. I already have a cardio tracking app for my phone, but Ill look to see if there is a cycling app.

Right now im looking into getting a bike from my uncle. Iirc, he has a Schwinn road bike from the 70's. It was a smooth bike when I rode it as a kid, so after a good tuneup, it'll probably be a nice bike to rock.

also iirc, his gear switching was via triggers....pretty cool imo and a lot easier.

Hybrids for me are very squishy. Every time I pedal the front of the bike bobs up and down.
It's literally from me putting down too much force.
If you don't want full road (very difficult to learn in) or full MTN (very heavy, trains your muscles) consider cyclocross or a hybrid.


I use Endomondo. My friends recently recommended Strava, but I have yet to make the switch. (Apps)

That Schwinn will be very very heavy as well. If it's in good condition, you'll feel the financial hit when you fall.
Everyone falls sooner or later.

My mountain bike has shifting via the triggers. I like it. The Shimano Sora series (and most road bikes) have different style triggers. They take some getting used to.

I posted the map of my ride to Facebook and tagged you, Ralph. It was just around Gloucester and Camden counties. Not the best route for a fun ride (one stretch was downright scary!)

I don't mean a full extension, but I'm quite sure I don't extend enough. My knees also come up too high, and I always ride in the hardest gear (my shifters never work properly, even though they're decent Shimano units.)


City riding scares me. Drivers simply do not pay attention to cyclists. Hell, I smacked a Lexus with my front wheel the other day as it sped through the crosswalk I was in! It would be good in a group, though. It's hard to ignore a whole bunch of people on bikes! Of course, if I come along, it'll probably end up being me and you wheezing to catch up to everyone else!


For your purposes, especially given where you live, a hybrid would be best. I don't imagine you're interested in doing any hardcore offroad riding, but there are some nice wooded areas and trails near you. Especially if you find a nice route down to work, since Dix is right there in the pine barrens!
A full mountain bike would be heavy, and cumbersome on the road. A full street bike would be dangerous on anything that's not paved. I'm pretty sure the Specialized bike I'm looking at is a hybrid. For $500, it's a damn good bike.

If you ever want to come down here and check out the bike shop that I'll be going to, let me know. The dudes there are knowledgeable, and they don't try to sell you anything. You tell them what you want, and they'll tell you what your best options are.

They'll show you the correct leg form in the stores. You want straight, with a slight bend for fast longer term riding.
Lower the seat and have more bend for serious mtn biking.
I've ridden my street bike on sidewalks and dirt roads so far. Picture taking a corvette onto a beach. Just like that.
The sidewalks I slowed down because I was terrified of popping a $100 tire.

I'd advise learning to ride on paths and sidewalks before you take to the street. If you get antsy or uneasy on the street, you'll fuckup and get hit.

I should also note that in my store, cyclocross started at $1k. I'm sure the hybrids were much cheaper.
But, a cyclocross is a road bike meant for dirt roads and sidewalks.
Hybrids are mtn bikes meant for road and sidewalks.

The hybrid frame is much closer to a mtn frame, and therefore heavier. The Cyclocross frame is much closer to a road frame, and therefore lighter.

[deevergote]

Real road bikes, with the very skinny tires (which seem to be falling out of favor for most casual riders) scare the hell out of me! I've always only had mountain or bmx style bikes since I was a kid.

And yeah, you're totally right about freaking out on the street. When I was a kid, I had eyes in the back of my head. I was aware of everything. I could hear cars behind me even with my headphones on, just by the pressure change. It was weird. Of course, I rode an hour a day minimum, every day... plus to and from work at least 6 miles each way. I was ALWAYS riding on the street.
Now that I've been off the bike for 14 years, and I'm just now getting back on it... it's different. My instincts aren't as sharp. My percepts are more limited. My balance isn't as good as it once was (I used to take my hands off the handlebars, and do most of my daily ride without ever touching them again... only touched the bars when I had to stop.) Now, if I look over my shoulder, I'm afraid I'll take a spill. Hasn't happened yet, though... and that's getting better.
When I first hopped back on the bike, I had a mini freak-out the first time I came to a turn... because I "forgot where the turn signal was".

[ChIoVnIdCa]

Former bike store employee here


single speed if your a hipster
hybrid if you are 50+
road bike if you are going to take this serious and start putting on lots of road miles
mountain bike if you are going to take it in the woods/curbs/etc

[Ralphie]

Ya I definitely need a road bike. If I can't get one, then ill settle for a hybrid....but no mountain bike for me.


Im still waiting to hear back from my uncle.....and I know exactly what you mean about the financial hit if I fall Geoff.

Its a risk i'd take, because I rode it as a young man and it was actually a nice bike iirc.

I need something light because im planning on doing a lot of riding, at least until I do this tour. Afterwards, if I still want to keep at it, at least Ill have a good bike, however maybe not cheap.

[GeoffM]

Ya I definitely need a road bike. If I can't get one, then ill settle for a hybrid....but no mountain bike for me.


Im still waiting to hear back from my uncle.....and I know exactly what you mean about the financial hit if I fall Geoff.

Its a risk i'd take, because I rode it as a young man and it was actually a nice bike iirc.

I need something light because im planning on doing a lot of riding, at least until I do this tour. Afterwards, if I still want to keep at it, at least Ill have a good bike, however maybe not cheap.

I'll do most of my replies tomorrow, when I'm at work and get paid to do them

Old Schwinn's are collectable. People pay money for them. People pay less money if the gas tank is all scratched up from a fall.

Look into Cyclocross.

[Ralphie]

Well my uncle wasn't interested in loaning me a bike.

He said he only has the one, and he uses it when he comes in to town.

Can't recall the last time he used it, but it's his bike, so I can't be upset.



So now the search begins for a bike.

I did some quick research, and anything good is fucking expensive.

I can't dump 1k on a bike, but I think I need a road bike.

I don't want to swear of trails, but I would probably use the bike for mostly sidewalk/street.

I can't get a bike that is heavy, because Im going to at least use it for the tour, and it's 40 miles, and id like to get the lightest bike I can for cheap.



I saw a cheap ass bike on walmart that was 26lbs and after swapping the pedals and some accesorries etc, he brought it down to 22 lbs.

Idk how good that is when it comes to long distance riding......sure if you drop 10k on a bike its probably lighter then a breifcase but I don't have money like that and im not trying to be speed racer.

I just want to make my bike tour enjoyable and make long rides easier.

So Im thinking cyclocross, but not sure how im going to afford one LMAO.

[Ralphie]

So after some research, between these two bikes what do you guys think-

http://bikeshopwarehouse.com/cgi-bin...ils&ProdID=168

http://bikeshopwarehouse.com/cgi-bin...ils&ProdID=207

[GeoffM]

Cyclocross is more expensive. At least it was in the store I went into.

I'm very happy with my giant. See if there's some way you can get a discount.
Out the door, taxes and a speed computer and water bottles n such I was about $864 with 6% tax.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...3/11498/55822/

I'm still wary about recommending you start off with a road bike.
Ruining your biking experience is very easy in the infant months, and if you
fall/wreck an expensive bike it could very well put you off from ever getting on it again.


Edit: If you go with Shimano, get at least the Sora line of shifters. They're much better than the 2300(or whatever is below it).
Play around with them in the store too, and they'll usually let you ride around outside.


Last thoughts:
When I took her out for my first long ride on Monday (66 miles) I passed hundreds of road bikes. Many were more expensive.
I was only passed twice, and after 50 miles. One of the bikes was easily $4k, the other one I didn't see.
So, out of the hundreds (some of which were also very expensive), only two passed my $1000 bike.

[Ralphie]

I don't know what im going to do.

I can't spend anything more then $300.

MAX.

There seem to be some decent road bikes to start at that price.

Ill have to see if I can find some retailers local to try some out.

From what I can gather, im a 54c for sizing purposes.

Im 5'10, about 220lb.

Any big difference between stem shifters and handlemounted shifts!?!?

Obv placement but most of the bikes in my price range are stem mounted.

[Ralphie]

And on a sidenote, ive rode road bikes before, so I have a vague memory of how they ride......and I wont be dissauded because of a fall. I spent my whole childhood either on a bike, or a skateboard.

I get back up and hit it harder.

Im thinking the cheapest bike possible so I can afford fixes and shit.

[Jking72]

Nothing on Craigslist, maybe you could barter for?

[Ralphie]

Actually, I did see a ton of shit on craigslist....but any "good" bikes were still out of my price range.

Im not upset about not getting a Trek or a Cannondale.....I don't really give a fuck....

I want an entry level road bike...

shit im probably going to just get one from wal-mart because its like $249 and I wont be upset when it gets fucked up.

There is a guy selling like a dozen old school(like pre 1980) road bikes on craigslist near Rutgers and another guy in Princeton...

Some of them are pretty cool, but they are hispter modded and also like $200....so for $50 I can get a brand new bike and call it a day.

Once I know what I want, if I want to stick with the real long rides, I can always upgrade down the road.

I just need a cheap road bike to last 2 or 3 years.....get me through the NYC bike tour comfortably, and help me get back into it and get me in shape.

Then ill spend real money on something, because I might not want a road bike then, so I might get an expensive mtn bike or a hybrid.....who knows....

[phatdoughnut]

Buy a huffy and finish the race with it. It would be a pretty awesome story. Watch out for bombs in nyc.

[GeoffM]

Did I hear cheap as shit?

http://www.bikesdirect.com/

[Ralphie]

Did I hear cheap as shit?

http://www.bikesdirect.com/

Ya I been on that site......

What do you think of these 3 -

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington1_IX.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._al_xi_sc1.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/nano.htm

I know the Nano is a lot different then what people consider a road bike, but it gets decent reviews and its the only sora bike on there that I can afford and it seems to be the best of both worlds.

Im also a big BMX fan, so the 20'' tire will feel at home.

Drop down handles are a must.