Comments | vena_cava: Bike stuff

vena_cava

Bike stuff

Aug 08, 2007 16:45

I need advice from anyone reading this who knows a thing or two about bikes.

I’ve been riding a hybrid for the past several years, but I want to get a road bike (I have no reason to be riding a hybrid; I use my bike mostly for commuting and I hardly ever leave the pavement).

I’ve been looking at the Trek FX 7.5

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Comments 12

uberdionysus August 8 2007, 21:48:04 UTC

I bike everywhere but have had the same bike for years and don't know what's good or bad.

vena_cava August 8 2007, 22:18:10 UTC

I was the same way until a few weeks ago when I test drove both the bikes pictured above. That's when I realized what I was missing out on. Upgrading to one of these would be about the equivalent of upgrading from a Ford Ranger to a Ferrari.

disorganization August 8 2007, 23:40:31 UTC

hey, where's betchka. she knows about this stuff!

vena_cava August 9 2007, 13:23:36 UTC

She's off taking a smoke break or something.

those aren't road bikes girlracer August 9 2007, 04:26:49 UTC

they're what they call "road hybrids" - they just have thinner tires and they don't have shocks, which will save you a lot of weight and give you some speed ( ... )

Re: those aren't road bikes vena_cava August 9 2007, 13:21:44 UTC

Yeah, that was me in Conte's. I didn't know you worked there! I knew I vaguely recognized you and I was going to say something but then I was like nah. Lame, I know. Are you still working there? I stop in at least once a week but haven't seen you since that one time.

I'm looking for aluminum, I think...I'd like to get something more lightweight than what I have now because I carry it up the stairs to my apartment and after a long ride I sometimes feel like I'm going to drop it and that just wouldn't be good at all.

Which stores carry the Jamis Coda? I want to try it.

HA girlracer August 10 2007, 03:20:46 UTC

yeah, not working there anymore, LONG STORY (my mom is crazy and the owner's kind of a dick).

the coda isn't so heavy from what I remember. it was one of the most popular bikes we sold at citybikes. they had a lot in stock all the time, from what I recall, but definitely call ahead and ask if they have it built in your size, because they get super busy in the summer and you don't want to be waiting around for them when you go for a test ride.

the specialized globe is a pretty sweet commuter bike but it might be a little heavy.

Re: those aren't road bikes dronepop August 14 2007, 02:14:43 UTC

I totally agree that Spokes is a great place to buy. It's where I got my road bike. After I moved to SF, they called me to offer me a management job!

Anyway, about the Jamis Coda, definitely ride it, it's a good suggestion; but there are a couple things about the entry level model that you may want to consider.

1)It's got "unilever shifters" (see the bottom shifters in this pic: http://www.becidan.com/2007/pg_0067.jpg). Which I don't like because they are kinda hard to get to depending on the set up; they are cheap plasticky, and seem like they could break; and they require you to use a finger that could otherwise be left on the brake lever. It's my least favorite set up of all the shifting options out there.

2)Tho many people love the feel of all steel, you might want aluminum with carbon forks. The carbon will deflect some of the jarring of the street. Others may tell you just go with steel, but its really a preference thing.

What is your price range?

glueslabs August 9 2007, 05:23:24 UTC

ask rollins. he just got out of the bike business.

didn't know he got out of it vena_cava August 9 2007, 13:23:13 UTC

Yes, I was waiting for him to reply to this. He seems to check lj about once a month or something though.

Re: didn't know he got out of it dronepop August 11 2007, 19:06:56 UTC

Hey, just saw this. I'm heading out the door right this minute, but I'll get back to you soon. Tell me what kind of riding you're doing in the mean time and your price range, and I'll link you to some models. I think you are the right track with though: you prolly either want a hybrid (a mountain bike that has 700c wheels rather than 26in ones, and wider tires, with some features of a road bike) OR what they call a FLAT BAR ROAD BIKE. Which is also sort of a hybrid, but it's much closer to being a road bike in some ways. They are lighter than hybrids, sometimes have carbon forks, they have somewhat thinner tires, a tiny bit more aerodynamic geometry, flat bars like a mountain bike, and most importantly: wide gearing like a mountain bike that a road bike doesn't ever have. Good for climbing hills since it has a lower low gear. Here in SF, many commuters and street freaks have em ( ... )

Re: didn't know he got out of it vena_cava August 20 2007, 14:36:18 UTC

Thanks Tim. I use it mainly for commuting. I wanna go cheap (and not too fancy-lookin, since I park my bike on the streets in DC often and I don't want to have anything too eye-catching that would get fucked with). I also want to go lightweight (so as to carry it up the stairs without killing myself). What other info do you need to steer me in the right direction? I'm feeling very bike-ignorant right now. Linking me to anything that seems appropriate would be much appreciated (I'll look up the Fuji and Schwinn models you mentioned).