Topic: The Cycling Thread

[leonet]

The base model (7-speed SRAM drivetrain, comfort saddle and tires) cost me about $600.  They have touring (27-speed, slick tires etc.) and mountain bike (reinforced frame, disc brakes etc.) variants for around a thousand.  link

It was a bit pricier than a similarly-equipped hybrid, but it feels and performs like a "real" mid-range road bike.

[jaypee]

Hmm. That's cool.

I still probably wouldn't buy one, but at least it doesn't have those tiny wheels that most folding bikes have.

[leonet]

. . . but at least it doesn't have those tiny wheels that most folding bikes have.

Aw, you don't want to go flying courtesy of Boston's historic potholes and tree roots?

[jaypee]

Hahaha.. nope.

I live in Somerville, which has even worse potholes.

[Bunsen]

When I have it, which is not often now that I live in Cleveland, and it lives in storage, I ride a '59 Mark IV Jaguar I inherited from my grandfather.

It looks like this, but in bronze and brown.  Mint.



It's just not worth riding in Cleveland - it would get all jimmied up on these streets in a second, and the road-salt sticks around 11 months a year.

[Green Ideas]

When I have it, which is not often now that I live in Cleveland, and it lives in storage, I ride a '59 Mark IV Jaguar I inherited from my grandfather.

It looks like this, but in bronze and brown.  Mint.



It's just not worth riding in Cleveland - it would get all jimmied up on these streets in a second, and the road-salt sticks around 11 months a year.

Wow, that's a real beauty.

One thing that amazes and befuddles me about old bikes is that they're not only prettier, but usually better regarding ergonomics.

Another advantage is that, since their weight is not ridiculously small as in some of the more recent bikes, the centre of mass of the biker/bike ensemble remains closer to the ground, which helps stability.

[Bunsen]

Another advantage is that, since their weight is not ridiculously small... ...which helps stability.

And momentum.  When well maintained, they'll keep going for miles after you stop pedaling.  With no major uphill grades, I can cruise for a solid block with no major slowdown.

[jaypee]

Grr.. I think I might need a new crank set and bottom bracket. That is not good.

[SkepticalVegan]

avert your eyes, you might go blind

This is my baby. Chome Pista, fixed gear, white tires (gotta have em). Truthfully Ive never been into the fixed gear hipster culture, Im not cool enough for them. I stick with the bike punks and critical mass crew. My dad used to be a pro bike racer so I grew up riding road racing bikes and switched to a single speed and then a fixie for the simplicity. seriously easy bike to maintain, gotta change the tires often though

[jaypee]

White tires? You crazy.

I ride a single-speed free wheel, that only reasons I won't switch to fixed gear are

a) my tires cost $60 each, I can barely afford to replace them every 3,000 miles.. I would have to probably replace them every 2,000 miles if I rode fixed gear the way I ride my bike now.

b) I can go faster with a free wheel than I can with a fixie

and c) I'm not cool enough to ride fixie

[jaypee]

Hmm.. Amazon has a pretty good deal on a SRAM crankset and bottom bracket

http://www.amazon.com/SRAM-S300-Courier-GXP-Crankset/dp/B003WOIQF2/ref=reg_hu-wl_item-added

Anyone know anything about SRAM's quality?

[pandamonium]

Fixed gear. Why am I not surprised.

[SkepticalVegan]

Fixed gear. Why am I not surprised.

hater, you just jealous cause my ride shines

what you got against fixies?

[khendar]

Fixed gear. Why am I not surprised.

hater, you just jealous cause my ride shines

what you got against fixies?

Being a fat unfit bastard who lives at the top of a hill, my objection to fixies is purely pragmatic.

[pandamonium]

Fixed gear. Why am I not surprised.

hater, you just jealous cause my ride shines

what you got against fixies?

Being a fat unfit bastard who lives at the top of a hill, my objection to fixies is purely pragmatic.

^^

I don't live on top of a hill, but the principle is sound.

Also, I'm generally annoyed by the hipster crowd.