So, It Looks Like A Bike

"Lets Just Drive" (lets-just-drive) 04/09/2014 at 19:54 • Filed to: TWO WHEELS BAD, BICYCLE

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Two wheels bad, I know. The kind you have to pedal, worse. I know!

Worse? The spare tire around my midsection. Solution? Bicycle pollution commutin'!

Weigh in, Oppo, with your suggestions. Note, I am a former avid cyclist who (whom?) competed competitively in competition when I was a lad in high school. I rode dirt, I rode road.

When it comes to cycling, I'm no novice.

Buuuut, I have been out of the game for a while (has it been a fucking decade?) and sold my '05 Brodie Holeshot a couple years back and I'm not sure what I want to do about getting back in.

A part of me wants a rigid frame with squishy front forks, ala my recently reassigned Brodie. Another part of me wants to look at a hipster fixie from a purely aesthetic point of view. Yet another part of me says, "Build your Kuwahara Newport frame into something you'll enjoy."

I'm not sure yet.

The daily commute won't be that long, a half dozen klicks at best, and faces only moderate hills. Given the summer months, I expect that weather won't be a big issue meaning that skinny, low resistance tires might be an option.

Anyway, Oppo, what're your feels on the subject matter?

tromoly > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 19:57

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What are you looking for? Something for pavement only, or some dirt mixed in? What position, more aggressive like a road bike or more comfortable like a comfort bike? The more info you can give the better.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 19:57

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get a old Schwinn from the dump and beat on it

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 20:00

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The distances between my house, work and school are so vast that biking to them isn't going to happen.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/09/2014 at 20:02

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or do you prefer a bmw than a bike so you have no drive to bike

Lets Just Drive > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/09/2014 at 20:09

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Sadly, not a valid excuse for me.

Lets Just Drive > tromoly 04/09/2014 at 20:11

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I'm a super aggressive rider, so the ability to destroy curbs without destroying wheels is paramount. I'd like hybrid tires, as I transition from off to on road a lot in order to achieve the fastest time, straightest line, or just to have fun.

As for position, I prefer that of a proper road bike but again I'm looking for a good compromise here as I don't want to endure undue back strain.

JGrabowMSt > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 20:14

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If you get an older bike, they're heavier and have worse gearing, so you'll get a very aggressive workout faster than you think.

Then once you're back into it, you can move to a newer, lighter bike, and see gains like I did. My old Prince (a 30+Lb bike) was what I started on. I could sort of bike up steep hills, but I wouldn't be able to break 20MPH. On my new bike (19.5lb) I can break 23MPH under power on a flat road for a few miles even.

I'm actually about to pull my bike off the trainer and hit pavement this weekend, I'm going to beat the spare tire before it happens because I'm determined to prove my family wrong.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 20:25

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function before form or something like that. Skip the fixie. I commuted on a mountain bike in Boston even though it wasn't the midst efficient ride. I liked having the front suspension.

Lets Just Drive > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 04/09/2014 at 20:33

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See, the thing is that I don't want the bike beating on me.

tromoly > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 20:39

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May I suggest a cyclocross bike, like a Surly Cross Check.

I've been riding one for about a year now, really comfortable yet can fit larger tires to deal with dirt/curbs/rocks. I'm thinking a cyclocross bike is more of your style.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 04/09/2014 at 21:10

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24 miles to work and 12 miles to school.

Lets Just Drive > JGrabowMSt 04/09/2014 at 21:12

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I'm pretty set on building up the Newport frame I have, which is quite heavy also, with mid range components. It'll be the cheapest in the short run, provide a good starting point and I can always transfer over to another, lighter frame in the future.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 21:13

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you beat on it if it beats on you you get rid of it

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/09/2014 at 21:14

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think how good of shape you would be in

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 04/09/2014 at 21:20

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I would be a sweaty, sleep-deprived, two-testiculed, Lance Armstrong.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/09/2014 at 21:22

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I see no diadvantage

Lets Just Drive > tromoly 04/09/2014 at 21:23

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That looks like an excellent, ideal package which is probably outside of my immediate budget. It's been a while, and I'm sure the groupsets have changed since I was a younger guy, but judging by the components (and guessing at the frame) I'm thinking this is probably at least a few hundred, probably more, outside what I have to spend at the moment.

Maybe not though, supposing I could find a mildly abused 05. Man, I feel so ignorant. If I walked into a bike shop right now, I'd completely get oversold on some piece of crap I don't want. You hear me, Specialized? I'm not gonna step near one of your dealers!

tromoly > Lets Just Drive 04/09/2014 at 23:06

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Erm, yeah, my Cross Check was $1100 out the door.....