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  #161  
Old 12-31-2013, 10:56 AM
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Looking to buy a bike...
The models, variations and price ranges are overwhelming.

Needs:
-for flat azz FL, when I am here in the winter season.
-sidewalk/street. No off road...
-One speed, (like my old Schwinn of 55 years ago), 3 speeds or multi-speed?
-Fatter, more normal width tires?
-Size? I am 6'1", (though shrinking), and ~212 lbs, 34" inseam.
-Weight of bike I should be considering?
-$300 or less? $400 tops, imo. It will get used for ~5 months a year.

Last non motorized skinny tire/multi gear/fast bike I owned was a hot Schwinn SuperSport, circa 1972.

-Just something I can buy, adjust to my size, and start riding, easing into it again.

Don't think I need a Ferrari class for easy riding around our community here in SW FL.

Any brands/models to look at/avoid?

The net is full of way too many options, as usual.
Thanks...
Ol'UncleMotor
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  #162  
Old 12-31-2013, 02:29 PM
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MD:

Good questions. We'll try to not steer you into the carbon fibre/titanium/etc toys that some of us spend too much money on.

If it is flat, you don't really need multi gears. Simplicity is good. It costs less, weighs less, and requires less maintenance. That said, a three speed internally geared hub is nice. They used to be made by Sturmey Archer, now there are multiple brands. If you have a derailleur, there is more to adjust/go out of adjustment. But more gears to pick from. Any chance you might want to use it up north in hill country as well? The less expensive derailleur bikes will tend to have a front triple (three chainrings on the crank). That gives you lots of gears, but is extra weight, and they don't shift as nicely. Triples are falling out of fashion, with front doubles with compact cranks (smaller chainrings) replacing them.

The style of bike you describe is often called a hybrid. Not a mountain bike. You don't want suspension for your use, for example, except in the seat. You will also see the label urban, or town bike. They will have an upright riding position, more of your weight distributed on the seat than the bars, good visibility.

Tire have gotten very fat (style/fad) but those are more expensive. Not necessary IMO. You just don't want any tire thinner than about a 28C. 25C at the minimum. 35C would be fine.

Frame size is dependent on a basic bike fit by a reasonable bike shop. There are no real standards. Probably around a 58 cm, but you have to try them out.

Weight doesn't matter unless it is ridiculously heavy, especially considering the flat terrain. Light costs money. That price range will have many options with aluminum frames, but it is the components that weigh the most.

Go with a name brand over a department store bike. Trek, Specialized, etc. That way you get to deal with an LBS (local bike store) and talk to a real person that can make sure you get the right bike. I think picking the right bike store is more important than the brand.

Something to check out is the trek bikes web site. Pick the bikes tab. Pick the fitness category. Look at the FX. Lots of choices, reasonable cost. An FX 7.0 is probably in the price range. Look at the Recreation category, where they have the Verve. The Urban category has the District and the Earl. Both have some style. I like the steel District a lot. Single front chainring, useful carrying capacity, disk brakes. Nice bike. Over your price target, but good value IMO.

I didn't go to the Specialized site, because I know Trek better. They will have similar products, though.

Think about how you will use it. Do you need a rack to carry your purchases? A secure lock?

I am thinking about another bike, an urban bike to go with my race bike and wet weather training bike. It would be very simple, and classic. It would have the ability to carry things, so I like the French Porteur style with more trail in the front fork. The leading candidate right now is the Felt York, with a two speed kick back hub (pedal back momentarily to shift high/low, no cables or shift control). Very cool bike. This is the Canadian site for it:

York - Felt Bicycles

Good luck, and ask away.

Jeff


Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H. G. Wells


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  #163  
Old 01-01-2014, 07:00 PM
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JCL,
Thank you for the good info/opins on bikes...

This bike will not be carried back to our Mtn house: no room/not doing roof or back carrier. It is simply for the 5-6 months we do here in SW FL during winter season.

Just want a simple sled to roll around our new FL community in, maybe scoot down the road a couple miles to the gas and go for papers, another mile to the big grocery, etc. Probably have a dorky basket put on front or back, (rear makes more sense to keep weight off the bars/steering head.)

GOOG'd local bike shops and there are a half a dozen in Venice, FL area and another dozen shops 18 miles north in Sarasota. I will do some shopping/tire kicking as soon as I get to not be 'the new house sitter' waiting for the next 'guy' to show up, lol!

Trek seems overkill and tad pricey for what I think I want...maybe just a single speed in lieu of gears. I did have a Schwinn Super Sport back in the early '70s, with center pull, lots of gears, skinny azz tires, etc. I was early 20s then. I am just looking to supplement my morning walk with a buzz around the 'hood, and fighting off being 66+, lol!

When I was a kid, our bikes were our freedom and we rode every day, all day...

I will do some looking, and ask more questions.

Wishing you, D and your Fam a healthy and content 2014.
Thanks my friend.
David
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  #164  
Old 01-01-2014, 08:32 PM
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Happy New Year to you and V as well. May it be a great one.

Single speed is fine. All companies make them, my point with Trek was to buy a bike made by a bike company and not a department store.

I remember centre pull brakes, had them in the seventies. You need coaster brakes now.

Front baskets are more stable than rear, if the bike is designed for it. More trail (like caster angle, but achieved with curved forks) means that a porteur style bike rides better with the front basket than without.

Questions are good. Ask away

Cheers

Jeff
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  #165  
Old 01-03-2014, 12:48 PM
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JCL, et al...
Back at the initial bike shopping ranch:
After driving around our new winter hideout community, and adjoining streets & roads, I am thinking a single speed city bike is dumbed down too much.

So, back to studying the Trek, et al brand sites; a 'few gear speeds' may be more applicable. Not looking to cover miles and miles, but there are some very good, lightly traveled roads around our new FL Winter Shack community, just crying out for more than a single speed bike.

The local bike shops need a visit, though their on line prices are basically bust out list price.
BR, mD
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  #166  
Old 01-05-2014, 11:21 PM
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I guess I never showed off my acquisition back in August 2013.



I did its inaugural debut weekend over Labour Day.



Brought it over the ocean on my flight back from Europe, as it is not offered for sale outside the EU. Probably only a handful of these in North America; it is a stellar and fun toy.
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  #167  
Old 03-26-2014, 04:11 PM
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Hey all, Jeff (JCL) linked me to this thread and I wanted to share.

I got tired of people stealing my stuff, so I made an interior rack.



That said I do have the hitch and I had to do some modding to get the aero kit to fit. The 8200 Dremel with the 12V Li-Ion battery KICKS @$$, btw.

I had a Pinarello KOBH for an entire week before someone cut the cable and stole it off my platform hitch rack. I am now on a generic no-label Taiwanese carbon and fork frameset with generic no-label aero wheels. It's so boring-looking that I doubt anyone will want to steal it. It is outfitted with a complete 10-speed SRAM Red Black Edition groupset, including the crank and brake calipers. The Specialized Toupe saddle is the most comfortable seat I have ever ridden on, bar none, and I do the century rides and the back to back MS 150 rides. Nowadays, that sh-t gets stored inside the X5.

Other current bikes include a Haro ICS 3.0 mountain bike and a Yamaha Stryker XVS-1300

The red bike was my Opera Leonardo carbon (lugged) with Dura-Ace groupset. It's technically also a Pinarello? Enjoy the pictures
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