Zero maintenance bike?

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Just my opinion, but I'd say that something like this is probably a
good bet:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/EASTMAN.HTML

There are a great many bikes like these in Europe (and Mexico), but
they aren't all that common in the US. The use of a full chain guard
reduces both the wear on the chain and the need for maintenance, as
well as eliminating the potential for chain grime getting on anything
else. They aren't light, but they tend to be perfectly servicable
units which require little more than putting air in the tires to keep
them in riding condition. I have a Puch of this ilk myself; it's
probably more than 25 years old, and rides quite well. I've seen them
on occasion at thrift stores for as little as $10, but your chances of
lucking into one that way are slim in the US.

Next-best would be any gearhub-equipped exposed-chain bike of a
comfortable size and design, in my opinion. Derailleur-gearing bikes
tend not to be low-maintenance for a variety of reasons, and they have
exposed bits that are subject to being easily damaged by incautious
janitorial activities.

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

What the other bloke said - something (anything) with a gear hub rather than
derailleurs. All you have to worry about then is adjusting the brakes every
so often and slapping some oil on the chain.

Wow.. those are nice bikes. I want one now..

--
Mike Beauchamp
http://www.therevox.com - custom electro-theremins and stuff.
http://www.mikebeauchamp.com - mike's personal site.

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Just my opinion, but I'd say that something like this is probably a
good bet:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/EASTMAN.HTML

There are a great many bikes like these in Europe (and Mexico), but
they aren't all that common in the US. The use of a full chain guard
reduces both the wear on the chain and the need for maintenance, as
well as eliminating the potential for chain grime getting on anything
else. They aren't light, but they tend to be perfectly servicable
units which require little more than putting air in the tires to keep
them in riding condition. I have a Puch of this ilk myself; it's
probably more than 25 years old, and rides quite well. I've seen them
on occasion at thrift stores for as little as $10, but your chances of
lucking into one that way are slim in the US.

Next-best would be any gearhub-equipped exposed-chain bike of a
comfortable size and design, in my opinion. Derailleur-gearing bikes
tend not to be low-maintenance for a variety of reasons, and they have
exposed bits that are subject to being easily damaged by incautious
janitorial activities.

<[email hidden]> wrote:

(...)

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Yep, a decent bike and a good LBS. Zero maintenance... for you (and
likely little for them).

H

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Just my opinion, but I'd say that something like this is probably a
good bet:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/EASTMAN.HTML

I think this would be a much better choice for most people:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/c40.html

Quoted message said:

Just my opinion, but I'd say that something like this is probably a
good bet:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/EASTMAN.HTML

Yep!

I agree....that look like what I had in mind

But if I could only find one cheap!! lol

Peter Cole said:

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Just my opinion, but I'd say that something like this is probably a
good bet:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/EASTMAN.HTML

I think this would be a much better choice for most people:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/c40.html

The C40's a nice unit for its price point, but I don't think that's
what was being sought.

The OP specifically cited near-zero-maintenance, and stated that the
bike would be kept at work. I factored in the probability that an
exposed-chain der system would be a less useful choice than a gearhub
with an enclosed chain, fenders would be a good move because
presumably the rider would need to stay unsplattered if puddles were
present, and the bike would be stored in an area where casual
mishandling was likely. The Eastman embodied the logical form for the
best-choice unit I could think of.

Once in a while, such a bike can be had cheaply used. The lack of
widespread demand (which pretty much demonstates that fashion rather
than function drives most bike purchasing) has made this type of unit
hard to find in the US...but not impossible.
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

RE/

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

I'm in the same boat - contract software developer.....except that I'm getting
plenty exercise courtesy of the bike I take to work every day and ride at lunch
time.

I ride a bike with 26" wheels and very fat tires. It gives me the most
flexibility in negotiation the suburban corporate park environment that I work
in.

I prefer a nicer bike than I'd be willing to leave at a job site all the time so
I have a hitch rack on my vehicle that allows me to take the bike to and from
work every day. It's also handy for carrying a beater bike just for
general-purpose mobility....park somewhere, and then bike from store-to-store
instead of driving.
--
PeteCresswell

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.
I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.
I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,
Any thoughts or advice?

A bike that has an internal gear hub, like Shimano Nexus , and also
has a full chain box will be a minimal maintenance bike. Make sure you
don't get super skinny tires, I like 30mm slicks, and you will cut down
on flats too. I have a VanDessel SuperFly that almost fits the bill. It
only needs a full chain box, which I have but need to fit on the bike.
--------------
Alex

Quoted message said:

The OP specifically cited near-zero-maintenance, and stated that the
bike would be kept at work.

Yep..... need something cheap to keep at work.

Something that if someone steals Im not out a lot of
money

Quoted message said:

I have a VanDessel SuperFly that almost fits the bill.

Neat bike!!

An yes that is the "type" that would fill my
requirements

Any other brnads/models of same "design" to consider?

Didn't Burley have a super simple bike like the above
at one time?

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Fixed-gear: no moving gears or pawls, only one brake.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The OP specifically cited near-zero-maintenance, and stated that the
bike would be kept at work.

Yep..... need something cheap to keep at work.

Something that if someone steals Im not out a lot of
money

Time to visit the thrift stores, then; it may take a few trips, but
some interesting stuff comes through the ones around here.
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

Ever thought about getting a 24" BMX bike. One gear, tires that only need
inflation a few times a year and cheap.

-kurd

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Werehatrack said:

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to ride on my
breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

Just my opinion, but I'd say that something like this is probably a
good bet:

http://www.yellowjersey.org/EASTMAN.HTML

There are a great many bikes like these in Europe (and Mexico), but
they aren't all that common in the US. The use of a full chain
guard reduces both the wear on the chain and the need for
maintenance, as well as eliminating the potential for chain grime
getting on anything else. They aren't light, but they tend to be
perfectly servicable units which require little more than putting
air in the tires to keep them in riding condition.

I wouldn't have thought of this, thinking as I do of "road bikes" that
are performance oriented critters, but this is an excellent idea.
It'd be relatively theftproof because it just wouldn't be appealing
(not very fenceable for quick cash), and would be as low maintenance
as a bike can get, just about.

[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I need a bike that I can keep at work..... something to
ride on my breaks.

I set ALL DAY and not getting enough exercise.

I need a bike that is as close to zero maint as
possible,

Any thoughts or advice?

If it's not too hilly near you, forget about different gears. Get an
older frame, build (or have built) a rear wheel with a coaster (aka
backpedal) brake, and go ride. The only maintainence it'll require is
air in the tires.

I have an old Raleigh that I've converted to single-speed (I kept the
hand brakes) and it's the bike that I grab when I have to jump on a
bike and go.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Ever thought about getting a 24" BMX bike. One gear, tires that only need
inflation a few times a year and cheap.

OK.... but where would you buy one?

Pardon the blatent advertising for bikes my store sells, but Haro makes 2.

Nyqyist 24 (I own this bike, it rocks), about $450
http://www.harobikes.com/nyquistr24/

Backtrail X24, about $275
http://www.harobikes.com/backtrailx24/

Go to the website and find a dealer. If they don't have one in stock, they
can order it for ya. When they build it, ask that they do not install the
Gyro... more maintance and unless you are doing bar spins- unnessessary.

-kurd

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ever thought about getting a 24" BMX bike. One gear, tires that only need
inflation a few times a year and cheap.

OK.... but where would you buy one?