Chris Hansen said:Hello,
Are there any good resources to learn things about bikes and biking? I'm looking for things like:
What are the characteristics of different frame materials, how does it affect the ride and what
kinds of riding and riders are they best suited for?
The hype far exceeds the reality in terms of frame material. What matters most is fit, and frame
quality. There is more difference between a good steel frame and a cheap one than between a good
steel frame and a good titanium one. You will hear testimonials from advocates of any possible
frame material, but view any claims that seem to be too good to be true as what they are --- too
good to be true.
Quoted message said:What are the characteristics of different wheel sizes? Assuming a similar tire and appropriate
gears, what is each size best suited for?
You might be referring here to the tendency for triatheletes to use smaller-than-normal wheels on
a road bike. For my money, the best use of small wheels is for small riders, since they allow
smaller riders to have better frame geometry than the larger standard wheels. For average height
riders, normal size wheels offer two distinct advantages: availability and cost, and no
disadvantages. View wild claims about the advantage of smaller wheels similarly to the wild claims
about unobtanium frames.
You might also be referring to the mountain bikes now coming available with larger-than-standard
wheels. I don't have any reason to believe there is a huge advantage there, but mountain biking has
more specialized situations, and there may be some types of riding for which larger wheels might
offer some advantage.
Quoted message said:Different types of frame geometry. What's the difference and characteristics of a frame for
touring, road racing, mountain biking, cyclocross, etc?
Here there is a difference. Touring bikes are more comfortable than a road bike on long tours (big
surprise), since their angles (head and seat tube) are not as steep as a road bike. They also have
fittings for things like racks and fenders, and clearance for the larger tires needed to carry both
you and your gear. Road bikes (road racing, as you mentioned) are optimized for speed under a wide
variety of situations. This includes long single-day rides, so they are comfortable when set up
properly. Mountain bike frames are a whole different animal from road machines, and are definitely
superior off-road. There is a lot of new technology on mountain bikes that make them very rugged and
versatile for extreme conditions. Cyclocross bikes are specialized for racing off-road. They are an
older design than a mountain bike, for a different type of riding than most mountain biking.
The general idea here is that each type of bike is optimized for the type of riding that they are
named for. Using a mountain bike for road riding will be slow and hard compared to using a road
bike. Riding a road bike off-road is not really possible. Touring on a road bike is OK, but a real
touring bike is better. Touring on a mountain bike (unless much of it is off-road) will be far
harder than using a touring bike.
Quoted message said:What's a cyclocross race like?
Muddy. Hard. Crazy. You have to see one to understand.
Quoted message said:Anything else that someone who worries too much might like to know before purchasing a bike that
will be with him for the next 10-15 years.
Be more concerned about fit than anything else. Do not settle for a straddle-the-bar fitting. A good
shop has a "fit-kit" that will help decide what size bike you need, what changes to components
(often the stem) you need to make the fit right, and whether or not a stock frame will do. Some
people, due to their proportions, do not fit well on stock frames, since they are proportioned for
average-proportion people. If you are in that category, you will want to consider a custom frame if
you get hooked seriously into the sport.
--
David L. Johnson
__o | It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can _`\(,_ | only be cured by
something racy and Italian. Bianchis and (_)/ (_) | Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis
and Ferraris. -- Glenn Davies
