Re: Any bike recommendations?

On Tue, 17 May 2005 14:41:34 -0400, "Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

James said:

I'm looking for advice of what sort of road bike to buy. It shouldn't
be too delicate because roads are not exactly ideal track conditions,
and I'm planning to use it for middle-long distance rides rather than
quick blasts, so a harsh racer wouldn't be ideal.

Given I'm about 5"5' and long in the leg for that height, plus it's
pretty hilly here in Wales so lightness is a neccessity, what might
this group reccommend as a reasonable hybrid between a tourer and a
racer, given I've got maybe £1500 ($2750, Eur 2180) to spend on it?

Most novices spend way too much on the bike, and not enough on the clothing and
accessories that make a much bigger difference in their riding experience. This
is especially true where the local weather is changeable.

Don't forget the tools and spares you shouldn't be without when hitting the
road.

I'm learning about all this rapidly. Given it's something I've
wanted to take more seriously through my whole cycling life (which is
basically since I've been about 4), and no matter how many times I
tried fixing up older bikes they never worked properly or fitted me
right in the first place. This time, it's a priority to get a decent
machine which is well made, fits, and not going to kill me over a
stretch. I don't like throwing money around by a very long way -
anyone who knows me would splutter at the idea - but this is the sum
I've saved and set aside for the bike, saved over several years. So I
don't mind spending the extra cash on this item, just to make it that
bit more satisfactory.

Your point about clothing is very well taken. At the moment I'm going
around in shorts and T-shirt, which is probably not ideal. I did get
the cleats and shoes, though. It seemed silly not to.

As for tools... I have the most basic of kits right now. I'm sure
there's sites around providing plenty of minimum-need kit lists about,
and given your prompt, I shall set about them forthwith!

Quoted message said:

Though I have a light bike myself, I think the importance of weight is grossly
exaggerated. Fit and comfort are paramount. Suitable gearing would be next.
Finally, rolling resistance, ie good tires, can make a big difference. Weight
is far less important than any of these things.

Quoted message said:

Additionally, clearance for fatter tires and fenders is very useful.
Unfortunately it's hard to find among sporty bikes. Fatter tires are *the* cure
for rough roads. Fenders make riding in the rain a lot more comfortable. They
can be removed when not needed. The extra clearance can also make the
difference between riding home and walking, if you ever break a spoke.

The way it feels and handles in about the most important thing to me.
Can I zig around on it, feeling perfectly comfortable, and not having
the impression it's going to do something unexpected at a tight moment
and throw me off? Being an old motorcycle enthusiast, I do enjoy
heavy banking and sharp response and excellent brakes.
Manoeuvrability and weight is more important than looks or any pose
value. In fact, I'd prefer a very good bike which looks rather
modest.

Quoted message said:

While there's plenty of overlap, product lines are so different in the UK that
it would be silly for me to try to advise you on particular bikes. But I hope
my general advise is helpful. Actually there's a better selection of general
purpose road bikes in the UK than in the US, where it's hard to find anything
but minimalist, wannabe racer machines.

Matt O.

Your general advice is most certainly helpful, thank you. I'm making
an adaquate toolkit a priority, and will certainly look into clothing
too. At present, I'm using an old skateboarding helmet which might
have to be improved upon,

James.

James said:

Your general advice is most certainly helpful, thank you.

Glad to hear it, thanks.

Quoted message said:

I'm making
an adaquate toolkit a priority, and will certainly look into clothing
too.

Clothing is of course dictated by local climate. Toolkits are pretty simple
though -- a pump, spare tube, patch kit, multi-tool that fits all the bolts on
your bike, and a small chain tool. You don't need to go overboard, but what you
need -- you *really* need. Another thing -- it's a good idea to wrap your spare
tube in a piece of canvas, so it doesn't get chafed through by the other things
in your toolkit.

Happy riding!

Matt O.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Matt O'Toole said:

James said:

Your general advice is most certainly helpful, thank you.

Glad to hear it, thanks.

Quoted message said:

I'm making
an adaquate toolkit a priority, and will certainly look into clothing
too.

Clothing is of course dictated by local climate. Toolkits are pretty simple
though -- a pump, spare tube, patch kit, multi-tool that fits all the bolts on
your bike, and a small chain tool. You don't need to go overboard, but what you
need -- you *really* need. Another thing -- it's a good idea to wrap your spare
tube in a piece of canvas, so it doesn't get chafed through by the other things
in your toolkit.

Happy riding!

Matt O.

Keep a spoke wrench in your tool kit. I carry two tubes.

--
Michael Press

Tue, 17 May 2005 21:50:26 -0400, <[email hidden]>,

Matt O'Toole said:

Another thing -- it's a good idea to wrap your spare
tube in a piece of canvas, so it doesn't get chafed through by the other things
in your toolkit.

Use old cotton tube socks.
Doubles as a glove for chain handling.

I read that somewhere on the internet.
It's true.
--
zk

Michael Press said:

Quoted message said:

Clothing is of course dictated by local climate. Toolkits are pretty simple
though -- a pump, spare tube, patch kit, multi-tool that fits all the bolts on
your bike, and a small chain tool. You don't need to go overboard, but what you
need -- you *really* need. Another thing -- it's a good idea to wrap your spare
tube in a piece of canvas, so it doesn't get chafed through by the other things
in your toolkit.

Happy riding!

Matt O.

Keep a spoke wrench in your tool kit. I carry two tubes.

A good multi-tool may include a spoke wrench. I like the Crank Bros
Micra 17, which includes a chain tool and spoke wrenches. Here take a
look:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0350&sku=5971&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Throw in a spare tube, a patch kit, a set of tire bars, an inflating
device*, a spare master link or pin, you're all set.

* I have a Topeak Road Morph pump on my older bike and I carry a CO2
inflator with my Lemond. I always carry at least 3 spare CO2
cartridges. I seldom get flats, with either bike, but if it was a more
regular occurence, then I would carry the Road Morph pump on both
bikes. All of the above, except the pump, fit in a medium sized seat
bag and adds 2lbs to the bike.

Life is Good!
Jeff

On Wed, 18 May 2005 00:09:20 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Tue, 17 May 2005 21:50:26 -0400, <[email hidden]>,

Matt O'Toole said:

Another thing -- it's a good idea to wrap your spare
tube in a piece of canvas, so it doesn't get chafed through by the other things
in your toolkit.

Use old cotton tube socks.
Doubles as a glove for chain handling.

I read that somewhere on the internet.
It's true.

Another use for an old sock! I love it!

Thanks everyone 🙂

Per Jeff Starr:

Quoted message said:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0350&sku=5971&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Got one.

Like it.

But can't figure out what the fat rubber band is for.

?
--
PeteCresswell

On Fri, 20 May 2005 19:46:44 -0700, "(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Per Jeff Starr:

Quoted message said:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0350&sku=5971&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Got one.

Like it.

But can't figure out what the fat rubber band is for.

?

Hi, I have always thought that it was there to keep everything in
place, when not in use. I wonder if it might be to better grip it,
when using?

If you find out definitively, let me know.

Life is Good!
Jeff

James said:

As for tools... I have the most basic of kits right now. I'm sure
there's sites around providing plenty of minimum-need kit lists about,
and given your prompt, I shall set about them forthwith!

On a road bike for your standard 3-5 hr ride, on a well assembled and
maintained bicycle. Ya need a pump, tire levers, patch kit and tube,
nothing else.

Ya can carry a spare tool kit, but in 20 years of riding I have needed
a 'tool', a phillips head screw driver, for a loose cleat, once.

For those who emphasize weight and then put a bag of water, plus a
wardrobe, tool kit, cell phone, etc on their back...well it's just
amazing to me.

Maybe in the wilds of a foreign country, like Texas, but for most
places, not required for the road.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

James said:

As for tools... I have the most basic of kits right now. I'm sure
there's sites around providing plenty of minimum-need kit lists about,
and given your prompt, I shall set about them forthwith!

On a road bike for your standard 3-5 hr ride, on a well assembled and
maintained bicycle. Ya need a pump, tire levers, patch kit and tube,
nothing else.

Perhaps, but if you have any riding companions, it's not a bad idea to
carry the basic tools. As I will demonstrate, the weight and space don't
amount to much.

Quoted message said:

Ya can carry a spare tool kit, but in 20 years of riding I have needed
a 'tool', a phillips head screw driver, for a loose cleat, once.

Aside from minor adjustments on my bike (often, admittedly, tweaks of
recent maintenance or installations), I once loaned my multi-tool to a
stranger so he could get his drivetrain back in working order (some
unremembered adjustment to the rder).

Quoted message said:

For those who emphasize weight and then put a bag of water, plus a
wardrobe, tool kit, cell phone, etc on their back...well it's just
amazing to me.

Well, this seems a bit of a straw cyclist to me. Water is what it is:
you've got to carry what you need to drink, and there's no lightweight
version. I don't carry a change of wardrobe on every ride, but if the
weather forecast calls for one, I gladly take the rain cape, or arm
warmers, or whatever is appropriate. Tools? Crank Bros. multi-17. 168g,
and it includes every tool I could imagine needing for a roadside repair
(the two tools I might add on a really distant ride might be an
adjustable wrench and a small vise-grip). 168g, and it lives in the
bottom of my under-seat bag. It's not even worth concerning myself with.
Cel phone? C'mon: it's a training ride. Hardly necessary, but utterly
defensible.

I'm guessing that the gear you have mentioned, excluding the
non-optional water, probably weighs about 2 pounds. Since I don't see
anyone carrying that gear on their hillclimb TTs, I'll assume that the
racers carry it on their training rides to make the effort level higher.

Quoted message said:

Maybe in the wilds of a foreign country, like Texas, but for most
places, not required for the road.

This is such a small amount of equipment, and it won't save your life,
but it might let you or another rider ride home instead of abandoning.
It's pretty cheap insurance.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

Dans le message de news:[email hidden],
Ryan Cousineau <[email hidden]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On a road bike for your standard 3-5 hr ride, on a well assembled and
maintained bicycle. Ya need a pump, tire levers, patch kit and tube,
nothing else.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe in the wilds of a foreign country, like Texas, but for most
places, not required for the road.

This is such a small amount of equipment, and it won't save your life,
but it might let you or another rider ride home instead of abandoning.
It's pretty cheap insurance.

Do try to remember that in THE REPUBLIC, bad things don't happen.
--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

Sandy said:

Do try to remember that in THE REPUBLIC, bad things don't happen.
--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

Certainly not like in France, the last great socialist country in the
EU...no wait, they defeated the EU constitution. Something about
'French identity'??

Dans le message de
news:[email hidden],
Qui si parla Campagnolo <[email hidden]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :

Quoted message said:

Sandy said:

Do try to remember that in THE REPUBLIC, bad things don't happen.
--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

Certainly not like in France, the last great socialist country in the
EU...no wait, they defeated the EU constitution. Something about
'French identity'??

First off, we have a *liberal* policy. However, that word means here the
opposite of what you may have in mind. Next, we have a right-wing
government throughout. Left of your center, but on the right in our world.

I imagine you have no idea what the constitution is/was about. Feel free to
comment out of ignorance. I dare not ask if you read it.

Holland's parliament felt compelled to accept the vox populi against.
Britain has dropped the advisory referendum, knowing it would have been
defeated even more strongly. Of course, they want to blame us. Silly
poofters.

Wait now for Luxembourg, Denmark, etc. The countries (except for Spain,
with popular voting at 31% participation) that ratified by parliamentary
action are believed (from polling) to be as out of touch with popular
sentiment as France was. Our parliament would have passed it at around 90%.
See how much politicians know ?

See how much _you_ know, then, either about the French or about Yurrup in
general. I suspect stealing the motto you post as though it were a name
makes you Italian. Or the pizza belly. Either will do, I guess.

I don't know who your minister of foreign affairs is, in the REPUBLIC, but
you could ask him for some actual information. You can be cured.

As has been suggested in other fora, we welcome your dollars in EU. Keep
spending on the trips to the three-week race. Our economy needs all the
help it can get. Buy Campy !
--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

Sandy said:

Dans le message de
news:[email hidden],
Qui si parla Campagnolo <[email hidden]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :

Quoted message said:

Sandy said:

Do try to remember that in THE REPUBLIC, bad things don't happen.
--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

Certainly not like in France, the last great socialist country in the
EU...no wait, they defeated the EU constitution. Something about
'French identity'??

First off, we have a *liberal* policy. However, that word means here the
opposite of what you may have in mind. Next, we have a right-wing
government throughout. Left of your center, but on the right in our world.

I imagine you have no idea what the constitution is/was about. Feel freeto
comment out of ignorance. I dare not ask if you read it.

Have you read our constitution or been to Boulder?

Quoted message said:

I suspect stealing the motto you post as though it were a name

Quoted message said:

makes you Italian. Or the pizza belly. Either will do, I guess.

Italy, a very favorable place to visit, and the home of cycling, is
where I get the name. been to Italy and France. Won't go back to
France.

Quoted message said:

I don't know who your minister of foreign affairs is, in the REPUBLIC, but
you could ask him for some actual information. You can be cured.

As has been suggested in other fora, we welcome your dollars in EU. Keep
spending on the trips to the three-week race. Our economy needs all the
help it can get. Buy Campy !

See above, No more trips to France for me.

Quoted message said:

--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Certainly not like in France, the last great socialist country in the
EU...no wait, they defeated the EU constitution. Something about
'French identity'??

Dude. Try to figure out how much the proposed EU constitution and
socialism overlap (Answer: not), and then see how illogical your
conclusion is.

Jasper

Jasper Janssen said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Certainly not like in France, the last great socialist country in the
EU...no wait, they defeated the EU constitution. Something about
'French identity'??

Dude. Try to figure out how much the proposed EU constitution and
socialism overlap (Answer: not), and then see how illogical your
conclusion is.

Jasper

Dude??