Which bike II?

Try a cyclocross bike. Wider tires give comfort and the position is
more upright than regular road bikes. WAY more comfortable than a
hybtid/comfort bike. With some skinnier tires you will be able to ride
faster if you choose.

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

Quoted message said:

I thought I wanted a better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but I've
been learning about comfort bikes.

I'm not a doctor, nor an expert on back problems (except my own), but
depending on the nature of yours, a more upright riding position may not
necessarily help you. At least, you shouldn't just assume it will. For some
people, sitting upright so that all their upper-body weight is borne by the
saddle just makes things worse.

The more even weight distribution and stretched-out position of a road bike
(with the bars at saddle height, not like a racing bike) can benefit some
people (like me, with lower-spinal bone spurs). Other people swear by their
recumbents.

All I'm saying is that if your hybrid is a problem, don't assume a "comfort
bike" will treat you any differently.

RichC

jabario said:

Try a cyclocross bike. Wider tires give comfort and the position is more
upright than regular road bikes. WAY more comfortable than a
hybtid/comfort bike. With some skinnier tires you will be able to ride
faster if you choose.

Agreed, try to get it set up with the bars level or bit higher than the
saddle. You'll find that getting stretched out w/o necessarily "hunkering"
allows your back to naturally absorb bumps w/o compressing the vertebrae.

Jamis and Surly make awesome CX bikes that'll do pretty much anything you
want: centuries, fetch milk, touring, light trail riding. Want racks and
fenders? mount 'em. Want knobbies? Sure! Racy skinnies? No problemo...

In article <[email hidden]>, "Sarah Banick"

Quoted message said:

Hi -

I'm looking for suggestions, and would like your comments (I hear different
things at each bike shop, of course, relative to what they sell).

Been riding a hybrid (Bianchi Advantage, 1997) for years, doing about 40
miles top-end. Now, after some knee surgeries, I'm riding more, and want a
bike to do 50+ mile rides, including BRAG this summer. I thought I wanted a
better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but I've been learning about
comfort bikes. Basically, I want to do hills easier and faster (and
hopefully with less pain). Now, at 42 with two metal knees, I'm not trying
to win any races....I just want to do my best and keep my body moving.

So....what are your experienced views on "comfort bikes?" Just a marketing
gimmick, as some say? Would I be better off getting a regular roadbike and
changing the handlebars? Or should I just upgrade with a new hybrid.....I'm
so confused at this point, having looked at Bianchi, Kona, Giant, Raleigh,
Trek, Scott, and yet more I can't remember the names of....

BTW, I'm looking to spend about $1000. I like in Atlanta, so I've got lots
of bike stores to choose from.

Thanks for any help,

Sarah

Hi, Sarah,

If you liked your Bianchi, you might take a look at the Bianchi Volpe
(http://www.bianchiusa.com/570.html). It's billed as a sort-of cyclo-cross
bike -- a "go anywhere road/trail bike." It has a steel frame (an
addiction of mine); a triple crankset with a low gear of 28x32 (with that,
you can climb trees, metal knees or no); and a more upright riding
position.

The drop bars give you more positions for your hands, a suspension seat
post gives your butt a break, and you can even add a second pair of brake
levers that mount near the stem to give you a little additional comfort.
The 36-spoke wheels strike me as a little overengineered, but you may be
able to get your dealer to work a trade for some 32-spokers. And suggested
retail is $850.

I have three cyclo-cross bikes and ride 'em everywhere, on pavement, jeep
roads, two-track, single-track and deer path.

Cheers,

Patrick O'Grady
Mad Dog Media
http://www.maddogmedia.com

I bet more people would buy road/'cross bikes if they werent always
assembled with the stem poiting down and the steer tube cut so the bar
is 6 inches below the seat.

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

Quoted message said:

Hi -

I'm looking for suggestions, and would like your comments (I hear
different things at each bike shop, of course, relative to what they
sell).

Been riding a hybrid (Bianchi Advantage, 1997) for years, doing about 40
miles top-end. Now, after some knee surgeries, I'm riding more, and want a
bike to do 50+ mile rides, including BRAG this summer. I thought I wanted
a better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but I've been learning about
comfort bikes. Basically, I want to do hills easier and faster (and
hopefully with less pain). Now, at 42 with two metal knees, I'm not trying
to win any races....I just want to do my best and keep my body moving.

So....what are your experienced views on "comfort bikes?" Just a marketing
gimmick, as some say? Would I be better off getting a regular roadbike
and changing the handlebars? Or should I just upgrade with a new
hybrid.....I'm so confused at this point, having looked at Bianchi, Kona,
Giant, Raleigh, Trek, Scott, and yet more I can't remember the names
of....

BTW, I'm looking to spend about $1000. I like in Atlanta, so I've got lots
of bike stores to choose from.

Thanks for any help,

Sarah

With that amount to spend you can get a very nice bicycle
Also check out the Specialised "Sirrus" hybrids.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9620

What's wrong with the Bianchi?
With bad knees and back problems I would not recommend a recumbent. I rode
one exclusively for about four years. Experiencing increasing leg and back
problems I consulted an orthopedic specialist who put it down to the closed
riding position. Reverting to uprights I have had no further problems. If
you want to do hills "easier and faster", recumbents are not the answer.

Good luck,

Roy

Thanks, everyone, for all your comments....

I'm (still) confused, though..... Cyclocross sounds like a cross between a
road bike and mountain bike.....which is what my Bianchi (hybride) is.
What's the difference? (and I have been reading the hybrid thread). My
impression of a comfort bike is that of a road bike with some more
comfortable features...is that not true? And why a cyclocross over a plain
old roadbike? Excuse my ignorance, it just seems like everything is
overlapping now. :-0

Sarah

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

Quoted message said:

Hi -

I'm looking for suggestions, and would like your comments (I hear
different things at each bike shop, of course, relative to what they
sell).

Been riding a hybrid (Bianchi Advantage, 1997) for years, doing about 40
miles top-end. Now, after some knee surgeries, I'm riding more, and want a
bike to do 50+ mile rides, including BRAG this summer. I thought I wanted
a better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but I've been learning about
comfort bikes. Basically, I want to do hills easier and faster (and
hopefully with less pain). Now, at 42 with two metal knees, I'm not trying
to win any races....I just want to do my best and keep my body moving.

Quoted message said:

With that amount to spend you can get a very nice bicycle
Also check out the Specialised "Sirrus" hybrids.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9620

What's wrong with the Bianchi?

Nothing, but it was my $350 "starter bike." I want to move up to something
with more speed/comfort for the longer (50+) rides. I'm gonna check out the
Volpe -- unfortunately the guy at the Bianchi shop was less than helpful, so
I'm gonna visit there again armed with better questions.

Quoted message said:

With bad knees and back problems I would not recommend a recumbent. I rode
one exclusively for about four years. Experiencing increasing leg and back
problems I consulted an orthopedic specialist who put it down to the
closed riding position. Reverting to uprights I have had no further
problems. If you want to do hills "easier and faster", recumbents are not
the answer.

Glad to hear that, I'm not particularly drawn to them anyway.

Sarah

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

Quoted message said:

Thanks, everyone, for all your comments....

I'm (still) confused, though..... Cyclocross sounds like a cross between a
road bike and mountain bike.....which is what my Bianchi (hybride) is.
What's the difference? (and I have been reading the hybrid thread).

A cyclocross bike is a road bike (drop handlebars) that can accommodate
wider tires and cantilever brakes. It's designed to race both off and on
pavement in sloppy conditions. These characteristics make them very
adaptable to touring/commuting/all-around applications. My main commuter is
a cyclocross frame with a rack, fenders, and lights installed.

Quoted message said:

My impression of a comfort bike is that of a road bike with some more
comfortable features...is that not true?

The categories are becoming blurred. When first introduced, comfort bikes
were sort of "real soft mountain bikes." Now there are such marketing terms
as "comfort road bike," which is likely to be something like a road bike
with a suspension seat post, an adjustable stem, high (but still drop)
handlebars, and other features designed to afford a more upright posture and
to soften the ride.

Quoted message said:

And why a cyclocross over a plain old roadbike? Excuse my ignorance, it
just seems like everything is overlapping now. :-0

That is exactly true, which is why it's a good idea to forget about
categories and try to simply identify the characteristics you most want in a
bike -- a process that can be difficult to do without hands-on auditions.

Having a good grasp of how and where you plan to ride is also useful.

A "plain old road bike" these days is more optimized for racing. Won't take
wide tires or fenders or racks. Hard to raise the handlebars to saddle
height.

You should at least be looking through the on-line catalogs of the major
players - Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, etc. -- to get a sense of
how these bikes are being targeted and marketed, and what sorts of features
and riding characteristics are common to various flavors of bike.

RichC

Sarah Banick said:

I'm (still) confused, though... Cyclocross sounds like a cross
between a road bike and mountain bike... which is what my Bianchi
(hybride) is. What's the difference? (and I have been reading the
hybrid thread). My impression of a comfort bike is that of a road
bike with some more comfortable features... is that not true? And
why a cyclocross over a plain old roadbike? Excuse my ignorance, it
just seems like everything is overlapping now.

The term Cyclocross predates the MTB by many years and refers to cross
country (off road) racing rather than a cross between two kinds of
bicycles. Bicycles specifically built for cyclocross often have a
higher BB, cantilever brakes and plenty of space between tire and
frame for mud clearance. Other than that, they generally look like
road racing bicycles of the past.

A good cyclocross race course generally has an uphill and fast flat
paved part, along with tricky trail sections with steep grades that
require high speed dismount and mounts interspersed with crossing
fallen trees and steep embankments that require carrying the bicycle.
If a course has these features, a mountain bicycle, especially one
without a frame that can be carried over the shoulder offers mainly
disadvantages.

Likewise, a good MTB course doesn't favor a cyclocross bicycle if it
has rough sections with rocks that require fat tires and suspension.

[email hidden]

"araby" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What's wrong with the Bianchi?
With bad knees and back problems I would not recommend a
recumbent. I rode one exclusively for about four years.
Experiencing increasing leg and back problems I consulted an
orthopedic specialist who put it down to the closed riding
position. Reverting to uprights I have had no further problems. If
you want to do hills "easier and faster", recumbents are not the
answer.

Good luck,

Roy

Sir, can I take your name and cite you the next time the bent crowd
suggests that nothing is as comfortable and good for you as
recumbents (other than recliners and vegetables).

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

Quoted message said:

Hi -

I'm looking for suggestions, and would like your comments (I hear

different

Quoted message said:

things at each bike shop, of course, relative to what they sell).

Been riding a hybrid (Bianchi Advantage, 1997) for years, doing about 40
miles top-end. Now, after some knee surgeries, I'm riding more, and want a
bike to do 50+ mile rides, including BRAG this summer. I thought I wanted

a

Quoted message said:

better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but I've been learning about
comfort bikes.

Sarah--

Some posters below have given you excellent recommendations. Luckily,
you're looking for a bike at a time when comfort is starting to finally be
addressed. Instead of a "comfort bike", you can look at what they're calling
"sport" bikes. These are road bike with more upright geometry. Surly and
Soma make excellent steel bikes in this vain, and they are quite affordable.
A cyclocross bike would be a good choice, and I believe you can buy a Surly
Cross-Check for less than a thousand dollars, complete.

http://www.surlybikes.com
http://www.harriscyclery.com
http://www.somafabrications.com

And if you want to spend a little more money...

http://www.gunnarbikes.com

Mike

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I thought I wanted a better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but

I've

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

been learning about comfort bikes.

I'm not a doctor, nor an expert on back problems (except my own), but
depending on the nature of yours, a more upright riding position may not
necessarily help you. At least, you shouldn't just assume it will. For

some

Quoted message said:

people, sitting upright so that all their upper-body weight is borne by

the

Quoted message said:

saddle just makes things worse.

The more even weight distribution and stretched-out position of a road

bike

Quoted message said:

(with the bars at saddle height, not like a racing bike) can benefit some
people (like me, with lower-spinal bone spurs). Other people swear by

their

Quoted message said:

recumbents.

All I'm saying is that if your hybrid is a problem, don't assume a

"comfort

Quoted message said:

bike" will treat you any differently.

RichC

She can always consider a recumbent. :-) My LBS had a really neat tadpole
trike made by Sun. If I was a strictly Rails to Trails rider, I'd consider
it. However, I don't think there's an orange flag bright enough to keep old
ladies in Lincolns from squashing me on the roads here if I rode one... :-)

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

Quoted message said:

She can always consider a recumbent. :-) My LBS had a really neat tadpole
trike made by Sun. If I was a strictly Rails to Trails rider, I'd consider
it. However, I don't think there's an orange flag bright enough to keep
old
ladies in Lincolns from squashing me on the roads here if I rode one...
:-)

You've identified the main reason I shy away from 'bents, although I'm sure
proponents would counter the argument. Whether I'm riding to work or doing a
rural century I have to ride 10-15 miles of crowded urban/suburban roads to
get there, and I'd hate to give up the height or a traditional frame.
There's one guy on a 'bent I see occasionally on my commute, usually at the
last minute because he's obscured by cars.

RichC

"Sarah Banick" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:-
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What's wrong with the Bianchi?

Nothing, but it was my $350 "starter bike." I want to move up to
something with more speed/comfort for the longer (50+) rides.
I'm gonna check out the Volpe -- unfortunately the guy at the
Bianchi shop was less than helpful, so I'm gonna visit there
again armed with better questions.

Sarah

Have you thought about a touring bike? If properly set up and
fitted a tourer should be both comfortable, efficient, and
faster. Test ride more than one brand the farther the better.

In addition to Bianchi, check out Jamis, Trek, and Cannondale.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/BikeFit/index.cfm
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html

Mike

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"Sarah Banick" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Been riding a hybrid (Bianchi Advantage, 1997) for years, doing about 40
miles top-end. Now, after some knee surgeries, I'm riding more, and want a
bike to do 50+ mile rides, including BRAG this summer. I thought I wanted
a better hybrid, 'cause I have back problems, but I've been learning about
comfort bikes. Basically, I want to do hills easier and faster (and
hopefully with less pain). Now, at 42 with two metal knees, I'm not trying
to win any races....I just want to do my best and keep my body moving.

I blew out my lower back about 5 or 6 years ago. Just getting out of
bed one morning, could feel something "settle" and a few days later,
excruciating pain. Never had it looked at as it's just a dull pain
now when I haven't moved around much, or in the morning getting up
(You know you're getting old when just getting out of bed in the
morning causes bodily damage!)

Anyways, I'm basically a road bike rider and you might be surprised
that road bikes are not necessarily aggravating to back problems.

I've found riding the road bike generally makes any of my back pains
go away. I think the stretching in reaching down in the drops and
the more horizontal riding position seems to relieve stress on the
spinal column.

Perhaps a road bike wouldn't be helpful to your back, but I would
argue that that isn't necessarily so (certainly not in my case) and
you might want to check out a road bike and ride it a bit to see how
your back responds to one. You might be surprised, and if you are
going to ride roads mostly, a road bike is the way to go.

A road bike with a triple crank will also get you up the hills without
too much stress on those nice, shiny new metallic knees of yours.

SMH

garmonboezia said:

"Sarah Banick" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:-
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What's wrong with the Bianchi?

Nothing, but it was my $350 "starter bike." I want to move up to
something with more speed/comfort for the longer (50+) rides.
I'm gonna check out the Volpe -- unfortunately the guy at the
Bianchi shop was less than helpful, so I'm gonna visit there
again armed with better questions.

Sarah

Have you thought about a touring bike? If properly set up and
fitted a tourer should be both comfortable, efficient, and
faster. Test ride more than one brand the farther the better.

The Volpe is a touring bike. Probably a very good match for her stated
needs.

araby said:

With bad knees and back problems I would not recommend a recumbent. I rode
one exclusively for about four years. Experiencing increasing leg and back
problems I consulted an orthopedic specialist who put it down to the closed
riding position. Reverting to uprights I have had no further problems. If
you want to do hills "easier and faster", recumbents are not the answer.

I am a bit confused by this. Isn't all cycling (with the possible
exception of standing to climb or sprint) considered a closed kinetic
chain exercise? Also, aren't closed chain exercises generally
considered *less* stressfull on knees?

Sarah Banick wrote, in part:

Quoted message said:

Would I be better off getting a regular roadbike and changing the
handlebars?

What about a road bike and NOT changing the handlebars? Drop bars -- as
long as they are not set low in imitation of racers -- can be a huge help
in riding longer distances comfortably by allowing changes in hand
position and in posture.

I bought a touring bike several years ago that I have found much more
comfortable than the hybrid I had before. A touring bike is a robust road
bike with easy gearing, wide tires, fenders, and racks. I have the
handlebars at seat height, as Rich Clark suggested in another post. At
that height, I actually use the drops much of the time, something I notice
a lot of people with bars set lower don't seem to do. The big tires
cushion bumps and my weight is distributed in a way that doesn't send the
shock right up my spine. You might very well prefer a lighter bike, but I
carry a lot of stuff around. I thought the Volpe was a good suggestion. I
haven't been shopping for a while, but it seems to me that in bike shops I
see more road bikes than I used to that are trying to be good all rounders
and not entry level racing bikes.

You'll want to test ride the options, especially with a back problem. If
its the neck and upper back, the drop bars might not work so well, since
it may make bending the neck to see ahead uncomfortable.

--
Paul Turner