please advise on buying a bike

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

Quoted message said:

I'm considering buying a bike for commuting and recreation. I'll
mostly use it on roads. I have no intention to go on other terrains.
I'd like it to be light and fast, and above all, I'd like to be very
comfortable as the last time I rode a bike, rented in Amsterdam, my
butt hurt so bad i had to stop. Also it made me aware that I prefer
the brakes to be in the pedals, operated by feet, rather than those
hand-operated ones on the steering that made me slam into a metal post
much to the amusement of everyone who sat in the cafes in that Dutch
market square.

Thanks

5 words
Local Bike Shop Use Budget

Go to your nearest bike shop, and tell them what you wrote here. Ride a bike
or two in your budget.
Now go to another bike shop and repeat.
If possible, go to a 3rd and 4th. Repeat.

Bring home the bike you like best.

Your butt will break in eventually, and your skill with the brakes will
improve long before then
If a 7 year old can switch from coaster brakes to hand brakes, so can you.

Pete

Pete said:

Local Bike Shop Use Budget

yeesh. Local Bike Shop Use Credit Card

to OP, how far is your commute? where do you live? all year? what kind
of shape are you in? what do you mean by recreation? what is your budget?
do you care about performance/going fast?
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

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

Quoted message said:

Pete said:

Local Bike Shop Use Budget

yeesh. Local Bike Shop Use Credit Card

to OP, how far is your commute? where do you live? all year? what kind
of shape are you in? what do you mean by recreation? what is your

budget?

Quoted message said:

do you care about performance/going fast?

'Budget' = credit card if that falls within the OP's limit and method of
spending on the bike
'Use' = how are you going to use the bike

yeesh. not everyone wants to spend a bundle on a bike. Especially on a first
bike. And from the OP's description of his riding skills, I'd fully agree on
not spending a whole lot.

Pete

(Mike Henley) said:

p. Also it made me aware that I prefer
the brakes to be in the pedals, operated by feet, rather than those
hand-operated ones on the steering that made me slam into a metal post
much to the amusement of everyone who sat in the cafes in that Dutch
market square.

I've never had that sort of problem with handbrakes, short of the
cables snapping (very scary moment, commuting in London: front brake
cable snapped in two as I was approaching an intersection. fun!)

The only reason I ever preferred back-pedal brakes (coaster brakes) to
handbrakes is the ease with which I can induce a rear-wheel skid on a
coaster-brake bike. It was great when I was a kid--hammer down the
street, fast as you can, lock up the rear brake, and slide the bike as
far sideways as you dared.

-Luigi

Pete said:

yeesh. not everyone wants to spend a bundle on a bike. Especially on a first
bike. And from the OP's description of his riding skills, I'd fully agree on
not spending a whole lot.

fully agree with who? yourself? the OP didn't state a budget or much else
other than a strong desire for comfort.

right now i'm partial to throwing him on this ..

http://www.bikeforest.com/cb/drive_thru_couch.jpg
http://www.bikereader.com/BikeReader/contributors/misc/couchbike.html

ain't cheap, tho.
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

David Reuteler said:

right now i'm partial to throwing him on this ..

http://www.bikeforest.com/cb/drive_thru_couch.jpg
http://www.bikereader.com/BikeReader/contributors/misc/couchbike.html

ain't cheap, tho.

Someone had way too much time on his hands. *snorfle*

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

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

Quoted message said:

Pete said:

Local Bike Shop Use Budget

yeesh. Local Bike Shop Use Credit Card

to OP, how far is your commute? where do you live? all year? what kind
of shape are you in? what do you mean by recreation? what is your budget?
do you care about performance/going fast?

I don't know how far my commute is. I'll just say it'll be farther
than walking. I've taken to phototrekking lately (photography and
walking as an exercise) but soon I would've covered much of the area I
could explore in the vicinity within 2 hours. I do this every other
day.

It's not for a particular commute, just here and there when it'll be
faster and farther than walking and more convenient or enjoyable than
driving (it's easier to stop and get off the road with a bike and also
easier to get into little lanes where no car can get into). I'm not in
a bad shape, I do a rider (similar to rowing but upright) 3 times a
week for roughly half an hour. I alternate this with the 2 hours of
phototrekking. By recreation I mean something to get me out of the
house for recreational purposes only, when i don't have to go
somewhere to get something done or meet someone etc.

Buget is minimum that'll meet my needs. Fast is nice but i'm not gonna
race.

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

Quoted message said:

(Mike Henley) said:

p. Also it made me aware that I prefer
the brakes to be in the pedals, operated by feet, rather than those
hand-operated ones on the steering that made me slam into a metal post
much to the amusement of everyone who sat in the cafes in that Dutch
market square.

I've never had that sort of problem with handbrakes, short of the
cables snapping (very scary moment, commuting in London: front brake
cable snapped in two as I was approaching an intersection. fun!)

The only reason I ever preferred back-pedal brakes (coaster brakes) to
handbrakes is the ease with which I can induce a rear-wheel skid on a
coaster-brake bike. It was great when I was a kid--hammer down the
street, fast as you can, lock up the rear brake, and slide the bike as
far sideways as you dared.

I just found back-pedal brakes much much easier to operate because
when required the reflex is instantaneous and intuitive, whereas
handbrakes, in my experience, required some quickness of mental
reflexes to move fingers from resting on the steering bars to the the
handbrakes then pressing, either that or keeping them on the
handbrakes all the time, which wasn't comfortable.

Quoted message said:

-Luigi

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Pete said:

Local Bike Shop Use Budget

yeesh. Local Bike Shop Use Credit Card

to OP, how far is your commute? where do you live? all year? what kind
of shape are you in? what do you mean by recreation? what is your

budget?

Quoted message said:

do you care about performance/going fast?

'Budget' = credit card if that falls within the OP's limit and method of
spending on the bike
'Use' = how are you going to use the bike

yeesh. not everyone wants to spend a bundle on a bike. Especially on a first
bike. And from the OP's description of his riding skills, I'd fully agree on
not spending a whole lot.

That description is of the first and only time i rode a bike as an
adult. When I was a kid i had an older (and only) brother who had a
bad bad accident while on a bike, and as a result my parents never
wanted me to have a bike. I got to ride one once that a neighbour kid
had, but had my parents seen it they would've freaked out.

Quoted message said:

Pete

(Mike Henley) said:

I just found back-pedal brakes much much easier to operate because
when required the reflex is instantaneous and intuitive, whereas
handbrakes, in my experience, required some quickness of mental
reflexes to move fingers from resting on the steering bars to the the
handbrakes then pressing, either that or keeping them on the
handbrakes all the time, which wasn't comfortable.

It requires no more mental quickness than using your feet, and the
brakes are better-modulated at that. Slowing down with handbrakes
lets you control the degree to which the brake is engaged to a MUCH
finer degree than coaster brakes.

If I'm riding flat handlebars, I've got my fingers on the brake levers
all or most of the time. I worked that out when I was about six, and
it's not been a big deal.

You shouldn't have a death-grip on the handlebars.

How long has it been since you've ridden a bicycle?

-Luigi

(Mike Henley) said:

I'm considering buying a bike for commuting and recreation. I'll
mostly use it on roads. I have no intention to go on other terrains.
I'd like it to be light and fast, and above all, I'd like to be very
comfortable as the last time I rode a bike, rented in Amsterdam, my
butt hurt so bad i had to stop. Also it made me aware that I prefer
the brakes to be in the pedals, operated by feet, rather than those
hand-operated ones on the steering that made me slam into a metal post
much to the amusement of everyone who sat in the cafes in that Dutch
market square.

Thanks

Try to find a Breezer dealer in your area. Look at the Town models-

http://www.breezerbikes.com/

Many other bike companies have added simple bikes with coaster brakes
to their lines.

Shimano makes a hub that has internal gears and a coaster brake
option-

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html

Your best bet when it comes to brakes would be a hub like this with a
coaster brake, and a handbrake on front. With more experience you will
learn how to use the front brake. It's a much better brake all in
all... you can look over this article to get an idea why-

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

But a coaster brake, if it gets you on a bike to begin with, is a
possibility. No sense buying what is 'correct' if you won't ever ride
it!

More than anything, find a good bike shop to deal with.

Mike Henley said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Pete <[email hidden]> wrote:

>Local Bike Shop Use Budget

yeesh. Local Bike Shop Use Credit Card

to OP, how far is your commute? where do you live? all year? what kind
of shape are you in? what do you mean by recreation? what is your

budget?

Quoted message said:

do you care about performance/going fast?

'Budget' = credit card if that falls within the OP's limit and method of
spending on the bike
'Use' = how are you going to use the bike

yeesh. not everyone wants to spend a bundle on a bike. Especially on a first
bike. And from the OP's description of his riding skills, I'd fully agree on
not spending a whole lot.

That description is of the first and only time i rode a bike as an
adult. When I was a kid i had an older (and only) brother who had a
bad bad accident while on a bike, and as a result my parents never
wanted me to have a bike. I got to ride one once that a neighbour kid
had, but had my parents seen it they would've freaked out.

That's kind of a strong reaction, just how bad of an accident was it?
Broken limbs? Internal injuries? Head trauma?

My mom was an ICU nurse for a long time; she actually brought my brother
and me to work with her once to show us a kid who'd run into a telephone
pole at high speed on his bike. His head trauma was severe. I don't
remember the outcome. She did it more as a cautionary for my brother,
who was far more reckless on a bike than I've ever been, but she didn't
even try to forbid bikes.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

Pete said:

Your butt will break in eventually,

True, got to ride a few days to get use to a bike.
And swapping saddles/seats is always an option.
Springs and gel might be a good idea here.

---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon

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

Quoted message said:

On 6 Aug 2004 07:17:50 -0700, [email hidden] (Mike Henley) wrote:

Quoted message said:

How long has it been since you've ridden a bicycle?

-Luigi

Two years. Before that I'd only ridden a bike once.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That description is of the first and only time i rode a bike as an
adult. When I was a kid i had an older (and only) brother who had a
bad bad accident while on a bike, and as a result my parents never
wanted me to have a bike. I got to ride one once that a neighbour kid
had, but had my parents seen it they would've freaked out.

That's kind of a strong reaction, just how bad of an accident was it?
Broken limbs? Internal injuries? Head trauma?

My mom was an ICU nurse for a long time; she actually brought my brother
and me to work with her once to show us a kid who'd run into a telephone
pole at high speed on his bike. His head trauma was severe. I don't
remember the outcome. She did it more as a cautionary for my brother,
who was far more reckless on a bike than I've ever been, but she didn't
even try to forbid bikes.

-km

Well, I was a kid when that happened so i don't really remember the
details and it wasn't talked about much. But I think he wandered off
on his bike at night and there was either some construction site or
some road works in a dark, unlit area and he fell down some hole and
was stabbed or impaled by a steel rod that stood down that hole. And
he had to crawl back to the main road where some some guy in his car
noticed him, picked him up and took him straight to hospital.
something like that.

Bob Anderson said:

Pete said:

Your butt will break in eventually,

True, got to ride a few days to get use to a bike.
And swapping saddles/seats is always an option.
Springs and gel might be a good idea here.

---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon

A sturdy and firm saddle that fits will likely be better in the long
run. It's all about fitting. saddle width, saddle height and fore and
aft position... handlebar reach and height... Fit is a complex thing,
especially as it changes as our bodies change.

Just my two cents worth.
Bernie

Bernie said:

Bob Anderson said:

Pete said:

Your butt will break in eventually,

True, got to ride a few days to get use to a bike.
And swapping saddles/seats is always an option. Springs and gel might
be a good idea here.

---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon

A sturdy and firm saddle that fits will likely be better in the long
run. It's all about fitting. saddle width, saddle height and fore and
aft position... handlebar reach and height... Fit is a complex thing,
especially as it changes as our bodies change.

I've done gel saddles. I've got one on my hybrid. It's comfortable
for, oh, 10-15 miles, depending. Then it starts putting pressure on
tender bits, and at 20 miles, I'm in misery.

When I buy a road bike, hopefully some time in the next month, it's NOT
going to have a gel saddle. I'm seriously considering a leather saddle,
since I still have fond memories of the leather saddle on my first road
bike -- it was very comfortable after it broke in.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

the black rose said:

Bernie said:

Bob Anderson said:

On Fri, 06 Aug 2004 00:36:24 GMT, "Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote:

> Your butt will break in eventually,
>

True, got to ride a few days to get use to a bike.
And swapping saddles/seats is always an option. Springs and gel
might be a good idea here.

---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon

A sturdy and firm saddle that fits will likely be better in the long
run. It's all about fitting. saddle width, saddle height and fore
and aft position... handlebar reach and height... Fit is a complex
thing, especially as it changes as our bodies change.

I've done gel saddles. I've got one on my hybrid. It's comfortable
for, oh, 10-15 miles, depending. Then it starts putting pressure on
tender bits, and at 20 miles, I'm in misery.

That's my experience as well - using stock 'comfort' saddles. The
energy sucking squishyness kills the butt muscles. The comfort feature
makes ride painful and exhausting. Same goes for gel gloves - aagh!

Quoted message said:

When I buy a road bike, hopefully some time in the next month, it's
NOT going to have a gel saddle. I'm seriously considering a leather
saddle, since I still have fond memories of the leather saddle on my
first road bike -- it was very comfortable after it broke in.

-km