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Tell me about your bicycle

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 29 2009 12:07 PM

I have the same bike I had when the Mets last won the World Series. It's a Cannondale SR400 racing bike with a wide aluminum frame, white. My friend worked at the store where I bought it, in the summer of 1985, for something like $325 cash, which is at least what I could get for it today. Other than the handlebars being re-wrapped, and the cables (but not components) being replaced, it's all original and still runs great: It's extremely light and wants to fly. On the downside, it requires that hunched over riding position and the frame is rather stiff -- like putting your ass down on an earthquake. Also, the rims/tires don't much get along with the city streets. Tell me about your bike: What make/style, how long have you had it, what do you like/not like about it?

Chad Ochoseis Sep 29 2009 03:30 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

A Brompton M3L folding bike that I bought two years ago The good: It folds. Smallest folding bike there is - it folds down to a square about 2 1/2 feet on each side, and about six inches deep. Once in a rare while, I can use it to commute to work. I live in Jersey and, when I work in the city, my office is near Madison Square Garden. So a full bike commute is out of the question - I have to take PATH across the river. When folded, the bike fits on a PATH train without any problems, and I can bring it into my office building with no questions asked. Doesn't ride badly. Reminiscent of the Schwinns of my '70s childhood. I really admire the engineering skill that went into it. The handlebar bag snaps on, snaps off, and acts as a handle for the bike when folded. The saddlepost locks the whole bike into place. The pedals fold inwards for easy transport. When stopped for a few minutes, you can fold the rear wheel inward, and the bike stays stable - it's like a built-in kickstand. I can fold it up and toss it in the back of my hatchback if I want to take it somewhere. No dealing with bike racks or removing wheels so that it fits in a car. The cool factor of riding this bike is almost high enough to offset the nerd factor of driving a hatchback. I've gotten all sorts of "hey, great bike" remarks from other cyclists. The bad: It's not cheap. In fact, it's ridiculously expensive - cost me something in the area of $1,500. I can't honestly say I've gotten $1,500 of pleasure out of it. It's not fast. Most of the "hey, great bike" remarks I've gotten have come from kids as they've zoomed past me on their normal bikes. It's not light. So the fold-and-lug idea isn't as simple as it seems. Getting it from the WTC PATH stop up to the street is a major chore. It's got a hub style derailleur that has to be adjusted in a repair shop, and the two area repair shops that know about Bromptons are both in the city. Right now, the bike has a flat (fortunately, I was right next to my car when it flatted), and I'm not sure I'll be able to just remove the rear wheel and replace it myself like I would on an ordinary bike. Twelve-inch wheels. It's not easy to find quality tubes or tires for twelve-inch wheels. Only six speeds. Getting up hills is a little rough. The ugly: Well, it isn't. It's the best looking piece of machinery I own. So, all in all, not bad. But it costs big bucks, and it's not really a replacement for an ordinary bike. Still, not bad.

metsmarathon Sep 29 2009 05:14 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

i do not currently own a bicycle, but would need to change that were i ever to get myself into triathloning of any kind...

Frayed Knot Sep 29 2009 05:18 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

Aluminum frames were popular because they were light and strong, those thick tubes they required only made the thing look heavy. The problem - as you noted - is that they're also stiff and tend to transfer all the vibrations. They still exist although Carbon-Fiber composite has become the material of choice for a lot of frames these days - or titanium if you really want to spend. Light but also vibration-eating. No one would ever make a bell out of carbon fiber. I do the thin-tire, drop-handlebar, racing-style thing because nothing beats them for speed and distance - but I tend to do very little city riding. The third gear sprocket up front used to be derided as a 'granny-gear' (as in only a granny needs one) but they're virtually standard equipment now as gives you several 'lower-than-low' gears for particularly nasty hills. You won't need it for 99% of your city riding but it's great to have when you do need it. Gear shifters built into the brake handles (or sometimes the bar ends) are another upgrade since your model so you can shift without your hands leaving the handlebars.

Kong76 Sep 29 2009 05:32 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

Schwinn from the very early 80's, and a Giant I got about 4-5 years ago. I remember posting about it in some thread. It's got fat tires, 21 gears, the straight handle bars, and a seat that doesn't make your ass sore for four days if you spend an hour on it. The Schwinn is in the attic, I just checked on her.

metirish Sep 29 2009 05:37 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

We have two Schwinn bikes that are hanging in the garage.....I know, what a waste...

soupcan Sep 29 2009 07:20 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

Trek Madone 5.5. Bought it this past August as un upgrade to my 8 year-old Trek 2200. I ride it a lot, anywhere from 15 - 40 miles each time I take the bike out. I don't ride it in the City and only ride for excercise/recreation. Its all carbon fiber which makes it incredibly light. I live in an area with lots of long steep hills, so a light bike like this makes those rides a lot more enjoyable. Earlier this month I did a 3-day ride totalling over 200 miles.

Rockin' Doc Sep 29 2009 09:08 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

I haven't owned a bike since I started college in 1978. I'm sure some of my friends likely own bikes, but I can't remember ever seeing one in any of their garages. We're all just lazy southerner's I guess.

The Second Spitter Sep 30 2009 01:31 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="Frayed Knot"]Aluminum frames were popular because they were light and strong, those thick tubes they required only made the thing look heavy. The problem - as you noted - is that they're also stiff and tend to transfer all the vibrations. They still exist although Carbon-Fiber composite has become the material of choice for a lot of frames these days - or titanium if you really want to spend. Light but also vibration-eating. No one would ever make a bell out of carbon fiber.

Carbon frames tend to be harder to look after as well, and probably don't have the longevity of aluminium or titanium. Apart from the frame, the other thing you're paying for is the groupset which is basically all the bike's components apart from the wheels and pedals. Groupsets usually vary in price according to weight and durability, although the cost of replacement parts is far greater for higher end groupsets. [quote="Frayed Knot"]I do the thin-tire, drop-handlebar, racing-style thing because nothing beats them for speed and distance - but I tend to do very little city riding. I find it easier to ride this type of road bike in the city and in traffic because of their lower center of gravity (basically you can steer merely by shifting your weight from side-to-side, something you can't do on a MTB) I have three bikes; - This Pinarello with a Campagnolo Chorus groupset. - An older Trek road bike (aluminium) with a Shimano 105 groupset -- used primarily as a wet-weather and commuting bike. - A Giant MTB with Deore groupset which rarely sees the time of day.

metirish Sep 30 2009 06:58 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

Dublin this month launched a Bike rental scheme http://www.universityobserver.ie/2009/0 ... -a-prayer/ http://www.dublinbikes.ie/

TransMonk Sep 30 2009 07:11 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

I have a Raleigh hotrod that my biking buddy put together for me for my birthday. It's a lot cooler bike than I should have since I don't use it as much as I should. I don't have a car, but 80% of the places I go (work, studio, bar, girlfriend's place) are all within a five block radius of my apartment...so I typically walk. I did do a biking trip this past weekend...17 miles on Saturday and 17 back on Sunday after camping. It was a pretty cool trail on an old railroad bed. It was the first time I really used the bike other than bumming around town and it handled remarkably well.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 30 2009 09:30 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="soupcan"] Trek Madone 5.5. Bought it this past August as un upgrade to my 8 year-old Trek 2200. I ride it a lot, anywhere from 15 - 40 miles each time I take the bike out. I don't ride it in the City and only ride for excercise/recreation. Its all carbon fiber which makes it incredibly light. I live in an area with lots of long steep hills, so a light bike like this makes those rides a lot more enjoyable. Earlier this month I did a 3-day ride totalling over 200 miles.

Soup, that's a gorgeous ride. Love the widely spaced spokes. I don't really have the $$ or the storage space for a second bike right now but just the same would like one that would be appropriate for tasks like commuting to work etc. Maybe I'll look on Craigslist.

Frayed Knot Sep 30 2009 09:53 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="Triple Dee":oqi2cwcs][quote="Frayed Knot":oqi2cwcs]I do the thin-tire, drop-handlebar, racing-style thing because nothing beats them for speed and distance - but I tend to do very little city riding.[/quote:oqi2cwcs] I find it easier to ride this type of road bike in the city and in traffic because of their lower center of gravity (basically you can steer merely by shifting your weight from side-to-side, something you can't do on a MTB)[/quote:oqi2cwcs] Yeah, the only problem with the skinny tire bikes in the city is the potholes big enough for families of five to live in that you come across (I think it's mandatory to say 'not literally' here) every once in a while. And even if you avoid those it's more the longevity thing that might make you want to go to a more tank-like bike for urban commuting where speed and distance aren't your main concerns. I've done several 40-100 mile rides in NYC but on most of those were on the more bike-friendly roads thru the boroughs.

soupcan Sep 30 2009 09:58 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":36qfxbv0]Soup, that's a gorgeous ride. Love the widely spaced spokes. I don't really have the $$ or the storage space for a second bike right now but just the same would like one that would be appropriate for tasks like commuting to work etc. Maybe I'll look on Craigslist.[/quote:36qfxbv0] Thanks. It really is a sweet ride. The tour I did a few weeks is the same one I've done every year for the past 8 years. Its mostly the same group of 30-40 people that do it so they all know the type of rider I am (translation - not as good as them). This year, they all noticed a significant improvement in my speed on the flats and my climbing. I have to say that while those aspects of my cycling did improve - it was all because of the bike. Its a pretty expensive ride but my best friend from junior high owns a bike shop in Great Neck and he gave me a really amazing deal on it.

The Second Spitter Oct 01 2009 02:54 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="Frayed Knot":2gslghwx] Yeah, the only problem with the skinny tire bikes in the city is the potholes big enough for families of five to live in that you come across (I think it's mandatory to say 'not literally' here) every once in a while. And even if you avoid those it's more the longevity thing that might make you want to go to a more tank-like bike for urban commuting where speed and distance aren't your main concerns. I've done several 40-100 mile rides in NYC but on most of those were on the more bike-friendly roads thru the boroughs.[/quote:2gslghwx] That's a fair point. Another reason some people prefer to MTBs to commute is that they're easier to jump over gutters onto footpaths. My view is that if you're put in the position where you need to do that, you shouldn't be commuting in the first place. But I actually found the roads in Manhattan to be fairly decent, and the emergence of a cycle lane network is especially pleasing to see.

Methead Oct 01 2009 08:08 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

I guess my bike is considered "retro" by mountain bike standards at this point. It's a Specialized Stumpjumper M2 that I bought back in 1993. I worked in a bike shop for a few summers, and during that time I replaced and upgraded damn near everything on it. Suspension forks, new rims/hubs, new shifters, all of it. I always loved riding trails but I got some slick tires for riding on roads too. Great bike, stable, yet responsive. I freakin' love it.

HahnSolo Oct 01 2009 08:58 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

I never learned how to ride a bike. My kids can, but I can't.

Vic Sage Oct 01 2009 09:01 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

the last bike i had was a sporty purple schwinn, with a banana seat and a fox tail. It had a baseball card in the spokes. I was 13. I was riding it on the boardwalk in coney island, when a bunch of kids jumped me and took it. I sort of lost interest in that form of locomotion thereafter

A Boy Named Seo Oct 01 2009 09:22 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="HahnSolo"]I never learned how to ride a bike. My kids can, but I can't.

Hahn, did you never want to learn how? I had a really sweet Electra 7-speed beach cruiser and it got stolen in the LBC. Two douche bag coppers spent half a day hitting on my chick pretending like they gave a shit about the stolen bike. Don't get murdered in Long Beach if a cute girl just lost her bike. The killer probably won't get caught. Mine looked kinda like this but it had a basket on the front that I'd put my beer and groceries in. I had a big, beautiful mirror on one of the handlebars and little Mexican flag valve caps on the tires. Think vato loco Pee-Wee Herman.

HahnSolo Oct 01 2009 10:16 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

I kind of wanted to, but I was hopelessly small and white growing up in the '70s Bronx. A bike would have been a luxury, and I think my parents had visions of an incident like Vic's boardwalk mugging. As a youngster, I rocked the Big Wheel, though. It's weird not being able to teach my kids how to ride.

soupcan Oct 01 2009 10:34 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

I grew up on Manhattan's upper west side and would ride my Huffy in Riverside Park during the week after school and in Central Park on the weekends. Getting jumped and getting your bike stolen was apparently a common occurence for us City kids. My friend Marcello and I were riding our bikes in Riverside one time and there were two kids riding on one bike that pulled up to us and told us to get off our bikes and give them to them or they'd beat the shit out of us. Marcello and I looked at them, looked at each other and we both realized at the same time that if we just sped away fast as we could on our own bikes that there was no way these little hoodlums could catch us. We took off with them yelling threats behind us.

Centerfield Oct 01 2009 01:54 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

Cool thread. I've been looking to get one and this may be the perfect place to bounce some ideas. A friend recommended I look at some Kona as a good "bang for your buck" type bike. What do you guys think? Is Kona good for a starter bike?

OlerudOwned Oct 01 2009 01:56 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

The seat adjustment thingy is worn so that if I apply weight to the back of the seat, the front of it pops up and slaps me in the nards. I really need to get on fixing that, because Athens is a great bike town.

Farmer Ted Oct 01 2009 02:10 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

Marin Pioneer Trail. Bought it in Chicago a few years back. Like the half knob tires, good for the road and trails.

metsmarathon Oct 01 2009 05:23 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="Centerfield":330unjmt]Cool thread. I've been looking to get one and this may be the perfect place to bounce some ideas. A friend recommended I look at some Kona as a good "bang for your buck" type bike. What do you guys think? Is Kona good for a starter bike?[/quote:330unjmt] what he said... being a big fan of both kona coffee and kona beer, adding kona bikes into the equation sounds appealing to me. how would an entry level kona compare to an entry level trek?

soupcan Oct 01 2009 08:23 PM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="Centerfield":3md1bcdn]Cool thread. I've been looking to get one and this may be the perfect place to bounce some ideas. A friend recommended I look at some Kona as a good "bang for your buck" type bike. What do you guys think? Is Kona good for a starter bike?[/quote:3md1bcdn] The thing I've learned about bikes is that there are LOTS of companies that make 'em. Go to your local bike shop and talk to them. If you're just looking for something to get started with, whatever brand names they carry are probably fine for your needs. Ask them lots of questions and if you buy from them, ask them about fitting you to the bike. That's a great service and can really do a lot to prevent any knee or back discomfort. Expect to drop several hundy for a nice crossover bike.

The Second Spitter Oct 02 2009 12:14 AM Re: Tell me about your bicycle

[quote="metsmarathon"][quote="Centerfield"]Cool thread. I've been looking to get one and this may be the perfect place to bounce some ideas. A friend recommended I look at some Kona as a good "bang for your buck" type bike. What do you guys think? Is Kona good for a starter bike?

what he said... being a big fan of both kona coffee and kona beer, adding kona bikes into the equation sounds appealing to me. how would an entry level kona compare to an entry level trek? Kona make very decent frames, although they're probably better known for MTBs than road bikes. I would say they're definitely better value for money than Trek, who along with Cannondale and Specialized mark-up their bikes commensurate to their marketing expenditures. You may want to compare Kona with Litespeed who also make cheaper, reliable frames. If you're after a road bike I wouldn't get it with anything less than a Shimano 105 groupset.