Biking

 

QUOTE=LittleShooey]

Originally posted by batmanwest  What year is it? You have a direct link to the CL ad? I promise not to poach it :)

[/QUOTE]



Shit... Don't I feel like a fool.

But to answer your question Nick..

For 500 that's not too bad. If I was in your shoes it might take me a while to decide. On one hand, the fastback would be a nice upgrade from your steelie (not that there is anything wrong with your Panasonic, it's just always nice to have a second, lighter, newer bike on hand) but on the other I am not the biggest fan of some of the components on the FB.  Tiagra is pretty decent, will work well for many years and stand up to some decent abuse. I am a huge fan of the 105 line, so that's cool you would have that for the RearD. But the frontD is pretty crap IMO. I can't find a ton of info on what comes with that bike, but I will assume the breaks are single pivot tiagra. Not bad, I had them on my bike for a year or so, but they can have a tendency to have tension issues. A lot. Also the front fork is sub-par, and while it says it's "carbon" the quality of carbon is on the low side and probably weights just as much as the next aluminum or even steel fork out there.

It just depends on how good of a wrench you are, and how much you know about bikes. In this case I probably would just hold off, and try to part together something a little more custom if I had 500 to drop on a bike. If your Panasonic is working well, you already have a bike to ride while you part together and build another rig. But at the same time spring has pretty much sprung and people will be asking a lot more for parts/frames/the like...Winter is the perfect time to build up a bike.

With all that being said, yes, 500 is a pretty solid price for a practically brand new, modern bike that you don't have to piece together. 

Originally posted by rzero Originally posted by derbytownjoe with such nice weather today, i decided to get my steed out and ride a few km down to my fave kiosk in the middle of the woods.... the first 10km sucked! the beer was good.... the return 10km were better, but still sucked.... my legs and my butt obviously arent used to being back in the saddle again.... 10km on what? pretty steep grade? Shouldn't be tired after 10k....step it up!

10k there and 10k back.... it was 20k!!!!

Seems like all bikes are selling for ridiculous prices these days.

I just want a simple road bike for commuting to work when it gets warmer.

Originally posted by Nick If there were a thanks button, I'd definitely use it, haha. Thanks for the insight! Really do want to start a build eventually, but I have no idea where to look for decent priced components.

No worries. It's technically my job now to know everything humanly possible about bikes. I have always known a decent amount, but being a wrench for a local shop I really got to be on my game.
It does take some money to get into building up bikes. That, or friends with lots of tools. As for decently priced parts, just getting to know and talk with the kids that work at your local shop (assuming you have one) is one of the best ways to start. That and just boning up on what parts are compatible to the type of frame you are working with.

Originally posted by EpicFail I have been on the trainer A LOT, and these are the tires I got with the bike ages ago.  I am pretty stoked about getting new ones put on (Continental).   Currently, I use a fluid trainer.  I have thought of rollers, but am totally afraid of falling off.  My friend does have one, and I might give it a go before one of my big rides.  My friend says that it's a great humbler and makes you realize how to ride smoothly quickly as it'll buck you if you don't.  If it does, I'll make sure to post pictures of the bruises

What conti's are you getting?

As for falling off rollers....it...it can happen. Hahah. But honestly it doesn't take long to get the feel for them. My biggest piece of advice is to ride next to a wall, and a tall chair on the opposite side. What am I talking about, you are married with kids. Make one of them be at your side, and balance off of them :)

Honestly though, when it comes down to it. I always try to just suit up for whatever kind of weather is going on when I want to ride, rather than break out the trainer. It adds a certain thickness of grit to your soul, in a good way.

DTJoe, nice ride man! Only thing is, you need to raise that seat up a little. Your legs shouldn't be that cramped when the petal is all the way down. 

BMW, here are the tires I have... http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/continental-grand-prix-4000 in yellow.

Originally posted by nots0kind I have the same tires ^^^ and they are great i got the red tread my bike is white and red all repainted and the color stays on the tire not painted on its a sick setup

Originally posted by batmanwest Man...that really, really sucks Nick. Sorry for your loss! Epic, those tires are solid. Used to rock them a few years ago (also in yellow) and they have fantastic flat protection. Also, once you get about 100 miles on them, they are super grippy. You can really lay the bike down with the 4000's. Right now I am rocking a Vittoria Open Corsa Evo on the front, and a Michelin Lithion on the rear (in the teal to match my bike). I love the combo, and will have a hard time ever switching. I used to rock the vittoria's on both wheels, but got way too many flats on my rear. I mean...they are a track tire with little to no flat protection, and I always had the PSI set around 135 like a jack ass. But once I put the Michelin on the rear, I haven't had a single flat in the rear in about 2 years. The sidewall grip on both is pretty insane. I can almost corner like a race motorcycle with these beasts!

BOOOOO!!!!

What is wrong with people!? So happy to hear you're okay though. 

Originally posted by Piranha Originally posted by rzero I got hit by an suv running a red today at lunch...time for a new bike :(   that sentence can be interpreted 2 ways.  You ran a red or he ran a red? anyway, unless the forks are completely ruined and irreplaceable, the bike just needs a new front wheel (?)

Even if the fork is thrashed, and judging from the photo it seems to be, there really isn't much reason to replace the bike.

There are far too many more factors to think about first though. It's pretty obvious, but all the welds, components, and straightness of tubes should be checked over. Most important being the weld points.
Actually, the most important thing is if the suv ran the red, that their insurance covers the damages to the bike. It can be a real pain in the ass sometimes to get the guilty party to pay up, but they need to pay if they are at fault.

Glad you aren't hurt man! Odds usually don't pan out the best for bikes when they meet cars. Is there any other noticeable damage to the bike rzero? 

Originally posted by sleeepili so ridiculous to think about how pricey some of the higher end bikes can get. i have a motorcycle for under 4k and that thing is just had a tad more on it. you know, like an engine, transmission, caliper brake system, suspension, etc....

Originally posted by Piranha Originally posted by rzero I got hit by an suv running a red today at lunch...time for a new bike :(   that sentence can be interpreted 2 ways.  You ran a red or he ran a red? anyway, unless the forks are completely ruined and irreplaceable, the bike just needs a new front wheel (?)

Originally posted by rzero End result, guy took care of getting something new to replace it. '12 Trek District w/ belt drive

Niiiice! Glad the dude didn't try to fight it, which seems to happen with almost every bike/auto crash I have ever heard of.

That's a sweet little ride you got now dude. I have always wanted to ride a belt driven bike, just never have had the chance. Such a slick design. Let us know what you think of the belt drive!

Jealous. Well...kinda, sucks you got hit, but just jealous of the new whip. 

Originally posted by LittleShooey BMW,  I'd put money down that you'd risk a broken foot for a new belt drive Trek.

Mayyyybe.

Nah, I don't need another road bike. I would risk a broken foot for this though..

EDIT: Image location didn't work. Here is a direct link to the bike I am pining over.. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=61539&scid=1100&scname=Mountain

Although, it doesn't have to be the s-works carbon edition....I would take a lower model in the same family
Really, really want a mtn bike now though, in all seriousness. Being around them all day, building/fixing them all day....it's killing me.

Originally posted by LittleShooey What's a carbon bike like offroad?  Besides light, higher risk of structural issue or does the super suspension basically wipe that element off the table? Also, $10K!? jeezus.

I have never ridden a carbon frame on the trails, but a few of my friends do and they love it. But really that's all I know about how it handles...is just that they like it.

With the amount of suspension travel a bike like that has, I would assume any vibration you normally get with carbon is not an issue. That..and you are riding off road, there is constant vibration. Structural issue is there...it is carbon and all, but I would once again assume the suspension would take care of a lot of that. But, with mtn. biking, you always have the higher risk of falling/crashing into something which could shatter a frame as opposed to steel or aluminum that could possibly get away with just a ding in the same crash.
At the same time though, carbon has come along way, and with a price tag of 10 large, you can bet that is some high-ass-quality carbon

And yeah...10k is..well..pretty insane. Like I said, I would settle with one of the lower end models in that family. A coworker and friend of mine just picked up the "Comp" version of this bike which goes for 3300. Much better price hahah. He got a hell of a deal on a closeout last year model, and picked his up for just under 1400. Such a sexy, sexy mud slingin machine. He got his in the "Captin 'Merica" paint scheme.

Originally posted by batmanwest Originally posted by rzero End result, guy took care of getting something new to replace it. '12 Trek District w/ belt drive Niiiice! Glad the dude didn't try to fight it, which seems to happen with almost every bike/auto crash I have ever heard of. That's a sweet little ride you got now dude. I have always wanted to ride a belt driven bike, just never have had the chance. Such a slick design. Let us know what you think of the belt drive! Jealous. Well...kinda, sucks you got hit, but just jealous of the new whip.

Schwinn 26' bike. :)

Originally posted by LittleShooey I am SOLD on Carbon! Wow, what a great batch of tests. Some epic failures, too. Okay, so maybe I won't be building off a carbon frame anytime soon but I've definitely learned something tonight.

Originally posted by rzero Back in action!

my old bike was the aluminum you guys were mentioning but i now like the carbon too. It's just so much cleaner and nice overall. But still, after awhile i begin to not notice it anymore.

Originally posted by EpicFAIL Originally posted by rzero Back in action! Awesome!  Very pretty. I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback!!!

Originally posted by MTpow Originally posted by rzero Back in action! Thanks boss?