anyone here have/ride a bicycle?

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hello! I haven't ridden a bicycle since I was a pre-teen. I'll probably need training wheels if I decide to buy one! I would be wanting it for exercise... not really commuting. I live too far from anything to really ride a bike (not to mention I've only had my 99 Accord coupe for two months and even though it's awful on gas I'm still having too much fun driving it). It's been about 10 years since I've had (or ridden) one so I don't really know what's out there as far as bikes go.

I'd just be riding it around my apartment complex for exercise and something to do, so I don't know if I should get a cruiser or a mountain bike. Should I get something brand new but not as good quality or look for something used, but higher end on Craig's List? I'm 6 feet tall, what diameter tires should the bike I choose have? I'd want to spend as close to 100 dollars as possible... I don't to invest a lot because I don't know if I'll stick with it.

Do you think it would fit in the trunk of my car, or would I need to buy a special rack or something to transport it?

Anyone here ride a bike regularly? What should I consider? Any brands/features to seek or stay away from?

As always, thanks )

 

[neptunebob]

I do!

Actually, mostly for recreation but I have a Raleigh road bike that I recieved from my macho athletic brother in law that cost about 350 new. Stay away from the Huffy bikes at Wal Mart, they are heavy and cannot be repaired. Go to a good bike shop, they will be able to find the right size. This bike does not fit in a car without removing the back wheel, kind of a pain but it can be done without tools. It's hard to commute in the Pittsburgh area becuase of our mountainous terrain, but I have seen more bikes in other cities that are more level. Still there are some bike commuters here (they must have a very high fitness level). Get a mountain or hybrid bike if you want to go in the dirt and a cruiser for pavement.

 

[thomasortega]

I love to use a bike to go to the supermarket, bakery or somewere else close to my home.
It's my contribution to a better planet and also save some gas.

Here in my city there are many lanes exclusive for bikes and the drivers do respect a lot the bikers.

My other contribution is reduce the dryer and the washers use. Now i prefer to use my affinity washer (sometimes one of my other 6 washers) and dry the clothes in the line instead of using the dryer. (our hot and dry weather is perfect for it and i also save a lot in energy bills.)

Dishwasher is other thing. we have one of the best water in the world, but it's not a reason for me to spend it without responsability. I always wait the dw to be completelly full before running it and i never wash the dishes manually (except those delicate items or heavily dirty pans.)

think globally! this is the best way to protect our world and save A LOT of money.

 

[dalangdon]

I have a bike, and ride it for recreation, but as soon as our light rail system opens, I will become a bicycle commuter.

Although I work very close to where I live (less than two miles) it's downhill going to work, but very much uphill coming home. (Just looking at it makes me feel like having a heart attack ;-)

When light rail opens, I will be able to ride my bike to work. Coming home, I will ride a few (flat) block to the light rail station, and one stop later, I will have a two block downhill ride home. I can't wait - especially since our parking lot at work is being basically removed due to a freeway expansion.

 

[qsd-dan]

Either your 99 accord has a V6 or you need to lay off the loud pedal. I get 32 MPG of pure town driving in my 99 accord.

 

[sudsmaster]

Like QSD Dan said, mileage depends greatly upon how you drive. Once the fun wears off, if you stick to low top speeds and leisurely acceleration, and plan your stops, you can greatly boost mileage. I'm getting 26 mpg combined in my Chrysler, and up to 30 mpg on straight highway cruising at 55-60 mph. But it's a big car and all city stop and go driving will drop that down to 18 mpg or less.

For combined biking I think the most economical and flexible choice would be a mountain type bike. They come in various sizes and you can also get a longer seat post if needed. I would recommend getting one with quick release axle nuts, so that you can take off the front wheel to stow the bike in your car's trunk. You might also need to take off the rear wheel, which can get messy if the chain's not clean, but you should keep your chain clean anyway, and after a few times and some strategically placed shop rags or paper towels, one can dismoutn and mount the rear wheel without getting soiled.

I've gotten a few mountain bikes at Costco and they have been generally good. However they also seem to be made for shorter people (I'm not tall and I had to get a longer seat post on one I got there), but perhaps the selection these days is more suited to the taller rider. And of course a bike shop will have a larger selection, albeit at higher prices.

Road bikes are great for longer distances on paved roads but they may be more difficult to stow in a trunk and of course they are useless in the dirt. But it may be possible to find a taller bike in the road bike design.

 

[laundromat]

I have never driven any ype of vehicle except for a bicycle.I had epilepsy(grand maul,petit maul, and psycho motor sezures)for 31 years and couldn't get a driver's license.I had experimental surgery done (left temporolobectomy)in 1989 which cured me but by then,after seeing how dangerous vehicles on the road are as well as never needing to pay insurance or any other driving expenses(gas especialy)I had no inerest in ever driving.Now that gas is so high,I look at those who are able to ride a bike instead of driving a car and shake my head feeling sorry for them wasting all that money to drive just a few miles that they could easily peddle a bike to.I have baskes tha hold up to 8 shopping bags of groceries and punture resistant tubes and ires tha eliminate the fear of a flat.just yesterday,I rode 56 miles total from my home to Westheimer Rd where the antique stores are and rode back.3.25 hours all together.I had plenty of cold water in my cooler that folds down in the freezer to chill.I put 4 2 liter bottles of water in it.The water stayed ice cold the entire trip and I poured it over my entire body as well as drink it to keep cool and maintain my fluids.I truly believe that if more people would take their bikes to work and back insead of driving the car,not only would gas prices go down but our bodies would wind up in better condition.I do not ride the sidewalks,it's illeagle,I ride the road.If I get hunked at,I wave like I know them.I have a Schwinn 21 speed Pioneer mountain bike with headlights,tail lights and turn signal lights.I also have a loud bell ringer to warn everybody I'm on the road.I do not wear a helmit.I do wear a bandana to absorb the sweat and keep it out of my eyes.I found a 1964 Electrolux vacuum for $3!It fit perfectly in my baskets.It needs the hose replaced.It works o.k. but there are holes inside(it has the cloth exterior)which take away he suction.But,otherwise,it works great.Anybody here have the hose?

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

My Accord

Is indeed a V6. If I'd known what gas prices were going to do, I'd have looked for a 4 cylinder. I've only ever had 4 cylinders before this car! I do drive conservatively, but with a V6 it's hard to get good mileage. I'm still glad I took the advice of my friends here and opted NOT to get an Olds Alero

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

back to bikes )

Thanks for the bike advice. I have ridden on a cruiser before, and I very much like the upright seating. However, I do want to be able to change gears. Maybe a hybrid should be what I look for. I checked some bike stores online, but they seem pretty pricey, so I may look for a good used one instead.

Is it law to wear a helmet? I couldn't find out online.

Thanks!

 

[volvoguy87]

Bikes...

Bicycles are a bit of a passion of mine. But which one is right for you? Unfortunately, most are wrong.

First, for $100.00, you won't really be able to get anything of acceptable quality new, but that's ok because there are many used bikes that are great and cheap. If you want to do serious road-biking, get a road bike. If you want to do serious mountain biking, get a mountain bike. For general purpose riding, I would go one of two ways...

Balloon tire cruiser like a classic Schwinn with a single-speed rear hub with an integrated coaster brake. If you want one of these, ask where it was purchased new. If it was any place but a bike shop, walk away. Wal-Mart sells a low-end Schwinn and Schwinn clones, but they are very poorly made.

My personal choice is a 3-speed. I ride a 1952 Raleigh Dawn Tourist. It is a Raleigh (made in england) with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed rear hub. Most 3-speed bikes out there have Sturmey Archer "AW" hubs. They have only 3 speeds, but the AW is a wide-ratio hub. The range is more than sufficient for casual riding and some hills. Mine is perfect for cruising at about up to 15 miles per hour.

Advantages:
A classic English 3-speed, (like a Raleigh) isn't too heavy. It's certainly lighter and more nimble than a classic balloon-tire cruiser. Yes, there are lighter, faster, and more nimble bikes out there, but I have found the Raleighs to be perfect for casual riding. The seating position is among the best I have found. On road bikes and mountain bikes I find that riders ride bent over with the seat shoved up their neither-regions. On an English 3-speed, you sit upright, which is better for your back, and you sit on your cheeks, and not rolled forward onto sensitive parts. The Sturmey Archer AW is one of the most reliable gear-systems ever made (AW production started in 1936 and is still going). My 1952 has not given me any trouble, and all I have had to do is occasionally oil it (There is an oil nipple on the hub) and install a new gear-cable and adjust it (about 10 minutes).

Disadvantages:
Raleigh stopped selling 3-speeds in the USA in 1980, so you will have to get a used one. Many bike shops are afraid of Sturmey Archer hubs, believing them to be overly-complicated and a pain to work on. Internally geared hubs, like the AW, are fully enclosed and significantly more reliable than derailleurs (exposed grears). Sadly, internal hub-gears are no longer common and many bike shops look down on unfamiliar technology and view it as obsolete.

I would push STRONGLY for a Raleigh. They are very easy to live with and a joy to ride. No special clothing, shoes, or anything else required (except a good helmet).

Since you are new to biking I would highly recommend you do some reading on the website of the late Sheldon Brown. His writings can give you some very useful perspective on riding. Specifically, read the sections on "Beginners" and read the 3-speed stuff in "Old Bikes." Somewhere, there's a "Care and Feeding" section on 3-speed hubs. He also has links to Harris Cyclrey in West Newton, MA, where he worked. Harris Cyclrey is the place from which I order all the English 3-speed parts I need. They are truly great to deal with and make caring for my ancient bicycle easy, fun, affordable, and possible.

My Raleigh has been on the road for 55+ years, that says something about their design and quality!
Dave

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

 

[sudsmaster]

Some mileage tricks:

If it's an automatic, your options are more limited. But if it's a manual or an automatic with a manual shift mode (like mine), try shifting into the highest gear that will still accelerate the car as needed. When slowing for a stop sign or a red light, always shift into the highest gear. Let the car's momentum carry to the stop. Use the brakes as little a possible. On the freeway or highway, pick the lowest speed that is still safe (around here it's 55), and try to anticipate when you need to slow. To slow, just let off the accelerator well before you might otherwise use the brakes. Using the brakes basically costs gas mileage, because you have to use gas to get up to speed again. Coasting to a stop or slowing uses what energy you already paid for to do the work. Of course stop and go will never be as efficient as a constant speed, but these tricks help. I can monitor my car's mileage because it's got an overhead readout of real-time gas mpg, as well as average mpg since the tank was filled and the average mpg was reset.

If you can do without it, as in the mornings, shut off the A/C. It will eat up a couple MPG just by being on. When it's hot, and the terrain is hilly, try turning on the A/C when going downhill (it will help slow the car slightly) and then shut it off going uphill or on the flats. That is, if your passengers will allow this ;-).

Remove all excess weight from the car, especially if you're doing stop and go.

Keep the tires inflated to the recommended pressure. Usually this is about 32 lbs.

When in gridlock on the highway, maintain a steady average slow speed. Try not to dart ahead and then brake. This eats gas very quickly. Drive like a big rig truck driver - they know exactly how to maximize their fuel economy - and they leave plenty of space ahead of them so they can coast to the next jam, and hope that it's cleared by the time they get there.

OK, enough lecture on the subject. It got near and dear to me when I started my new job and the commute jumped from 2 miles to 22 miles. And the skyrocketing cost of gas of course drove it home. I get some consolation in that the lousy 13 mpg I was getting for the 2 mile commute is now 26 mpg for the 22 mile one. I'm still paying for more gas, but it just feels better to have achieved better mileage.

 

[panthera]

I ride

here in Munich, not so much in the 'States. Fort Collins has licensing fees and a police department which sees bicyclists as one step down from hobos. Cheyenne has like two feet of bike lane...
But I will be riding more this summer.
The sort of bike you get depends on the type of streets you will be riding on. Here in Munich, we have sunken street car tracks and those thin tires everybody likes so much lead to serious problems. So like it or not, we have wide tires.
I have a standard 7 speed, aluminum frame with thorn-proof tires and really good brakes. The saddle cost a small fortune, but is anatomically correct and boy, you sure can feel the difference...guess what part of your body you are really riding on on a normal saddle...look it up, it ain't what you would expect!
Theft is a major problem, so I have a really good lock.
In the 'States, your biggest problem is going to be motorists who aren't used to bikes anymore and the jerks who want to run you off the road. I'd definitely get a good helmet, but not one of those stupid aero-dynamic things, and unless you are built, please not those hideous lycra riding clothes. Funny, the only guy I know who has the build for them is a professional runner...and he bikes around town in an old sweat-shirt and baggies.
Raleigh are wonderfully uncomplicated and unkaputtbar, easy to fix but frequently overpriced, sadly. Schwinn are underrated by the "in-set" and, frankly, probably just fine for starting out. I had a hand made Panasonic in San Francisco and I needed it with those hills. The gearing was specifically laid out for them, too and it sure helped.
By all means go to a professional shop and have them measure you and set up the bike's handlebars, saddle, etc. to your body. It makes an awful big difference.
Have fun!
Oh, and please don't ask your dog to run with you. Gosh, I hate it when I see that. Dogs weren't built for that.
On a sadder note, if you already know your bike will probably be stolen or trashed, just get and old beater that won't hurt so much to lose. And be sure to carry pepper spray or whatever is legal in your town with you...some dogs and some two-legged rats can sure be nasty.

 

[rp2813]

I'd advise you to visit a bike shop and take different types of bikes out for a test drive. I'd also recommend that while you're riding each bike, turn your head to look behind you. When I first had my mountain bike and did that, I nearly lost control due to the sensitive steering. If I had it to do over I'd get a more clunky cruiser as overall it would be a more comfortable riding experience.

Meanwhile, I have what I believe is an early 50's (if not older) Phillips 3-speed waiting for the dust to be blown off over in my mom's garage. It was my daily driver as a kid and paper boy. It's almost 100% original. My cousin bought it at a police auction of unclaimed items back in the 60's and I bought it from her for $10 later that same decade.

 

[spankomatic]

Safety First

I haven't ridden a bicycle since I was a pre-teen. I'll probably need training wheels if I decide to buy one!

Get a H E L M E T! Then have FUN!

 

[laundromat]

I have owned the Raleigh,Trek,Giant and Schwinn bicycles.All of them were great mounain bikes but the Schwinns were a lot less problematic.The Raleighs had faulty gear shifters and needed maintanance more than any others.The Treks were wonderful but got stolen no matter what type or syle of lock I used.One night,this kid followed me home from the park and after I locked up my bike and went inside,he stripped it of all the parts he could get off of it that weren't locked up and lef the carcus.Same with the Giant.No matter where I'd go,if I didn't remove the front wheel or the seat,It would dissapear.The Schwinns were less mainanance,fewer repairs and I had two of the Frontear models that lasted me 12 years in central Florida (Orlando).I moved here to Houston and in 3 months,my Schwinn go stolen in front of a Radio Shack.One of the ushers at my church said his sons had bikes they no longer used.I went and looked and one of them was a Schwinn like the ones I had but newer.He gave it to me and bought me the large metal dual basket for the back.It's great and I know that Walmart carries them but I'm not sure about the quality of the models they have.

 

[rp2813]

Schwinn

So a Schwinn isn't necessarily a Schwinn depending on where you buy it?

Luuuuuucy, you have some 'splainin to do . . .

 

[foraloysius]

Here's mine. It's mainly for commuting.

 

[foraloysius]

This is my second bike. It's in Rotterdam now where I stay often with a friend of mine. I love riding around Rotterdam.

 

[volvoguy87]

Louis, I LOVE your bike!

Your primary bike is not too far off from my 1952 Raleigh. I am missing the full chain case (damn!). Mine has rod-operated rubber rim brakes, but if I was looking for a new one I would go for rod-operated drum brakes like you have. I really like the recently-released Sturmey Archer XFDD front hub (drum brake + generator in the hub).

There are VERY few places in the US which import bikes like that. If you can even find one new, they start around $1,200.00 (and are worth every penny).

I am envious, ride safely,
Dave

 

[johnb300m]

Bikes

The link shows my bike and stats. I bought it in Sept. 07 and it's the best bike i've ever ridden.
If you're just looking for a commuter/touring bike, this might be too agressive for ya. I bought this cuz I like to ride around town and take it on the backwood trails too.

My biggest point of advice i can share is DO NOT buy your bike from Target or WalMart. I don't think you'll like it. Those aren't serious bikes; more like toys.

Go to a dedicated bike store and tell them what you'd mainly use it for and they'll be more than happy to fit you and choose a bike that would best meet your needs.
They can recommend helmets and bike racks for your car too.

Good Luck!

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6000/