Advice for someone new to this

[JimF22003]

@mstone 82968 wrote:

Why is tapawingo getting the hate? I like tapawingo!

I like just SAYING Tapawingo.

Tapawingo. Tapawingo. Tapawingo!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@americancyclo 82912 wrote:

Here’s the route I would take. we were just looking at some of the townhouses near Vaden, so I was plotting out rides from around there. This route is pretty residential, avoids tapawingo and keeps you off Gallows. It’s also only 4 miles.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4508111

Great route.

[DismalScientist]

@dplasters 82965 wrote:

Just want to point out that I never said anything about a fixie.

Well, if you put the rear wheel on the Vilano Edge the “wrong” way, you got a fixie.:rolleyes:

My fixie has brakes too. But, I’m a poseur due to lack of facial hair.

I just mentioned Freshbikes if you needed to stop in for a quick repair. Jan at Bikinetics is a lot less intimidating.

[NicDiesel]

@dplasters 82965 wrote:

Just want to point out that I never said anything about a fixie. although I get that I may be splitting hairs on SS vs fixie. I will have brakes etc, I like being alive and well. Just looking to not spend so much and not purchase more bike than I need.

Just kidding around boss, no worries. Most of the fixie riders I see around town here in the Twin Cities have ridiculous calves and are in killer shape, hence my joke.

@dplasters 82965 wrote:

Freshbikes terrifies me. All I ever see there is super expensive Cannondale stuff. Sub 1k is a must.

Have you considered Spokes? When I was ultra-ultra-heavy (vs. my current state of just ultra-heavy) I didn’t want to go to any LBS but had to if I ever wanted to ride a bike again. My wife wanted to get a bike in the hopes of getting my active again and we stopped at the Spokes on Lee Highway in Fairfax. I don’t know if he’s still with Spokes or not but a guy named Carl really made my wife and I (both large people at time that a LOT of LBS wouldn’t help) feel welcomed and spent a lot of time with us to get a good bike for my wife. He also got me to bring my old crappy MTB in for a quick tune up which helped me get back on the bike.

When I killed that old, crappy MTB bike (definitely DO NOT get a MTB) I remembered my experience with Carl and checked out their store in Alexandria on Quaker Lane. For $950 (it was on sale) I rolled out of the store on this bad boy that I put 2,500 miles on before I got the right sized frame:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5307[/ATTACH]

I can’t speak to everyone’s experience with Spokes or any of the other LBS, but as a super size rider (~400lbs) during my tenure in DC I never had a bad experience with Spokes, I can’t say the same about some other shops that shall remain nameless.

[NicDiesel]

@dplasters 82965 wrote:

Just want to point out that I never said anything about a fixie. although I get that I may be splitting hairs on SS vs fixie. I will have brakes etc, I like being alive and well. Just looking to not spend so much and not purchase more bike than I need.

Just kidding around boss, no worries. Most of the fixie riders I see around town here in the Twin Cities have ridiculous calves and are in killer shape, hence my joke.

@dplasters 82965 wrote:

Freshbikes terrifies me. All I ever see there is super expensive Cannondale stuff. Sub 1k is a must.

Have you considered Spokes? When I was ultra-ultra-heavy (vs. my current state of just ultra-heavy) I didn’t want to go to any LBS but had to if I ever wanted to ride a bike again. My wife wanted to get a bike in the hopes of getting my active again and we stopped at the Spokes on Lee Highway in Fairfax. I don’t know if he’s still with Spokes or not but a guy named Carl really made my wife and I (both large people at time that a LOT of LBS wouldn’t help) feel welcomed and spent a lot of time with us to get a good bike for my wife. He also got me to bring my old crappy MTB in for a quick tune up which helped me get back on the bike.

When I killed that old, crappy MTB bike (definitely DO NOT get a MTB) I remembered my experience with Carl and checked out their store in Alexandria on Quaker Lane. For $950 (it was on sale) I rolled out of the store on this bad boy that I put 2,500 miles on before I got the right sized frame:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5308[/ATTACH]

I can’t speak to everyone’s experience with Spokes or any of the other LBS, but as a super size rider (~400lbs) during my tenure in DC I never had a bad experience with Spokes, I can’t say the same about some other shops that shall remain nameless.

[dplasters]

Nice Bike Nic.

No offense was taken on the fixie comment. I think I developed a disorder. I accidently saw Premium Rush a few weeks ago when my wife found out that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in it and now I’m afraid if I dare use the word fixie I’ll be called a hipster or a poser… or something bad! So I’m being overly defensive about it… god bless.

I also like the word Tapawingo. I had never heard of it until today. I’m drawn to it…

[NicDiesel]

@dplasters 82984 wrote:

I accidently saw Premium Rush a few weeks ago when my wife found out that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in it.

You know, I thought that “Quicksilver” with Kevin Bacon and Louie Anderson(!) was bad, “Premium Rush” was worse, which is really saying something.

Getting back to bike recommendations – definitely check out the Specialized Tricross and Allez Comp models. Before I bought the Cross Check I almost bought a Tricross Sport Disc but I needed to save as much money as I could on the complete since I had to have a super strong wheelset built. The standard Tricross should be around $1,000 but you may be able to find a closeout of last year’s model for ~$800. Here are the current versions of the Tricross – http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/tricross. The Allez line is also really nice too and is a little cheaper, but the components aren’t as nice and I don’t think you get both sets of brakes (hoods and center bar).

Single speeds are great but if you’re going to be in any traffic or dealing with hills you probably really want to go with gears. The one thing I will say, and I say this from experience, is make sure you get something that fits right and does everything you want it to do. The last thing you want to do is get a bike, start riding it regularly, and then discover it’s the wrong size or that you really wanted something with a more relaxed fit (i.e. geometry). Also, don’t be afraid to try out tons of bikes to figure out what it is that you like and don’t like. At the $1000 price point there are a ton of great bikes out there, finding what fits you and your needs will be the biggest challenge.

Good luck and welcome to a wonderful world!

[baiskeli]

@NicDiesel 82981 wrote:

Have you considered Spokes?

Well, I would hope so. A bike without spokes probably wouldn’t work.

Okay, dumb joke over.

Just to add to the advice, dplasters – I’d pick a bike you’ll enjoy for more than the commute, since you’re sure to want to do longer rides on weekends.

Also, since 3.2 miles is a short commute, you have plenty of room to add distance to it by taking the optimum route. Don’t be afraid to circle around a little in search of a the safest and most scenic ride.

[guga31bb]

After moving last spring, I made it exactly 1.5 weeks of commuting on Lee Hwy before being hit by a car. Now I take a slightly longer route but I don’t feel like my life is in danger every afternoon.

[Steve O]

I cannot overemphasize how useful it is to have fenders on a commuter bike. Real fenders that curve over your wheels, not the straight ones that just stick out and pretend to protect your back from spray. I did not have fenders for years, and two days after I put them on I slapped myself silly for having been so stupid for so long (shut up, rcannon!). Every time there is any water on the trail I kiss my fenders at the end of the ride.

As you think about your bike, keep in mind that once you fall in love with bike commuting you will then start riding more than just your commute. Pretty soon you will be showing up at the Vienna Coffee Club, and next year you’ll be on a Freezing Saddles team, in which case you’ll be riding all the way in to partake of happy hours or riding laps at 11PM on March 19 around Hains Point. Then you’ll be doing the Sat morning Mosaic rides or Tri360 rides and you’ll see posts on here about some events, like the Vasa ride or a century, that sound like fun.

So the bike that’s perfect for your <5-mile commute may not be perfect for all that, too. Then you'll either be in the n+1 club or you'll be looking for one that works for short commutes and medium length rides, too. So you may want to get that second bike first.

Hope to see you at FCC!

[Greenbelt]

@baiskeli 83038 wrote:

Well, I would hope so. A bike without spokes probably wouldn’t work.

Pure Fix unveiled the first spokeless wheel earlier this month.

http://www.bikeistan.com/2014/04/pure-fix-goes-spokeless-with-nikola/

[n18]

I tried seeing how long it takes me to use the same route through Tapawingo, then to W&OD while using my bike at a single speed the whole way. Here is the path I took.

It took me 38 Minutes for the whole way, waited about 3 minutes at signals. Google Map suggests 35 minutes, so it’s spot on. Here are gear ratios for the two single speed bikes compared with the bike I am using:

Bike Gears Ratio

Spot Dualie 50:24 2.083
Vilano EDGE 46:16 2.875
Fuji Crosstown 48:14 3.429
[/CODE]

Spot Dualie is the easiest(and slowest), while Vilano EDGE is harder, but faster. I configured my Fuji Crosstown to be as close as possible to Vilano EDGE, using gear ratio 38:14, or 2.714. At Tapawingo, I had to stand and peddle 2 to 3 times, but wasn’t very hard, I could live with it if my bike was stuck in that gear ratio. However, stopping and restarting at intersections, especially in the middle of an uphill, or roads intersecting the W&OD require standing and peddling. With a multi-gear bike, I don’t need to do that.

My conclusion: I think after you try a single speed bike, you are not going to wish that(well, may be 2 or 3 times):

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can climb hills easier.

But rather than that, you will probably wish for this 100 times:

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can go faster in this flat area or this down hill(There are too many of them).

After leaving the W&OD and heading south on Gallows road, I reached my top speed within seconds, so there was little point in peddling.

Like others said, you will find yourself tempted to use it more than just for commuting. Your commuting is small relative to what many here do. I do about 20 to 30 Miles per day when I use it, and I don’t feel fatigued until after about 2 to 3 hours. So for your commute, it almost doesn’t matter what type of bike you use, because 35 minutes is a short time to get fatigued, unless you are heavily overweight. I am 5’2″, weighing about 185 LBS, so hills should be easier for you since you probably weigh 20 to 30 LBS less, so you are not carrying extra weight like I do.[CODE]Bike Gears Ratio

Spot Dualie 50:24 2.083
Vilano EDGE 46:16 2.875
Fuji Crosstown 48:14 3.429
[/CODE]

Spot Dualie is the easiest(and slowest), while Vilano EDGE is harder, but faster. I configured my Fuji Crosstown to be as close as possible to Vilano EDGE, using gear ratio 38:14, or 2.714. At Tapawingo, I had to stand and peddle 2 to 3 times, but wasn’t very hard, I could live with it if my bike was stuck in that gear ratio. However, stopping and restarting at intersections, especially in the middle of an uphill, or roads intersecting the W&OD require standing and peddling. With a multi-gear bike, I don’t need to do that.

My conclusion: I think after you try a single speed bike, you are not going to wish that(well, may be 2 or 3 times):

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can climb hills easier.

But rather than that, you will probably wish for this 100 times:

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can go faster in this flat area or this down hill(There are too many of them).

After leaving the W&OD and heading south on Gallows road, I reached my top speed within seconds, so there was little point in peddling.

Like others said, you will find yourself tempted to use it more than just for commuting. Your commuting is small relative to what many here do. I do about 20 to 30 Miles per day when I use it, and I don’t feel fatigued until after about 2 to 3 hours. So for your commute, it almost doesn’t matter what type of bike you use, because 35 minutes is a short time to get fatigued, unless you are heavily overweight. I am 5’2″, weighing about 185 LBS, so hills should be easier for you since you probably weigh 20 to 30 LBS less, so you are not carrying extra weight like I do.

[n18]

@Steve O 83051 wrote:

I cannot overemphasize how useful it is to have fenders on a commuter bike. Real fenders that curve over your wheels, not the straight ones that just stick out and pretend to protect your back from spray.

Dick Sporting Goods have decent fenders for $10. They have 2 types depending on wheel size:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3965237
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3965236

[Steve O]

@n18 83094 wrote:

Dick Sporting Goods have decent fenders for $10. They have 2 types depending on wheel size:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3965237
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3965236

I would not recommend those for several reasons:
– They are cheap plastic and will break or bend out of shape in no time.
– There’s a reasonable likelihood you won’t be able to make them work with your bike
– Since they only attach in one place, they will either start rubbing on your wheel or they won’t fully block the water. Your feet will probably get wet.

I’ve been pretty happy with SKS. Other forumites will weigh in with other suggestions, I’m sure.

[vvill]

@dplasters 82891 wrote:

Second – the bike
I don’t currently own a bike. So I’ll be needing to buy one of those two wheeled contraptions. As the bike will only be used for commuting to and from work and to and from the grocery store I’m not trying to spend a lot and I’m trying to keep it simple to keep the maintenance down. My inner cheapskate wants me to buy a Vilano Edge for only $250 and call it a day. My inner maintenancephobe wants me to purchase a Spot Dualie. Any advice on this? I am concerned that I will struggle on the hills particularly on Lee Highway between Blake and Nutley but I’ve never ridden a single speed bike so I don’t know how steep a hill needs to be before it becomes daunting. I have a psychological obsession with belt driven bikes since discovering them. Less maintenance is always better to me. The only reason my car runs is because it tells me when the tire pressure is low and when it needs servicing. But I’ll be storing the bike indoors, so is a belt really worth all that extra money?.

I also have a psychological obsession with belt drives, but I have refrained so far. Belt drives don’t allow you to easily change gear ratios (since you cannot change the length of belt), so if you like to tinker you are more limited (or at least, it’ll be more expensive). I think it’ll be just a matter of time though (a few years probably).

I much prefer to commute on one gear. When I first considered it I thought it was crazy because I ride a lot of hills – but when I tried it it was completely addictive. Obviously you need to get the gearing reasonable for your conditions (terrain *and* windiness), but it doesn’t have to be “perfect”. You do have some leeway to decide if you’d rather spin out more and sacrifice some top end speed, or mash a bit more up whatever hills you do have to tackle, but 65-70 gear inches works really well to start out for most riders, assuming you’re reasonably fit and not carrying a lot of cargo. Generally it’s better to gear down, and learn to spin your pedals faster and smoother.

One other thing about single speed is that you are actually more efficient than with a geared bike (ceteris paribus – cadence is a factor obviously). The chain line is better, and there is less friction with the derailleur jockey wheels. I think the difference is palpable although I would not attempt to quantify it (this web page claims around 5%). So you can actually push a taller gear with a proper single speed set up than you can with gears using the same energy input. (Fixed gear is even more efficient imo since you get extra momentum, but it comes with the cost of having to manage that in traffic, or sudden stops, etc – there are some skilled riders around here too who commute fixed most of the time.) And of course, as you mention having a single gear is a huge pro for maintenance (especially in the colder months) – it’s one of the big reasons I ride single speed.

If you want to get a cheap SS/FG bike I would look at something like the Kilo TT from bikesdirect (or similar) that has a lot of purchase volume and good reviews (bikeforums.net has a ton of Kilo TT riders). The SS/FG market is flooded with cheap, bling, heavy, crappy bikes.

That said, if you are feeling really tired you have no bail out gear*, and not all rides are suitable for one gear (100 miles 10000 ft of climbing rides, for example). If you get into cycling more you may want a geared bike unless you wanna be old-timey hardcore:

*although most SS/FG wheels have space for a second option with a wheel flip.

@n18 83093 wrote:

Here are gear ratios for the two single speed bikes compared with the bike I am using:

Bike Gears Ratio

Spot Dualie 50:24 2.083
Vilano EDGE 46:16 2.875
Fuji Crosstown 48:14 3.429
[/CODE]

Spot Dualie is the easiest(and slowest), while Vilano EDGE is harder, but faster. I configured my Fuji Crosstown to be as close as possible to Vilano EDGE, using gear ratio 38:14, or 2.714. At Tapawingo, I had to stand and peddle 2 to 3 times, but wasn’t very hard, I could live with it if my bike was stuck in that gear ratio. However, stopping and restarting at intersections, especially in the middle of an uphill, or roads intersecting the W&OD require standing and peddling. With a multi-gear bike, I don’t need to do that.

My conclusion: I think after you try a single speed bike, you are not going to wish that(well, may be 2 or 3 times):

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can climb hills easier.

But rather than that, you will probably wish for this 100 times:

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can go faster in this flat area or this down hill(There are too many of them).

After leaving the W&OD and heading south on Gallows road, I reached my top speed within seconds, so there was little point in peddling.

– The Spot Dualie has two ratios, and they’re determined by the kickback hub, not just the 50/24 of the belt drive. No manufacturer would specify a gearing as low as 50/24 for a general urban bike.

– You can’t draw a really meaningful conclusion (at least for other riders) on one sample ride, and riding in one gear of a geared bike is not a great approximation of riding a proper single speed/fixed gear (I know because I tried it quite a bit myself. I tried 46/17 for a while on my geared CX bike, yet on my SS I often ride 48/16.).

– A lot of people underestimate how fast they can spin the pedals, with practice. 100rpm+ is not spinning out.[CODE]Bike Gears Ratio

Spot Dualie 50:24 2.083
Vilano EDGE 46:16 2.875
Fuji Crosstown 48:14 3.429
[/CODE]

Spot Dualie is the easiest(and slowest), while Vilano EDGE is harder, but faster. I configured my Fuji Crosstown to be as close as possible to Vilano EDGE, using gear ratio 38:14, or 2.714. At Tapawingo, I had to stand and peddle 2 to 3 times, but wasn’t very hard, I could live with it if my bike was stuck in that gear ratio. However, stopping and restarting at intersections, especially in the middle of an uphill, or roads intersecting the W&OD require standing and peddling. With a multi-gear bike, I don’t need to do that.

My conclusion: I think after you try a single speed bike, you are not going to wish that(well, may be 2 or 3 times):

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can climb hills easier.

But rather than that, you will probably wish for this 100 times:

I wish that I have a multi-gear bike so I can go faster in this flat area or this down hill(There are too many of them).

After leaving the W&OD and heading south on Gallows road, I reached my top speed within seconds, so there was little point in peddling.

– The Spot Dualie has two ratios, and they’re determined by the kickback hub, not just the 50/24 of the belt drive. No manufacturer would specify a gearing as low as 50/24 for a general urban bike.

– You can’t draw a really meaningful conclusion (at least for other riders) on one sample ride, and riding in one gear of a geared bike is not a great approximation of riding a proper single speed/fixed gear (I know because I tried it quite a bit myself. I tried 46/17 for a while on my geared CX bike, yet on my SS I often ride 48/16.).

– A lot of people underestimate how fast they can spin the pedals, with practice. 100rpm+ is not spinning out.

[Author]

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