Advice for someone new to this

Our Community Forums Commuters Advice for someone new to this

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 55 total)
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  • #999032
    mstone
    Participant

    Why is tapawingo getting the hate? I like tapawingo!

    #999033
    JimF22003
    Participant

    @mstone 82968 wrote:

    Why is tapawingo getting the hate? I like tapawingo!

    I like just SAYING Tapawingo.

    Tapawingo. Tapawingo. Tapawingo!

    #999035
    ShawnoftheDread
    Participant

    @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.

    #999036
    DismalScientist
    Participant

    @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.

    #999041
    NicDiesel
    Participant

    @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.

    #999045
    NicDiesel
    Participant

    @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.

    #999048
    dplasters
    Participant

    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…

    #999053
    NicDiesel
    Participant

    @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!

    #999098
    baiskeli
    Participant

    @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.

    #999108
    guga31bb
    Participant

    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.

    #999110
    Steve O
    Participant

    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!

    #999118
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    @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/

    #999151
    n18
    Participant

    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.

    #999152
    n18
    Participant

    @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

    #999153
    Steve O
    Participant

    @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.

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 55 total)
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