Advice for someone new to this

Our Community Forums Commuters Advice for someone new to this

Viewing 10 posts - 46 through 55 (of 55 total)
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  • #1012744
    dkel
    Participant

    @dplasters 97550 wrote:

    2.)If you are starting from scratch, the bike should be about 50-60% of the budget, the rest is going to need to go towards lights, safety equipment, tools, tubes, clothing, shoes and other things to keep you going. This assumes you don’t spend 3k on a bike.. in which case damn you buy some expensive lights and tools and in my opinion, expensive bikes. You can easily do this all for less than 1.5k. If my picky, snobby @$& can, you can too.

    One caveat that I and many others have discovered: be prepared to totally overrun your budget when you get several months into obsessive cycling and decide you need a different, better bike. Happens all the time. I got the old bike out of the garage, got a new bike three months later, and got another new bike seven months after that. Three bikes in less than a year, plus the acquisition of an old bike to renovate, so that’s four bikes in less than a year. I did end up selling the first one, though. Whatever. N+1 isn’t just a rule, it’s a way of life.

    #1012748
    dbb
    Participant

    I set a goal fairly early in the bike process. When I was convinced this cycling thing wasn’t my next passing fad, I would get a “good” bike. I defined that to be 10K miles of riding. My reward was a nice road bike to augment my hybrid. Set a challenging goal and then work towards it.

    #1029009
    dplasters
    Participant

    Awww you’re one year old you beautiful two wheeled transportation machine.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]8455[/ATTACH]

    #1029012
    ShawnoftheDread
    Participant

    Time to get him a friend.

    #1029159
    dplasters
    Participant

    @ShawnoftheDread 114710 wrote:

    Time to get him a friend.

    The only bike I’ve ever received the thumbs up on getting in addition seems actually impossible to get. And is silly and even less versatile than my current bike… but its so pretty……………….. Trek District Carbon. A Madone with the carbon frame altered to accept a belt drive. My wife seems somewhat interested in one day going for an electric family/cargo bike. We need more infrastructure out here in Fairfax before she will get on the wagon, errr electric saddle? though.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]8472[/ATTACH]

    #1029174
    dasgeh
    Participant

    @dplasters 114867 wrote:

    My wife seems somewhat interested in one day going for an electric family/cargo bike. We need more infrastructure out here in Fairfax before she will get on the wagon, errr electric saddle? though.

    I don’t know where you are in FFX, but electric family/cargo bikes are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

    #1029185
    dplasters
    Participant

    @dasgeh 114883 wrote:

    I don’t know where you are in FFX, but electric family/cargo bikes are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

    We live walking distance to the Vienna metro on the south side. With the large amount of construction that is planned in the area combined with the new community center we have hopes the future of cycling here will be brighter. We are already pretty high density for FFX and are predicted to continue to grow in density.

    But then again the Mosaic district nearish to dunn loring is supposed to be ‘urban’ and that is mediocre bike friendly at best. It is more of a half hearted, ‘we will give you some wider sidewalks but crossing Lee and Gallows will still terrify you because you don’t belong on the road’ kind of design.

    *on point – I feed her ideas of dropping future children off at the two very close elementary schools via bike – speaking of –

    Props to the kids/families I see leaving Marshall Rd Elementary nearly every day. Kids biking to and from school and generally be awesome.

    Negative points to the speed signs on Marshall Rd. You say “School Zone, lower speed limit” but the speed limit on the road is always 25mph. Its not actually any lower at all. Although I appreciate that drivers tend to do it more when there are yellow lights that flash.

    New idea – Speed limit signs now all require flashing lights and pictures of children.

    #1029187
    dasgeh
    Participant

    @dplasters 114895 wrote:

    New idea – Speed limit signs now all require flashing lights and pictures of children.

    Or we could actually lower the speed limit. I believe Virginia allows 15mph in school zones.

    #1029188
    mstone
    Participant

    @dasgeh 114897 wrote:

    Or we could actually lower the speed limit. I believe Virginia allows 15mph in school zones.

    The local school board needs to pass a resolution asking for that, then the local government needs to pass an ordinance enacting it.

    #1029189
    dasgeh
    Participant

    @mstone 114898 wrote:

    The local school board needs to pass a resolution asking for that, then the local government needs to pass an ordinance enacting it.

    Well, yes, I didn’t mean the people on this board should put up a new sign.

Viewing 10 posts - 46 through 55 (of 55 total)
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