Junk in the trunk

[KelOnWheels]

@eminva 20350 wrote:

Had this forum existed four years ago and had I known about it, I would have asked that very question. I think you will get a better and more honest answer from the folks here than from LBS sales staff, unfortunately.

Liz

A nice complete answer, anyway, since there are so many different kinds of riders here with lots of experience.

[consularrider]

@KelOnWheels 20349 wrote:

Hmm, maybe I should start a “This is what I think I want in a bike, now tell me what to look at” thread

I think we’ve done that a couple of times, just look under the bikes and equipment subforum (also look at some other bike forum websites like bikeforums.net and bikejournal.com). In order to see the forums on bikejournal you have to sign up, but on bikeforums you don’t.

Also, in terms of carrying junk, for commuting I am using a not very expensive hybrid, a Giant Transend DX. While some don’t like the flat bars, I’ve done lots of longish rides (40 to 60 miles) on it with few issues. This one came with disc brakes, full fenders, a rack, and ergo handgrips, so of course Giant doesn’t make it anymore. I have tried a couple different day packs, a messenger bag, and now mostly use an Axiom rack trunk with fold-down panniers which came with a nylon rain cover and a shoulder strap. The main compartment is relatively large and has an expansion zipper. It fits and iPad in a carrying case that are a little too large to fit in the fold-down panniers. I also have an REI Novara version that has a smaller main compartment, but larger fold-down panniers, a built-in rain cover, but no carrying strap. One problem I have had is that there are a number of versions of these types of bags, but just try to find more than one or two in a store to compare. Then online, the dimension given is frequently the total cubic inches, but no measurements of the main compartment or the drop-down panniers.

[off2ride]

@mstone 20313 wrote:

This gets back to that whole “it’s hard to find non-racer bikes/shops” meme. If someone’s commuting and wants to carry a bunch of stuff, they should probably not be getting a lightweight road bike (or a full suspension mountain bike). But the shops push what they have…

If the staff in the store knows what they’re doing, then things will be easy like Sunday morning but but some customers have no clue what they want or is fixed on getting a bike that is not designed for what they had in mind.

[DaveK]

@off2ride 20376 wrote:

If the staff in the store knows what they’re doing, then things will be easy like Sunday morning but but some customers have no clue what they want or is fixed on getting a bike that is not designed for what they had in mind.

A lot of the problem is that in many stores, the right bike for you is the one we happen to have in stock.

[Dirt]

@DaveK 20380 wrote:

A lot of the problem is that in many stores, the right bike for you is the one we happen to have in stock.

Lots of times people really want the bike in stock too. It goes both ways. The lure of a shiny, new bike and a quick, easy sale are an evil double-whammy.

[rcannon100]

Every kid walking into REI yesterday sure new which bike they wanted -> one of those bright shiny new bikes sitting strategically positioned right inside the front door.

Mom! Mom! We can buy this bike!

My kid is riding a several times regifted Motobecane that I cant pry out of his hands.

[Greenbelt]

@Dirt 20381 wrote:

Lots of times people really want the bike in stock too. It goes both ways. The lure of a shiny, new bike and a quick, easy sale are an evil double-whammy.

Our LBS has to patiently explain to customers that it usually takes 2-4 hours to buy a bike, including discussing the types of riding anticipated, testing several models and frame types, and getting fit properly, and then thinking about accessories that may be necessary (flat repair kit?, lock? helmet?).

This really weirds some people out when then want to drop in a hour before closing to get a bike and they have to come back another time. Or if they want to get a bike for somebody else, and can’t because the shop won’t sell a bike that isn’t fit to the particular rider.

Inventory is also an issue. Even if the perfect model/size isn’t available, a good shop can use its existing inventory to get a very good idea of the frame size that is needed, sometimes by sizing up on another model by the same manufacturer that uses the same or very similar geometry and measurements. Then a special order can be made with high confidence that it will be the right size.

[mstone]

@vvill 20348 wrote:

“Hybrid” is a very broad term, at least to me, and covers everything from flat-bar road “sport/fitness” bikes to disc brake/belt drive/IGH commuters to utility and touring bikes.

I agree that often the ones with cheap front shocks that look basically like a 90s MTB with front shocks are not that great. They’re sort of “not good enough to be a bike of any particular purpose” hybrids.

“Hybrid” for me means the first part of the first sentence and the second sentence. Commuters, utility, and touring bikes I call “commuters”, “utilitity” and “touring bikes”. (This isn’t to knock hybrids for their intended purpose; I have a hybrid that’s like riding around on a barcalounger–extremely comfortable for tooling around with the kids, but I wouldn’t want to go far or fast on it.)

[KelOnWheels]

@rcannon100 20384 wrote:

Every kid walking into REI yesterday sure new which bike they wanted -> one of those bright shiny new bikes sitting strategically positioned right inside the front door.

That’s where I found the one I want! See? [ATTACH]1092[/ATTACH]

[americancyclo]

That Skuut helped my nephew get on his first pedal bike just after his 3rd birthday and completely bypass training wheels. I’m getting one for my daughter as soon as she can stand up by herself.

[Tim Kelley]

@americancyclo 20457 wrote:

That Skuut helped my nephew get on his first pedal bike just after his 3rd birthday and completely bypass training wheels. I’m getting one for my daughter as soon as she can stand up by herself.

The cutest baby in the whole world just got a Skuut last week! At just about a year and a half, she gave me a huge hug when she realized that the little two wheeler sitting next to Daddy’s bike was “McKenzie’s Bike.”

[chris_s]

My little guy’s 2nd birthday is Today and he’ll be unwrapping his push bike as soon as I get home from work

Different brand though.

[GuyContinental]

@chris_s 20474 wrote:

My little guy’s 2nd birthday is Today and he’ll be unwrapping his push bike as soon as I get home from work

Different brand though.

My 3yr old has a Skuut and loves it now but if I were to do it over again I’d do a Strider. It’s more adjustable and has a place for the little guy’s feet. With the Skuut he was too short until he was a week shy of 3 (and he’s not a small kid) where-as I’ve seen young 2 year olds rocking the Strider. Regardless, the balance bikes rule- in about a day he was going as fast as I can run.

[Tim Kelley]

@GuyContinental 20484 wrote:

It’s more adjustable and has a place for the little guy’s feet. With the Skuut he was too short until he was a week shy of 3 (and he’s not a small kid) where-as I’ve seen young 2 year olds rocking the Strider.

The “body” of the Skuut can be turned upside down so it slopes downward. That’s how little McKenzie is able to ride it at just over a year and half old! (Granted, she comes from tall genes and is in the top 5% for height at her age…)

[GuyContinental]

@Tim Kelley 20490 wrote:

The “body” of the Skuut can be turned upside down so it slopes downward. That’s how little McKenzie is able to ride it at just over a year and half old! (Granted, she comes from tall genes and is in the top 5% for height at her age…)

I actually tried that- my little dude had problems with the slack headtube that resulted… maybe he’s just uncoordinated (entirely possible)

[Author]

Posts