Next Bike — What Do I Want?

[eminva]

Hello Helpful Forum Folk —

You all were of great assistance when we recently had to purchase a bike for my son — now I need your advice for myself.

I was going to inherit my son’s old mountain bike, a Trek 3500 (which was the right size for me, believe it or not). While it was by no means my dream bike, I thought it would buy time until I figured out what my dream bike is. It turns out, though, that that bike will be going to a higher purpose. So now I have to figure out what to get to fill the gap it leaves.

Currently my fleet consists of a road bike and a folding bike. So, if I can get just one more bike, what should I get? Would a cross bike work?

I will be riding on the C&O this summer and most of my recreational riding consists of either pavement or nothing wilder than the CCT. Despite my best intentions, I’ve never even made it to any of the dedicated MTB parks aside from Wakefield. Also, a good cross bike would make a good backup commuter.

Would we be crazy to not even have one MTB in the house? Do people do that?

And, you can ride the CCT on a cross bike, right?

Thanks.

Liz

Topic

[vvill]

I love the look of the Roper, and especially the Furley (same frame pretty much), but I’d guess they’re a bit heavy.

@ebubar 49862 wrote:

Interesting to hear. I’m wondering how much I can smooth the ride on the Jake with slightly fatter lower PSI tires. I’m liking the idea of a lighter, more “racy” bike with disc brakes that I can abuse a little bit more. Plus its $150 cheaper than the Volpe and includes a lifetime frame warranty. Oh first world problems of shopping for new bikes!

Tell me about it. I’m still “casually looking” for a light steel SSCX with disc brakes that doesn’t cost as much as the Spot Mod.

I did upgrade my Jake quite a bit and I’m still considering a fork upgrade, although it is fine for me with 32s at 55psi. I’m guessing you’ve seen the detailed Jake review on Spinistry.com – I’d generally agree with stuff they’ve said there. It’s a good value all-rounder bike.

And “lighter” is obviously all relative. Lighter than my beater MTB for sure but stock it was heavier than my road and hybrid bikes, and about the same as my folder.

[Steve]

@TwoWheelsDC 49885 wrote:

Don’t forget the Raleigh Roper. Sometimes I kick myself for not trying one out. REI carries them, so you can get a bike and a dividend rebate!

http://www.raleighusa.com/archive/2012-steel-road/roper-12/

I’ve been meaning to go test ride one for a while. It seems like a pretty cool bike. Too bad the ’13 Roper is more of a rust/brown color. That ’12 one is really sharp. The only complaints I’ve read are that 1) it is very heavy (as vvil mentioned) and that 2) it isn’t spec’d as well as the Disc Trucker (brakes and maybe steel quality specifically) for a similar price, though I realize it’s not a total 1 for 1 comparison on a touring bike, nor am I smart enough to say if these are valid concerns.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I’ve been admiring those Raleighs for about a year, and I just now realized that they’re all named for Three’s Company characters. I’m a little slow, eh.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Revolution Cycles appears to have full crabon Raleigh CXs for $1500. If you’re into that sort of thing.
http://revolutioncycles.com/product/13raleigh-rxc-174272-1.htm#seitemspecs

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ShawnoftheDread 49914 wrote:

I’ve been admiring those Raleighs for about a year, and I just now realized that they’re all named for Three’s Company characters. I’m a little slow, eh.

If I ever start a bike company, I’m naming the bikes after Full House characters. The “Uncle Jesse” would sell like hotcakes!

[DaveK]

@TwoWheelsDC 49921 wrote:

If I ever start a bike company, I’m naming the bikes after Full House characters. The “Uncle Jesse” would sell like hotcakes!

I would only buy a bike named “Uncle Jesse” if the companion model was named “General Lee”.

[Tim Kelley]

@DaveK 49926 wrote:

I would only buy a bike named “Uncle Jesse” if the companion model was named “General Lee”.

My reaction.

[ebubar]

@TwoWheelsDC 49921 wrote:

If I ever start a bike company, I’m naming the bikes after Full House characters. The “Uncle Jesse” would sell like hotcakes!

You’ll have to compete with the “bikes from Saved By The Bell company”. The full line is ready: mountain bike (AC Slater), hybrids (the Screech – men’s, the Jesse Spano – women’s), beach cruisers (the Belding – men’s, the Lisa Turtle – women’s) and of course the road bikes (Zack Morris – men’s and the Kapowski – women’s).

[DaveK]

@ebubar 49939 wrote:

You’ll have to compete with the “bikes from Saved By The Bell company”. The full line is ready: mountain bike (AC Slater), hybrids (the Screech – men’s, the Jesse Spano – women’s), beach cruisers (the Belding – men’s, the Lisa Turtle – women’s) and of course the road bikes (Zack Morris – men’s and the Kapowski – women’s).

Somewhat related: Zack Morris is a Cat 2 racer these days…http://www.usacycling.org/results/?compid=222595

[ShawnoftheDread]

@DaveK 49946 wrote:

Somewhat related: Zack Morris is a Cat 2 racer these days…http://www.usacycling.org/results/?compid=222595

Looks like his racing might be slightly better than his acting.

[Author]

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