Your latest bike purchase?

[brendan]

@dkel 86017 wrote:

Hadn’t looked at the Pacer. I was stuck on the 26″ version of the LHT for some reason; you are correct that the 700c is lower, which makes sense (also makes sense that the 26″ LHT is higher).

Not sure if I posted on this particular thread but: from what I’ve been told, the 26″ LHT has a much different ride than the 700c LHT. If you’re in the height range where a 26″ LHT might be a fit, it’s worth test-ride comparing it to the 700c (if applicable) LHT as well as the CC/Pacer/Straggler…

[NicDiesel]

@dkel 86017 wrote:

Hadn’t looked at the Pacer.

The Pacer kind of sucks. Of all the Surly asphalt bikes it’s by far the worst feel and fit.

[peterw_diy]

@NicDiesel 86062 wrote:

The Pacer kind of sucks. Of all the Surly asphalt bikes it’s by far the worst feel and fit.

? Re: fit, the Pacer geometry is very traditional. Re: feel, I find the ride nice and smooth, though I’ve only taken the bike out a few times. Worst thing about the frameset IMO is the Surly S logo cast in the fork crown.

But it seems an odd choice for anyone seriously interested in a Stragger.

[dkel]

@peterw_diy 86384 wrote:

? Re: fit, the Pacer geometry is very traditional. Re: feel, I find the ride nice and smooth, though I’ve only taken the bike out a few times. Worst thing about the frameset IMO is the Surly S logo cast in the fork crown.

But it seems an odd choice for anyone seriously interested in a Stragger.

I’m pretty well sold on the Straggler; it’s just a matter of figuring out the sizing, which is long in the Straggler. No shop around here seems to stock it, either. Bikenetic will help me get it worked out, I’m sure. Top men, you know.

[Dirt]

New panniers

Ortlieb City Roll-tops.

[KelOnWheels]

@dkel 86386 wrote:

I’m pretty well sold on the Straggler; it’s just a matter of figuring out the sizing, which is long in the Straggler. No shop around here seems to stock it, either. Bikenetic will help me get it worked out, I’m sure. Top men, you know.

Top men indeed.

Interesting, the Straggler has a shorter wheelbase than the Space Horse. (Plus taller seat tube, shorter stack, longer reach. Which if the seat tube is longer and the angle is the same shouldn’t the stack be AGH TOO MUCH MATH THINGS. IT’S PURPLE AND SPARKLY AND HAS WHEELS.)

[dkel]

@KelOnWheels 86400 wrote:

Top men indeed.

Interesting, the Straggler has a shorter wheelbase than the Space Horse. (Plus taller seat tube, shorter stack, longer reach. Which if the seat tube is longer and the angle is the same shouldn’t the stack be AGH TOO MUCH MATH THINGS. IT’S PURPLE AND SPARKLY AND HAS WHEELS.)

You should see me in front of my frame geometry spreadsheet: face twisted, hands at odd angles, eyes slightly crossed…not a pretty sight. (Yes…I have a frame geometry spreadsheet.) But you are correct, purple and sparkly goodness!

[peterw_diy]

@dkel 86401 wrote:

You should see me in front of my frame geometry spreadsheet: face twisted, hands at odd angles, eyes slightly crossed…not a pretty sight. (Yes…I have a frame geometry spreadsheet.) But you are correct, purple and sparkly goodness!

If you care about toe clip overlap, I have another spreadsheet for you. I’m happy to see that Straggler has a longer TT than CC, as hopefully that means a longer front center and less TCO. I hate TCO on my commuting rigs, and was just barely able to avoid it when I used toe clips on my 56cm CC.

[cvcalhoun]

I already have a bike (and don’t subscribe to the idea that I must have n+1 bikes). However, we did get a new bike for my wife today. We finally found one small enough for her 5’1″ height and legs that are disproportionately short even for her height. It’s a 13.5″ Trek 7200, bought from someone who had only used it 3 times. Yes, I know it’s a beginner’s bike, but she is a beginner (and a bit nervous about whether biking is for her).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5704[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5705[/ATTACH]

[JimF22003]

Bought me a Garmin Virb camera onsale at REI. Look forward to collecting tons of boring bike videos that I never get around to editing down to something watchable.

The plan is to capture some stuff to make riding the trainer next winter a little less like a torture session.

[consularrider]

@cvcalhoun 86405 wrote:

I already have a bike (and don’t subscribe to the idea that I must have n+1 bikes)…

You do know that you’re talking heresy? Honestly though, if you are committed to being a bike commuter, the minimum number of bikes is two – you always need a backup to keep you off the Metro and out of the car. Also, congratulations to your wife on the newish wheels.

[cyclingfool]

@consularrider 86420 wrote:

You do know that you’re talking heresy? Honestly though, if you are committed to being a bike commuter, the minimum number of bikes is two – you always need a backup to keep you off the Metro and out of the car. Also, congratulations to your wife on the newish wheels.

Or one plus reliable, nearby CaBi access. Once (or should I say if) CaBi (ever) stations come to Del Ray, I think my second bike is going to be a CaBi fob.

[dasgeh]

@cvcalhoun 86405 wrote:

I already have a bike (and don’t subscribe to the idea that I must have n+1 bikes). However, we did get a new bike for my wife today. We finally found one small enough for her 5’1″ height and legs that are disproportionately short even for her height. It’s a 13.5″ 2012 Trek Shift 2, bought from someone who had only used it 3 times. Yes, I know it’s a beginner’s bike, but she is a beginner (and a bit nervous about whether biking is for her).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5704[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5705[/ATTACH]

That’s an awesome bike. Congrats. I’m a big fan of step-throughs, especially for beginners. I spend most weekends riding the ebakfiets, which is an extreme step-through, and come Monday morning, I look silly remembering how to mount my trusty commuting rig.

[dasgeh]

@dkel 86386 wrote:

I’m pretty well sold on the Straggler; it’s just a matter of figuring out the sizing, which is long in the Straggler. No shop around here seems to stock it, either. Bikenetic will help me get it worked out, I’m sure. Top men, you know.

I test rode one at Bicycle Space in the District a few months back. They seem to keep them in stock. They’re also very nice, so I’m sure you could call (earlier in the day is better).

[cvcalhoun]

Well, I’m not really a bike commuter, since I work from home, and haven’t found a way to bicycle from my bedroom to my office. And I also have a bike that is very sturdy (albeit at the cost of being 64 lbs.), and rarely needs repairs that require even an overnight at the repair place. At the risk of compounding my heresy, the cost of taking Metro the few times my bike is out of commission is a lot less than the cost of a second bike.

@consularrider 86420 wrote:

You do know that you’re talking heresy? Honestly though, if you are committed to being a bike commuter, the minimum number of bikes is two – you always need a backup to keep you off the Metro and out of the car. Also, congratulations to your wife on the newish wheels.

[Author]

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