Your latest bike purchase?

[dkel]

What was the last bike you bought? Why did you buy it?

My last bike purchase was a Cannondale Quick 2 that I got at the end of November. In September I had gotten my old 2001 Trek hybrid out of the back of the garage to start commuting by bike, and after really getting into it, I realized I needed something a little more dialed-in for the rigors of commuting. The Quick was a perfect choice, because it is much nicer than what I had been riding, but similar in style: a hybrid, upright riding position, very stable handling, and generally familiar territory for a newbie like me.

So here’s why I’ve started this thread: five months and 2000 miles after my Quick purchase, I’m starting to think I need another upgrade (I’m really looking at the Surly Straggler, but that’s for another thread…really, really looking hard at the Straggler…with jealous eyes and a covetous heart…). Am I crazy to want a different bike so soon? I’ve learned a lot recently: much from doing all that riding, and at least as much from being involved in this forum. I’d like to think I’m being sensible and purposeful about my needs, based on all I’ve learned, and not just succumbing to n+1 frenzy. So tell me: why did you get your last bike? What did you get?

Topic

[Vicegrip]

@cvcalhoun 117144 wrote:

Loving my new kickstand! With the amount of weight I carry (heavy panniers, often full of stuff), my bike kept falling over with a regular kickstand.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8753[/ATTACH]

i don’t think the bike was falling over. I think the Earth was being pulled to it.

[DismalScientist]

@Vicegrip 117701 wrote:

i don’t think the bike was falling over. I think the Earth was being pulled to it.

I don’t understand the confusion. Both are obviously true. This is simple physics.

[KWL]

@americancyclo 117669 wrote:

Not purchases, but gifts!
Scosche Rhythm+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband

the Garmin HRM strap was making me feel tense. I really didn’t like the tension on my chest. This feels like wearing a soft band watch.

and for freezing saddles, and the wetter days out there:
MaxxDry Boot, Shoe and Glove Dryer

The MaxxDry needs to go in the Lust thread.

[cvcalhoun]

@Vicegrip 117701 wrote:

i don’t think the bike was falling over. I think the Earth was being pulled to it.

You do realize that attempts to shame me over the weight and slowness of my bike (or the age, weight, and slowness of my body, for that matter) are futile? I have two children; I long ago gave up on shame.

[Steve O]

Now you’ve done it! I used to ride one when I was in high school. I thought if I just lay down the feeling would pass, but – nooooooo – you’ve got to go get one. Now I have no choice. N + 1/2
Phuoc at the Bike Club told me you never forget. A few weeks ago I took his out into the parking lot, looked at it for a minute and said, “nah, maybe another day.”
BTW – better to start smaller and work up than to try starting on the bigger one, IMO.

If you want to get inspired…or depressed… watch Terry Peterson’s YouTube channel. MTUing, 150 miles one day, 58 second 1/4 mile and more.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCEcldwDEvAiXa1XL7V-b0w

@hozn 116944 wrote:

Oh, I forgot to post my huge news. Despite all the heckling/trolling of you FG riders, I went out and bought one. Brakeless too!

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8730&stc=1[/IMG]

Now I’ll just need to learn to ride it. Should be fun. Even the 24″ might end up being a tad small, but figure an inch short on inseam is probably not the end of the world for learning. If I decide that this is something worth doing more seriously I’d probably get a 29″ (or larger!) model.

[hozn]

@Steve O 117711 wrote:

Now you’ve done it! I used to ride one when I was in high school. I thought if I just lay down the feeling would pass, but – nooooooo – you’ve got to go get one. Now I have no choice. N + 1/2

Nice!

Yeah, I have only spent a little time working on getting on and trying to move along a wall or something. My kids think it is pretty funny watching me try to learn. My shins are getting cut up by the pedals, but otherwise no injuries yet.

My calculation that it would be half as difficult as riding a bicycle was apparently founded on bad math.

[vvill]

@americancyclo 117669 wrote:

Not purchases, but gifts!
Scosche Rhythm+ Heart Rate Monitor Armband

I treated myself to one of those earlier this year! I don’t like having to charge another device, but much prefer being able to put it on my arm, and it doesn’t need moisture to work. And it’s Bluetooth as well as ANT+ so I can use it with a phone if I don’t want to use my Garmin GPS.

[KLizotte]

@cvcalhoun 117708 wrote:

You do realize that attempts to shame me over the weight and slowness of my bike (or the age, weight, and slowness of my body, for that matter) are futile? I have two children; I long ago gave up on shame.

Don’t worry about it. I had the same bike a few years ago and it was a *lot* of fun to ride and very comfortable. I managed quite a few metric centuries on it. It was also very, very sturdy and great for carrying stuff. I had to get rid of it because of space constraints and I moved on to a regular road bike because I wanted to be able to go up big hills without feeling like I was gonna have a heart attack.

Keep having fun and I must say, you haul an impressive amount of stuff around. I bet your legs are a lot stronger than you give them credit for!

[Vicegrip]

@cvcalhoun 117708 wrote:

You do realize that attempts to shame me over the weight and slowness of my bike (or the age, weight, and slowness of my body, for that matter) are futile? I have two children; I long ago gave up on shame.

Hey. I got two kids too! . No shame to consider except when I hear your bell behind me and then “onyerleft”

[dkel]

Schwalbe Marathons for Rockford.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]8860[/ATTACH]

[peterw_diy]

@dkel 117893 wrote:

Schwalbe Marathons for Rockford.

You so need to learn the twisted figure 8 technique for folding wire bead tires!

http://home.comcast.net/~mandmlj/tirefolding/index.html

[dkel]

@peterw_diy 117895 wrote:

You so need to learn the twisted figure 8 technique for folding wire bead tires!

http://home.comcast.net/~mandmlj/tirefolding/index.html

That’s nice! (My way worked fine, though. )

[Emm]

My new (to me) Felt bike is almost ready for the road! Thanks for everyones response and general n+1 consensus on this thread

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8893[/ATTACH]

Currently it’s set up way too aggressively for me since it was used for racing . I need a less aggressive stem–likely shorter and tilted upwards a little. The woman who sold me the bike told me she started out with that type of a set up too, and recommended I do as well. Based on how it felt when I took it on a test ride, I agree with her. I also kept the Look pedals for now, and it has one of Bontragers new Ajna women’s saddles. The handlebar tape needs to be replaced, but I’m waiting until my fitting for that, since the current handlebar size works for me, but it’s on the small size of the range I like to use. I’d rather not retape a handlebar only to have to replace the whole thing in 2 weeks.

I’ll play around with it a bit over the next few weeks, but I will probably wait to ride it long distances until after I get my fitting done on July 6 w/ Clovis, since I really need to have the less aggressive stem installed before I can go too far on it.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I finished the wife’s bike. I think the bars are a hit over the drops I started with. Corks are from her favorite Belgian beer for that personal touch.

[vern]

I’m going to pick up my new cranks and bottom bracket and hopefully put those on tonight and ditch the crappy FSA cranks that came with the bike. Cranks and bottom bracket were bought with triple points back, which was a good deal (and a gift card). Weekend before last I put on a new chain, 105 cassette and overhauled the headset. New cables and housing are next.

[Author]

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