Your latest bike purchase?

[dasgeh]

@wheels&wings 122416 wrote:

I’m wondering whether two people can comfortably ride the same bicycle if one person is about 10 inches taller than the other? Can we just adjust the seat, depending who’s riding? We’re both built like pencils, but I’m a lot shorter.

My brother has been visiting from Sweden for a week at a time. He comes to see our mom, whom we moved here earlier in the summer. Her new home is just a few miles away from me. My brother is car-free and bicycle-free when he’s back home in Sweden because of the idyllic wooded paths for foot travel and the superb public transit (you can even take the subway to the local national park). But he’s come to realize that a bicycle would be very useful here in Arlington, so he’s asked me to find him a used one. He would only need it when he visits, every few months.

It so happens that I’m dreaming of buying another bicycle myself. I’m very attached to my 20 year old Trek mountain bike. It’s all I’ve ever had. It’s tough and reliable, and it works great. So I would keep using it for my daily commuting. But it’s a bit slow on longer rides like 50 States and Vasa, and it would be fun to try some long/faraway escapist rides on a faster bicycle (assuming I can ever find the time).

So my question is, can I buy a bike “for my brother” that’s really my size, for me…. i.e., can I expect it to pass muster for a guy who’s close to six feet tall? He only needs it when he visits, which will be every few months, and he’d likely not ride it more than 10 hilly miles per day.
Or do taller people need bigger bicycles, beyond simply adjusting the seat post?

Thanks for any advice! w&w

It depends on the type of bike. Dutch-style, upright bikes can fit a range of people comfortably (see, e.g., CaBi). But it sounds like you want a light fast bike, and that’s not going to fit a range of 10″ comfortably.

My advice: go to Phoenix and get him something he likes. It’s for a good cause, and you can sell/donate when he’s done with it.

[americancyclo]

@wheels&wings 122416 wrote:

can I buy a bike “for my brother” that’s really my size, for me….

Sounds like you need a new road bike, and a single-speed folder for him. keep it stored away until he arrives, then pack it back up when he leaves!

[Anonymous]

1) Get yourself the new bike that you want.
2) Next time he’s in town, go for a bike ride together. Ride your shiny new road bike, and let him borrow your current mountain bike.
3) Decide whether or not to buy him his own bike based upon how loudly he whines about being uncomfortable on your mountain bike.

[dkel]

I’m told I have a bike waiting for me at Bikenetic. Maybe I’ll go over there and take a look tomorrow, since…

I just finished the first draft of my dissertation!

I’ll likely have to edit, but for now, the thing is off to my advisor, and I get a break!

[ShawnoftheDread]

You’d better hurry. I heard Jan is offering the coveted first ride to the highest bidder/best beer purchaser.

[dkel]

@ShawnoftheDread 122516 wrote:

You’d better hurry. I heard Jan is offering the coveted first ride to the highest bidder/best beer purchaser.

I might be cool with that if he cuts me in. :p

[KayakCyndi]

@dkel 122496 wrote:

I’m told I have a bike waiting for me at Bikenetic. Maybe I’ll go over there and take a look tomorrow, since…

I just finished the first draft of my dissertation!

I’ll likely have to edit, but for now, the thing is off to my advisor, and I get a break!

I was just there. The bike looks AWESOME!

[dkel]

@KayakCyndi 122550 wrote:

I was just there. The bike looks AWESOME!

Just got back from Bikenetic. That is one unusual build! Looks so cool, too! I didn’t take any pictures yet, as it doesn’t have its bars and the steerer is still grotesquely long. It is going to be a hoot commuting on it. The whole bike is eerily quiet on the road, and the belt is smooth as butter. Pretty exciting!!

[ian74]

Last month posted a thread about my inability to commute everyday. One of the suggestions was to ditch the backpack full of clothes and get a rack. Well, I did just that. I took it for a test ride today, with a little skepticism. I’ve heard some not-so-great things about these seat post mounted racks, however when you have a bike without any rack mounts, the options are kind of limited.

I bought the Ibera pak-rak and matching bag that clicks into place (See here if curious: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G8BRRG?psc=1). The reviews were pretty good, and it was a bit cheaper than the Topeak version/system. One thing that makes it different than the Topeak setup is that it’s not a quick release attachment to the seat post. It uses a large aluminum allen bolt. It comes with a couple of different thickness rubber shims to secure it to the seatpost. Capacity wise it looks big but it’s deceptive. For my test it held jeans, polo shirt, socks, unmentionables and a pair of sneakers. Probably enough room to cram a small lunch in there too. So it should fit the bill for my daily commute.

After a 15 mile ride today it was still exactly as it was when I left. It didn’t swing or move. A nice surprise, however it does make the bike handle in a way I’m not used to at all. It’s manageable though and should work out for the time being. I did notice that after my hour ride I felt much better than my usual back pack ride. I had a better posture on the bike and didn’t slouch.

The other downside, aside from the handling, is HOW FREAKING RIDICULOUS IT LOOKS. How many of the Rules am I violating here?? Hindsight is 20/20, I guess if I knew when I went out bike shopping, that a commuter bike, or at least a bike I could attach a rack to, would have been such a better for me than a “race” bike (as if a salesman, or anyone could have convinced me otherwise at the time). Now I’m looking at steel frames online, but seem unable to convince the lovely Carolyn that I need another bike.

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[Jason B]

First off, it doesn’t look that bad. Second off, you’re commuting, who gives a crap what you look like. You could dress up in a gorilla suit and you still look better than half the people you pass. Function greatly outweighs fashion. If it works, than keep it. One thing though, find a way to leave your shoes. They are heavy and space eaters. Also, don’t be too quick to look for a new bike. You will go back and forth five times on the backpack/pannier thing. You can always use a road bike for commuting but it is kind of hard to use a commuter to race.
Besides, it sounds like you’re married, what do you care what people think about how you look!

[mstone]

@Jason B 122745 wrote:

First off, it doesn’t look that bad.

No, it really does. But as you said, who cares. Definitely +1 on leaving a pair of shoes at work–huge difference.

And I’ve never looked back from panniers.

[AFHokie]

@mstone 122747 wrote:

No, it really does. But as you said, who cares. Definitely +1 on leaving a pair of shoes at work–huge difference.

And I’ve never looked back from panniers.

I once looked back at panniers, but that was after it bounced off when I forgot to throw the tabs to lock it to the rack…

[wheelswings]

It makes no difference what your pannier looks like so long as you can get used to the feel. You put in hardcore mileage (a.k.a. stud) and I’m sure your wife appreciates that fact irrespective of what gear you’ve got. And baby Charlie loves you no matter what…

[TwoWheelsDC]

The rare intersection of desire, available funds, and spousal approval…

[cvcalhoun]

Okay, this wasn’t for me, but for my granddaughter. However, I figure that three is long past time for her to begin biking!

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