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Kmart has a wired bike computer for sale for $7.79. Sale ends Saturday Oct 21. This is as low as I have seen it. It’s not water proof, but it has back lighting and it’s cheap. Perhaps for a beater or kid bike. If you want weather proof one, I recommend this Planet Bike bike computer, which is $35.

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What’s your weight and height?

What type of seat do you use? Does it have any padding at all? Do you use padded shorts or regular cloths?

I used to have back pain because I though having 2″ memory foam was a good idea. After throwing it away and using a smaller one, my back thanked me. I am 5’4′ and weighing around 195 lbs. Some people who gain some weight twist and turn the wrong way in bed. They push down with their hand to rotate the other way, but do it too fast, so the torso turns, without the legs, causing back pain, not immediately, but later, like a day or two later, so they never think that twisting and turning in bed was the cause. The solution in my case is to do it very slowly. No back pain anymore for me.

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I wish every LBS offers members discount. A 10% store credit is not 10% loss to the store. It’s more like 4-6% loss. Here is why: Profit margin for a typical bike is 40%. So for a $1,000 Bike, the manufacturer makes $600, and the LBS makes $400. With a 10% store credit, you pay $1,000, and you get back $100 in store credit. You come back later and buy, lets say a seat; for $100. You pay nothing, and the store has to pay $40-$60 for the actual cost of the seat. Generally cheaper items have higher profit margin. So if an LBS offered 10% discount, it’s losing more than a store that offers 10% store credit. Also, stores such as Performance Bike play with the numbers of what the original price and sale price are, so for instance, one bike I was looking at actually had a 22% discount rather than 30% off. So members discount are better for customers and LBS alike.

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Performance Bike has road bikes with Shimano 105 11-Speed starting at $900, and they have 30% back in store credit(Ending next Monday, Sep 4th), so it’s $630 after store credit. Select “Road Bikes”, then Drivetrain–>Shimano 105. Here is Fuji website. Scroll down to the bottom and look for “Bike Archive” if you want to see prior years models. Typically Fuji assigns lower model numbers for better spec’ed bikes, so 1.0 is the best. 3.0 is worst. Their store brand is now called “Access”. It used to be called “Scattante”. They have a fully carbon bike with Shimano 105 for $999, or $700 after store credit. I think this is lower than Nashbar/BD.

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@semperiden 164225 wrote:

Tiny/cheap spy cam to at least know what time they do it? Not sure if it is legal

I don’t know if a permit is needed from NPS, but you also need to make sure that you turn off audio recording since in Virginia you have to be one of the parties in recorded conversations.

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@scoot 164076 wrote:

Sad story. So many questions here.

“westbound” = northbound?
“half a mile west of Route 301” = south/east of route 301? The road doesn’t go a half-mile the other way.

“van moved to pass the cyclist in a legal passing zone”: did the driver cross the double-yellow, or not? And did he get his entire vehicle across the center lines?

“cyclist appeared to veer into the lane and was struck”: It’s amazing how many cyclists are veering to their deaths these days. Also amazing how convenient it is that such behavior always happens to exonerate the sole survivor in these incidents… :rolleyes:

I think they mean northwest of the intersection, the speed limit there is 35 MPH. The limit is 55 MPH in the southeast(East) section of Windsor Drive. Crossing the double yellow line to pass a ped/cyclist is legal in VA since July 2015.

I think the description of what we are hearing is based on what’s the driver is saying. Hopefully, there are other witnesses. I am not sure if they measure tire marks to see how fast he was going.

[n18]

My lungs have developed more tolerance to bad air since I put an air purifier in my bedroom. If it gets too bad, I have to slow down.

[n18]

Could you post your height and weight?

Without a bike fit, try adjusting seat height, one inch or 3/4 at a time, then measure the time it takes a certain segment. Preferably a segment that is a slow steady uphill. I found that by raising the seat, I got more efficient, up until a certain point, then efficiency drops. So that would be the sweet spot. Also, if you consistently find yourself sliding forward on your seat after cycling for a while, then slide your seat forward. This is assuming that the seat was level to begin with.

[n18]

ALDI; the grocery store, sells some bike stuff, including trunk rack for $30. It fits both sedans and SUV’s, and can carry up to 2 bikes.

Here are the product features as it says on the box:

* Fits most bicycles
* Anti sway easy grip bike cradles
* Fits coupes, hatchbacks, square back SUVs, and regular sedans
* Foam bumpers protects car’s paint finish
* Installs in minutes

Link to a bigger picture.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]15046[/ATTACH]

[n18]

Rohloff Speedhub 14 patent would expire on either May 15, 2018, or Oct 4, 2019(Not sure which, based on this online expiration date calculator).

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Nice! Now you need one of these.

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I am glad that you decided to wait. I think the prices are as high as they can be. Plus, what if you need a fitness equipment in the future?

@KLizotte 161907 wrote:

I just realized people not be pleased hearing my cleats on the steps outside their doors. Will have to check that too.

I have used these SPD Cleat Covers and they lasted few hours of total use while shopping, maybe it’s enough for you or perhaps there is a better one.

@KLizotte 161907 wrote:

I’m thinking a hoist would be far easier. Battery or electric powered – easy peasy!

I thought you could use a winch pulling a wooden board with bike stand attached to it, and perhaps a box for groceries. Here is a YouTube video showing someone who made something for lifting groceries, but it’s too small for a bike. I am not sure how loud a winch would be. From my experience, the larger the motor, the quieter it is.

[n18]

I have resorted to using my shifters to signal passing. I click them twice; back and forth, when I am far away, then again when I get closer. It’s not too loud(unless I am too close), and not too soft. So far no complaints. I use my bell when there are too many peds, cyclists, or kids.

There are many jerks out there who triple pass within inches from kids and strollers. Sooner or later bad things happen. Like when two or three peds talking, and one of them bursts into laughter and moves a foot or two away all of the sudden. I like to give peds and joggers at least 2 feet, after all we ask cars to give us 3 feet. I also never pass them on the same lane, even the joggers that use the 1-foot area gravel path next to the W&OD. I treat these joggers as using the whole right lane. I have observed that some of them jump into the trail all of the sudden to avoid obstacles that I don’t see, like a puddle of water, or a big rock. They are already exhausted from running and requiring them to look each time is tiresome, maybe except when making a sudden U-turn.

[n18]

Regarding the privacy issue, I think home owners who live next to I-66 who are complaining about privacy issues are imagining a trail at the end of their clear lawns, with people looking at them, when the reality is more like shrubs and dense vegetation blocking trail users from seeing them, just like what we have at the W&OD. They can grew shrubs or build a fence, so they shouldn’t have more of an issue than those who have houses next to the W&OD trail.

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@dasgeh 161677 wrote:

Has anyone figured out the distances between the entrances to the trail? It seems like one would only be able to get on/off the trail at interchanges — how far apart are those?

Thanks

I think they are spaced about 2000 Feet apart, or about 7 to 8 minutes walking time. This is based on Begin Retaining Wall/End Retaining Wall markings on the map.

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