# Any knowledgeable bicyclists here? I want to buy a reasonable bike. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847 "2017-07-21T23:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/41 "2017-08-03T18:39:56Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Congrats on the bike **Leaffan**. I hope you get many enjoyable years of riding. As a sometime mtb commuter rider I strongly recommend adding two things that will make your life a bit easier, a [rear pannier](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Axiom-Streamliner-DLX-Road-Bike-Rear-Rack-Black-700c-fit-carbon-frames-Panniers-/231368253029) and saddle bags plus a set of [deflector shields](https://www.mec.ca/en/product/4000-410/Rear-Deflector-Shield). I’ve linked to the ones I use and they keep me from getting skunk striped in bad weather and also allow me to carry up to 120 lbs of gear if I need to. If you have a flat or riser type handle bar you can also look into getting a set of [bar ends](https://www.mec.ca/en/search?text=bar+ends&org_text=bar+ends) to give you an additional hand position. Cool. How do you attach items to the pannier: bungee cords? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/42 "2017-08-03T18:44:04Z")
The pannier bags will have straps that attach to the pannier rack. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/43 "2017-08-03T18:58:19Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > The pannier bags will have straps that attach to the pannier rack. Ah. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/44 "2017-08-03T20:54:36Z")
The MEC versions I have (This[link](https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-445/Division-20L-Pannier) is similar) use a bungee cord with a hook that attaches to the bottom of the rack and clips that lock onto the upper bars. I’ve been on some pretty gnarly trails with my old bike and they haven’t come off yet. If there’s an MEC in your area it’s worth having a look around, especially if you can’t get to a good local bike shop, which should be your first option. You should be able to ask questions without being made to feel like an idiot, and the staff at MEC has been pretty good at every store I’ve been to. I also ziptied the deflectors in place as the velcro did a so so job. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/45 "2017-08-03T22:06:11Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Please don’t listen to this ‘advice’. > Have you ever seen one of those engineering student egg drop contests where they make a protective case in order to be able to drop an egg from a height such that it _doesn’t_ break? Those ‘egg helmets’ are larger than the egg but they clearly protect it from ‘injury’. > > All it takes is once & traumatic brain injury changes your life forever. Not to mention that [some jurisdictions make it illegal for anyone to ride without a helmet](http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/46 "2017-08-03T22:09:27Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I would advise against mountain bikes. Specifically, avoid shock absorbers and knobby tires. It makes a huge difference when riding on streets and sidewalks. > > You want no suspension, tires with tread but not knobbies, comfort handlebars. Basically, your typical hybrid bike. > > I sent my son to college with a Giant hybrid bike, and he later told me what a huge difference it was when he rode his roommate’s mountain bike, how much hard that was to ride. Although one can buy a relatively cheap (i.e.: no suspension) mountain bike and replace the knobbies for a smoother ride. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/47 "2017-08-03T22:11:13Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I would advise against mountain bikes. Specifically, avoid shock absorbers and knobby tires. It makes a huge difference when riding on streets and sidewalks. > > You want no suspension, tires with tread but not knobbies, comfort handlebars. Basically, your typical hybrid bike. > > I sent my son to college with a Giant hybrid bike, and he later told me what a huge difference it was when he rode his roommate’s mountain bike, how much hard that was to ride. Most suspension systems these days can be “turned off” when not in use. Most of the mountain biking I do is “climb, climb, climb then descend, descend descend”. I don’t use suspension on the climb, but it’s nice to have on the descent! So, don’t use it on the roads and you’re fine. It will add a bit of weight to your bike, but since suspension is standard on mt bikes these days, just go for it. Be sure your tires are fully inflated, as that will cut down on road resistance, too. It’s been awhile since I put some slicks on my mountain bike, but IIRC, they could be inflated to ~ 90 psi. Much better than the ~50 psi for big knobbies, if not quite as nice as the ~120 psi for a road bike. But a good compromise. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/48 "2017-08-03T22:42:16Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Not to mention that [some jurisdictions make it illegal for anyone to ride without a helmet](http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm). I’m in Ontario, Canada. There are no requirements for adults to wear helmets, and I even said so in this very thread. But thanks. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/49 "2017-08-07T18:48:02Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Cool. How do you attach items to the pannier: bungee cords? I commute to work every day by bike and go on a couple multi-day bike rides per year. I swear by Ortlieb panniers (I have them for my dual-sport motorcycle as well). They cost a bit more but take one second to connect or remove from the rack. Plus, they are extremely durable and rain proof. There is another brand that is very similar but I am forgetting the name. I think my set of rear panniers are 8 years old and doing just fine - they get used around 5X per week, year-round. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/50 "2017-08-07T18:54:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’m in Ontario, Canada. There are no requirements for adults to wear helmets, and I even said so in this very thread. > > But thanks. You might need that if you plan to ride elsewhere. 🙂 But seriously, it was meant to dissuade the notion that riding without a helmet is harmless. If it’s so harmless, why do those jurisdictions say anyone riding without one is breaking the law? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/51 "2017-08-07T18:58:04Z")
Hell, in my neck of the woods you don’t generally need a helmet for riding a **motorcycle**. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/52 "2017-08-08T01:30:34Z")
I have a Trek 7.2 hybrid (about $500) and I love it. I always wear a helmet - I don’t see the downside. Why is a bike helmet considered dorky, but a football helmet not? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/53 "2017-08-08T01:37:28Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > I have a Trek 7.2 hybrid (about $500) and I love it. I always wear a helmet - I don’t see the downside. Why is a bike helmet considered dorky, but a football helmet not? Compare the physiques of a cyclist and a football player. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/54 "2017-08-08T01:50:52Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Hell, in my neck of the woods you don’t generally need a helmet for riding a **motorcycle**. And those in need of organ transplants thank you. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/55 "2017-08-08T12:30:33Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > And those in need of organ transplants thank you. My cycling friends and I call anyone in spandex riding a bike without a helmet “organ donor”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/56 "2017-08-08T12:43:06Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > And those in need of organ transplants thank you. Not me - I’ll barely look at a bicycle without putting on my helmet. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/57 "2017-08-08T16:37:25Z")
We’re not gonna drop this, huh? Can any of you ‘mandatory’ types at least admit that there is a debate – that’s it’s not a scientifically settled issue? Surely no town council would pass a stupid law. Many states repealed mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists because 20 to 30 years of insurance statistics showed no clear overall benefit. The insurance companies have no horse in this race. No debate about the effectiveness of football helmets, right? And Olympic boxing didn’t recently ditch the mandatory head gear because they were actually increasing injuries, right? Anybody got any actual evidence that cycle helmets provide any actual overall benefit? [http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/29/business/a-bicycling-mystery-head-injuries-piling-up.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/29/business/a-bicycling-mystery-head-injuries-piling-up.html) > [@](#): > > ‘‘It’s puzzling to me that we can’t find the benefit of bike helmets here,’’ said Ronald L. Medford, the assistant executive director of the safety commission’s hazard identification office. [Alberta’s helmet law – children’s cycling halved, injuries increased per cyclist](http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1250.html) [http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f3817?ijkey=I5vHBog6FhaaLzX&keytype=ref](http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f3817?ijkey=I5vHBog6FhaaLzX&keytype=ref) > [@](#): > > In any case, the current uncertainty about any benefit from helmet wearing or promotion is unlikely to be substantially reduced by further research. Equally, we can be certain that helmets will continue to be debated, and at length. The enduring popularity of helmets as a proposed major intervention for increased road safety may therefore lie not with their direct benefits—which seem too modest to capture compared with other strategies—but more with the cultural, psychological, and political aspects of popular debate around risk. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/58 "2017-08-08T16:42:44Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > Many states repealed mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists because 20 to 30 years of insurance statistics showed no clear overall benefit. [More like they had enough of arguing with the “we have the right to let our hair flow free” [del]organ donors[/del] crowd.](http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/live_free_and_die_michigans_mo.html) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/59 "2017-08-08T16:58:06Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > [Alberta’s helmet law – children’s cycling halved, injuries increased per cyclist](http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1250.html) Oddly, the number of pre and post law injuries in each group are roughly the same. (Teens go up a bit over roughly even) Could it be that rather than helmets being directly at fault but relative risk taking in each group hasn’t been affected? Really what’s needed is a breakdown of injury _type._ I don’t see a comparison of head injury rates before and after. There’s also nothing about cycling safety education. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847/60 "2017-08-08T16:59:21Z")
It was pushed by the freedom seekers, yes, but the laws were repealed because the statistics showed no overall benefit to mandatory helmets – sometimes the helmet helped and sometimes it increased the severity of injury and/or the likelihood of having an accident. If there was a demonstrable benefit you’d better believe the insurance companies would have had an army of lawyers lobbying to keep the laws in place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-knowledgeable-bicyclists-here-i-want-to-buy-a-reasonable-bike/791847.md?page=4)