Cyclists: Recommend Me a Road Bike

In My Humble Opinion
21

I just want to congratulate you on deciding to bike to work in Seattle. This is probably the best time of the year to start commuting by bike around here. The weather isn’t to warm nor is it too cool, and you’ll have many riding days if you are limiting yourself to those without rain. Plus, there are many biking activities, outside of commuting, in and around Seattle.

Anyhoo, I really like my Trek520. It’s a touring bike, which looks like a 10 speed or road bike. The frame geometry is designed such that you have more space to stretch out your upper body. If you’re proportioned in a similar way to myself, slightly long body and short legs but not noticeably so, and you’re short or, as one of the bike salespersons I spoke with calls it, diminutive (5’6"), then you may want to look at touring bikes. I feel scrunched up on road bikes that fit people my size. Also, touring bikes come with tires that are a wee bit wider and have just a little bit more tread on them than your average road bike.

I want to second the Bikesmith recommendation. Although they may not have had what I was looking for, they really knew their stuff and made wisecracks about my “diminutive” size. Two other places you may want to look for used cycles are R&E Cycles on University Way near Lake Washington and Second Ascent in Ballard. Gregg’s Cycles near Green Lake, Ti Cycles near University Village and Free Range Cycles in Ballard sell new cycles and equipment. I’m uncertain, but Free Range may sell used bikes as well. Be sure to take the bikes you’re interested in for a test ride.

I would suggest buying some riding gloves, a comfy pair of stretchy pants, shirts made of a breathable fabric, lights, lights, lights, a rain jacket just in case, a helmet of course, and lube for your chain. Keeping your chain lubed will make your ride much easier. Plus, I don’t really like bicycle shorts. They make my ride much more uncomfortable. I wear a pair of cotton/lycra knickers, which suit me for any ride length. As for seats, that’s really up to your bum. Mine seat has a depressed center for one’s soft bits and two bumps on the back for your sitting bones to rest on. I think it’s a great seat, but my friend really likes her large, cushioned seat that she bought for her bike.

I prefer panniers to carry my load. I find that my bum becomes soar when I carry my stuff in a backpack. Perhaps bicycle shorts would benefit me then. Whatever you buy to carry your load, be sure it is waterproof. I know you don’t intend to bike in the rain, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for inclement weather.

And a link to the City of Seattle Bicycle Website if you want a free bicycle path/lanes map of the Seattle area.

Good luck in your search and enjoy the ride! :slight_smile:

Sorry about the length of this post. I just get so excited sometimes.

22

Uh, Mersavets, Kamandi’s a boy. Just clarifyin’.

Thanks everyone for the continued input - you’re really opening my eyes. Thanks especially for the info on local Seattle shops and websites. Looks like I’m gonna be busy this weekend.

I’m a safety-conscious kind of guy, so I already decided to kit out with helmet, gloves, reflectors and bright, twinkly lights. I’ve got enough polyester, spandex and rainwear to outfit three cyclists.

Although I have a small backpack that would be suitable, I think I’ll end up with panniers. They just appear to me to allow more freedom of movement while riding. I’m a “sweater”, so I gotta stay cool, or I’ll smell like a gym sock at work. Ugh. Any tips on staying fresh all day after riding to work? A sponge bath in the men’s room doesn’t sound appealing.

What about seats that have a hole down the middle? Helpful or not worth the bother?

And how about shoes? I’m guessing I’ll need special shoes. What kinds of pedal/clip/shoe combinations are there? What’s best in my situation?

23

If you intend to do a lot of riding I would strongly suggest shoes/pedals. I’ll admit that its a bit scary at first locking your feet to the pedals, but its very easy as soon as you get the hang of it. They are simply more efficient, because your foot is in the proper position all the time. All you do is twist your heel out, and voila! Hit the link for some more info.

http://bike.shimano.com/Footwear_Pedals/Pedals/index.asp

24

Attaching your feet to the pedal is very advantageous to riding. Another way to keep your feet on the pedals is with a kind of cage (sorry can’t think of the proper name at the moment) that attaches to the pedal. They do a decent job of holding your foot to the pedal and are easier to get out of. Shimano makes a touring shoe that converts to a clip shoe, so you could have it both ways.

25

I would say “not to hijack Kamandi’s thread” but it is a slight one.

I’m also looking for a bike, preferably a road bike. I have a hybrid, and I don’t like it very much. (I got it from Gregg’s, where I was given awful advice. However, from what I’ve heard from others who have shopped there, MMdidV).

My big problem in fitting bikes is that I’ve got incredibly long legs and a very, very, very short torso, so I keep running into problems with postioning and comfort on the thing about a mile into the ride. Are there any makes/models of bikes that might be a better fit than an average bike is going to be? Is there anything I can do to a bike that will compensate for this problem? Are there any recommended brands of road bikes out there?

Thanks,

26

Not possessing men’s bits, I can’t comment on how well the ergonomic saddles work.

But I use a Specialized Women’s ergonomic saddle, and I love it! I used to get a really sore bum after 20 minutes in the saddle, but now I can go a lot longer. It was pricey, but well worth it!

Most people seem to be recommending Trek. I have a grudge with Trek because they limit the amount of stores they will supply here in Japan, and they won’t add us to their list. We stock Cannondale, Specialized, GT, Schwinn, Giant, Jamis (as well as a few other brands). I can recommend any of those companies.

27

amarinth, if you are on the distaff side, they make bikes specifically for women. The geometry is such that they have shorter top tubes and higher stems. Body shape-wise, men have short legs and long torsos, and women have long legs and short torsos. I’m sure one of the links provided above, especially the Road Bike Review web board, can steer you to manufacturers that make frames with this geometry in mind. A good LBS should have a fit kit that you can get on to get your stats.

28

Yeah, Amarinth, Terry for one makes bkes that have a shorter top-tube for people with shorter torso-to-leg ratio (women, generally).
I’m a girl but I really like the cut-out saddles.

29

By the way, here is a cheap, practical alternative to fancy panniers. Ugly, I know, but probably more waterproof than any commercial pannier. Another alternative is to attach a plastic moped trunk like I do. They are cheap, waterproof, and large enough to store your helmet in.

I also use an Ortlieb Office Bag, which is a waterproof pannier designed to carry a laptop or documents. A bit expensive but very well made.

As for shoes, you could go with the old-fashioned toe clips or cage, but these days a lot of people use clipless pedals. “Clipless” means you can secure your feet without using toe clips. Instead, a metal cleat attached to the sole latches onto a mechanism on the pedal. The Shimano SPD is probably the most popular. I prefer the Speedplay Frogs which have a lot more float (freedom of feet angle). You have to buy a pair of SPD-compatible shoes to use these pedals - several companies make them. My favourite is the Shimano SPD sandal. Another alternative is the Power Grip straps, which are semi-elastic straps to hold your feet. Some think they are less intimidating than clipless pedals. I haven’t tried them myself.

30

This is a great thread. Thanks for the links on recumbents, scr4. I’ve been interested in those and might buy one when I get back to the states.

31

I’m going to throw a vote in for a recumbent for three reasons: they are very comfortable, they are very effecient, and they are very fast, with subtantially less eind resistance than uprights.

But it is an acquired taste. I don’t own one now, I have a cannondale road/touring hybrid. I too reccommend at least a rear rack, and panniers You can argue about efficiency vis a vis backbacks, but you can’t argue space and flexibilty.

Buy a frame that can accommodate front and rear racks whether you get the racks now or later. You can always add them later, and everything gets a little lighter every year.

32

Just to clarify, I don’t recommend Gregg’s for advice, but they have a diverse selection of bikes to test ride.

I was thinking about this thread last night. I just wanted to suggest buying a U-Lock for your bike. There are two ways to lock your bike up. Park it front end into the bike rack and lock through the front tire and frame. The other way is a bit more complicated. Back your bike into the rack, remove front tire and line it up with the rear tire, and put your lock through both tires and the frame.

And, being a sweater myself, I just dry off with paper towels and change my clothes. If you wipe the sweat off before it dries and apply some pit stick, then you probably won’t stink. It’s not ideal, but it works.

33

Last week, after loads of looking and testing I bought a Novara XR hybrid-style bike from REI. They were having a sale, so I got it for $500.

I rode it to work the next day and hated it. For the week previous I’d been using a friend’s road bike. The switch to the cushy, upright ride of the Novara was nice, but it was too heavy and slow. My commute’s ten miles one way, and it was much easier on the light, speedy road bike. After being positive that a hybrid was the way to go, I completely changed my mind and decided to get a used road bike. The Novara went back to REI.

I checked out Second Ascent and Free Range Cycles for used equipment. They had some, but nothing my size in my price range.

So after much fucking about, on Saturday I bought a fifteen-year-old Raleigh Technium 440 road bike from Recycled Cycles in Fremont. Aluminum frame, new rear cog and chain (it’s now a fourteen speed), new seat, handlebar tape, cables and brake pads, and they repacked all the bearings, cleaned the derailleurs and straightened the wheels. $195 and a free water bottle. Clipless pedals extra. Also a rack (used), fenders, rear light, mirror, pump and patch kit - all extra. Don’t forget helmet, shoes and cushy padded riding shorts to protect Big Kamandi and The Boys. My $195 bike has cost over $500 so far. And I’ll need new tires soon.

I figure the gasoline I’ll save by riding to work will pay it all off by 2011.

34

Can’t go wrong with Raleigh, AFAIK! Good pick Kamandi! Enjoy!

35

Don’t know how I missed this thread the first time around…

I would have told you not to get an aluminum frame. About 10 years ago I had an aluminum frame Raleigh. It cracked in half while I was riding. It looked like someone had taken a hacksaw to it, but it was just the buildup of stress on the drop tube.

I would also have said don’t bother with clipless pedals-- I prefer to use regular pedals, with steel-shanked shoes. Casual enough to bike, classy enough to go with a suit.

In chillier weather you may want some spandex tights-- I know, I know, but you can get what I like to call “halfsies”-- with a goretex panel down the front. It looks slightly less dorky from the front at least, and they’ll hold up to puddles and frequent showers :slight_smile:

Did you get panniers to go with your rack? You’ll want 'em over that distance… And a headlight is a good investment too-- mostly for being seen, rather than seeing the road.

When you get new tires, go for ones with rubber sidewalls, rather than cloth. The salesguy will know what that means-- They’ll hold up longer, especially if you’re always carrying weight on the bike.

Remember to eat carbs, get a good night’s sleep, and pretend that all the cagers are trying to kill you! Have fun biking!

36

Googling around yesterday (after I bought the bike), I saw that Raleigh had recalled some of their aluminum frame bikes in 1995. Yours wasn’t one of those, was it?

The regular pedals it came with were pretty wrecked and needed to be replaced anyway. I’m a gear geek, and REI’s clipless shoes were on sale, so…

I’m way ahead of you. I’ve been wearing tights in the gym and on hikes for years. I couldn’t care less what I look like.

No panniers yet. So far I’ve been trying to pre-position changes of clothing at the office on the rainy days I drive to work (I’m not a masochist - yet). That way I avoid carrying a lot of stuff on the rack. What I do carry, I’ve been strapping on with bungie cords. Works pretty well so far.

Never thought of a headlight. I’ve got a painfully bright flashing red LED taillight, though.

Check.

:slight_smile:
Thanks again, everyone, for all of your suggestions and encouragement.

37

Nope. My bike was a road bike-- nice and red, lasted about 4 years, then it died.
The sad thing is I had to bike another 15 km with a split tube! My pedals kept slapping the ground with every patch on the asphalt.