I'm thinking of getting a bicycle for this fall in Raleigh (gas prices). I'm living in Gorman Street Village. I'm also going to try to get a job at the Y near campus. I'm planning on having my car with me but it's a piece of shit and I want to save gas, and I want to try to only use it for when I have a large load to carry or when I can't really get sweaty en route to the place I'm going. I haven't bought a parking spot on campus.

Does anyone have any suggestions what I should plan for? What type of bike should I look for? Between my car and the wolfline how probable is it that I'll just leave my bike at home and drive or ride?

6/2/2008 10:49:04 AM

You definitely want a roadbike. It really SUCKS riding a mountain bike on the road.

Roadbikes are MUCH lighter, and much faster as a result.

Get a good lock as well so you can lock it up wherever you go. Bike theft is a HUGE problem around here.

If you have any specific questions about any bikes, feel free to ask.

The size of frame you'd need is dependent upon your height. If you're looking for a new bike, I'd recommend going to Cycle Logic on Hillsborough St. You can pick up last year's model for MUCH cheaper than the newest model out. 99% of the time, they havent changed a THING on the bike.

My gf bought her Raleigh Grande Sport there for about $400.

As far as quality of bike, you wont find much else for that cheap around here.

6/2/2008 11:04:00 AM

Do you still want to use a roadbike even if you're riding on the sidewalk?

6/2/2008 11:09:04 AM

My bike is my primary form of transportation here at school and has been for the past two years. Luckily for me, everyone in this city rides their bike everywhere and in all conditions. It took a while to get used to riding in the snow and to/from the bars at night but now its actually pretty fun and convenient.

I second the suggestion of a road bike over mtn bike. You could also look into some sort of commuter/city bike if you dont want to go the road bike route. You may want to consider getting a rack on the back if you will be transporting more than just yourself. Also, fenders may be a good option for when you are out riding after it has rained. They look dumb as hell but they are effective.

6/2/2008 11:14:18 AM

I have been biking for 15+years and have a couple expensive Mountain and Road bikes. I bought a Schwinn Trailway for $200 at Target last month solely to ride to a lake ~5 miles from my house. It does very good on both trails and the street. It's built like a mountain bike but rides like a road bike. You can't beat it for the price imo.

6/2/2008 11:19:33 AM

a hybrid/commuter bike would be the better option. road bikes + bumps, curbs, grass = suck.

after riding a mountain bike for forever, i am not comfortable with the ergonomics of road bikes at all (my bf has one). i don't like leaning so far forward and i hate the handlebar/brakes (they do make flat ones though).

i ride a mountain bike (not a hybrid) and have no problem with it on the road. i ride to work and am on road surface, grass, sidewalk, and sand all along the way. i would not want a road bike for my commute. a hybrid bike would be ideal but i already have a very nice mtn bike that i love and i don't have the money to buy another.

i just got the sunlite rack http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Bicycle-Welded-Spring-Black/dp/B000AO3HJ2/ref=pd_bbs_7?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1211374737&sr=8-7 and novara panniers (really great for groceries) http://www.rei.com/product/733820 and i LOVE them.

[Edited on June 2, 2008 at 11:47 AM. Reason : ]

6/2/2008 11:45:35 AM

I built this road/commuter bike a few months ago. Its built of an '87 Schwinn Worldsport frame (steel, lugged, double butted tubes), has 700c aero wheels w/ 32mm tires (big road tires for a little more comfort and it handles Umstead well). Aero brakes make it very comfortable to ride upright.

$200

6/2/2008 11:53:04 AM

^^I got a bike trailer meant for kids at a yard sale for $40.00. I have taken it to the grocery store 2 miles away 3 times already. You might wanna keep your eye out for one.

6/2/2008 11:57:12 AM

What's a good example of Hybrid bike?

6/2/2008 12:05:25 PM

This is the Schwinn Trailway I posted about earlier. You can see that it looks like a mountain bike but has wheels like a road bike. Like I said before, I would highly recommend this for a cheap Target-type bike. Read all the reviews online. My only advice would be to have it tuned at a bike store after purchase. I bought mine just to ride to the lake and run easy errands, cause I don't care too much if it gets stolen or dinged up.

6/2/2008 12:26:16 PM

I was in Bermuda and pretty much Scooters are the primary form of travel for most folks. For the average daily commuting; I do not see why this has not yet caught on here in the US. Most of the time drivers are just driving themselves and are not in need of cargo space. I probably would have saved so much money in gas over the years just throwing my textbook and notebook in the scooter storage space; hopping on and using that instead of my car for my frequent campus runs.

6/2/2008 12:50:06 PM

I ride a scooter.

6/2/2008 1:02:49 PM

tnezami is right about road bikes vs. mountain.

Riding a MTB on the roads is really no fun at all.

For commuting, though, you might want to check into something different from the classic road bike.

First off, You'll probably need some kind of rack (for panniers, or whatever); many road bikes lack the braze ons and clearances for racks and such. Also, the geometry of a typical road bike may be to "aggressive" for you -- if you like to sit up straight rather than leaning forward over the bars to support your upper body weight on the brake hoods, a road bike could be uncomfortable. Moreover, nearly all road bikes have saddles that more or less require cycling shorts, and that may be an issue for a simple commute.

Then there's the whole issue of pedals -- do you want to roll with a clipless system that requires cleats and funky cycling shoes, or would you prefer a platform pedal that has no shoe requirements?

All this means that you should probably look at the hybrid, as others have suggested.

I happen to do most of my commuting/round town riding on an old cyclocross bike that has racks and fenders added. Works for me, but I'm used to logging lots of miles on a roadbike.

[Edited on June 2, 2008 at 1:26 PM. Reason : eh]

6/2/2008 1:24:03 PM

Quote :

"It really SUCKS riding a mountain bike on the road."

agree. it's bad for your tires too because the tread isn't meant for asphalt terrain. You can still have a mountain bike and get road tires for it...they sell just the tires at bike shops. That's what i'm doing.

6/2/2008 1:53:31 PM

I bike more than I drive currently. But I don't get out a lot.

6/2/2008 2:01:29 PM

I do, about 365 days a year, to work and everywhere. I ride a 1979 Schwinn Le Tour loaded with a rear rack, panniers, fenders and lights, and touring tires. I prefer road bikes as they offer more hand and body positions than mountain bikes. You definitely want lights- a good front LED headlight (try Planet Bike or Cateyes) and a rear red-light blinkie, especially for shorter winter days. This set-up works for me, as I frequently have to carry gym equipment, groceries, bike parts, etc, as well as ride in the city.

Many older touring/more heavy duty steel frame road bikes can be had off of Craigslist for 50-400, you need to be able to assess its condition though, and whether you'll invest in maintenance. All bikes WILL break down, so it's good to learn how to at least change a flat, know your brakes, etc. And you and the Weather Channel will become fast friends.

Also, some extra things to consider: fenders can make life less miserable in rain and sloppy weather, a good raincoat, and handlebar tape or gloves for comfort and grip. And a good lock for this bike.

6/2/2008 7:48:36 PM

What do the bike experts think about the 120$ Target bikes....are they ok to ride around the town? I don't want to invest much because my previous low end Trek got stolen...

6/2/2008 8:30:55 PM

you should get a moped! i have one and it gets 104 mpg. that is a lot of saved gas PLUS you dont get sweaty PLUS you look super cool riding one
just saying
plus they aren't all that expensive

6/2/2008 10:01:34 PM

If you can, biking to work/class is awesome for your health. I think the sweat you produce even in swampy summer weather while exercising is different than clammy stress sweat...plus you tend to sweat less the more in shape you are.
I rarely have to take an extra shirt to work in the summer, plus not wearing a backpack helps.

Plus, your legs and butt will be totally killer.

Target bike = fine for recreational riding, but if you're commuting regularly, investing a few hundred bucks more in a good
quality Trek/Raleigh/Fuji/whatever might pay off long term in comfort and quality.

6/2/2008 10:40:41 PM

I'll add this question here.

I just bought a bike as a main form of transportation. Now that I have it, what bike lock do you guys recommend?

6/3/2008 9:09:21 AM

^ do NOT go with a cable lock as your main form of security...i went with one of the "high quality" super-thick ones, and my $350 bike was stolen when i was in organic chem a few summers back

get a u-bolt (mine goes through the front wheel and around the frame...i also got an additional cable lock that goes through the back wheel and the seat)

i don't know about all this road bike stuff, though...when i was in school, i had a $400 GT mountain bike and it worked out great...i biked everywhere (though i still had a car)...it was faster than walking or taking the bus, and i felt great...i don't know that a road bike would have been as acceptable, since i tended to jump curbs and go through grass and such...it wasn't a heavy bike, though (i lived in wolf village, 3rd floor, and carried it up with me every day)

get a mountain bike and put street tires on it...at least then you'll have something a bit more multi-purpose

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 9:52 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2008 9:48:30 AM

6/3/2008 9:58:07 AM

Definitely considering doing this.

I have about a 10-mile commute to work. And I'm definitely worried about sweating too much...haha.

6/3/2008 10:09:34 AM

these people would not recommend it.


all seriousness you should look into getting a scooter (if budget allows it)

6/3/2008 10:13:39 AM

This is a dumb question

but is a bike like the one in the link ok to ride on the sidewalks. I only ask because it is a hybrid, but the sidewalks around here are bumpy as hell.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/road/fx/73fx/

6/3/2008 3:51:21 PM

i walked from campus to lake park today.

6/3/2008 3:56:28 PM

^^
Well, considering that it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk, the answer is "no".

More seriously, if you're looking to do a lot of curb jumping and such, you'd probably be better off with a mountain bike, imho. From what I can see, a bike like that is intended to be ridden on city streets pretty much exclusively, with the occasional paved trail or such.

6/3/2008 4:37:20 PM

I got hit riding on the sidewalk. Haven't been since I started riding on the road. Coincidence? I'm not sure.

By the way, I second AntiMnifesto's advice.

6/3/2008 4:42:24 PM

Riding on the sidewalk is actually more dangerous than riding on the road, by far.


http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/sidepath/sidecrash.htm

6/4/2008 12:25:09 AM

So I bought my bike and rode for 3 hours yesterday. My ass is sore. Something I'll get use to or did you guys buy nicer seats?

6/4/2008 6:58:49 PM

fixed gear mafuckaaaaaas

6/4/2008 7:42:24 PM

why is the lounge always full of posts about biking, bike riding events, the best places to mountain bike, the coolest bikes to have and other bicycle-related items?

6/4/2008 9:43:19 PM

^^ except that is a track bike. you would want a least one brake if you were going anywhere near a road.

6/4/2008 9:48:00 PM

tell that to every bike messenger ever

most of them ride fixed gears and just use their legs to stop

once you get used to not having a brake it's not that big a deal

[Edited on June 4, 2008 at 10:00 PM. Reason : i had a front brake installed, but i hardly ever use it]

6/4/2008 9:57:44 PM

the bicycle you pictured is designed to ride in a velodrome, therefore its a track bike.

6/4/2008 10:02:25 PM

not sure i was arguing that with what i said....im just pointing out that a fixed gear bike doesnt always belong indoors

6/4/2008 10:24:14 PM

Quote :

"once you get used to not having a brake it's not that big a deal"

The guy I bought my bike from in college used to say the exact same thing...
until he broke both his arms on that dirt jump at Pullen Park.

That's right...both of them, in casts, he couldn't even wipe his own butt.

I put brakes on it as soon as I got it home.

6/5/2008 12:50:27 AM

I don't, but I would ride this:

6/5/2008 1:18:19 AM

Mamachari bikes FTW.

6/5/2008 3:21:07 AM

Quote :

"until he broke both his arms on that dirt jump at Pullen Park."

what about the above bike i posted indicates that i would jump it on anything?

its strictly a commuting function, and for the amount of traffic it sees daily, my legs work just fine to accelerate and decelerate as i need

6/5/2008 8:15:22 AM

In traffic it is sensible for (at least one) brake for emergency (car cuts in front of you etc).

Agent 0 Do you have that Bianchi (without a brake)? I am actually in the market for a good single speed, I test road a few in London, the Plug Charge and Specialized Langster (both singlespeed and fixed gear). Riding in heavy traffic I would have busses/cars/motorcycles run close to me and I felt more stable knowing I could stop on a dime before getting smashed. Side note, anyone wanna sell a singlespeed frame/bike?



[Edited on June 5, 2008 at 9:47 AM. Reason : Charge Plug pictured above]

6/5/2008 9:45:15 AM

i bought the bianchi completely stock (i.e. no brakes), and while i can ride it with no brakes fine, i had a front brake installed just purely like you said, for emergencies. it hardly ever gets used though because, as you probably know, the way you ride a fixed gear bike versus one with a cassette or speeds is different. it requires that you know how to look and anticipate farther down the road.

i love it, as its about as simple as you can get for a bike....no derailleurs to break, etc

i ride mine in large city traffic (i live in and ride it in the Alexandria/DC area) its a mix of wide, minimally hilly bike paths and city streets, but riding in the grid of DC or even the old town area is vasty different from the streets of raleigh if that's where you are. i dont think i'd ever ride this on a glenwood type road or something like that

additionally the single speed is great for a leg workout while you commute...you get your hamstrings worked but your quads work too from being used as brakes if you so choose to use that method to stop

the bianchi is very light, probably given that there's not much on it...

[Edited on June 5, 2008 at 9:55 AM. Reason : .]


plus i feel like michael bluth everyday

[Edited on June 5, 2008 at 9:55 AM. Reason : .]

6/5/2008 9:50:18 AM

ha, bluth.

i would want to do this, except my commute is about 15 miles straight down the interstate. maybe when i go to grad school or work in a better location to bike commute.

6/5/2008 10:18:47 AM

yea see mine is about 1.5 miles to work, 2-3 if i go around town where i live, and even if i go into the city or ride it around after metroing into the city, it's only like 5 miles tops

6/5/2008 10:20:50 AM

^Do you have to worry about your chain breaking with a fixie?

6/5/2008 10:34:26 AM

that's the weakest link

so i mean

it's only as falliable as every other chain drive vehicle on the planet

but if all that breaks is a chain, that's not a big deal

6/5/2008 10:35:59 AM

Quote :

"Do you have to worry about your chain breaking with a fixie?"

id be worried if i didnt have any brakes

6/5/2008 10:38:14 AM

well its a good thing i have a front brake then huh

6/5/2008 10:42:49 AM

Oh God, the hipstermobile can now be found in the Triangle. I thought we were safe here, but soon the streets will be overrun with hipsters on their single speeds, laying down skids and boasting about their mad trackstand skillz as they chug down PBR. When's the first Raleigh-Durham alleycat race scheduled?

6/5/2008 1:42:16 PM

^It's been here a while. Have you never been to Lilly's or Third Place?

6/5/2008 2:30:21 PM