12.


I have a Trek 4300 mountain bike; it really isn't anything special, but I like it... I decided that I really want to get a road bike, since I plan on riding at least 150+ mi. in the week and long treks on my mountain bike are a pain in the ass.

I really like Trek bikes and I was looking at the 1.1... any suggestions for a cheap beginner's bike? MSRP is $660, but in the scheme of things, that isn't too bad; I plan on spending birthday (a week)/graduation/tax returns money on it.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/1_series/11/



[Edited on March 30, 2010 at 11:47 PM. Reason : 12]

3/30/2010 11:46:51 PM

Go to a shop, ride a few. It seems like an obvious suggestion, but go and do it.

3/31/2010 3:34:44 AM

Quote :

"150+ mi. in the week "

that is a lot. how 'nice' is your mountain bike?

An entry level new bike will not be all that comfortable in the long haul. If you want to save $$ i'd scour Cragislist for a good deal and if road biking isn't for you, sell it for what you paid for it. That is what I did, but I kept my bike because it is a good fit. Once I get a better one I will probably keep it still.

If you do get a new one, get fitted too.

If you KNOW you want to ride a lot, save a little longer and go with good components.
If you DON"T KNOW if you want to ride a lot, maybe look for a good deal on a used one?

3/31/2010 6:14:21 AM

Question:

I have a French frame.

Will this bottom bracket:

http://www.velo-orange.com/grcrufrthbob.html

Pair with this crankset?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350332771439

3/31/2010 8:19:55 AM

anyone here commute on a bike?

I rode in to work for the first time since it got cold, and riding with a ~20lb backpack sucks. anyone use saddlebags? does it help a lot? I'm riding an old gary fisher that I put slicks on for commuting. It's only a 4 mile ride, but the backpack makes it suck.

3/31/2010 9:31:11 AM

Are you taking your bike inside? If yes, panniers are great. If not, you'll want some you can remove easily to take inside.

3/31/2010 9:32:20 AM

yeah, i leave it under a stairwell in my building.

Any recos for panniers? I just need something big enough to hold a laptop, a change of clothes, and wallet, keys, cell phone, etc.

3/31/2010 9:56:49 AM

As a general trunk bag, I almost bought this (except I'm fine with a back pack):

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_167070_-1_201497_10000_200351

If the measurements don't fit, try this pannier:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_172282_-1_201497_10000_200350

3/31/2010 10:25:47 AM

I commute to work about 2.5mi most days, and use a backpack. I would really rather use panniers/saddlebags, but I haven't been able to find a way to put anything on my Trek 1500. The seat post is carbon fiber, so I can't attach a rear rack to it that way either

3/31/2010 1:45:49 PM

Quote :

"Question: I have a French frame. Will this bottom bracket: http://www.velo-orange.com/grcrufrthbob.html Pair with this crankset? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350332771439"

I'm not sure of the taper on Stronglight cranks (I think it was proprietary, maybe ISO.)
I don't think it will fit.
To be sure, ask Tom at VO. He's a francophile and will def. be able to tell you.
Are you trying to keep it all French for reason? That crank might seriously jump in price and you can find something alot cheaper with easier to find chainrings that will definitely have a JIS taper and work with that BB for less.

Quote :

" I commute to work about 2.5mi most days, and use a backpack. I would really rather use panniers/saddlebags, but I haven't been able to find a way to put anything on my Trek 1500. The seat post is carbon fiber, so I can't attach a rear rack to it that way either "

Try p-clamps.
http://www.touringcyclist.com/gear/model_16556.html

Should be able to find them at any hardware store.

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 2:11 PM. Reason : m]

3/31/2010 2:10:55 PM

Quote :

"That crank might seriously jump in price and you can find something alot cheaper with easier to find chainrings that will definitely have a JIS taper and work with that BB for less."

Hell no, but the BB is french threaded, and I just need a new crankset/pedals. Any suggestions?

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ]

3/31/2010 2:29:49 PM

^^ the dropout/rear fork/whatever has no way to bolt the bottom of a rack. think those clamps would still work for that?

3/31/2010 4:05:22 PM

Quote :

"An entry level new bike will not be all that comfortable in the long haul. If you want to save $$ i'd scour Cragislist for a good deal and if road biking isn't for you, sell it for what you paid for it. That is what I did, but I kept my bike because it is a good fit. Once I get a better one I will probably keep it still."

I've read a few reviews on the 1.1 and nearly everyone says that the seat blows after a while... that'll probably be my main addition. I love biking; in the summer I biked like 80mi./week on my mountain bike and that was horrible...

3/31/2010 4:35:36 PM

Quote :

"^^ the dropout/rear fork/whatever has no way to bolt the bottom of a rack. think those clamps would still work for that? "

^Yes, the p clamps should work. You wouldn't be able to do fully loaded touring with it, but for commuting should be fine and will definitely hold more than a seatpost rack.

Quote :

"Hell no, but the BB is french threaded, and I just need a new crankset/pedals. Any suggestions?"

What size chainrings are you looking for? Double or triple? Budget?
Let me know and I'll try to suggest something suitable. I might even be able to dig something out of the parts bin.
You're probably going to have to get that french BB from VO (or the threadless BB from there) though.

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 4:37 PM. Reason : a]

3/31/2010 4:36:41 PM

Double, budget preferred, but my price limit for the crank is ~$50.

The previous owner fucked with this crankset and replaced the inner ring with something tiny. It's set up for 52x36T (weird, isn't it?) so I'm trying to go for something a bit more narrow, like 46x38 or whatever.

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 10:10 PM. Reason : ]

3/31/2010 10:07:43 PM

Hey GOD I will have a silver Specialized, a blue helmet, and a yellow jersey (cause I win) to keep me visible and some yellow gloves during that 50 miler

4/1/2010 5:54:01 AM

^^ I wouldn't go any smaller than a 52 for the big ring if I were you, or you won't have enough gear for some of the rollers in the area. The small ring might be a little small, but honestly 53/39 is probably one of the most common configs for a road bike. Of course, that also assumes a common 11/26-12/28 cassette in the back which it sounds like you don't have.

4/1/2010 6:06:29 AM

This is going to be my setup, once the bike store finishes:

-Shimano Tourney rear derailleur
-Shimano 6 speed 14-28 freewheel
-52x36T crank

I chose the Tourney because I needed a WIDE derailleur for that crank

4/1/2010 8:44:53 AM

Whelp, the 6 speed freewheel didn't fit my bike.

Anyone want it?

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-HG22-MFTZ20-14-28-freewheel/dp/B001G0X2DA/

Brand spanking new. I'll sell it to you for $10 (I had to pay the list price + shipping).

[Edited on April 1, 2010 at 1:34 PM. Reason : ]

4/1/2010 1:08:29 PM

Commuted to work for the first time this morning, but I hadn't ever done it with pants on before. Needless to say, my pants got all kinds of grease from the chain/chainrings. I tried tucking my pants into my socks, but that didn't stay put for long. I have seen the velcro straps that people wear, but I haven't been able to find any online with a quick google search.

Any ideas where I can find some?

4/2/2010 8:32:20 AM

THIS ISN"T NORMAL, IS IT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zecjfnlO7xc

FUCK ALL STAR BIKES IN RALEIGH

4/2/2010 8:41:22 AM

haha. that makes me dizzy. I thought it was a brand new cassette? did they screw it up when they installed it?

4/2/2010 8:59:58 AM

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-252280

Apparently it's "normal" but ............ I dunno

4/2/2010 9:00:38 AM

^Not really that bad. You shoulddnt be able to tell while riding. Would only be a problem with more modern, narrow spaced index systems.

You get your crank/bb situation figured out?
I'll keep looking for a suitable crank to pair with that VO BB it that's what you decide to get.

4/2/2010 9:17:41 AM

Not yet, still looking for something.

4/2/2010 10:02:10 AM

^Think I dug up an old Sugino crank. Pretty low end Sugino (with swaged arm and with chainring guard) but it should be JIS (not listed, but since it's Sugino, should work I'm assuming JIS) and mesh well with that BB.
Not particularly nice, but at least you'll be rid of the cotterless. Plus the chainring guard will help protect your pants from getting greasy if you commute.
Arm length: 170mm
Chainrings: 52-29
I'll send you photos via pm when I get a chance.

4/2/2010 3:27:35 PM

52-29? goddamn

So the VO one is JIS? Why is it JIS? weird.

How will I know if a crank on Ebay or something fits JIS standards

[Edited on April 2, 2010 at 3:37 PM. Reason : ]

4/2/2010 3:36:55 PM

Which brand do ya'll recommend for a road bike? I was thinking Trek or Specialized... seeing how that's what the local dealer primarily sells.

4/2/2010 5:42:50 PM

^^typo. 52-39 of course. 29 is pretty small. I did once have a crank on a touring bike with a 26 granny on it. Could climb a wall with it.

I honestly don't know why the VO is JIS. Maybe because they sell Sugino cranks which have JIS taper?
If you look on ebay, it should mention what the taper is or you might just have to ask the seller about it.
You can have this one for shipping and a 6 pack next time I'm in Raleigh (I'll probably forget by then)

[Edited on April 2, 2010 at 9:13 PM. Reason : a]

4/2/2010 9:11:54 PM

Anyone else doing the Triangle Orthopaedic Sprint Triathlon in two weeks? I know Antimanifesto mentioned he'd be there.

Come on you know you guys wanna swim in goose poop

4/2/2010 9:15:00 PM

finished my '50' miles with no problems. It was actually like 46.6 for the course due to construction they shortened it.

GOD will be up here in just a moment about his front derailleur failing him

4/3/2010 1:23:58 PM

I finished in about three and a half hours or so.

4/3/2010 3:13:39 PM

Quote :

"Commuted to work for the first time this morning, but I hadn't ever done it with pants on before. Needless to say, my pants got all kinds of grease from the chain/chainrings. I tried tucking my pants into my socks, but that didn't stay put for long. I have seen the velcro straps that people wear, but I haven't been able to find any online with a quick google search. Any ideas where I can find some?"

http://cordarounds.com/bike-to-work/

http://www.altrec.com/deuter/pants-protector-cycling-pants

http://www.superior-gear.com/

4/3/2010 4:51:38 PM

Quote :

"nyone else doing the Triangle Orthopaedic Sprint Triathlon in two weeks? I know Antimanifesto mentioned he'd be there. Come on you know you guys wanna swim in goose poop "

Yup, I'm in it. You'll see me sporting a Target jersey.

I'm hoping to finish it around 1:15. Strongly considering doing a half ironman later this summer or early fall.

[Edited on April 3, 2010 at 5:09 PM. Reason : asdfasd]

4/3/2010 5:08:09 PM

^^Or locally you can just go to REI
http://www.rei.com/search?query=reflective+strap&button.x=0&button.y=0

I have the metal clips:
http://www.amazon.com/Pant-Cuff-Clips-Bike-Bicycle/dp/B000MM5MSQ

4/3/2010 6:40:55 PM

bike racks?

what do you guys think of this one? i have a chevy malibu & will mostly only be transporting my own bike but like the flexibility to transport up to 3

http://www.amazon.com/Yakima-Super-3-Bike-Trunk-Mount/dp/B0012SDZKQ

Yakima Super Joe 3-Bike Trunk Mount Rack



[Edited on April 3, 2010 at 10:47 PM. Reason : oops]

4/3/2010 10:45:05 PM

I have this Thule bike rack and I really like it.. it's pretty easy to take on/off and getting the bikes on/off is also easy.

http://www.amazon.com/Thule-958-Parkway-2-Bike-Receiver/dp/B000CQ47H4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1270358224&sr=8-2

4/4/2010 1:18:36 AM

Anyone have this rack?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98019

I'm assuming its a you get what you pay for.

4/4/2010 11:54:30 AM

I've got the Yakima King Joe 2 and love it. It has bigger pads than the Super Joe that help distribute the weight more (I was worried about dimpling my trunk). A breeze to take on and off - I have to every time because of the small clearance in my garage. They also sell it in a 3-bike version.

http://www.yakima.com/racks/bike-racks/product/8002619/kingjoe-2.aspx

4/4/2010 12:36:50 PM

Yeah I'll be doing the Triangle Orthopedic. (And I'm a woman).

I did a 40 mile ride to Carrboro and around the surrounding area yesterday with a stop at
Performance, followed by going to Margaritaville for the rest of the night.

4/4/2010 3:49:24 PM

i dont have a hitch so a hitch mounted rack is out

thanks for the feedback on the yakima, i'll go with the one i posted

4/4/2010 6:10:52 PM

One piece of advice on a rack that I wish I had known before I bought one is that it is really handy to have the vertical support piece like the yakima has. Yeah, it's more expensive, but with the cheap racks (which is what I have), the bikes are gonna be swinging in the wind and/or banging against each other. The vertical support pieces (they wrap around the seat stay) keep the bike from swinging.

4/4/2010 7:55:25 PM

yeah, that's a huge difference. really locks the bikes in place. i've taken it on 12 hour road trips before and never scuffed a bumper or anything

4/4/2010 8:57:47 PM

does the rack i posted have the vertical bar you speak of? i cant tell

4/4/2010 9:57:55 PM

I'm going to avoid making "rack" jokes in NCSUWolfy's direction.

Should I get this bottom bracket:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130379314641

I'd need to find a Stronglight crank to go with it, something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130378915252

blurrrrrrrrgh, I'm spending too much money on this bicycle

4/4/2010 10:08:04 PM

lol

but seriously can you answer my question?

4/4/2010 10:50:37 PM

I believe so.

4/4/2010 11:14:09 PM

i can confirm that it does have the StableCradle on it

[Edited on April 5, 2010 at 1:36 AM. Reason : .]

4/5/2010 1:34:04 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260578654614

If this price doesn't skyrocket in the next two days, I'm going to buy this and just use my current cups.

4/5/2010 9:12:43 AM

It was a great day to ride to work.

4/6/2010 9:01:40 AM