Quote :

"I was just thinking about a hybrid because I wont be going on 60mile trips, maybe 5-10 miles a day at the most. Also, I live on a farm, so it would be pretty slick to be able to take it on the trails around here. Road bike would likely be much faster though."

^consider a cyclocross bike and a 2nd set of wheels (1 with cross tires, 1 with road) instead of a hybrid.
hybrids are the worst of all worlds.

[Edited on April 30, 2010 at 2:25 PM. Reason : a]

4/30/2010 2:24:11 PM

Yeah, either get a CX bike or just get a road bike and a mountain bike.

I can sell you a GT Peace 29er for $400 if you're interested .

4/30/2010 2:34:09 PM

Looked at the Trek, was in great shape. Minor Minor wear, but hell, its 20 years old. Tuned up, rode great (from what I can tell), and it ended up being a good size for me. He was asking $300 but I offered $200. He declined and would not budge. I even offered $250 for the hell of it, and still no.

So, I'm back on the hunt again.

4/30/2010 9:52:30 PM

Buy this bike: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/wellington1_IX.htm

4/30/2010 9:59:45 PM

Bout to go look at a mid 80's Austro Daimler Olympian with Shimano 600 components, and a Reynolds frame for $175. It looked very very nice in the pics, just very dirty with dull chrome. New tires as well.

5/1/2010 9:35:54 AM

^Much better bike than that Trek (I would have gone with the Giant over the Trek, personally)
That Trek Alu will beat the shit out of you on a longer ride.
You'll love the Reynolds ride. 600 components are solid (are they Arabesque or Tricolor, guessing arabesque)
Try to get it for $125-$130 though.


[Edited on May 1, 2010 at 2:16 PM. Reason : $]

5/1/2010 2:14:11 PM

I actually picked up a Cannondale (R1000 I think) aluminum bike. Shimano 600 all way around, cept an Ultegra rear derailleur. I will post pics in a little while. Dont know much about it, but its a Cannondale, and it was very cheap, so if I dont like it, I'm going to flip it.

5/1/2010 2:56:59 PM

Here is a pic.

5/1/2010 4:43:47 PM

^that thing is CLEAN

I like it

5/1/2010 5:25:02 PM

^Thanks! Its only clean because I spent 2hrs with the buffer and some aluminum polish

Here it is before



[Edited on May 1, 2010 at 6:44 PM. Reason : .]

5/1/2010 6:43:48 PM

I went for a nice long ride at Umstead Park



and then to Starbucks to study for my Calc final

5/2/2010 4:16:21 PM

Went for an easy 25 miler in Apex today. Damn it's hot as hell. Time to put another cage on the bike for dual water bottles.

5/2/2010 5:05:28 PM

i chickened out of a ride today because it has been a few weeks and I was not sure about the heat...

5/2/2010 5:57:52 PM

My planned 40 mile ride with my riding buddy didn't happen...we were both hungover from celebrating at his block party and from the heat.

I did lead a cruiser ride around Durham yesterday for families and beginners, and hauled a 100-lb trailer with our micro-shop about 5 miles and back for the block party, and fixed bikes for 3 hours, so I feel like I got my workout.

After my patho final is over and I can ride more after work, riding buddy has scheduled interval training on Mt. Sinai . Not looking forward to it!

5/2/2010 6:12:36 PM

i desperately need to get some good shorts.

i was dying out there today

5/2/2010 9:32:32 PM

Shorts are an investment, so don't skimp out. I went to the local bike shop and tried on a $29.99 generic pair and a $79.99 pair of Garneau pants. The difference was worth it.

Better shorts are going to have more sections to flex against your body. They're going to have a nice grip on your thighs. Better moisture wicking, etc. Just make sure you try them on and don't be afraid to get a nice pair.

5/2/2010 9:38:08 PM

What the hell do I need to do to make my backside not hurt when I ride? I dont know if its this skinny ass seat, or that I dont have shorts. Its a damn Selle Italia Genuine Gel Flite seat, so it should be good to go.

5/2/2010 9:57:01 PM

It's that you don't have shorts. Get a good pair of shorts.

Also, there's a chance the seat might just not be right for you, which means you just should try a different seat, but I'd just invest in some shorts (you're going to want them anyway).

5/2/2010 9:59:32 PM

^^^ thanks for the advice. I have a tri a week from today, and then the 60 mile ride at the end of june. getting different shorts for both for sure.

5/2/2010 9:59:33 PM

^^Good recommendations for a decent cheaper pair of shorts? I have already gone way over budget on my Cannondale, so I need to spend lightly.

5/2/2010 10:00:54 PM

What's the most you'd spend? Just go to a local bike shop and try them on. You want something with a nice chamois and a good set of panels.

I wouldn't get a Generico brand. Stick with something like Pearl Izumi or Garneau. And make sure to try them on.

It also just takes some getting used to anyway. Your butt is going to be sore the first couple of long rides. With more riding (and good shorts) you won't feel a thing.

I ride back and forth a few times to work each week in addition to long rides on the weekends. I never have any pain.

[Edited on May 2, 2010 at 10:05 PM. Reason : ]

5/2/2010 10:03:26 PM

I have to figure out why my tires leak so bad. I want to ride the greenway.

5/2/2010 10:07:07 PM

-Check the tubes.

-Check the tires for objects, tears, etc. Make sure they fit around the rim.

-Check the rim for damage.

-Check the rim tape.

5/2/2010 10:09:33 PM

I'd love to spend around $30 or so. I also need a helmet and new tires, so I am trying to stay easy for now.

5/2/2010 10:24:13 PM

Quote :

"Good recommendations for a decent cheaper pair of shorts? I have already gone way over budget on my Cannondale, so I need to spend lightly."

Check http://www.bonktown.com for good, cheap road bike shorts. Or http://www.chainlove.com for mountain bike-type shorts, if you're not big on the skin tight thing. They sell one really good deal at a time, with new stuff coming up every 30 minutes or so. They frequently have good deals on some pretty high-quality gear, so just leave it up on your desktop at work or whatnot and check in on it periodically throughout the day.

[Edited on May 3, 2010 at 3:49 AM. Reason : links]

5/3/2010 3:49:15 AM

another part of pain from riding comes from an improper fit

a good fit on your bike & a good pair of riding shorts makes all the difference

i spent $130 on mine, expensive but worth it-- who wants a sore ass? to me, its like having a good pair of running shoes. worth every penny in comfort

besides who cares how sweet your bike is if your ass hurts too much to ride it?

5/3/2010 11:08:39 AM

I'm considering selling both of my bicycles (road and mountain) and picking up a CX bike that I could commute back and forth to school and still hit up the trails on Umstead. Probably get a separate wheelset for commuting.

I'm leaning heavily towards the Motobecane Fantom CX: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_cx2.htm

5/3/2010 12:24:31 PM

Quote :

"I'd love to spend around $30 or so. I also need a helmet and new tires, so I am trying to stay easy for now."

I have a bike helmet you can have. As for bike shorts at that range, your best bet is to wait for something on bonktown or chainlove. If you just started riding my guess is that you just don't have enough miles under your ass.

You don't have to spend major dollars for a good pair of cycling shorts. I have a $50 pair of Novara's from REI and a $90 pair of pearl izumi's and I honestly cannot tell the difference.

[Edited on May 3, 2010 at 2:57 PM. Reason : performance might have a pair for that price.]

5/3/2010 2:56:52 PM

^I'll take you up on that helmet. I'll keep checking the sites. I really cant do much riding until I get new tires anyway, the ones that came with the bike are about gone.

5/3/2010 3:00:12 PM

Best place to pick up a new helmet for less than $texas and a good pair of sunglasses for riding?

I have about $85 on a gift card at Dick's, but assume it's going to be way overpriced.

5/3/2010 3:03:45 PM

Performance is the equivalent of Wal-Mart for your cycling needs. Better deals can be had on the web, but if you're the instant gratification type I'd start there.

5/3/2010 3:12:15 PM

Yeah I've got a Performance nearby but I was looking more at good sites that would have better deals.

5/3/2010 3:15:30 PM

supergo.com
jensonusa.com
pricepoint.com

(not 100% sure of the URLs, but you get the point)

All will have better product/deal than Dicks or Performance....at least if you are looking for something worth a damn

5/3/2010 3:39:34 PM

dicks gift card + coupon = profit?

5/3/2010 3:47:40 PM

Is it weird for me at 5'10" to have a measured standover height of 30 inches? If I go by a bike sizing page, I'd obviously want a few inches of clearance on the frame, which would put me at like a 52 or 49cm frame (which is ridiculously small). Where am I going wrong here?

5/3/2010 4:23:07 PM

Not too weird. It sounds like you just have an abnormally long torso. At 5'11 with longish legs, I can comfortably fit on most 54cm bikes.

Heck, you can shoehorn most people onto most bikes with stem/seat/crank changes. The sizing charts are just a good starting point.

5/3/2010 4:40:50 PM

I'm right at 6 ft. tall, 32 in. inseam and I'm pretty comfortable on my 56 cm.

5/3/2010 5:48:43 PM

im on a 51cm frame and i'm a touch over 5'3"

my inseam is like 31"

^ uh how do we have almost the same inseam???

[Edited on May 3, 2010 at 6:16 PM. Reason : kjdskfjdsf]

5/3/2010 6:12:13 PM

His jeans might have a lower crotch, if he wears a more relaxed fit.

5/3/2010 7:49:54 PM

Are you measuring true inseam (PBH) or just using your pants size?
Look up Pubic Bone Height. You need to get the measurement of your pubic symphysis for proper sizing.

5/3/2010 9:30:11 PM

When I say I have a 31" inseam (I do), I just mean my pants size.

5/3/2010 10:26:55 PM

I've been doing a lot of cardio lately biking and running. For the last few days though my knee has been bothering me. The pain is not unbearable but is nagging. Mostly it effects me when I exercise but just walking it is slightly irritating. Is this worth seeing a physical therapist about or will go away? Also, do I have to cut back on my cardio for it to heal speedily?

5/3/2010 11:31:08 PM

pants inseam, not actually leg length.

5/3/2010 11:33:09 PM

^^

It depends.

And yes.

Stretch it.

5/3/2010 11:58:38 PM

Try reading http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/fashion/01best.html for an interesting perspective on that; basically, a lot of doctors who are also runners advise not going to the doctor for injuries on the level of what you're describing.

Try cutting back to low-impact and see if that helps (i.e., just biking). Also, what sort of knee pain are you experiencing? If it's only been recently that you've starting exercising more frequently, it may be that your muscles and connective tissues aren't quite built back up to the level you need. They'll strengthen over time, but you can't overdo it when building up.

Especially for high-impact exercise like running, a good rule of thumb is not to increase your mileage week-over-week by any more than about 10%.

5/4/2010 12:23:13 AM

i'll always go back to it

make sure you're properly equipped and fitted, that can be the root of so many problems

if you're set up correctly i'd try some exercises that help strengthen your knees. there are some simple weight bearing routines you can do to help out pain that can be caused by weak knees. i also do them for hip flexors and notice a big difference, personally.

you can look some up online or work with a trainer

5/4/2010 2:14:19 AM

Got the Cannondale some new Hutchinson Carbon Comp tires, a fresh tune up and chain/cassette/gear cleaning. Much faster and better riding now. All thats left is a cheap computer, and a new set of DT decals. Then its ready to ride.

5/7/2010 7:36:20 PM

Mention of Hillsborough St. renovation in article about bike safety - http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/05/11/bicycle.wars/index.html?hpt=C2

5/11/2010 2:54:18 PM

Quote :

"I went for a nice long ride at Umstead Park"

how long? what route did you take (i haven't ridden there yet...looking for good routes)?

Quote :

"Good recommendations for a decent cheaper pair of shorts? I have already gone way over budget on my Cannondale, so I need to spend lightly.""

I needed some pretty quick, so I just went down to performance and got a pair of their $25 shorts and a pair of their $45-$50 shorts (i wear them under regular shorts for mountain biking). so far i've only worn the nice ones, and they were perfect. didn't feel a thing after a long mtb ride. haven't tried the $25 ones yet, but they have a decent amount of padding...i'm sure they'll be fine. my buddy said to avoid the gel filled ones though, cause they wear out too quick.

5/11/2010 3:09:32 PM

Quote :

"how long? what route did you take (i haven't ridden there yet...looking for good routes)?"

About an hour and a half.

I live on the southeastern side of Lake Crabtree, so I started at Old Reedy Creek and just took that straight in for about 45 minutes before turning around.

5/12/2010 9:31:31 AM