Anyone into bicycles????

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I love the nice bikes, but hate the little piezo (sp) valve stems.

You mean presta? The thin one that you have to unscrew the little nut and usually use an adapter to a schrader valve?

 

[Slidetechnik]

Bikes are awesome. I ride a hardtail...Rocky Mountain Hammer. It has served me well, although I have to get a new brake lever on account of a recent wreck.

 

[Iron City]

I just built up a single speed with this Santa Cruz Chameleon frame. So far so good.

 

[James0723]

I ride at least 50 miles a week, some weeks I ride over 100 miles.

You see, I don't have a car, and I ride my bicycle everytime I need to go somewhere.

My bicycle is a Schwinn, but an older one, made before they sold the brand to Jaxx Pacific. The frame is made of aluminum alloy.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I just built up a single speed with this Santa Cruz Chameleon frame. So far so good.

Euro bottom bracket? That frame looks sweet!

 

[BlackHills]

I'll play. Here's some of the herd....

'92 Ciöcc SL

'96 Bianchi Cyclocross

'98 Bellesi

'99 Dirt Works Cannibal

As for material I'll take steel over anything else.

 

[pilote]

got two bikes that i've had a long time:

bianchi project 3; a hybrid outfitted more towards trail riding

bianchi mainstreet; a hybrid outfitted more towards comfort riding

 

[Iron City]

Euro bottom bracket? That frame looks sweet!

No it's a 68mm bb. The chamleon is an awesome hardtail. This is one of their older handmade frames in polished aluminum with horizontal dropouts. This thing is absolutely bombproof.

 

[mwerner]

Presta valves are used on high-pressure tires (many road tires require 120 pounds and more) as the locking cap is less likely to leak air due to road impacts and the narrow stem weakens the already-thin road rims less.

You just need the appropriate pump head; most good pumps have both.

A trick is to unscrew the locknut and the pus in slightly to break the seal before attaching the pump.

Saddles are easily the most-changed original equipment item. Used to be you could go into most bike shops and find a large bin or container full of original-equipment saddles with a sign, "your pick, 5.00".

Most folks look at the skinny-looking road saddles with dismay and can't imagine that they would ever be comfortable. However, if you have a decent pair of shorts, set the saddle angle and position properly,and actually sit on the thing with your "sit bones" like you're supposed to, you will rapidly adapt to the saddle rather than the other way around.

 

[Zero_Time]

Presta valves are used on high-pressure tires (many road tires require 120 pounds and more) as the locking cap is less likely to leak air due to road impacts and the narrow stem weakens the already-thin road rims less.

You just need the appropriate pump head; most good pumps have both.

A trick is to unscrew the locknut and the pus in slightly to break the seal before attaching the pump.

Saddles are easily the most-changed original equipment item. Used to be you could go into most bike shops and find a large bin or container full of original-equipment saddles with a sign, "your pick, 5.00".

Most folks look at the skinny-looking road saddles with dismay and can't imagine that they would ever be comfortable. However, if you have a decent pair of shorts, set the saddle angle and position properly,and actually sit on the thing with your "sit bones" like you're supposed to, you will rapidly adapt to the saddle rather than the other way around.

Used to rent bikes to people. You'd get the people that would look at the small seats and go "I want to rent that bike but with that (points at a comfort bike) seat." We weren't supposed to (per the owner) but depending on the manager, we'd have to swap the seats. If the owner ever came back and saw swapped seats... man, that sucked. If you've never ridden small seats, my estimate is 2 weeks of casual everyday riding (20 min) and you won't ever mind again.

Have a peugeout road bike and a hardtail mountain.

Zero

 

[Stelth]

I understand for the "Lance" type rider seat weight is an issue, but why would I want to invest 2 weeks so I can get used to a painful saddle. I put on a larger seat and it was instantly comfortable. I can ride on it for hours without pain. Besides weight, what is the upside to getting used to a skinny seat?

 

[Iron City]

Here is a good article that explains saddles and the pros/cons.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

 

[Zero_Time]

I understand for the "Lance" type rider seat weight is an issue, but why would I want to invest 2 weeks so I can get used to a painful saddle. I put on a larger seat and it was instantly comfortable. I can ride on it for hours without pain. Besides weight, what is the upside to getting used to a skinny seat?

The post below yours does a pretty good job- sheldon knows his stuff. However, having worked with bikes, and having had to transport various bikes between shops; do bike tours, and commuting in on one, my thoughts as such:

The comfy seats are comfortable for a short period of time. The width precludes optimal pedaling- too much of my butt is on the seat, and not being used to get the cranks moving. I tend to be impatient; I like cycling fast, and those seats make the job a lot harder and less comfortable. I also don't ride upright- I either lean forward or lean back (road bike and mountain bike). To use a bike to it's potential, you have to free your glutes, and get a full range of motion. Honestly, if I had to ride those things (comfort bikes), I often went BMX style and never sat down, as the seats... yeah.

Comfort wise, I was commuting on my hardtail mountain bike in the city at the time- which has many uneven, cobblestoned, commuter train tracks that are ready to suck tires up and endo (buck) the rider. Very comfy, fast, stylish, and never felt a threat with my tires getting stuck. Of course, I have up to 140 mm of suspension in the front, but still.

Zero

 

[Mark J]

Well, I'm obviously not into biking like some of you, but I'm trying to get my lazy butt back onto the bike after many years. When I was a kid and teenager I rode my bike everywhere (Schwinn 10-speed; remember those? ). I bought a Trek hybrid last year and like it, but I just don't get around to riding it. My fault, since I just need to make the time.

- Mark

 

[squishware]

Redline d460 which is a hardtail, 29er, steel framed, 9 speed mountain bike. mine is mostly custom components and has schwalbe commuter tires on it presently. Not for long because I just bought a car.

 

[barcbsa]

VERY, VERY nice collection... looks like Campy Delta brakes on the Ciocc (love the red & green combo) and Bellesi. Classic!!!!

I'll play. Here's some of the herd....

'92 Ciöcc SL

'96 Bianchi Cyclocross

'98 Bellesi

'99 Dirt Works Cannibal

As for material I'll take steel over anything else.

 

[white_feather]

 

[white_feather]

 

[BlackHills]

VERY, VERY nice collection... looks like Campy Delta brakes on the Ciocc (love the red & green combo) and Bellesi. Classic!!!!

Thank you. They are indeed Deltas, of the Croce d'Aune variety.

Here's one more....a '92 Scapin with full Campy Euclid. I have a couple of others as well though I'm down from the 14 bikes I once had.

 

[white_feather]