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https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=2233&acctid=8149
I wouldn't go much over $25 for that bike honestly. Get yourself something newer, and safer. That thing has it's shifters on the top of the fork for goodness sake!
Probably straight across. Would that not work well with my commute? I'd kind of like 2 bikes 1 could be more a junker that I put snow/ice tires on and hope for the best.
Drop bars put you in a lower, flatter position - makes biking a bit easier, and you've got much less wind resistance. Flat bars may be more comfortable, especially for a beginner. You're more upright, so you can see your surroundings better, but biking may be a bit tougher.
If you're going to buy a used bike (and a really old one at that), you'll need to be able to do maintenance on it. I don't know what that bike's closing bid will be but taking it to a bike shop for an overhaul or buying the tools needed to perform one yourself would likely be more than your initial investment.
My link didn't work - go to wrenchscience and do the fit measurements. That will tell you what top tube measurement you'll need. Or if you go to a bike shop for a hybrid or something basic they'll be able to put you on the right size.
It depends a bit on your commute though. My commuter bike is a converted mountain bike with a frame that's about two sizes too small for me (I won it in a raffle at a trade show). My commute is all city streets so it's quick dashes between stop lights. I'm up on the pedals a lot with the occasional curb hop. I wouldn't do a long ride on my beater but it works better for an urban commute than my road bike.
Gatorskins or Armadillos. Those tires are dirt slow, but they're built specifically to be puncture resistant. Bike shop guy gave good advice.
On pavement slicks have more grip than anything with treads.
Again totally beginner on this. But in pretty good shape. Could easily run-mute (if that's a word). And in fact do run to and from work a couple days a month when I get up early enough. I assume biking and running are different muscles. But I'm not planning on being all that fast. 5 minute miles or so and mostly on bike path/mostly flat. Does that still sound like this is going to be a pretty bad experience? I'd kind of like a cheaper bike to get used to until I figure out what I want/need. Also we have a community bike shop pretty close that has a few days a week where they have volunteers help you fix your bike so I'm not worried that it will be that expensive to tune-up or that difficult to learn the very basic maintenance steps. But don't want to make the experience bad so seriously trying to get this figured out. If I could spend $30-$40 I'd rather do that than $300 if the experience is relatively close. If it's a big difference then sure I'll make better plans at the start.
Transfers over better than you might think. You won't have any issues biking a few miles to work and back.
You know you're gonna have to show proof on this, right?
9 or so minute miles running (8 at a race) so I'm not that fast. I was saying 5 minute miles on a bike which as far as I've read is pretty slow/relaxed.Transfers over better than you might think. You won't have any issues biking a few miles to work and back.
You know you're gonna have to show proof on this, right?
Yes - Fluids tend to be more consistent and quieter. Lots of brands. Cycleops is definitely one of the good ones. This article really skips over the price level you're at, but it has trainer recommendations, if you're interested.Frank Drebin said:
Thanks. Neither of us is a competition rider or anything. We just ride to try to stay in shape so I can't really see spending $500+ on something unless we start moving in that direction down the line.
So I actually bought that bike and have been commuting on it for around a month. Have rode in 18 of the last 20 work days. I'm pretty slow (right around 5 minute miles) and people blow by me on the bike path. I weighed the bike and it's 40 lbs with my bag on it (bag is around a pound or 2) so very heavy for a road bike. It's an old steel frame. It's not bad, I kind of enjoy my commute right now. But I assume with a better bike I would have an easier life.proninja said:
So my plan is probably ride through the rest of the year on this current bike and then start thinking about a new bike.
i'm with you. i see that all the time. i don't think its legal and it seems extremely careless. there's way too many bad/angry drivers out there to put yourself in that position.
First - that guy was known to be a bad actor previous. Attempted murder.
"Police arrested Marshall Grant Neely III, 58, that night. He was charged with reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to immediately notify of an accident and failure to render aid."
Ah... I missed that there was signage allowing this.
.0075% tax on a $2000 bike. At least part of this used to create/maintain bike paths/trails.
I'm anti tax but I hope this sweeps across the nation
First bicycle tax in nation leaves bike-crazy Oregon riders deflated
Democratic Gov. Kate Brown expected to sign $15 excise tax on bikes over $200
By Valerie Richardson
In Oregon, a state known for its avid bicycling culture, the state Legislature’s approval of the first bike tax in the nation has fallen flat with riders.
Democratic Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign the sweeping $5.3 billion transportation package, which includes a $15 excise tax on the sale of bicycles costing more than $200 with a wheel diameter of at least 26 inches.
Even though the funding has been earmarked for improvements that will benefit cyclists, the tax has managed to irk both anti-tax Republicans and environmentally conscious bikers.
BikePortland publisher Jonathan Maus called it “an unprecedented step in the wrong direction.”
“We are taxing the healthiest, most inexpensive, most environmentally friendly, most efficient and most economically sustainable form of transportation ever devised by the human species,” Mr. Maus said.
Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier blasted what he described as Ms. Brown’s “endless obsession with finding new and innovative ways to take money out of the pockets of Oregon taxpayers.”
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“She just continues to view the people of her state as nothing more than a piggy bank to fund her efforts to impose job-killing policies,” said Mr. Currier in a statement. “Now add anti-healthy, environmentally-unfriendly policies to that list.”
The bike tax is aimed at raising $1.2 million per year in order to improve and expand paths and trails for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Supporters point out that Oregon has no sales tax, which means buyers won’t be dinged twice for their new wheels.
Oregon relies instead on its income tax, among the highest in the nation at 9.9 percent for top marginalized individual filers, according to the Tax Foundation.
Two-wheelers are a big deal in Oregon: Portland was ranked the third-most bike-friendly city in 2016 by Bicycling magazine, citing the 7.2 percent of residents who commute by bicycle.
Bikers cheered last year when Portland passed a four-year, 10-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline aimed at improving roads, but the measure also fueled complaints that bicycle riders have failed to pay their share for such projects.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Democrat, defended the state bike tax, calling it a “modest fee” that raises the profile of the bicycling community in the transportation debate.
“One of the arguments we hear repeatedly is that cyclists don’t have any skin in the game … so there’s been blowback,” Mr. Blumenauer told BikePortland.
The Street Trust, a Portland pro-bike group, praised the overall transportation package while saying that the bike tax “sends the wrong message to those trying to help.”
“Let’s be frank: This bike tax is very disappointing,” said The Street Trust’s Romain Bonilla. “It’s also well worth the investments in bike safety and accessibility. There are more opportunities ahead for us to stand up for our shared priorities and mitigate the negative impact of the bike tax.”
As long as the money is used for this, I don't see the issue (assuming it is used for this).
It appeals to me if the maintenance and expansion is not supported by the income tax. If this is the case, it is indeed a drop in the bucket on the purchase of a bike and allegedly directly benificial to the people paying the tax.I don't know Oregon's tax structure at all, but the article seemed to state that income tax was their main method of tax generation.
And I'd bet that 1.2 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the transportation budget. Which is why I said it was mostly symbolic to appeal to people like you. Which it appears to have done.
That's the thing, I don't have the warranty info and their website is beyond useless besides directing me to the LBS and the Internet isn't very helpful. Guess it's going to be roulette.
Cars are supposed to be patient and wait to pass until it's safe. I know that may be too much to ask, but that's what they should do. I hate, hate. hate riding on roads like that by myself. You never quite know whether to hug the shoulder as close as possible, or stick your self out a bit so you are more visible. You are kinda screwed either way. Stay close to the shoulder, drivers don't see you, they buss super close to you going 50 MPH. Take up some of the lane and people ride your ### and swerve around you while giving you the finger
General rule of thumb is that below 60 degrees you need hands, knees, and arms covered. Below 50 or so, you need a jacket and feet protection/layers. Below 45, you need to bump up the layers.
If this is just for a short commute, I'd go with just some type of baggy snowboard like shell that you can just slide over your work pants. Something that will give you some windstopping protection and maybe some insulation. Get a velcro strap to wrap around your right leg so you don't catch the pants.
I haven't ridden in the winter since college but a single speed with coaster brake seems like it would be a good idea for a winter beater. Water, cold and salt are bad for derailleurs, brakes and calipers.
Is converting pretty easy? Or is it something you should do at the shop?
I'm a daily bike commuter- but it's short distances: 10-20 mins on the citibike.
that's a fixed gear. some single speeds are fixed gear and others have a freewheel where you can coast without having the pedals go around.Niles Standish said:
