Bicycle Fans - official thread for people who love riding th

I'm into cycling!

Bought a new Carbon Road Bike for cycling to work - amazing bike!

Doing some serious mileages on it now too; my ride tonight was 27 miles, two days ago I did a 33 mile route... I have clocked up 175 miles on it already!

My distance to work is 12.8 miles and it takes approx 49 minutes, but I'm aiming on trimming that down a little

Whoops I nearly fell off mine this morning!! Signalled to turn left into the work carpark, and managed to not quite put my hand down on the hoods again - which meant I couldn't reach the brakes. D'oh!

Have had my Scott since Sunday and have ridden her every day, so am getting more and more used the the new position, though it's a bit scary going downhill at any speed!!!! :laugh:

Why oh why are car drivers so ignorant and hostile??? Signalled to turn right yesterday, and some total prat actually sped up and nearly took my arm off, and then proceeded to shout abuse as me as he went past. Why???? I have just as much right to be on the road as he does. Just as well I hadn't started to move out into the traffic ready to turn or he'd have wiped me out.

Do you react when people do these things or do you just keep going? Feel very vulnerable sometimes as a lone female cyclist!

New here and cycling is my main form of exercise. I have 2 bikes, both Specialized. One is a road bike, Roubaix Expert and a hybrid, Sirrus Expert. Love both of them. I typically ride over a 1000 miles a year. I am sure it has been mentioned on this thread, but I have not gone through all of replies and that is go to a bike shop and get properly fitted for a bike. There is nothing worse than trying to ride an ill-fitted bike. And yes, at my weight I am considered a Clydesdale (riders 200+ lbs or higher)

1980 schwinn world tourist > 5 speeds = ace.

1963 robin hood, down with a crank issue > 3 speeds, my favorite bike, but not as fast

1950 columbia cruiser > slow as molasses, but one helluva workout.

i live in the city, commute to work (8-10 miles each way, depending on where i have to go). i ride as many bike paths as possible, but sometimes it's just not. i wear a police whistle (i call it my rape whistle); i use it when necessary, but mostly to inform drivers i'm crossing forked roads or to keep myself visible. more and more often, people aren't looking at the road when they're driving, so i feel a whistle is another way to remind them that there are other people, some of us not in cars (walking, biking, skating), on the road.

i have been known to yell at drivers occasionally, but mostly i will try to be polite. they can't help being self-centered; after all, they're in a car with a false sense of security, so i try to go at each day armed with empathy instead of aggression.

i ride in the street as much as possible also, especially around blind corners. it forces drivers to see you.

i will also kindly instruct drivers to not text while driving if i see them when i am alongside; or i will remind them that bike lanes are sometimes unavoidable for parallel parking, but to remember to watch for bikes.

I just spent the last hour at work planning my weekend bike ride, I'm aiming to do about 30miles on Saturday, stopping for lunch etc... Should be great fun, its a mix of small country roads, busier roads, as well as about 15miles cross country I can't wait!

I have also decided next month to buy a new bike, with an aluminium frame, will probably spend quite a bit, since I would love a really nice MTB. Haven't decided whether to get a full suspension or a hardtail. I think a hardtail like my current bike might be best. Anyone got any opinions on this?

I just spent the last hour at work planning my weekend bike ride, I'm aiming to do about 30miles on Saturday, stopping for lunch etc... Should be great fun, its a mix of small country roads, busier roads, as well as about 15miles cross country I can't wait!

I have also decided next month to buy a new bike, with an aluminium frame, will probably spend quite a bit, since I would love a really nice MTB. Haven't decided whether to get a full suspension or a hardtail. I think a hardtail like my current bike might be best. Anyone got any opinions on this?

The world has gone the way of the full suspension mountain bike, but I am old fashioned. I love hardtails, and I prefer 26" wheels over the current rage of 29'ers. The full suspension rigs and 29'ers roll over things easier, but a well done 26" hardtail is a dream to ride, especially since you do have to go uphill some of the time. I have owned full suspension but I'm back on a hardtail now. Part of it is money. If you can afford a top end full suspension go for it. But if every dollar counts the hardtail provides better value at the lower end. But I was mountain biking before there was even front suspension, so maybe I am just too old! You can take my thoughts with an aged grain of salt.

Thankyou,

I am leaning towards getting another hardtail... I'll be spending about £500, which is about $750 I guess? I think owning a really nice bike is the way forward for me, since biking is my preferred form of exercise, and it would be great to own a 'proper' high-end mountain bike

I already have a biking holiday planned for the summer! I'll be booking a week off work, grabing my tent and going off for a few days on my bike! I can't wait

Loving biking!


I currently own ONLY one bike, a 2008 Specialized Women's Crossroad. I have it set up with my Mag trainer. I used to have a Giant Pistol for mt biking, but sold it since I was pregnant and the bike was way too heavy. I'm just trying to get back into shape after having my daughter, and hopefully I can get back into mt biking soon, I'd definitely be looking into getting another Giant mtb. My bf has the 2009 Giant Trance and he loves it, I love it too, but it's way too big for me. lol

Let's all sing along "bi--cycle, bi--cycle, bi--cycle, I want to ride my bi-CYCLE.... " if you don't get it, search "queen" and "bicycle race" on youtube...classic stuff.

Sign me up, I have fallen in love with my new bike, a fixie road bike. I was a nay-sayer for sooo long, about fixies, but wow was I wrong. So much fun and what a workout too. I'll hang out here too, I've got a garage full of em and ride all year.

My name is Ray, and I am a bicycle addict

I said I was going to buy a new bike next month...well I broke down and baught it today! It's a Giant Revel 0, with hydraulic disc brakes, aluminium frame, and shimano gears. It looks and feels fantastic... and now I'm off for a 20mile bike ride on it! I'm thinking of calling her Sarah! LOL. I can already feel a bond. Oh, its a 26" hardtail as well

Good for you! I looked up the Giant Revel online - good looking bike. I'm sure you will get years of use and more importantly create many lifetime memories while having so much fun that the fitness benefits come as a free extra. Everybody has their own different favorite bike, that makes it fun. But I'm with you, 26" hardtails rule!

Just got back from a 15 miles ride on her, she handles sooooo smoothly! My old bike is a steel frame bargain bike, this one feels like a 'proper' mountain bike. So nimble and light, and you can go so much faster on her as well! Did about 5 miles on roads, and about 10 miles off-road, including some pretty steep hills I'm in love! Though the back end did step out on me a couple of times on the roughest part of the trail! I think she was just trying to scare me (I was only averaging about 12mph...)

On a side note, has anyone used Endomondo? Its an application for Android phones (maybe iPhones as well, I don't know), which uses the GPS in the phone to track your exercise activity. Its a great application, since it gives you mile by mile updates (via speech), telling you what the total distance you have traveled is, along with your time for the last mile. Keeps you on track if you have a set goal (eg 1 mile/6 minutes). It even tells you calories burned, though I take that with a big pinch of salt! (metaphorical salt, since we all have to watch our sodium level LOL).

Cycling isn't my only form of exercise, but it's probably my favorite. I've done a couple of criterium races and plan on entering my first stage race in August on the weekend of my 37th birthday. It's a 3-stage, 2-day event with a crit, a time trial, and a road race. Should be AWESOME. Also done a couple of triathlons and plan on possibly doing a 70.3 next year... with any luck! Got to get the swimming down first.

I ♥ this thread so much. Just wanted to quickly add something, in case there's some lurkers out there. If you can't afford one of the bikes from a real bike shop Walmart has bikes that are like $89 and $99 made in China I think. Heck my Marin bike was made in Taiwan....

Here's the direct link
http://www.walmart.com/browse/Bikes-Riding-Toys/Bikes/_/N-5l80?browsein=true&ic=48_0&path=0:4171&ref=+260784&refineresult=true&fromPageCatId=133073&catNavId=133073

And now with petrol going up in the USA to $5+ it's a good time to start riding! )

Craigslist also has great deals on good bikes.

I ♥ this thread so much. Just wanted to quickly add something, in case there's some lurkers out there. If you can't afford one of the bikes from a real bike shop Walmart has bikes that are like $89 and $99 made in China I think. Heck my Marin bike was made in Taiwan....

Here's the direct link
http://www.walmart.com/browse/Bikes-Riding-Toys/Bikes/_/N-5l80?browsein=true&ic=48_0&path=0:4171&ref=+260784&refineresult=true&fromPageCatId=133073&catNavId=133073

And now with petrol going up in the USA to $5+ it's a good time to start riding! )

Craigslist also has great deals on good bikes.

I would have to recommend Craigslist too. Even my 8 year old hates her Walmart bike in favor of her Trek. And Craigslist is great for finding everything. I even found my boyfriend there. Our first date was a bike ride!

If you have a couple hundred $$, try bikesdirect.com, great deals there on quality bikes.

Or Jensonusa.com