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4/22/2010 9:17:10 PM

The pedals I bought don't fit my current crank.

This means I have to spend, yet again, money on another part for this bicycle. I'm telling myself that this will be THE LAST PART I purchase, but I've told myself that like ten times . All the guys at the bike store told me that I need to sell it and get a new bicycle.

4/25/2010 8:16:05 PM

damn that sucks. pedals are pretty universal.. can't believe they didnt fit. This is gonna seem dumb, but you checked to make sure you were screwing them in correctly, yes? I know you have to screw counter clockwise for one side and clockwise for the other typically.

4/25/2010 8:33:22 PM

Yeah, it sounds like with all the money you dumped into buying an old bike you could have bought something newer and superior.

Why did you go the old bike route anyway?

4/25/2010 9:09:46 PM

^^ The holes in my crank are a few millimeters smaller than a standard pedal size. I took it to All Star Bikes, and they measured the size with one of those super accurate measuring tools.

^I *thought* I' spend less, and I didn't think I'd have to spend any money on the bicycle.

4/25/2010 9:22:00 PM

They should fit the crank I sent you. I'm assuming there's no way in hell you got it in the mail yet and you're not referring to it.

[Edited on April 25, 2010 at 10:57 PM. Reason : j]

4/25/2010 10:55:55 PM

It will fit. I just have to spend $48 to make it fit: http://www.velo-orange.com/grcrufrthbob.html

[Edited on April 25, 2010 at 11:41 PM. Reason : ]

4/25/2010 11:35:20 PM

Got any recommendations for a *decent* sub $200 road bike, used or not? I want to get out and cycle for exercise, but I get bored easily. I dont want to drop $1000 on a bike, then find out a month later that I have moved on to another hobby.

4/26/2010 5:45:44 PM

You're going to have to look used. Frankly I don't think you'll have a whole hell of a lot of luck, if you bump your price range up to 300-350 you'll be a lot better off, IMO.

4/26/2010 5:55:05 PM

I have found several used Dawas, GMC's, and such on CL lately. I know those GMC's are walmart bikes, but I have read decent reviews on them.

There is a dude in Creedmoor that has a Dawas Lightning that needs tires for like $65 or so.

4/26/2010 5:57:40 PM

Any road bike will do for exercising. If you plan on doing anything longer than 30 or 50 miles, you may want to think about investing a little more. You'll appreciate the better saddle, components, etc etc. It really comes down to preference.

4/26/2010 7:53:36 PM

http://www.bikesdirect.com

4/26/2010 10:00:17 PM

Go to a local bike shop that sales used

You can get something more than serviceable for $200

4/26/2010 10:02:55 PM

Any ideas on a good bike shop in the Raleigh area. I looked up some on yahoo local, but about 15 came up.

4/27/2010 7:57:40 AM

I like All Star Bikes on Wade Ave. They're nice and the techs are knowledgable. The only "fault" I'd give them is that they're usually really busy. If you drop off your bike for service it takes about a week.

4/27/2010 8:30:37 AM

for those of you who do city/road riding in the evening

what's the best front/rear LED light combo out there? looking to spend about $50 if possible.

4/27/2010 10:59:38 AM

Any rear blinker will work.

For the front, Buy a flashlight and a clamp it on there (seriously)

4/27/2010 11:43:21 AM

i prefer having the flashing/steady options that lights made for these applications provide.

i guess ill just get the ones on the cannondale website. they're like $40 bucks.

4/27/2010 1:36:05 PM

Discovered today that my front brakes have been to tight and robbing me of power. I fixed the problem and just on my "casual" ride to work I cruised 16-17mph instead of 12-13mph and when i legged it out to make the stoplights i went 20-23mph instead of 18-20 mph.

I wonder if i can break 30mph now on the bike path to the beach

doh!!

Quote :

"prefer having the flashing/steady options that lights made for these applications provide. "

I strobe my back LED at night but just leave my front one on constand. Strobe front is really really annoying.

[Edited on April 27, 2010 at 1:46 PM. Reason : a]

4/27/2010 1:45:40 PM

Quote :

"i prefer having the flashing/steady options that lights made for these applications provide."

Do you want to see the road or have other drivers see you?

If the latter, then yeah get one of those strobing things.

4/27/2010 1:51:02 PM

both.

mostly i want other drivers to see me, but if im riding down through rock creek park on a path, i want to be able to see.

4/27/2010 1:52:59 PM

I mean, just imagine trying to walk in darkness with a strobe light. Yeah.

Serious lighting equipment for bikes, the ones that let you see when you're biking in the dark, won't strobe just because there's no point.

"Visibility lights" are cheap, though.

4/27/2010 1:55:24 PM

I'm doing the Murphey to manteo route (Mountains to sea of NC) this summer, anyone had any experience with it?

4/28/2010 10:00:49 PM

Are you going with a group? I've never heard of it, but sounds like a helluva time.

4/28/2010 10:35:55 PM

Me and one other guy. none of that "credit card touring" bullshit, we'll be hammocking the whole way.

4/28/2010 10:37:07 PM

How many miles are you going to log per day? What's your experience level? Any particular stops? You riding back?

Needless to say you've peaked my interest.

4/28/2010 10:41:33 PM

50-70. (~700 miles in total, so around 2 weeks.) Experience level: level 42 dragon master.

I've only done a few 2-5 day tours. we'll be following nc bike route 2. (you can get maps for this route, killer maps too, on the ncdot website). We'll be dropped off in the mountains and picked up at the end, so we certainly do have that convenience. anyone live on/ near route 2? maybe wanna let us get a shower or somethin?

4/29/2010 1:58:03 AM

Quote :

"The pedals I bought don't fit my current crank. "

Quote :

"The holes in my crank are a few millimeters smaller than a standard pedal size. "

It sounds like it is possible that you have a set of 9/16" pedals, rather than the far more typical 15mm.

I havent checked back posts to see what kind of pedals you are using but you can pick up basic platform/cage pedals for about $15.

As for selling and getting a new one...I have to make this recommendation at least once a week. Someone will find an old frame or box of parts or their great-uncle on their mom's side had something in the basement that is super cool and they want to build it up. And hey, since its old, it shouldnt cost much to fix it up and get it running, right?

WRONG!

In almost every case, wrong. Save your time, money, frustration, and relationship with your mechanics and take their (and my own) sincere advice and just buy new. I would love nothing more than help someone make an old beater into some smooth riding classic, but it never works out under budget and usually ends up costing multiples of whatever you paid for the bike/parts/idea.

4/29/2010 8:53:10 AM

Okay, I need you to invent a time machine, travel back to March, and tell me this, okay?

4/29/2010 8:54:19 AM

the number of times Ive wanted a time machine, just for bike related decisions.....

4/29/2010 9:08:31 AM

Good deal?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/1710719593.html

Or better deal?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/1715740292.html

4/29/2010 10:58:53 AM

I would get the Trek.

But then again, I did buy the Peugeot which was a horrible idea.

4/29/2010 11:00:35 AM

Problem is that the Giant is $150 cheaper

4/29/2010 11:03:06 AM

Yeah but it looks like it needs a new chain. That's $25-50 right off the bat.

Also, how tall are you? You realize you're looking at both a 59cm and a 62cm frame....

[Edited on April 29, 2010 at 11:22 AM. Reason : ]

4/29/2010 11:19:09 AM

Quote :

"Problem is that the Giant is $150 cheaper"

To me it look like it's only $100 cheaper to me.
It also looks like a 20 year old turd that barely cost $200 when it was new.

4/29/2010 11:31:36 AM

I am 6' 1" tall.

^ He said he would take $150 for the Giant.

4/29/2010 11:47:22 AM

Get the Trek if it fits you

4/29/2010 12:17:50 PM

^^ I've had both Trek and Giant Road Bikes. I'd go with the Giant for the better bang for your buck.

FYI-if you do decide on the TREK, I know that guy, I sold him two bikes in the past and he has the habit of tacking on an extra 100-200% on what he actually paid for the bike. So haggle the shit out of him.

4/29/2010 1:23:10 PM

Quote :

"But then again, I did buy the Peugeot which was a horrible idea."

But at least you don't get flat tires on it.

4/29/2010 1:33:06 PM

Trek, if it fits.

4/29/2010 3:50:06 PM

I called all star bikes and I told them my height and that the Trek was 62cm and he was like "woah, its gonna be a stretch to fit you in that bike"

4/29/2010 5:39:32 PM

Try being 6'7".

4/29/2010 5:56:10 PM

Joshua, I love that bike

4/29/2010 8:00:30 PM

Would you like to by a Peugeot? I'll sell it to you for $200.

[Edited on April 29, 2010 at 8:42 PM. Reason : ]

4/29/2010 8:41:53 PM

Went to Cycle Logic today on Hillsborough. Staff was pretty cool, very nice. No road bikes in my price range, but they did have a Diamondback Hybrid that was pretty cool. Skinny tires with knobs for on/light off road duty, 21 speeds, and looks to be more comfortable than a normal road bike. Problem...$399.

Anybody else here ride a hybrid?

4/30/2010 12:58:17 PM

Don't get a hybrid.

Sooner or later you're going to get into this, and you're going to either want to go mountain biking or road biking. If you buy a hybrid, you're going to have a bike that does both of those horribly.

[Edited on April 30, 2010 at 1:01 PM. Reason : ]

4/30/2010 1:00:04 PM

Haha, does both, but does them both horribly.

I'm going to look at that Trek tonight, but I am pretty apprehensive about it being to tall. Plus, unless he comes down to $200 or less, I aint buyin.

4/30/2010 1:34:28 PM

See, I have a hybrid and I really enjoy it. Tires aren't quite as thin (and I use it for commuting too) so it works well for that.

I have tri coming up in a week - should be great for that. We'll see how it works on the 63 mile trek in June.

4/30/2010 1:37:06 PM

I'm not saying that you can't do a 63 mile "trek" on a hybrid, but there's a HUGE difference when you get on a proper road bike. It's much, much faster.

It would be like riding across the United States in a Ford Bronco. Sure, you can DO it, but you could also do it in a BMW M3 instead.

[Edited on April 30, 2010 at 1:52 PM. Reason : ]

4/30/2010 1:47:11 PM

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.

4/30/2010 1:59:15 PM