i'm looking for ideas on buying a new or used road bike that would be typically used for 30-mile one way trips, some 60-mile round trips, but also be good for 100-150 miles per day. riding conditions is generally all paved multi-use trails and city/county roads.

my current bike is basically a beginner's hybrid, a $500 REI bike ive had a couple years (i got it during 20% off sale). http://www.rei.com/product/744791#prodSpecs its kind of a heavy, slow beast. i had a different rei hybrid bike before that one.

it's time to upgrade.

7/29/2009 3:28:15 AM

I had my heart set on a cannondale years ago, and more recently a Softride TT but neither bike fit me particularly well when I got on.

Best advice I can give is to clear out a Saturday and visit 2-3 bike shops that carry all the different major brands and get seat time, that seems to make the decision much more than brand/model does. There are a 1/2 dozen top tier brands out there to choose from based on your fit.

7/29/2009 4:19:37 AM

Yeah, I would go to a store and get fitted for a bike. They'll mount it on a trainer or even let you take a ride outside at some places. I know that's what they do at performance bike in Cary. Or you can just try and find your size on the C-List.

BTW I think they are having 15% off on merchandise, including bikes.

7/29/2009 9:07:25 AM

if you want to go the trendy hipster route, get a single speed with no brakes!

7/29/2009 9:10:45 AM

I wish I was cool enough to be a hipster

7/29/2009 10:33:27 AM

I purchased two weeks ago a Raleigh bike.

I ended up getting a touring bike instead of a straight up road bike; which is more engineered for racing and competition.

7/29/2009 10:39:20 AM

^^^i went that route

it's pretty awesome (no skinny jeans tho)

[Edited on July 29, 2009 at 10:39 AM. Reason : .]

7/29/2009 10:39:32 AM

If you get a fixie with no brakes, that's Darwinism in action.

Seriously, though, at least run a fixie with a front brake. My front brake has saved my ass so many times from
NC drivers-a front brake caliper supplies most of the stopping power on the bike. Just be sure not to Superman over the handlebars, or invest in a flip-flop hub that will allow both fixie and

As I've probably said before in other cycling threads, your best bet would be getting a steel or aluminum frame touring or sport road bike with drop handlebars, and eyelets for mounting fenders and racks- in the $500-$800+range. Popular brands are Trek, Cannondale, Surly, Bianchi, and Giant. 700c wheels will allow you to fit most tires and tubes offered these days.

7/29/2009 11:02:09 AM

A friend of mine runs the no brake setup. He just wears out back tires every few weeks by repeatedly locking up the rear wheel to keep from hitting cars.

7/29/2009 11:48:51 AM

my buddy has a single-speed with a coaster brake

it's not a fixie, but he does the same thing (wears out back tires) because he can't resist doing huge lockup slides on it

7/29/2009 11:56:16 AM

You can go to http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO and get your measurements for a bike. And what you're looking for depends on your price range. You can get a decent carbon fiber bike that you can ride most every where for <$1000 if you look long enough. I saw a complete Trek 1000 for $375 on craigslist the other day.

However if you're look to spend <$100 then just keep your eyes open on craigslist and be ready to invest some time and a little money in fixing it. If you have any questions I'd be more than happy to help.

7/29/2009 12:16:57 PM

thanks for the tips. yeah, i think a touring bike will be better for me than a straight up road bike.

i need to jump curbs and hit gravel or dirt paths from time to time. i also need the saddlebag rack on the back, so it's not like i'm going to go for the lightest racing bike.

7/29/2009 1:55:45 PM

FYI

a "fixie" is a fixed single gear without a freewheel w/ no brakes (stop pedaling and that's your brake)
a "single gear" is a single gear with a freewheel that allows coasting w/ brakes

Quote :

"Best advice I can give is to clear out a Saturday and visit 2-3 bike shops that carry all the different major brands and get seat time, that seems to make the decision much more than brand/model does. There are a 1/2 dozen top tier brands out there to choose from based on your fit."

+1

7/29/2009 2:20:16 PM

yeah, i'm totally not hip enough for a fixie. those are for teh cool downtown cats.

7/29/2009 2:22:11 PM

i think it's totally retarded, no acceleration, no coasting, when you brake it puts extreme wear on your tires... you might as well buy a BMX bike.

< i commute 2.2 miles each way to work everyday on a 21-speed

7/29/2009 2:24:24 PM

21 Speeds?

I have 2 old road bikes I use to get around Greensboro, both are ten speeds. One is a really nice 1987 Trek Elance, the other is a 1980 Takara Grand Touring. Both are 10 speeds and I hardly shift them, I can't imagine having 21 speeds...

But I fixed them both up from near dirt, and they both came out to <$100 in total. I'll post pictures if anyone is interested.

[Edited on July 29, 2009 at 2:40 PM. Reason : o.o]

7/29/2009 2:39:42 PM

Quote :

"i commute 2.2 miles each way to work "

damn, i wish i lived 2 miles from work. i commute 32 miles each way, from West Seattle to Redmond.

i admit, i use my vanpool (w/bike rack) most mornings, but still i've racked up 800 miles on my bike since mid-may.




[Edited on July 29, 2009 at 2:45 PM. Reason : ]

7/29/2009 2:41:16 PM

^^^no acceleration, wut?

Its easy to see that the recent increase in fixie riders is more fashion (well used to be, I hear the new fashion bike is a Dutch city bike) than function but . . . .

They are supposedly great for working on cadence, are probably better from a fitness standpoint, and are a blast for shorter rides around the city. Not too mention they have atleast been somewhat responsible (or helped) to increase interest in grassroots bike culture in cities.

But if you are planning on making 30 mile trips its not recommended

[Edited on July 29, 2009 at 2:41 PM. Reason : arrers]

7/29/2009 2:41:18 PM

I've considered converting one of my bikes into a fixie. They can fly depending on the gearing ratio, but the fact you're constantly peddling is what's desirable to me, seems great for small commutes and fitness.

I had some friends who road from charlotte to wilmington on their fixed gears and they didn't seem to have too much problem.

7/29/2009 2:54:41 PM

do you remember how long that took them?

7/29/2009 3:09:37 PM

two-three days. Not long.

7/29/2009 3:12:21 PM

They have a chase car or touring style?

7/29/2009 3:18:17 PM

Touring style.

7/29/2009 3:20:58 PM

thats awesome, Im not sure my current beater would make it though, haha

last question: did they plan out places to camp or just drop how ever far they made it that day?

7/29/2009 3:40:04 PM

Pretty sure they either planned places to camp or went on http://www.couchsurfing.com/ and found places to crash.

7/29/2009 3:44:44 PM

More stuff on fixies:

1) If you plan on converting a bike to fixed, make sure it has horizontal dropouts (most older road bikes do, hence the popularity of steel frame conversions). You need that inch or 2 of horizontal leeway in order to adjust the chain line tightness properly. Now, I have heard of Sheldon Brown and folks doing some conversions with vertical dropouts (maybe with chain tensioners?), but this is probably going to be more for singlespeeds (single cog, but with a ratcheting component to allow coasting).

2) You'll need a new rear wheel for conversion- I recommend buying a wheel and not building one up unless you have a fly hub or something you want to use- building up a wheelset was a giant headache to me.

3) I agree, fixies are great for developing cadence and stuff. I'm much more efficient on my geared bikes in spinning. Also my preferred out-on-the-town bike due to its light weight.

7/29/2009 4:01:19 PM

touring bikes, you say?

bianchi volpe
http://www.bianchiusa.com/09-bicycles/09-d2-special/09-d2-volpe.html

surly long haul trucker
http://www.surlybikes.com/longhaul.html

both of those msrp around a grand. the surly is extremely popular. the trek 520 is another option around $1300 msrp and has a little better components than the bianchi, but there should be better deals on these used.


I really want a Salsa Fargo, or a Spot Highline (but im not sure the latter really exists)
http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html
http://www.spotbikes.com/bikes/highline

7/29/2009 10:58:30 PM

Yes, I said no acceleration. Everytime I see a fixie it's a carl-face expression for me. They can't stop without having to stand up on the pedals to get going again, whereas from a dead stop I can accelerate ahelluvalot faster.

Yes, I commute 2.2 miles to work, my wife and I only have 1 car and live near downtown. I absolutely love it. I do recreational riding and probably ride at least 100 miles a week (non-commuting riding) for fun.

wtf, 24-speeds are very common... (sorry not 21 mistype)

Quote :

"But if you are planning on making 30 mile trips its not recommended"

OR if you are doing any hills, fixies I swear are just a fad and as soon as people realize how retarded they are it'll be gone again, it's just a grassroot cult, completely nonsensical. if you want to work on cadence, get a trainer

If you are in a flat, relatively short distances, cheap, old bike, and you're a messenger. Then I guess it's cool.

[Edited on July 29, 2009 at 11:58 PM. Reason : .]

7/29/2009 11:54:59 PM

Yeah I know 24 speeds are common, there's just no need for that many gears. Most of them are so closely ratioed you would never know the difference. There's even a lot of overlap on a 10 speed, what good is 24?

7/30/2009 3:35:14 AM

we've got some wicked hills around here. i like having the gradient of ratios as i downshift going up a steep hill.

7/30/2009 10:29:46 AM

[Edited on July 30, 2009 at 10:30 AM. Reason : double post]

7/30/2009 10:30:14 AM

Go to a Serotta dealer and get fitted. Don't have to plan on buying one, the Serotta fit bikes are the shiznit and you can then use the measurements to find an off the rack bike that'll fit you well. Make sure to tell them you want a touring fit. It costs a little bit of money ($35 or something think) but it's worth it.

7/30/2009 10:45:10 AM

Fixies are easier to ride up hills than you may think. Whenever I ride at a moderate pace with geared bikes, there's always a loss of momentum for them as they shift into an easier gear at the bottom of a hill, whereas I can take advantage of the momentum down the hill to push myself up the next one. I wouldn't go out and ride one more than 20-30 miles at a time, but they sure are fun for shorter rides.

7/30/2009 2:38:57 PM

^ and

Quote :

"Yeah I know 24 speeds are common, there's just no need for that many gears. Most of them are so closely ratioed you would never know the difference. There's even a lot of overlap on a 10 speed, what good is 24?"

Have obviously never ridden a bike in Seattle. 15-20 degree inclines aren't uncommon here. Seattle is a lot like San Francisco in terms of the RIDICULOUS hills. You don't see any fixed gears outside of a few neighborhoods that sit on the top of hills.

I don't know that joe could even make it from West Seattle to Redmond on anything less than 21 speed without killing yourself.

7/30/2009 8:20:30 PM

people have ridden the STP (seattle to portland) on fixies. there are a lot of fixed gear fanatics that ride their fixies up and down seattle hills.

FTR, i am not one of those people, not even near it. but they're out here.

7/31/2009 1:05:14 AM

I've got a Trek 7500FX which'd be an ideal commuter for my 10 mi in/ 10 back... but have yet to challenge traffic on the way to work at 6, 7, 8 AM. Return @ 4 PM should be graby.

7/31/2009 1:49:37 AM

Just finished converting my 87 Trek Elance into a fixie.

I'm wholly satisfied, and it should be pretty quick to convert back if I'm so inclined.

7/31/2009 8:40:23 PM

i have a raleigh m50 that i bought when i was still in raleigh. it is 7-8 years old and it was a good commuter bike. at least i thought. raleigh bikes have been good to me but i just bought a rocky mountain oxygen50 road bike. i am converting into a roadie just because it is a carbon bike and it is light, comfortable, and fast. you can buy rocky mountain road bikes for reasonable money because they do not have a long standing reputation for road bikes. but their mountain bikes are very popular so i figured if they make a good mountain bike their road bike should be ok. i am thoroughly impressed with it. buy a road bike and dont waste your money on a hybrid.

7/31/2009 9:52:02 PM

^^^my roommate did that this year and said he laughed watching those tards walking their bikes up the hills. some guy did it on a unicycle this year too

7/31/2009 9:52:29 PM

^ Gears aren't going to necessarily get you up those same hills. I was riding a 21 speed mountain bike last September in San Francisco, and had to walk up the same damn hill every night. My partner and I are pretty serious cyclists, and even climbed some serious hills in Pittsburgh, and these things were not as steep as San Francisco. It makes you a little more humble.

In other news, Atlas, are you running a flip flop hub on that Trek? You can always put a freewheel cog on the other side, and switch it when you get tired/bored of riding fixed.

8/1/2009 6:02:19 PM

Yeah it's a flipflop hub, and I plan to get a freewheel cog once I get some more $$$

8/1/2009 7:10:18 PM

^^ everything about Seattle is kind of like a half-assed version of San Fran.

we're not quite as cool as them, our hills aren't as steep, our gays aren't as ... gay.

but we keep trying.

8/2/2009 5:12:57 PM

Quote :

"Whenever I ride at a moderate pace with geared bikes, there's always a loss of momentum for them as they shift into an easier gear at the bottom of a hill, whereas I can take advantage of the momentum down the hill to push myself up the next one."

This isn't an issue with a geared bike, it's an issue with you riding the geared bike properly.

You're sounding every bit the fixie trendster that people are talking about. A fixie has it's virtues in the simplicity of the setup and hopping on one forces you to work your legs in a way that is entirely different than a geared bike. And I appreciate that. When the fixie/ss crowd starts talking about how riding hill on one is better than a geared is when I tune out of the conversation.

8/2/2009 5:28:13 PM

Quote :

"When the fixie/ss crowd starts talking about how riding hill on one is better than a geared is when I tune out of the conversation. "

and yet... here you still remain

8/2/2009 5:35:35 PM

I'm just merely pointing out the potential benefits of riding a singlespeed bike, based on my own experiences. I'm not trying to say they're perfect in all situations, in fact I own bikes suited for different purposes for this very reason (touring bike, racing bike, etc). All bikes are beautiful to me (ok sorry that sounded hippy), I just hate seeing people discouraged from trying something out because they think they need to be super cool, dress a certain way or be part of a particular crows.

And yes, I know how to shift in regards to hills. It's just a different feeling with gears.

8/2/2009 5:43:45 PM

Quote :

"I just hate seeing people discouraged from trying something out because they think they need to be super cool, dress a certain way or be part of a particular crows."

come on guys, we're in our 20s.

8/3/2009 12:31:32 AM

no joke, 70% of bikes in Boston are SSs. I seriously point out the geared bikes now.

I'm building up another old road frame for commuter/fun. I'll probably keep it geared for a while or at least until i grow out a proper hipster beard to match.

8/3/2009 5:40:45 AM

Haha, my fixie is quite beautiful but the chain is just a tad bit too tight. And I went for a 7 mile ride on it the other day (easy with gears) and man what a workout that was.

8/3/2009 12:49:32 PM

Don't bother with a hipstermobile except for short trips in good weather.

Craigslist often has some seriously good buys on road bikes.

8/3/2009 3:46:47 PM

Yeah, I got a Trek 1000SL in great shape for $375 a couple of months ago.

Some of those bikes are sold in about two hours, though. You have to be on your toes.

8/3/2009 9:59:10 PM