Bicycle riding

[RoyalShock]

Go to your Local Bike Store (LBS). You may need to spend a little more money, but you will be happy. Most Schwinn's have a CroMolly frame (although a higher-end one might be aluminum), they provide a good ride, but are heavy and that metal tends to absorb your kinetic energy (I have an old schwinn folder that I got for free from my healthy points when I worked at HP - it weighs 35 pounds! It does the job, but if you get serious and want to do 20-30 mile rides at some future point, you will probably have to buy another bike). Would suggest an aluminum frame - good rigid aluminum frame, like the ones that MoValleyJohn and JV Shocker are pointing you to. You can get a bike for less if your budget doesn't support it, but if you go to your LBS, you will get someone who is interested in selling you the right bike and will ask all the right questions, which would include price and intended usage. JVShocker, being that he is local, might have the best suggestions.

Just remember, if you go to WM, you will have someone helping you who may be running several departments and is clueless about bike fit and/or what you will use the bike for. Going to a LBS will get you better service, as they will be interested in selling the right bike and getting the follow-on accessories you will need and will maintain your bicycle so that it lasts much longer.

IIRC, my LBS has commuter (or cross or whatever you want to call it) starting at about $350.

It does have an aluminum frame, but I don't know how much it actually weighs. It looks like they discontinued that model, so if I am going to pursue this I will have to start looking elsewhere.

[abdullah_sharif]

Rode 22 miles this am. Rode with a guy that has been bugging me to ride with him forever. Note to self, only ride with your wife, or riders known to be competent. I can do 100 miles at a 14-15 mph pace. I did 22 this morning. We averaged 13 mph. This guy wanted to impress me and took off like a shot. I had to drag him the last 15 miles. It was like stop every mile so he could catch his breath.

I'll ride slow with my wife, it's just part of the deal, but.....

Does this attitude make me a bike asshole?

it’s your ride.. don’t apologize. i only ride alone or with my wife. i’ll do 50 miles alone in what i can do 30 with us both. i enjoy both of them

[C0|dB|00ded]

Wal-Mart is more than fine for a novice bicyclist. They actually have some very decent bikes. The only problem is everybody has bought them all up. :(

It's fairly easy to fit yourself to a bike. Weird frame sizes can be a problem, but if you're tall, a 29 inch wheel is a good start. Then you can jack up the seat and handlebars and you'll be ready to go.

Make sure you get a nice seat cover because your ass is going to hurt. And a mountain bike with shocks on the frame will ride like a Cadillac.

Fitting basics: https://protips.dickssportinggoods.c...ight-size-bike

P.S. Don't buy a road bike unless you're planning on becoming a super elite cyclist. These can be identified by their bright and tight-fitting clothing and budding melanoma on ears. Mountain bikes are much more comfortable and safe for the average joe/joline.


T


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[Kung Wu]

My first and last bike was a Schwinn. The pedal fell off just I was attempting to bunny-hop a curb. So just as I was attempting the "push down" to get some air my foot had nothing to stop it. I hit the seat hard enough that my prostate exploded. Of course I also caught no air, so when the front tire hit the curb, it spun it hard left a full 90 degrees. And due to the sudden stop of the front tire, my bruised ass was propelling my body over the handlebars ... except the handle bars are of course connected to the front wheel, so they were turned 90 degrees from normal as well. My ball sack took a direct hit so hard from the pointed end of the handlebar, that I didn't even realize I was missing two teeth when I woke up.

[JVShocker]

Love my road bike, but I wouldn't recommend a road bike for everyone. The new Hybrids will do nicely, but, I have to disagree on the other thing. The Wal Mart bikes are not the same, unless you're just riding from your house to the park. I paid $$$$ for my road bike and its in almost the same condition I bought it in over 20 years ago. The same will not hold true for a regular bike. Shocks? No. A good frame will take care of all the little bumps, and those are more than likely NOT on a WalMart bike. And I'm pro cycling gear, too. One of my vintage Louis Garneau jerseys (found a pic of it on ebay):



I have more extreme jerseys, and love all of them. I have a few made by Pearl Izumi and they have a lot to offer out there. Check out some of the new ones:

For you Marvel fans:



For you Texas guys:



For those who prefer to stop for a pint on their ride:

[MoValley John]

Unless you are actually out on terrain, shocks are unnecessary weight, they sap power and create resistance. At times, your front tire feels flat. If you are toiling around the neighborhood, they're fine, distance, not so much.

I have a Trek with shocks, it's fun to mess around on, but when I do 20 miles or more, its not a consideration. I don't know if I'd attempt 50 miles on it ever.

A good resource for riding are GCN YouTube videos. They give some good advice, are humorous and interesting. Here is one.

https://youtu.be/JGhWkTRxSjk

[C0|dB|00ded]

We've got some 1%'rs in here... replete w/ leather ballsacks and bungholes.

Hey! I like my full suspension. Hardtail bikes are for the birds. My Nuts Matter! (MNM) (see what I did there? :P)


T


...

[MoValley John]

We've got some 1%'rs in here... replete w/ leather ballsacks and bungholes.

Hey! I like my full suspension. Hardtail bikes are for the birds. My Nuts Matter! (MNM) (see what I did there? :P)


T


...

Not really, I said long ago, buy for what you do. I mentioned WalMart as a good place to buy a bike if you aren't committed to it, or aren't going to put in miles. Also, I don't own a road bike, I own a gravel bike. It trades shocks for a carbon fork and carbon seat post to arrest shock, while not sapping power. I would have never spent for that had I not proven to myself by owning and using less expensive equipment.

The goal to buying a bike should be actually riding the bike. If you buy a WalMart bike and try 20 and 30 mile rides, you will tire of it. If you buy a WalMart bike, use it as it's designed, in a year you will enjoy it, want to do more and buy better.

I started with a comfort gel seat. It was a great start, but over time found that going commando in a good pair of biking shorts, on a narrow saddle that hit my sit bones right, was much more comfortable. And use the butt cream! Dont forget the butt cream on long rides!

[MoValley John]

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[MoValley John]

.

[JVShocker]

Agreed. I'm a 1%. Buying my first bicycle at a LBS and putting a decent set of wheels on it and some Shimano gearing changed my life. So when the time came to get a better bike I really splurged and the thing fits me perfectly. 20-30 miles is easy and enjoyable on my road bike. Wife has more of a cross hybrid and 20-30 miles on it is, well, I just wouldn't want to do it. And she has one of the fancy cushy seats and I just feel like I'm sitting on a balloon when I pedal. I don't go to a gym, I bike. I listen to music, I can enjoy the ride or go fast when I want to. Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. Sorry, wrong show. Anyone that is looking at a bicycle for 20-30 mile (or more) bike rides should ALWAYS get a good bike from a LBS. Those Wal Mart bikes couldn't cut the cheese (so to speak) and will look great sitting upside down on a rack in your garage, because you WILL NOT LIKE IT. I'll echo MoValleyJohn, check out the GCN guys videos on Youtube. They have great content for cyclists and great racing coverage (when things aren't in lockdown).

[MoValley John]

Butt cream, dont leave home without it.

[Kung Wu]

And so the next year when I turned 6, I asked for a skateboard.

[Kung Wu]

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Worst copy/paste in the history of Shockernet.

[MoValley John]

Worst copy/paste in the history of Shockernet.

Oh I can do far worse!