Picking a bicycle?

treitz3

Sorry for the double post Chuck, I'm catching up on the thread. Congrat's on the new bike! Now, as for the backpack -vs- the bike bags? Bike bags 100% here buddy. I have tried at least 20 backpacks and all of them I ended up giving away. They throw off your center of gravity, they give you more fatigue, they make your back sweat like hell, they can give you rashes from constant rubbing, they can even be dangerous depending on how big [or the design] in restricting the view backwards when going around curves. Plus, in a collision you have less control of your crash plans because of the added weight to your hindside while flying through the air. Trust me on that, I know from experience.

Also, keep a lighter handy with the tire repair kit. When you apply the glue after scuffing the rubber, light up the glue for about 4 seconds to make it slightly sticky. This will help you speed up the process of a flat tire repair tenfold and will also help to insure a good bond between the two rubbers. Another pointer, when you do get a flat make sure that the object is no longer between the tire and the tube. I know it sounds stupid, but it happens more often than I care to think about especially when it comes to something that wasn't obvious like a 2" long nail or something. There's nothing more frustrating than skipping that step and having not one, but two flats from the same object. :eek:

If you have constant trouble with flat tires, get back to me. Another hint. Keep your tires overinflated. Why? because bike tires for some screwed up reason never keep the same pressure and it has been my experience that less flats happen with an overinflated tire, better handling [unless off road or are on a loose substrate] and the main reason? Easier peddling man! I used to keep my 95psi tires at 115 psi all day long. Made the Edwardo Bianchi FAST.

BTW, do you have Schrader valves or Presto?

madmax

I have the presto valves. My pump handles them.

I've been looking into what is the best defense against theft. I'm extremely happy with the bike and not much into trying to provide maximum security when leaving it places. It seems to me if you provide minimal protection you are fine unless the thieves are serious. If they are serious give it up because they will quickly cut through whatever you are using. Just wondering, if you gave it a crappy paint job with primer and made it look fairly low end would people leave it alone? I'm into the performance of the bike, not how cool it looks. I'm thinking a custom paint job for $1.98 would protect it more than $100 worth of locks which are heavy and don't provide any real protection. What do you guys think? I read somewhere that newer perfect looking bikes are at the top of the theft world as far as loosing them. I was thinking of a Mad Max type look.
madmax

treitz3

You sir are crazy!

I have always had some SWEET rides. Call me lucky or whatever but I have never had theft as part of the equation. Preemptive strikes all across the board. Kryptonite should offer [at least they used too] a performance guarantee. I think my lock had a 2K policy that came with the lock. I could be wrong because the lock is around 20 years old now. Wait....no it's not! I remember I had to call a locksmith about 15 years ago because I lost my keys. Get this.

He drives up in his van and says that it will only be a couple of minutes. Ok, cool. I believe he was there for an hour and 1/2 and he went through his normal equipment, onto his backup equipment and when that burnt out, he brought out his back up for his backup. A brand spankin' new tool. It's been so long I forget what he used......whether it was a saws-all or a grinder or both, but I do remember him bitching about each one costing around $300.00 to replace.

Long story short. After I burnt my hand trying to help him with the last bit I paid him his $85.00 and he told me never to call him again. Wonder why? :rolleyes:

Just don't lock it up to a small tree, a street sign or a cheap bike rack. They'll cut right thru the rack to get the goods. The best way I figured out how to lock the bike up was to put the K-lock through the frame and one rim and [hopefully] to what you want to lock the bike up to. When you do this, they'll have just the front rim/tire assembly for easy access. They will walk away.

Just make sure you get everything quick release NOT easily accessible, all the digital stuff in your possession and then the only thing that you have to worry about is someone stealing your seat post and seat.

madmax

I'm not against a custom paint job. I don't care for the factory red anyway. It makes me feel excessive. I'm thinking a little more trailerpark is my comfort zone.
madmax

treitz3

Green, tan and brown. Mixed pattern. That way they can't see it.

Trailer park enough for ya'?

madmax

I was thinking about redish primer with an overspray coat of black primer.
madmax

bikezappa

madmax wrote: »

I'd like to have two bags. One always left on the bike with accessories like a pump, tube, tools etc. Stuff I would be willing to take a chance on loosing. The other bag would have stuff I'm not willing to loose like a camera or whatever. It would be a bag I could rip loose in less than 1.386 seconds when I run into the store. Things like a bag of groceries or similar could be bungied onto a rear rack.

Makes perfect sense to me. They make some interesting bags that can be ripred loose in 1.009 seconds.

madmax

I noticed even the slightest change in elevation made a lot of difference in how hard I had to pedal. Also, when the wind started blowing towards me it got harder. I'm thinking a little extra weight probably makes these changes more noticeable.
madmax

bikezappa

Up hill and against the wind.