On the road again

Ghoulish Delight · 07-14-2005, 09:40 AM

For the first time in 4 years, I own a bike! I used to ride constantly, and I didn't realize how much I missed it.

My last bike died in 2001. I got in in the 5th grade, and it lasted me through college (my parents were masters of getting the absolute largest possible bike so that I wouldn't grow out of it instantly).

12 years, and I rode it pretty constantly. But alas, I graduated from college, moved, and stuck it on the porch for a couple months. Then, a friend asked to borrow it to get to and from work while his car was being repaired. I brought it over, where we realized the tire was flat. So we wheeled it over to a gas station to fill the tire. Then I began to remount the chain, which had fallen off at some point previous. Then...snap, the rear derailleurs cracked in half at the thickest point. 12 years (and 3 years of going in and out of a trunk) had finally taken its toll.

I was sad to see that bike go. I knew I wouldn't be using it enough to warrant paying for a repair...never mind that it was a 12 year old bike and probably not worth the cost of the repairs it needed.

So here I am, 4 years later, looking for some exercise that I can get motivated to do. Swimming worked for a while, but 1) the kids have taken over our pool and 2) the scenery gets boring. Biking, I never get bored of. Different route every time.

So I did some looking around, and eventually got a bike at Target. It kinda went against my nature, I'd much prefer a quality bike over a cheap comodity bike, but for what I need I couldn't justify the expense of anything more. I got a decent bike for the money. The old bike was a street bike, this is a mountain bike, so I'm moaning about the really low top gear. But it's got two wheels, a chain, and pedals.

I went riding for the first time yesterday. Wow am I outta shape. I used to sprint around the hilly UCI campus every day, now I was winded by the time I got to the end of the street!

I have an ideal of being able to commute to work by bike. That will be a challenge to work up to. The general rule of thumb on bike commuting is, if it's under 5 miles, you have no excuse. 5-10 miles, you can work up to it by training on weekends. Over 10 miles, good luck Lance (or is that Neil?). My commute by car is 11 miles. Eep. I think, with OC's relatively convenient system of bike routes, it's doable. But it's going to take a while. Yesterday ended up a little more encouraging than I thought. I ended up riding a good 4 miles in about 30 minutes, and I wasn't pushing particularly hard. So it's within the realm of possibility. I'd really love it if I could become a 3-day a week bike commuter.

Among other things, I'd be totally justified in buying all the little accessories I always eye at bike shops

scaeagles · 07-14-2005, 09:45 AM

We've been over this - it's Louis.

Anyway, congrats! I love my mountain bike, and when we head to the mountains in Flagstaff or Payson, I like to take it along. Of course, a 5500 foot difference in elevation means I can go about 100 yards before passing out, so I don't know why I bother.

I do wonder, though, why you purchased a mountain bike if you have a goal of using it to commute to work. They are much heavier than the average touring bike, and the wide tires add friction making it that much harder to go distances. Are you planning on using it off road?

But good for you! And go Louis!

Edited to add: Do you have shower facilities at your office? That's something else to consider, cause you'll work up quite a sweat on your commute.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-14-2005, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

.

I do wonder, though, why you purchased a mountain bike if you have a goal of using it to commute to work. They are much heavier than the average touring bike, and the wide tires add friction making it that much harder to go distances. Are you planning on using it off road?

Because the cheapest road bike was more than twice as much as the plethora of mountain bikes available (mountain bikes are all the rage these days, so no one is mass producing road bikes). What I really wanted was a hybrid...basically a road bike frame with tires that are in between mountain bike and road bike. With the number of trials around us, many of them semi-offroad (fire trials and the like), a pure street bike would limit our options. But I couldn't find a hybrid on short notice.

Oh well, I got the smallest, lightest mountain bike I could find/afford. Aluminum frame. It's no lightweight, especially compared to my old bike, but it'll do. Better exercise.

Once this set of tires is ready for a change (and being factory tires, I don't expect them to last long), I'll see if they make tires in the right size that are not quite so knobby. That should improve things.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-14-2005, 10:01 AM

Oh, and yes, our building has a full gym, so there's somewhere to shower and change. And I can bring the bike inside the ID-access only building and stash it under a staircase, which is nice.

Cadaverous Pallor · 07-14-2005, 12:01 PM

If I weren't so sick I would have been out bike-buying with him. I will be getting one though, mainly because I'm all jealous and stuff. I haven't had a bike since 1998, and by then I hadn't used mine in a year and it had rotted outside. I used to bike to high school every day.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-14-2005, 12:17 PM

Number one accessory on my shopping list...new saddle.

MickeyD · 07-14-2005, 12:25 PM

Is that your way of telling us your ass hurts now?

Ghoulish Delight · 07-14-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyD

Is that your way of telling us your ass hurts now?

I bet that's just the kind of information you were looking for when you logged on today.

Babette · 07-14-2005, 12:53 PM

Once CP gets hers you two can come down and bike on the boardwalk with us on the weekends

Congrats on your new bike, man!

BarTopDancer · 07-14-2005, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I bet that's just the kind of information you were looking for when you logged on today.

I don't know about her but it's just what I was looking for when I logged in.

My poor bike has been banished to my patio, has two flat tires and is covered in dust. I should get a pump, fix it up and start riding again! It's probably going to be a lot easier on my knees then running.

07-14-2005, 09:40 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	On the road again For the first time in 4 years, I own a bike! I used to ride constantly, and I didn't realize how much I missed it. My last bike died in 2001. I got in in the 5th grade, and it lasted me through college (my parents were masters of getting the absolute largest possible bike so that I wouldn't grow out of it instantly). 12 years, and I rode it pretty constantly. But alas, I graduated from college, moved, and stuck it on the porch for a couple months. Then, a friend asked to borrow it to get to and from work while his car was being repaired. I brought it over, where we realized the tire was flat. So we wheeled it over to a gas station to fill the tire. Then I began to remount the chain, which had fallen off at some point previous. Then...snap, the rear derailleurs cracked in half at the thickest point. 12 years (and 3 years of going in and out of a trunk) had finally taken its toll. I was sad to see that bike go. I knew I wouldn't be using it enough to warrant paying for a repair...never mind that it was a 12 year old bike and probably not worth the cost of the repairs it needed. So here I am, 4 years later, looking for some exercise that I can get motivated to do. Swimming worked for a while, but 1) the kids have taken over our pool and 2) the scenery gets boring. Biking, I never get bored of. Different route every time. So I did some looking around, and eventually got a bike at Target. It kinda went against my nature, I'd much prefer a quality bike over a cheap comodity bike, but for what I need I couldn't justify the expense of anything more. I got a decent bike for the money. The old bike was a street bike, this is a mountain bike, so I'm moaning about the really low top gear. But it's got two wheels, a chain, and pedals. I went riding for the first time yesterday. Wow am I outta shape. I used to sprint around the hilly UCI campus every day, now I was winded by the time I got to the end of the street! I have an ideal of being able to commute to work by bike. That will be a challenge to work up to. The general rule of thumb on bike commuting is, if it's under 5 miles, you have no excuse. 5-10 miles, you can work up to it by training on weekends. Over 10 miles, good luck Lance (or is that Neil?). My commute by car is 11 miles. Eep. I think, with OC's relatively convenient system of bike routes, it's doable. But it's going to take a while. Yesterday ended up a little more encouraging than I thought. I ended up riding a good 4 miles in about 30 minutes, and I wasn't pushing particularly hard. So it's within the realm of possibility. I'd really love it if I could become a 3-day a week bike commuter. Among other things, I'd be totally justified in buying all the little accessories I always eye at bike shops __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-14-2005, 09:45 AM	#2
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	We've been over this - it's Louis. Anyway, congrats! I love my mountain bike, and when we head to the mountains in Flagstaff or Payson, I like to take it along. Of course, a 5500 foot difference in elevation means I can go about 100 yards before passing out, so I don't know why I bother. I do wonder, though, why you purchased a mountain bike if you have a goal of using it to commute to work. They are much heavier than the average touring bike, and the wide tires add friction making it that much harder to go distances. Are you planning on using it off road? But good for you! And go Louis! Edited to add: Do you have shower facilities at your office? That's something else to consider, cause you'll work up quite a sweat on your commute.
	Submit to Quotes

07-14-2005, 10:01 AM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Oh, and yes, our building has a full gym, so there's somewhere to shower and change. And I can bring the bike inside the ID-access only building and stash it under a staircase, which is nice. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-14-2005, 12:01 PM	#5
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	If I weren't so sick I would have been out bike-buying with him. I will be getting one though, mainly because I'm all jealous and stuff. I haven't had a bike since 1998, and by then I hadn't used mine in a year and it had rotted outside. I used to bike to high school every day. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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07-14-2005, 12:17 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Number one accessory on my shopping list...new saddle. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-14-2005, 12:25 PM	#7
MickeyD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mooby's Posts: 488	Is that your way of telling us your ass hurts now? __________________ Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
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07-14-2005, 12:53 PM	#9
Babette Snubbed Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cupcake heaven Posts: 433	Once CP gets hers you two can come down and bike on the boardwalk with us on the weekends Congrats on your new bike, man!
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