Advice on "Comfort Bikes" (Gary Fisher Capitola vs. Giant Sedona) - Page 11

07-22-2004, 12:13 PM

You're an idiot, Freeburger.

> Dave,
> Anyone who is shopping for the best $300 bicycle is a fool. These
> are the people you see riding on the sidewalk with their back in a
> vertical position, the seat 3" too low, spinning the crank very slow in
> a high gear, and the (optional) helmet tilted back like a yamica.
> They are clueless as to what a bicycle is for, so they follow the
> model of bicycle riding as a child: very short trips on the sidewalk.
> They fool themselves that they are getting "exercise" on the bicycle.
> The reality is that they barely get their heart rate up high enough, for
> long enough minutes, on the short slow sidewalk or bike path rides.
> A bicycle uses 1/3 the calories as traveling on foot for the same
> distance. These lazy people need to be walking around the block or to
> the corner store, not saving effort by riding some overweight tank of a
> bicycle.
> Having said that the "hybrid" or "comfort" SHOPPER is looking to
> AVOID getting a sweat, the best $300 bicycle is like having a beauty
> contest for women who must be at least 30% overweight. These are tanks
> because: (1) the shoppers are cheapskates who don't want to spent money
> or calories, and (2) they ride on the sidewalk and bash the bicycles
> into curbs.
> Furthermore, the SERVICE CONTRACT you get from a bicycle shop is as
> important as the bicycle itself.
> Last year I took the owner of a new $350 Trek hybrid on a 38 mile
> bike club ride. She rode instead a Schwinn Le Tour road bike that I
> bought in a garage sale for $100 and was much lighter. Afterwards we
> went to several quality bicycle shops. We found a Specialized road bike
> in the back of one bike shop. It was her exact size. The same frame with
> better parts (and this year's model) was also there for $1800 sale
> price, but this one was two years old and had more economy level parts,
> but this was clearly a "racing" road bike suitable for 100 mile rides.
> It was on sale for $535 and came with a 3 year service contract.
> The vast majority of adults shopping for cheap bicycles to ride on
> the sidewalk would be better off getting on a power walking or slow
> jogging program.
> Cheers,
> Bruce Freeburger
>

07-22-2004, 09:42 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 10:16:26 -0400, "Bruce Freeburger" <"Bruce
> Freeburger"> wrote:
>
> >Dave,
> > Anyone who is shopping for the best $300 bicycle is a fool. These
> >are the people you see riding on the sidewalk with their back in a
> >vertical position, the seat 3" too low, spinning the crank very slow in
> >a high gear, and the (optional) helmet tilted back like a yamica.
> > They are clueless as to what a bicycle is for, so they follow the
> >model of bicycle riding as a child: very short trips on the sidewalk.
>
> While I do agree that more cyclists need to be out on the road, not
> everybody can be an elite roadie. Road racing bicycles aren't the
> best thing in the world for loose sand, gravel trails, or trips from
> the market laden with groceries.

My Bianchi Sport disagrees! Or maybe it's just quietly saying "kill me!"
every time I do those things.

> I use my bicycle--a tourer--for everything from quick trips to the
> store to long rides in the country.

Either I have a high tolerance for pain, or the differences between
racing and touring frames is overstated.

Except for the fact that I ride fast enough to want aero advantages
(current benchmark is to beat the express bus from an even start over a
4-ish km section of minimal-to-moderately rising terrain, and then to
keep that advantage down the hill and all the way home) and use my
commute/whatever riding for training, I am warming to Chalo's idea that
the flat bar suits non-racers better.

The non-aero reason for a drop bar is to give multiple positions, mostly
for long rides. If that's the case, I think the Grant Peterson (of
Rivendell bikes) theory of high-rise drop bars makes sense. My father
does as well: he is _very_ happy with the garage-sale Mikado, which
currently has an MTB stem providing a very short reach and high rise
compared to the stock stem.

Where was I? If you're not sure about this whole bike-riding thing, I
think the best, most sensible beginner machine is an old rigid mountain
bike running slick tires. Such a machine can do anything except race.
Heck, you could add tri-bars to the flat bar and probably end up more
aero than most touring bikes, too.

Did I ever mention my plan to put aero bars on the BMX LX?
--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-22-2004, 09:42 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 10:16:26 -0400, "Bruce Freeburger" <"Bruce
> Freeburger"> wrote:
>
> >Dave,
> > Anyone who is shopping for the best $300 bicycle is a fool. These
> >are the people you see riding on the sidewalk with their back in a
> >vertical position, the seat 3" too low, spinning the crank very slow in
> >a high gear, and the (optional) helmet tilted back like a yamica.
> > They are clueless as to what a bicycle is for, so they follow the
> >model of bicycle riding as a child: very short trips on the sidewalk.
>
> While I do agree that more cyclists need to be out on the road, not
> everybody can be an elite roadie. Road racing bicycles aren't the
> best thing in the world for loose sand, gravel trails, or trips from
> the market laden with groceries.

My Bianchi Sport disagrees! Or maybe it's just quietly saying "kill me!"
every time I do those things.

> I use my bicycle--a tourer--for everything from quick trips to the
> store to long rides in the country.

Either I have a high tolerance for pain, or the differences between
racing and touring frames is overstated.

Except for the fact that I ride fast enough to want aero advantages
(current benchmark is to beat the express bus from an even start over a
4-ish km section of minimal-to-moderately rising terrain, and then to
keep that advantage down the hill and all the way home) and use my
commute/whatever riding for training, I am warming to Chalo's idea that
the flat bar suits non-racers better.

The non-aero reason for a drop bar is to give multiple positions, mostly
for long rides. If that's the case, I think the Grant Peterson (of
Rivendell bikes) theory of high-rise drop bars makes sense. My father
does as well: he is _very_ happy with the garage-sale Mikado, which
currently has an MTB stem providing a very short reach and high rise
compared to the stock stem.

Where was I? If you're not sure about this whole bike-riding thing, I
think the best, most sensible beginner machine is an old rigid mountain
bike running slick tires. Such a machine can do anything except race.
Heck, you could add tri-bars to the flat bar and probably end up more
aero than most touring bikes, too.

Did I ever mention my plan to put aero bars on the BMX LX?
--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-22-2004, 09:42 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 10:16:26 -0400, "Bruce Freeburger" <"Bruce
> Freeburger"> wrote:
>
> >Dave,
> > Anyone who is shopping for the best $300 bicycle is a fool. These
> >are the people you see riding on the sidewalk with their back in a
> >vertical position, the seat 3" too low, spinning the crank very slow in
> >a high gear, and the (optional) helmet tilted back like a yamica.
> > They are clueless as to what a bicycle is for, so they follow the
> >model of bicycle riding as a child: very short trips on the sidewalk.
>
> While I do agree that more cyclists need to be out on the road, not
> everybody can be an elite roadie. Road racing bicycles aren't the
> best thing in the world for loose sand, gravel trails, or trips from
> the market laden with groceries.

My Bianchi Sport disagrees! Or maybe it's just quietly saying "kill me!"
every time I do those things.

> I use my bicycle--a tourer--for everything from quick trips to the
> store to long rides in the country.

Either I have a high tolerance for pain, or the differences between
racing and touring frames is overstated.

Except for the fact that I ride fast enough to want aero advantages
(current benchmark is to beat the express bus from an even start over a
4-ish km section of minimal-to-moderately rising terrain, and then to
keep that advantage down the hill and all the way home) and use my
commute/whatever riding for training, I am warming to Chalo's idea that
the flat bar suits non-racers better.

The non-aero reason for a drop bar is to give multiple positions, mostly
for long rides. If that's the case, I think the Grant Peterson (of
Rivendell bikes) theory of high-rise drop bars makes sense. My father
does as well: he is _very_ happy with the garage-sale Mikado, which
currently has an MTB stem providing a very short reach and high rise
compared to the stock stem.

Where was I? If you're not sure about this whole bike-riding thing, I
think the best, most sensible beginner machine is an old rigid mountain
bike running slick tires. Such a machine can do anything except race.
Heck, you could add tri-bars to the flat bar and probably end up more
aero than most touring bikes, too.

Did I ever mention my plan to put aero bars on the BMX LX?
--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-22-2004, 09:42 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 10:16:26 -0400, "Bruce Freeburger" <"Bruce
> Freeburger"> wrote:
>
> >Dave,
> > Anyone who is shopping for the best $300 bicycle is a fool. These
> >are the people you see riding on the sidewalk with their back in a
> >vertical position, the seat 3" too low, spinning the crank very slow in
> >a high gear, and the (optional) helmet tilted back like a yamica.
> > They are clueless as to what a bicycle is for, so they follow the
> >model of bicycle riding as a child: very short trips on the sidewalk.
>
> While I do agree that more cyclists need to be out on the road, not
> everybody can be an elite roadie. Road racing bicycles aren't the
> best thing in the world for loose sand, gravel trails, or trips from
> the market laden with groceries.

My Bianchi Sport disagrees! Or maybe it's just quietly saying "kill me!"
every time I do those things.

> I use my bicycle--a tourer--for everything from quick trips to the
> store to long rides in the country.

Either I have a high tolerance for pain, or the differences between
racing and touring frames is overstated.

Except for the fact that I ride fast enough to want aero advantages
(current benchmark is to beat the express bus from an even start over a
4-ish km section of minimal-to-moderately rising terrain, and then to
keep that advantage down the hill and all the way home) and use my
commute/whatever riding for training, I am warming to Chalo's idea that
the flat bar suits non-racers better.

The non-aero reason for a drop bar is to give multiple positions, mostly
for long rides. If that's the case, I think the Grant Peterson (of
Rivendell bikes) theory of high-rise drop bars makes sense. My father
does as well: he is _very_ happy with the garage-sale Mikado, which
currently has an MTB stem providing a very short reach and high rise
compared to the stock stem.

Where was I? If you're not sure about this whole bike-riding thing, I
think the best, most sensible beginner machine is an old rigid mountain
bike running slick tires. Such a machine can do anything except race.
Heck, you could add tri-bars to the flat bar and probably end up more
aero than most touring bikes, too.

Did I ever mention my plan to put aero bars on the BMX LX?
--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-22-2004, 09:42 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 10:16:26 -0400, "Bruce Freeburger" <"Bruce
> Freeburger"> wrote:
>
> >Dave,
> > Anyone who is shopping for the best $300 bicycle is a fool. These
> >are the people you see riding on the sidewalk with their back in a
> >vertical position, the seat 3" too low, spinning the crank very slow in
> >a high gear, and the (optional) helmet tilted back like a yamica.
> > They are clueless as to what a bicycle is for, so they follow the
> >model of bicycle riding as a child: very short trips on the sidewalk.
>
> While I do agree that more cyclists need to be out on the road, not
> everybody can be an elite roadie. Road racing bicycles aren't the
> best thing in the world for loose sand, gravel trails, or trips from
> the market laden with groceries.

My Bianchi Sport disagrees! Or maybe it's just quietly saying "kill me!"
every time I do those things.

> I use my bicycle--a tourer--for everything from quick trips to the
> store to long rides in the country.

Either I have a high tolerance for pain, or the differences between
racing and touring frames is overstated.

Except for the fact that I ride fast enough to want aero advantages
(current benchmark is to beat the express bus from an even start over a
4-ish km section of minimal-to-moderately rising terrain, and then to
keep that advantage down the hill and all the way home) and use my
commute/whatever riding for training, I am warming to Chalo's idea that
the flat bar suits non-racers better.

The non-aero reason for a drop bar is to give multiple positions, mostly
for long rides. If that's the case, I think the Grant Peterson (of
Rivendell bikes) theory of high-rise drop bars makes sense. My father
does as well: he is _very_ happy with the garage-sale Mikado, which
currently has an MTB stem providing a very short reach and high rise
compared to the stock stem.

Where was I? If you're not sure about this whole bike-riding thing, I
think the best, most sensible beginner machine is an old rigid mountain
bike running slick tires. Such a machine can do anything except race.
Heck, you could add tri-bars to the flat bar and probably end up more
aero than most touring bikes, too.

Did I ever mention my plan to put aero bars on the BMX LX?
--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club