Biking Question

[Renegade]

I have a Road Bike which I really enjoy riding. I am wanting to branch out a little and take up Gravel and maybe Cyclocross. I have tried MTB, and just didn't care for it.

Any suggestions, tips etc? I am looking at the Salsa Warbird and Trek line of bikes right now.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Renegade

Check Craig's List or local Auctions. Sometimes there are local organizations that give bikes to kids. Sometimes thrift stores carry kids bikes that are gently used. Anything is better than a Walmart bike

Problem is, hardly anyone buys quality bikes for their kids, so used ones are few and far between.

[Bugeater]

Guess that's not necessarily the case. Strictly for an example, with some dickering these two could probably be had for $120 total, and they would outlast anything from Walmart or Target. And they're repairable for the most part if something did break/wear out.



https://omaha.craigslist.org/bik/d/o...099733274.html


https://omaha.craigslist.org/bik/d/o...113798585.html

[RedRaider56]

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Being on my bike is my happy place. It's a great activity. Mentally and physically.

Here's this weekend, near the top of Mount Tam, go from sea level to 2500 feet in about 10 miles from my house. Turn your head to the right of this pic and the ocean is way down there.

Same here. I ride about 4000 miles a year on my road & gravel bikes. Love the fact that I can get away from everything and how it completely drains away all of my stress.

Worst accident I had was hitting a typically dry low water crossing at around 34 mph. This time it had water and I went sliding as my bike just slid out from under me. I ended up cracking 4 ribs and couldn't ride for about 6 weeks. I was lucky it wasn't worse than that.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by heapshake

I'm trying to find some decent bikes for kids. I'm a house parent at a children's home with 8 kids that ride bikes. Most of the bikes we have are Walmart hand me downs that have been donated. A couple of the kids have gotten new Walmart bikes but it is only a matter of time until they fall apart.

Right now I'm trying to find something for a couple of boys (9&10). I want something that is a single speed. I'm not sure if a coaster brake would be better or rim brakes. I've had bad luck with the rim brakes on kids bikes. The cable housing breaks at the handlebars and I can't tighten them up. The kids like to skid with the coaster brakes and the tires get eaten up.

I'm thinking a BMX style bike would work best, but I can't spend a lot of money. The office wants to ask for more donations but I'm tired of trying of keeping these pieces of junk running. We were given permission to buy one boy a bike awhile back and we spent $120 at Target. We were told to take it back and get one from Walmart (they had gift cards) for less than $100. A few weeks later both brake levers broke off and it wouldn't shift. We are seconds away from some easy single track and 2 minutes away from a paved MUP.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Where are you? We have an organization called "Pedal it Forward" that buys and rebuilds bikes for situations like this.

You might look for something similar in your area. Getting a decent new bike for less than $100 is daunting (which is crazy, I know). The "best value" that most people agree on in bikes (especially kids bikes) right now is from a brand called Vitus. It's mail-order, but they're still going to be outside your price range.

[NewChief]

Also:
Here's a vid of my 12 year old getting whippy on a local:

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000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Stoked to get whips both directions! Can you tell which video is normal and which is oppo? Also, got a pretty good T-Bog in if you Swipe➡️➡️ @gravitasracing jersey is �� niceeee! @gtbicycles #srslyfun #ridingthisout // @maxxisbike @ovenandtap @traillabs @4wheelconcepts @bikerackbrewingco @hex_carbon_workshop @visitbentonville @ruggedtrailsllc @primalwear @skratchlabs . . . . . . . . . . . . #mtb #mtblife #gravitas #mtbfun #downhillmtb #mtblife #mtblifestyle #mountainbikes #gtforce #newbike #bike #bikes #cyclist #dhmtb #enduro #endurobro #shredthegnar #maxxis #maxxistires #gtforce #mtbgrom #oztrailsnwa #pbgroms #skratchlabs #50to01 #mountainbiking #gtbike

c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Finn Logan (@flogan_mtb) on Apr 10, 2020 at 6:48am PDT

Sadly, he broke both his wrists last Saturday when he overshot a jump by about 12 feet, so he's all casted up and off the bike for a while.

[Perineum Ripper]

So local bike shop has Giant Escape for $410 on hand and it was a nice looking bike. Any input on that particular bike?

[Renegade]

Originally Posted by mac459

So local bike shop has Giant Escape for $410 on hand and it was a nice looking bike. Any input on that particular bike?

Take it for a test ride, and make sure it is sized to fit you.

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by Renegade

Take it for a test ride, and make sure it is sized to fit you.

Did that while I was there, I really liked it. Since I dint have much experience in this world, I wanted to check with the more knowledgeable people. It fits good, XL frame, if I buy I’m going to go a little wider on tires. It’s 700x35 right now, going to try 40, if it doesn’t fit then 38. Place does lifetime warranty on frame, free tune ups for life.


I was impressed by it, just wanted to make sure that model was a good one, or if a different model would be better

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by mac459

So local bike shop has Giant Escape for $410 on hand and it was a nice looking bike. Any input on that particular bike?

I know of Giant but not that model so I looked it up, it definitely has the better geometry like the FX series so that's a plus. No disc brakes but if you've never had them you won't miss them. I wasn't aware that they used so many of their own components so they're not anything I'm familiar with. I do know 007 rolls with a Giant Roam and he seems happy with it.



Headsnap is a pimp for Giant bikes, maybe he will chime in at some point on it.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by mac459

Did that while I was there, I really liked it. Since I dint have much experience in this world, I wanted to check with the more knowledgeable people. It fits good, XL frame, if I buy I’m going to go a little wider on tires. It’s 700x35 right now, going to try 40, if it doesn’t fit then 38. Place does lifetime warranty on frame, free tune ups for life.


I was impressed by it, just wanted to make sure that model was a good one, or if a different model would be better

My CrossRip came with 700x32 which rode pretty harsh, after I went through 2 sets of them I tried 38s and it does make a difference.

[NewChief]

Since he's laid up with broken wrists, the boy decided to put together a youtube edit to compete in his school's 6th grade "virtual talent show."

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by mac459

Alright guys, need some advice on a bike. I started riding an old Trek my father-in-law had, its too small and it’s older. So I’m going to upgrade, and have no idea where to start. Really like the Trek but it’s definitely too small and probably needs tuned up.

I ride on local bike trails in Columbia, MO. Some dirt, some concrete paths, some roads, and some sidewalks. I’m a bigger guy, don’t know if that matters. I’m going to go into the local bike shop tomorrow and pick their brains a little bit. Budget is probably going to be around $500


Looking at a Trek Dual Sport 2 or 3, any thoughts?

I have a DS - I THINK - 2. Best bike I have owned, and I too am a big ogre mother****er.

RE: Apps I use strava

RE: hardware, I have a knockoff phone mount. I thought about a RAM mount but I don't need anything that good.

Buy some dry chain lube and spokes. My wheel was ****ed up. I have put about a billion spokes in it. I need to pull the chute on it but haven't done it yet. In order to change the spokes you'll need a spoke wrench and a chain whip, then some ****ing special wrench to get the sprocket off. There's a Youtube on how to do it. Careful on the spoke wrenches, some of them are designed by people who don't use tools. Buy one that will work. I don't bike too far from home, so I don't have any compressors or a pump. Just one in the garage.


Guy I know that bikes harder than I do swears by the shoes and pedals that snap together, I don't know about those, but he said it's more efficient because they're hooked together. I'm in it for the exercise so I don't necessarily need efficiency.

Trek are good enough bikes for dudes like us.

[eDave]

Really wish my Giant hadn't been stolen. Would love to be tooling around town on it now.

Ouch 2112.

[NewChief]

New bump:

Curious if anyone has gotten back into or more into riding since COVID. Our area has exploded with riding. If you all aren't aware, you have some pretty sick riding in the KC area with a very active group of trailbuilders who are constantly adding more.

The Blue River Parkway trails have some sickness. This is one of my favorite KC riders who also comes down to Arkansas hitting some of the stuff there. I bet a lot of folks aren't even aware it exists in KC:

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[RedRaider56]

Originally Posted by NewChief

New bump:

Curious if anyone has gotten back into or more into riding since COVID. Our area has exploded with riding. If you all aren't aware, you have some pretty sick riding in the KC area with a very active group of trailbuilders who are constantly adding more.

The Blue River Parkway trails have some sickness. This is one of my favorite KC riders who also comes down to Arkansas hitting some of the stuff there. I bet a lot of folks aren't even aware it exists in KC:

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c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Justice Jax Berry (@jax_sends)

I ride every weekend, either road or gravel ride. Have been averaging 100 miles a week since the beginning of the year. Ended up finishing with 5300 miles on my bike last year. I don't do big group rides but will go out with 2-3 other folks sometimes, whom I know are very careful in taking precautions with Covid.

Get outside, try to keep some level of social distancing from others on a ride and have some fun.