noob questions

$750 is not my price range! hah.

i am so stressed over this now because i feel like if i don't get what my dad wants he'll never let me hear the end of it. he now thinks trek 7.3 fx is far superior to the 7.2. it is also $150 more. sigh.

Have your dad buy the bike for you ...

i just looked over the 7.2 vs the 7.3, and i don't see it. if anything, the 7.3 is going to ride more harshly, because it has an aluminum fork (vs steel) and tires with kevlar in the casing. (the advantages to those are lighter weight and less flat tires, respectively). but upgrading a bike model because of nicer tires is dumb, since you can always replace the tires when yours wear out, and it's certainly not worth $150 to go up to the aluminum fork. it's still 8-speed, and a deore vs. an alivio rear derailleur is not even worth considering.

imo, where you really start to see the quality jump is at the 7.5 (carbon fork, 9-speed drivetrain, etc) - but, that's almost $1000. if the 7.3 is out of your price range, i'd forget it - it's a nice bike, but there's nothing you're getting on it that you will specifically miss if you get the 7.2.

hm interesting. he went and rode them both yesterday and said the 7.3 shifts better and brakes worked more smoothly. psychological? who knows.

i am so at a loss. and yeah, the 7.5 is nice but i am not spending $999.

could just as easily be chalked up to the person who built it

^^^ this.

pro tip, regardless of what you get: ~know your mechanic~

I work on some stuff at home but am basically stupid. Find out who the reputable shops are in yr area (message boards are good for this, but I can prob find out who's good in DC if you want) and pick one and stick with it. Local indy shops reward loyalty ime, and having a wrench you can trust is invaluable. a well-tuned w/e bike >>>> janky fancy bike, 94/7

I know my sis has had her bike tuned up from this place several times and seems happy with them. Ed recommended another store too.

zomg I bought one! 7.2. I have 14 days to return in case dad freaks. I rode both and for some reason the 7.2 felt better to me, aside from the grips. Yay.

btw i had to constantly remind myself that i am a grown woman and can make my own decisions regarding purchases. sigh. i am excited!

congrats! you will enjoy it, and you can spend the extra $150 on something you really want, instead of something you've been told to want.

yes :)

we went out for a quick ride that turned into 15 mi and it did pretty well!

radical!

way to go tehresa! hope you get lots of use and pleasure from yr bike

racks to transport crap on your bike: are there types to avoid, types that are great, etc.?

if yr talking commuting/groceries, get a rear rack and some panniers

cargo (cases of beer, puppies) get a flat front

The rack will say on it how much weight it can take; remember to check this out and consider how much you'll need to carry.

are there particular brands that are recommended?

the very best are old man mountain, but most brands are acceptable. Avoid anything that is not welded, some flat pack racks can be very bad.

Tubus Rack plus ortlieb panniers is a great combo.

How do I shot lining up the axis of my stem with the front wheel. It always seems to come out a degree or two off-axis. No performance hindrance, but totally maddening.

is all in the knees dude, and using yr nose as a plumbline. (i just spent too long putting Aidan's first pedal bike together)

theresa, I got a good recommend on another DC LBS

http://www.bicyclespacewdc.com/

thanks, ed. ugh still so many supplies I need to get (air pump, rack, spare tube, etc.) but I am enjoying riding to work!

why do they make brake disc screw heads out of butter

... have stripped or nearly stripped the heads of 4 out of 12 screws while trying to change discs. first one i sawed a cut into the head so i could use a regular screwdriver, this actually worked but i did bad things to the disc in the process, despite trying to protect it. the next three - ¯\(º_o)/¯

what is that stuff you can spray on screws to get them out and does it work?

liquid wrench

WD-40 works too. YOu should also get some screw extractors, they cut into the screw and then grab on. these work well:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boa-Grabit-Damaged-Screw-Remover/dp/B00096JDL2

just had to replace the inner tube on my back wheel as there was a hole right at the base of the valve - was i right to assume that i couldn't have fixed that with just a puncture kit? also, is there any use for the old inner tube? do they recycle?

No chance of fixing a hole there. Not sure about recyclability of tubes either. You can make an awful lot of rubber bands out of one, though.

Em has expressed the desire for a more practical, lighter, faster bicycle than her current one, so that she can come out with me for some exercise rides.

Her current bike is a very fetching Trek Allant:

<img src=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5111422482_950ddfd43c.jpg>;

which we've added a very nice wicker basket and a beautiful Brooks saddle to recently, but it's now somewhat cumbersome and much more appropriate for pootling along the river or to the shops on than for eatin up the miles with.

I'm thinking something like a Specialized Vita (http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCBkFamily.jsp?sid=11Vita&scid=1002&scname=Transport%2FFitness) might be the kind of thing she's after, BUT I'm pretty sure she'd hate the look of it - she'd be much more amenable to something tubular-steel-looking, old-school, minimal, and a bit classicist.

Any ideas?

Em has expressed the desire for a more practical, lighter, faster bicycle than her current one, so that she can come out with me for some exercise rides.

Her current bike is a very fetching Trek Allant:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5111422482_950ddfd43c.jpg;

which we've added a very nice wicker basket and a beautiful Brooks saddle to recently, but it's now somewhat cumbersome and much more appropriate for pootling along the river or to the shops on than for eatin up the miles with.

I'm thinking something like a Specialized Vita (http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCBkFamily.jsp?sid=11Vita&scid=1002&scname=Transport%2FFitness) might be the kind of thing she's after, BUT I'm pretty sure she'd hate the look of it - she'd be much more amenable to something tubular-steel-looking, old-school, minimal, and a bit classicist.

Any ideas?

That spesh is right OTM functionality wise, looks like a derivation of the Roubaix frame so should be comfy but it sure is fugly. Might be worth doing an fit calculator to see what sort of mens bikes she might fit, so much more choice there. Women seem to be particularly ill served in the flat bar road market. There's stuff like the Trek 7.2 that Theresa just bought but that's probably at the heavier end of what you want.

Is she averse to drops because there is a bit more choice? Albeit with slightly patronising names, hello BMC Sparkle.

She'd probably be alright with drops, actually.

I don't think the Vita is ugly at all!

Charge have got a new women's mixte bike that's quite pretty - let me see if I can find it. I like mixte stylings.

Ah, it's single speed, shame. Still, pretty: http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/images/ProductImages/fullsize/Bikes/Others/11%20charge%20hob.jpg

Also, I saw one being ridden the other day and was really impressed by it before I even knew what it was. Now, same bike, hub gear, that would be pretty awesome.

She'd probably love that - I think she secretly lusts a fixie.

Charge Mixer and Tap look great, high crossbar, though, Alfine or Nexus Hub gears and really clean looking. I like their drop bar road bikes, nothing women specific but the seem to have a variety of geometries so something may work.

Interestingly charge have a Hob with a 3 speed sturmey archer on their website which might work.

Spoke to her last night (she's away in MCR at a conference this week) and she wants drops.

How much do you have to spend (if it is not a personal question)?

ayo

looking to buy a hybrid most likely. with gears, even though i live in brooklyn.

are there any particular brands that one would recommend embracing or avoiding? i doubt that my demands on the bike will come anywhere near its limits, but i figured i'd ask.

I loved my Marin hybrid. Less enamoured now I e got the Tricross but it's still a great commuter. It's a Larkspur.

my dad and I are going go a cycle tour through europe; don't know anything about touring bikes. don't want to spend more than £400. am I best trawling the CTC forum for a dawes galaxy or would something like this do the job?

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-5-mens-id_8156686.html#more_infos

I'd try and find something without front suspension, unnecessary extra weight.

Can you use cyclescheme to extend the budget a little?

OK here goes.

I am a total bike noob. I have barely ridden one in the last 15-20 years. Looking to get a cheap, reliable safe bike for my commute. This is Eastside Los Angeles, an emerging bike-friendly part of what must be one of the least bikeable cities anywhere. But luckily my commute is only about 10-15 minutes and can be achieved by avoiding major roads, etc. So what kind of bike and other gear am I looking for? Also how do y'all carry your stuff on you without looking like a complete tool? Are there "bike bags" or what

THANK YOU

Excited about new bike adventures,
AdamRL

Is it flat? Are you technical / mechanical? How much stuff do you need to carry? What's your budget? Can you imagine yourself getting drawn into either the exercise rush or the cultural accoutrements?

You're probably looking for a flatbar hybrid bike with rear rack and panniers (saddle-bags), but, if it's flat, you might want a single-speed or fixed-gear bike, which is easier to maintain, a little cheaper, and cooler too. If you decide you don't want a rack and panniers, there are so many cool messenger bags and stuff it's crazy.

Unless it's really hilly it honestly sounds like you could do it on anything you like. I'd get a cheap secondhand (or even better, borrowed), well, bike, make sure it's serviceable and then just ride. If you like it, I promise you'll be back asking how to make the most out of cycling.

The only thing to be concerned about at this stage, other than its roadworthiness, is that it's more or less the right size for you and the saddle's the right height.

It's not flat, but not insane hills either. A little undulation, I guess. I don't need to carry too much really - maybe books and a pair of shoes, etc. My budget is small and I'm fine with a used bike. I already exercise quite a bit so could see myself getting into that, but I'm never gonna be a racer or anything like that. Do bike people in warm places carry a change of clothes? Seems like I would arrive everywhere sweaty.

if you commute in the morning and it's 65 degrees or less, it's totally doable in your work clothes, if you stay very chill. i commute 14 miles each way and i actually wear my office pants and a technical t shirt, then change into undershirt/office shirt when i arrive. no sweat. for the way home, i change into regular shorts (no lycra) and the tshirt again, so i don't have to worry about any sweat in the evening heat. even in high summer, the mornings here are usually low 60s, but afternoons are regularly high 90s.

if you are getting around midday and trips are over 15 minutes, sweat could happen tho.

Thanks for your help, guys. I will mostly be taking streets to work, many of which do actually have bike paths, and there are some nice paths along the LA River I would like to try. I guess a "city bike" would be fine though if I want to go on the occasional flat dirt track, would I want something else?