noob questions

v v newb

steamrollers can be singlespeed, but I think they only come with a front brake stock. So you'd have to add a rear brake and a cable and a lever. Not such a big deal, but it will cost you a bit.

I've good things about that Redline, and the price is nice. I say go for it. The geometry is kind of slack, but that sounds like what you might like.

If you're looking for a budget option, a lot of people swear by the singlespeed offerings of bikesdirect.com

^I've HEARD good things about that Redline

A slightly more expensive option:

http://www.salsacycles.com/casserollCompSS08.html

It has a semi horizontal dropout so it can be converted to gears at a later stage and I love the super skinny tubing.

Incidentally, you can still get last years surly steamroller, which was a much nattier brown, and it is cheaper.

http://bicyclewarehouse.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=10948&site=google_base

Here's one: Is buying a Schwinn ten speed off craigslist and making it a single speed and changing out the handlebars a) cost-effective b) the kind of thing I can do in my attic with no bike-maintenance experience c) at all a good idea?

also: Salsa is local!

http://www.salsacromotostem.com/

Here's one: Is buying a Schwinn ten speed off craigslist and making it a single speed and changing out the handlebars a) cost-effective b) the kind of thing I can do in my attic with no bike-maintenance experience c) at all a good idea?

I don't have personal experience with conversions, but everything I've heard suggests that they are seldom that cost-effective, especially nowadays. You're unlikely to find a bargain, quality bike to work with on Craigslist. Prices for vintage road bikes are pretty inflated (or were before the economy headed south). So You'll have to expect to pay probably something like $100-200 just to get a decent bike to work with. Apparently there are still really cheap vintage bikes out there (fewer than there used to be, for sure), but you'll have to prowl Salvation Army shops and yard sales. Even then, you may not strike gold.

Once you get the bike, you'll have to invest in some parts and tools. The bike may need some work to function well, which will cost money. So, I've heard people say that a conversion often costs $200-300 (sometimes more) when it's all said and done.

If you want to learn about bikes and have that feeling of pride/accomplishment, then it makes sense. Otherwise, buy a bike from bikesdirect.com

Seriously, bikesdirect.com is a very good possibility. The bikes are really popular with people on a budget who want a nice bike. It's a solid product at a low price.

Another noob Q: What do you think a shop should or would charge for rebuilding a damanged 3-speed wheel, if the hub were supplied? Including rim, spokes, and labor, and anything else I'm missing...? Answers appreciated b/c right now a shop that I like is fixing to charge me $120 to replace a rear wheel w internally geared hub that wasn't damaged when I took it in -- I intended for them to rebuild it but they say it got damaged in the unlacing...?

if the hub is supplied, it shouldn't cost any more than any other kind of hub. generally $45 for labor, i'd wager, the rest depends on what kind of rim you put on it

A plain old steel rim, I guess. That's what was on there before. What do those run?

ugh don't get a steel rim, laurel, they weigh a billion pounds. plus i'm not sure if you can even get those anymore??

this is going on yr old---what, raleigh?---right? get something appropriately wide, for sure, but you may as well upgrade to modern technology!

plus braking on steel sucks bad. im thinking $25 cheap rim, $20 cheap spokes, $45 labor's about right, all retail. if theres a bit of fiddling required to get the shifting right, add $15 maaaybe. its not outrageous, but not a good deal either imo.

It's going on my 1967 Something or other made entirely of steel already. Plus the shop asst said they had to replace the shifter, too, because it wasn't compatible w the new hub...which means they just threw away my Sturmey-Archer and replaced it w a Shimano.

i am so lost on this thread but i will study it closely and make a wise decision

Actually I prefer the Shimano, but this is all costing more than just rebuilding my wheel, and no one EVER called me to say any problems had come up, or to authorize the new costs.

http://images.burningman.com/gallery/netmoser.10183.jpg

omar just search "gbx" and take all my advice because clearly it is the best

^he is a future doctor

and if there's one thing doctors know about, it's about owning hell of nice bikes and not really being fit enough to ride them properly

wait, that's lawyers

no, i mean, ~~~orthodontists~~~

Okay so apparently a new 3-spd wheel + hub runs around $150. That means the guy offering me $100 for new wheel & shifters is giving me a good deal. He gets to keep my good hub and wait for the correct size of wheel to come through his shop, and then sell it to someone else, so he's probably coming about even. But it works for me.

This is reassuring, b/c the shop is one that I rly like and I like the owners -- they've been helpful and friendly to me over the years, even when I was a dum noob. I would hate to think the level of service was going down, b/c I like recommending them to people.

That sounds like a fair deal all round. I am building my GF a second bike over the summer, for chicago and I was going to go with three speed and maybe build the wheel myself from parts at awesome bike store, kraynicks. Fantastic guy, has a free to use workshop, only pay for the parts and any labour he puts in. Has the most fantastic treasure trove of salvaged parts.

thinking of retiring the old nail and getting a nice practical bike around town - anybody here tried a trek allant?

Not tried one, however the portland and valencia models in the same urban range look a little lighter although trek doesn't put this information on their site who who knows.

where in london can i buy myself a pretty helmet that would fit my head? i mail ordered a "one size fit all" one and of course my head is too ridiculously large for it. finsbury cycle came to the same conclusion (although to be fair they only had 2 helmets for me to try)

i kind of want a skate style one as the shaved hedgehog style ones all look hella lame.

Ken you should try Bikefix on Lamb's Conduit Street, they have this (according to their website anyway):

The classic and popular skate/bmx helmet allows you aggressive riding while you feel absolutely safe. Featured with 13 head-cooling air vents, brushed cotton insulation and exchangeable pads, this is by far the best fitting, most comfortable and safest skate helmet at this price level. L/XL Only. Matt black (other colours and sizes are available to order).
£25.00

http://www.bikefix.co.uk/i/tsg_mattblk.jpg

OMG THAT SOUNDS PERFECT. i want to ride aggressively and my head apparently is XL and it's available in black!!!!!!!!!!!11111

If you have a bigger head than that then Giro make the biggest helmet on the market.

OMG I want one too! Cycling home through elephant and castle last night without one, I genuinely feared death.

ok i got a different make but v. similar looking one from bikefix now. they taunted me though by having an amazing BEIGE one on display but when i asked for one in a box they only had black, but i was happy with a black one anyway.

then i asked for a bag and they only had a bag that would fit the helmet only and not the box, should really have just then taken the beige one but by that stage i was feeling the vibe that they were a bit too 1337 to want to cater for my n00b helmet needs.

i've got an awesome black helmet though so yay!

interestingly enough, the one that fitted me was a medium.. (it's slightly snug but thought it's better to have that than one that's loose???)

save-a-fred

allows you aggressive riding while you feel absolutely safe

Yeah, you may feel absolutely safe, but you aren't.

I don't get the appeal of the BMX helmets. Aren't they substantially hotter? IMHO they look really clunky and awkward.

i agree

they are substantially hotter yes, i guess that's the appeal?

Why did my brand new inner tube burst on inflating, before I reached the recommended 100psi? Thought it might be a pinch flat but it happened right on the inside seam. Just bad luck?

could still be a pinch flat, but check your rim to see if there's any tube killing nasties jutting out, and rim tape and make sure that it's properly set (and replace if worn). i've managed to avoid pinch flats by installing tires having the tubes inflated to about 20psi. a couple people i know also pump the tire up about half way, then deflate, then inflate fully. something about stretching out the tube.

[inspects mental image of wheels] huh I don't think they have any rim tape. That'll be it then.

Is there some kind of machine that will fit inner tubes? Fuck is it difficult and annoying.

are you inflating the tube a bit (then close the nozzle) to fit it on the wheel? then deflate it once it's seated on the rim to get the tire mounted

you mean don't mount the tyre at all before the tube's on? i half mount tire (one rim i mean) then part inflate tube then fit under tire then fit other tyre rim. no deflating. mainly what i did wrong last time was not religously fit it round from the nozzle and i ended up with a bit of tube stickign out, like the whole thing was too long. worked better the second time around. seating the last few inches of the tyre is still a bitch though.

ow my thumbs

no, sounds like you are doing it right.

did you deflate tire when trying to seat? some brands of tire are harder to mount than others. michelin pro 3s for example.

didn't deflate. have now, definitely easier!

you are one step close to no longer being a noob!

one step along the endless road!

I have never been a cycling enthusiast prior to the past few months (save for a summer of downhill mountain biking in Colorado in '96), but am rapidly becoming one, first our of necessity (car went kaput; could stand to lose some weight), but now stemming primarily from a newfound love of road bikes/road bike riding. Srsly, where have skinny tires been all my life?

My first road bike (I'm already dreaming of/making plans for the second), purchased last month, is a pristinely maintained 1976 Flandria racing bike, which has been modified somewhat for more general use. It flies & I love it! I've decided to take it on a several-leg trip in southern Michigan, which I am currently training for by taking progressively longer day trips.

Also, I am gearing up on accessories, which brings me to posit a query: I bought a near-mint 1980s Bell V-1 Pro helmet (with red & blue racing stripes!) at a garage sale recently. The plastic and foam appear to be completely unscathed/untested, but I was wondering if it is wise to entrust my safety to such an old piece of equipment. I love to rock the vintage (nice fit with the bike, too), but if foam degrades over time, or some such thing, perhaps I should keep it for style-exclusive use & keep shopping for something more recent for daily use?

Nice to join you over here ate ILTRMB.

welcome. a vintage bell v-1 pro should be fine since "foam" is actually concrete

(i dunno if safe or not)