Timberlane Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Oh yeah.....that'll be happening........ How about a Jan Brady scene? Brady Bunch references fly right over my head. I hated that show.
underpants Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Unique, Get one those segway things. That would be so funny.
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 The last time I wrecked on a mountain bike, I flipped over the handle bars and broke the seat bolt off clean by hitting the seat with my butt hard. Ouch! That sounds painful. Your flipping over the handlebar story reminds me of a gripe I have......I think there should be bikes made especially for lefthanders. Where's the equality, dammit!!!! See....it's natural for someone to want to hold onto their bike with their dominant hand while....say....they hold their water bottle in their other hand. So let's say a lefthander, holds the handlebar with their left hand while taking a drink with their right hand while riding along. Oops...there goes a squirrel in your path....slams on the brake!........uh-oh.......that squirrel is REALLY in trouble now because now I'm lying on the path because I just flipped over the handlebars. WHY did I flip over the handlebars, do you ask? Because the left brake controls the front wheel, so if you're only holding the left brake, you're gonna flip over. Now a RIGHT-handed person would have no such trouble. Mr. Squirrel runs across the path and the righthander, who is holding onto the RIGHT handlebar, puts on the RIGHT brake and this makes his rear wheel stop--which doesn't throw him over the handlebars---- and on he goes.....he just whirls on by while waving to Mr. Squirrel. And they wonder why Left-Handed people die sooner!!! It's a conspiracy!!!
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 Brady Bunch references fly right over my head. I hated that show. Have you gone to therapy for that? (oh my nose!)
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 Unique, Get one those segway things. That would be so funny. Would those be those retarded looking things?
underpants Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 I agree Unique. The world is against left handed people. Where is the equality? It is the little things like scissors or ladels. I have assimilated to the scissors however I have to be careful in my ladel purchases. I am telling you though. Try out a bike shop. It might surprise you. Now that you mention it the guy did ask me what hand I wrote with and he must have changed the brakes. They can do that. Even if you purchased a bike elsewhere they can still service it. Tune ups were like 30 bucks back in the day when I had my bike. Running my dog along side of it I braked one handed frequently so I am lucky they thought of that issue for me.
Timberlane Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Have you gone to therapy for that? (oh my nose!) Back in the 80s they designed a car that ran entirely on the the world's collective hatred of Kathy Lee Gifford. The locked up front wheel is exactly what happened to me. Actually, the butt hitting the seat didn't hurt. It was the tumbling down the limestone stepped hill that did. The trail was for motocross and mountain bikes. I rode it on both.
johan Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 I am right-handed and I always put the front brake on the right.
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 I'm something of an enthusiast on this topic, so this may be technical... Mountain bikes aren't completely unsuitable for use on a paved surface, but they are somewhat less than ideal for several reasons. The first is that, particularly on the lower end of the spectrum, they're quite heavy, which will make climbing hills much more laborious. They also tend to come with very heavy wheels, huge balloony, knobby tires and at least a suspension fork if not a rear suspension setup as well (as opposed to a hardtail). The advantage to all those features is greater traction and a smoother ride over rough ground, but the disadvantage is that a significant portion of your effort while riding is wasted overcoming the rolling resistance of those huge knobby tires, moving that suspension fork up and down, and turning those heavy wheels. Lastly, they typically have really short gearing, which just isn't as suitable for the higher speed you typically see on a paved surface. Edit:The tire disadvantage can be partially overcome by using a set of tires that don't have the knobs on them, but that's money you could spend on a better bike or any of the various other gear you may need, such as super-cool looking lycra bicycling shorts. Cannondale and Specialized are very highly regarded brands in cycling, although if Trek is too rich for your blood, they may be as well. Mongoose is actually a brand owned by the same company that makes Diamondback, Schwinn and at least one other. They're made on the same assembly line and painted differently. Assuming they're assembled correctly (which doesn't happen that often at Wal-Mart), they can be OK bikes, but for the money, you're better off looking at used ones. What I would recommend is something like this (there's a women's version as well): http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/fx/75fx/ My suggestion is to go to an actual bike shop and ask someone there for advice. Tell them the sort of riding you'll be doing and see what they say. If they want to "fit" you to a bike, let them. This is more common with road bikes than hybrids, but it's useful to make sure that you get one that's the correct size and that is adjusted properly to the shape of your body. Proper fit makes an enormous difference in how enjoyable riding a bike is to you. Thanks for the info! I used to ride quite a bit and had a Giant Mt. bike. I'm pretty familiar with bikes but not quite up to date on current ones. AFter all, things change ...such as Schwinn used to being a good brand! I'd like a Trek but don't want to spend that much. I'll try to stop by a bike store this week before I decide. I decided that Mongoose was good for it's class of bike. I had asked the question about why Mt. bikes weren't recommended for trails because I wanted to know if there was any reason other than the fact that it would be more laborious which I had figured that it would be. It sounds like it being more laborious is the reason for not buying it for trail riding. But here's the thing......I actually look at that as a plus. You see....I'm one of those whacko's that says "Oh great! A better workout then!" That reminds me....about a decade ago....I used to ride a one speed.....on trips of about 10 miles.....with hills.......and I did it on purpose...... Yeah....I'm one of THOSE people.......... :laugh: Thanks for all the info!
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 I agree Unique. The world is against left handed people. Where is the equality? It is the little things like scissors or ladels. I have assimilated to the scissors however I have to be careful in my ladel purchases. I am telling you though. Try out a bike shop. It might surprise you. Now that you mention it the guy did ask me what hand I wrote with and he must have changed the brakes. They can do that. Even if you purchased a bike elsewhere they can still service it. Tune ups were like 30 bucks back in the day when I had my bike. Running my dog along side of it I braked one handed frequently so I am lucky they thought of that issue for me. Yeah, I know they can switch 'em.....it'd probably just confuse me at this point though. Remember, I'm old. My brain will confuse the messages between left and right and I'll end up in a heap somewhere. Best to stick with it as is probably. This might all be a moot point, however. I'm starting to wonder if a bike is a good idea at this point. There's not going to be any light left after I get off of work!
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 I am right-handed and I always put the front brake on the right. But you wear your seatbelt, right?
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 Back in the 80s they designed a car that ran entirely on the the world's collective hatred of Kathy Lee Gifford. How'd she teach the Haitians how to design cars?
underpants Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 You have a point. I am trying to think back when I did ride with my dog and he always ran on the left so I must have braked with the right. My bad. Assimilated to bicycles as well it seems. Ledible handwriting, ladels, and terrible softball batting stances I am sticking to however. Okay, so this whole thread was much ado about nothing. At least now you have more money to budget for a camera.
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 You have a point. I am trying to think back when I did ride with my dog and he always ran on the left so I must have braked with the right. My bad. Assimilated to bicycles as well it seems. Ledible handwriting, ladels, and terrible softball batting stances I am sticking to however. Okay, so this whole thread was much ado about nothing. At least now you have more money to budget for a camera. Oh I didn't rule out the bike yet! Actually the bike takes preference over the camera to me. If I could find a cheap used camera for $50, I'd get it.
Starry-eyed Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Hi uniqueone, I just recently got a Novara mountain bike from REI. Novara is their "store brand," and I read online and they had good reviews. Maybe not tip-top of the line like Cannondale or Le Mond, but above average quality. So far, I like it. It fits me well and I like the gears and stuff (I'm a newbie at mountain biking). Anyway, the bike was a lot of money but for me it's a long-term investment because I want to ride it for years. I would think that biking might be a little safer than roller blading in wet weather, but I really don't know anything about roller blading, except it is hard work! But then, biking can be hard, too. Maybe if you see that guy again at the trail, you can ask him for bike advice!
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 Hi uniqueone, I just recently got a Novara mountain bike from REI. Novara is their "store brand," and I read online and they had good reviews. Maybe not tip-top of the line like Cannondale or Le Mond, but above average quality. So far, I like it. It fits me well and I like the gears and stuff (I'm a newbie at mountain biking). Anyway, the bike was a lot of money but for me it's a long-term investment because I want to ride it for years. I would think that biking might be a little safer than roller blading in wet weather, but I really don't know anything about roller blading, except it is hard work! But then, biking can be hard, too. Maybe if you see that guy again at the trail, you can ask him for bike advice! Chances of seeing him are low since he's in the after work crowd and it's now getting too dark at that time and rainy and cold! So I havent been able to go due to drizzle. You're right, blading in wet weather is NOT a good idea. And I've already gotten leaves and stems stuck in my wheels and almost fell the other evening because of it (because it made the wheel stop) I hesistate investing much in a bike because I've already invested enough in blading. (good skates aren't cheap and boy can I go through wheels!) Where do you get those types of bikes you're talking about?
MR2Aaron Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Ouch! That sounds painful. Your flipping over the handlebar story reminds me of a gripe I have......I think there should be bikes made especially for lefthanders. Where's the equality, dammit!!!! See....it's natural for someone to want to hold onto their bike with their dominant hand while....say....they hold their water bottle in their other hand. So let's say a lefthander, holds the handlebar with their left hand while taking a drink with their right hand while riding along. Oops...there goes a squirrel in your path....slams on the brake!........uh-oh.......that squirrel is REALLY in trouble now because now I'm lying on the path because I just flipped over the handlebars. WHY did I flip over the handlebars, do you ask? Because the left brake controls the front wheel, so if you're only holding the left brake, you're gonna flip over. Now a RIGHT-handed person would have no such trouble. Mr. Squirrel runs across the path and the righthander, who is holding onto the RIGHT handlebar, puts on the RIGHT brake and this makes his rear wheel stop--which doesn't throw him over the handlebars---- and on he goes.....he just whirls on by while waving to Mr. Squirrel. And they wonder why Left-Handed people die sooner!!! It's a conspiracy!!! You realize you can swap the brake cables so that the left hand lever operates the rear brake, right? Proper technique is a much better solution, though, as the front brake is actually the one you should be using in that situation. You just have to learn not to make it bite so you don't go over the bars.
MR2Aaron Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Where do you get those types of bikes you're talking about? Novara is the store brand at REI - a chain of retail sporting goods stores. You pay a little extra there usually, but the customer service is fantastic.
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 You realize you can swap the brake cables so that the left hand lever operates the rear brake, right? Proper technique is a much better solution, though, as the front brake is actually the one you should be using in that situation. You just have to learn not to make it bite so you don't go over the bars. Yeah, I know you can switch them. I just have gotten used to it so I probably would cause more problems by switching them at this point. We leftys get used to the mouse on the right hand side, using scissors with our right hand....all that kind of stuff.
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 Well guess what folks? I called the bike shop where I'd bought my Giant "Attraction" several years ago and they have a Giant for $229. They said it's the same as the "Attraction", that the name's just been changed. I guess I'm going to have to go look at it now. Hmmm....the Mongoose at Walmart was $279 and the Giant is $229 (or $239) The Mongoose has more features such as front AND back shocks but the guy at the bike shop told me you don't really want back shocks if you're street riding. (he explained why and it made sense). The Mongoose has disc brakes and the Giant doesn't but that's not a big deal. The Giant is a lot lighter weight than the Mongoose (although it's still steel). It comes in colors I like. It comes in black & gray, blue & silver and red & black. I like the black/gray and the red/black. Ok, now if only our warm weather would just come back and it wouldn't get dark out.......
MR2Aaron Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Go with the Giant. First, if you're riding on a smooth, paved surface, you don't need any suspension at all, nor do you need disc brakes (which are just a gimmick unless you're a super hardcore downhill or trail rider). Low end suspension parts are heavy and you'll waste a lot of effort moving them against the shock absorber. Second, chances are that the person who assembles bicycles at Wal-Mart is not a professional bicycle mechanic. The guy who does this at your LBS (local bike shop) almost certainly is, and it does make a difference in terms of how well the parts get fit together. Edit: If you don't own one already, wear a helmet when you ride. I don't want to hear about how you lobotomized yourself trying to stop for a squirrel.
Author uniqueone Posted October 23, 2007 Author Posted October 23, 2007 Go with the Giant. First, if you're riding on a smooth, paved surface, you don't need any suspension at all, nor do you need disc brakes (which are just a gimmick unless you're a super hardcore downhill or trail rider). Low end suspension parts are heavy and you'll waste a lot of effort moving them against the shock absorber. Second, chances are that the person who assembles bicycles at Wal-Mart is not a professional bicycle mechanic. The guy who does this at your LBS (local bike shop) almost certainly is, and it does make a difference in terms of how well the parts get fit together. Edit: If you don't own one already, wear a helmet when you ride. I don't want to hear about how you lobotomized yourself trying to stop for a squirrel. Used to wear a helmet when I rode in the past. Then I fell and landed on my CHIN....yep...DIRECTLY on my chin. OW! So the helmet didn't help a darned bit! Actually I had several accidents....not sure why. That particular one was due to a huge puddle in a trail and I went into the grass to get around it. The grass was wet and I skidded back onto the trail and landed on my chin. (This was before the Mt. bike I think) Then there was the time I was riding in traffic and didn't see that the bottom of an orange barrel had come loose and was lying in the street (the sun was in my eyes). Next thing I knew, I was going over it (it was the size of a trash can lid) and over the handlebars. No one even stopped to ask if I was ok. Great city, huh? Over a period of years and and handful of accidents, I stopped riding. Who knows, maybe it was bad contact lenses. Actually, that could be true. The bike shop I called is the one I used to go to and they're pretty good. It would come with a lifetime warranty (not sure really what that means though) and three years of tune-ups.
PWSX3 Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Used to wear a helmet when I rode in the past. Then I fell and landed on my CHIN....yep...DIRECTLY on my chin. OW! So the helmet didn't help a darned bit! Actually I had several accidents....not sure why. Note to self; don't ride with uniqueone, it could be contagious...:laugh:
Author uniqueone Posted October 24, 2007 Author Posted October 24, 2007 Apparently the Giant I looked at comes with two different types of tires depending on which color you get One is semi slick or something like that and one is knobby. Anyone know more about this? I'm guessing the semi slick are mountain bike "lite" tires---probably for those of us who want mountain bikes but want to ride them on a paved trail. In other words, for us wussies....
PWSX3 Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 Apparently the Giant I looked at comes with two different types of tires depending on which color you get One is semi slick or something like that and one is knobby. Anyone know more about this? I'm guessing the semi slick are mountain bike "lite" tires---probably for those of us who want mountain bikes but want to ride them on a paved trail. In other words, for us wussies.... If you are going to be riding most of the time on trails I would say go with the semi slick tire. On my hybrid bike I have that type of tire & it works lot better, less friction on the road. Does that make me a wuss? The knobby tire is more for off-road & mud type riding & unless you plan on doing a lot of that I don't think it is worth it, just my 2 cents
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