Anyone into cycling? Options

[robz71lm7]

Just curious. I recently picked up a Trek 7.5 FX to help me continue to lose weight and to prepare for a true road bike. I also wanted a healthy hobby and lifestyle change. I'm planning on adding a full out road bike late next year (hopefully '09 on clearance) when I'm more competent and know exactly what I want.

[Pony Exp.305]

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif) Yeah, Cycling makes lose weight and exercise your whole body (upper body and legs) good. Also it makes you motivation and energy more. Trek is well-known brand bike bec of Lance Armstrong 7-times Tour De France and built in USA (Wisconsin). I visited and toured that plant. Nice Plant.

I was in road racing for 10 years. Still ride on cycling. When I ride on bike, make me stress-free and away from home/work..
Keep it up and have fun yourself..

[Pony Exp.305]

Good Luck your goal...

[NJSPEEDER]

I occasionally ride a bike as a part of my running. I am training to run my first marathon.

Don't worry about your future bike purchase until you wear out the first one or if you decide to compete.

Make sure you switch up too, don't just ride. Go for long walks and the occasional jog. Each activity works slightly different muscle groups and has it's own benefits. Just keep yourself trying new things. Strict pattern draws the fun out of excercise faster tan most people realize.

Good luck with your goals (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

-Tim

[Todd]

I also cycle...but mostly as cross training for my running. Like NJ, I'm training for a marathon...my first is in a few weeks. Hopefully I don't keel over in those 26.2 miles :fear:

to the OP, a couple pieces of advice, ramp up miles slowly, otherwise you risk burnout or injury. If you are doing a decent number of miles, make sure that the bike is adjusted for you, a bike shop can do this for you. This helps to minimize your injuries; a lot of new cyclists complain of back pain but much of that is from not having the bike adjusted for you.

[FBody383]

I'm planning on adding a full out road bike late next year (hopefully '09 on clearance) when I'm more competent and know exactly what I want.

Find a good local shop that will listen to you when you tell them what you want to do. They probably have a local ride that will include a "cruiser" group where you can get some moderately paced miles in; I would much rather ride with a group.

My experience (BMX racer, criterium, former bicycle mechanic) is that you get what you pay for. A bicycle is just like a lot of other tools, do you want SnapOn, Craftsman or Harbor Freight. The more you're going to use it the more critical the choice. I currently ride an Airborne ti frame/carbon fork bike and love it.

As a data point, I wanted one of these: Seven Cycles.

[sgarnett]

Hmmm, bikes, lessee ....

Got hit by a truck and broke my back when I was 16. My brakes were apparently wet; I saw the truck but couldn't stop. I tried to turn behind him, but there wasn't time. I didn't ride a bike much for years after that. I tried it in college, but didn't really care for biking with a full load of engineering textbooks shifting around.

Not long ago, I bought my daughter's first bike, and a Townie for me. Serious cyclists will not want a Townie. People with back trouble might (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) On the first day that my daughter was really starting to show some confidence and get the hang of spinning the pedals, she took a turn too fast and broke both bones in her forearm. She had to have a titanium rod inserted surgically from wrist to elbow, and will need surgery again after Christmas to remove it.

I'm convinced now that training wheels are a lot more dangerous than learning "the old fashioned way", because you can't lean into a turn enough. Heck, my first bike was even missing the pedals; I had to just push the cranks. My daughter had a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads, but that didn't help. The instinctive reaction for a child is to stiff-arm the fall to try to stop. Now I'm trying to teach her to fall with her elbows bent to just slow the fall ....

[roy]

Mountain biker myself , 18years going strong with 10 bike frames to the grave yard and as many emergency room visits. Gotta love the sport and the pain.

[CrashTestDummy]

Used to bike. I have a Fiji road bike, and a Fuji 'mountain' bike that aren't too bad. I used to because I 1: got hit by a toy bat by some kids out joyriding in their daddy's car (They were surprised when I chased them down. They spent the afternoon at the PD waiting for their parents to pick them up), and 2: sat on a jury about a hit-and-run of a bicyclist who was killed when he was hit from behind by a girl driving with possibly too many pain pills in here system. Freak accident, but the guy was killed instantly, and he was an avid bicyclist. I can shake a lot of stuff off, but every time I get on a bike, I think of that trial.

Now, I use the mountain bike to pedal around the paddock/grid at local autocrosses, and 'spin' on a training wheel I have the bike mounted on in the living room. We live out in the country, same setting the biker was killed in, and I just don't trust drivers any more. I can't seem to find the time to load everything up to go to a trail somewhere.

Riding in the living room is painful, though, but I do get my exercise.

[Rob Hood]

I ride a road bike (Felt F70) to balance the jogging habit. I run 5 miles 3X/week, getting ready for a half-marathon in January.

[z28tt]

I used to race mtn bikes in highschool (worked as a mech in various bike shops for years), and some roadie stuff in college. I'm a firm believer that once you get past a department store bike into something decent ($500+), the big bucks you'd spend on a true race bike ($1-3k) won't have that much of a effect on performance compared to your fitness/skills. Start going on local club rides, and you'll learn a ton (compared with just riding solo). Then when you've got several thousand miles and you've worn your bike out, then get something pricey. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's just like the newbs buying $2k Penskes for their first autox. Seat time is much more important.

BTW - I raced an old 62cm mustard yellow Miyata frame where I broke the rear dropout, and had to re-weld it! It was fun to purt a hurt on the wonderkids that spend $3k of their parents $ on carbon fiber & titanium everything. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I still don't have index shifting, and the rear axle is bent (old freewheel designs don't support it at the ends like the new cassettes), but I promised myself not to buy something newer until I start riding it more! On the mtn bike, I was a tech weenie during my bikeshop days, so just about everything is titatanium or aluminum (love that Klein hardtail frame! Super response). I blew up my Rockshox Judy fork, and tossed in the 15 year old gold Mag21 fork to replace it, he he he. Still fun to ride. So what if I am 5 mph down on speed bombing down the hills compared to the 29er freeride bikes. I'm still faster than my buddies!

Andris

[Crazy Canuck]

http://www.bikeforums.net/
I found lots of information there 1-2 years ago.

[robz71lm7]

I see we have a bunch of runners here. I actually got interested in cycling from one of my wife's friends. This girl went from being overweight and unhealthy to running in the Boston marathon. She's also into cycling as well. I don't know if I'll pick up running or not. But right now I run on an elliptical machine and weight train MWF. And I ride my bicycle on Tuesday, and either Thursday or Sunday depending on my schedule and how sore I am from the gym. Once I get below 210 I'm going to begin running (at my current rate that should be in December). I haven't had any real knee issues, but I don't want to load my joints too hard until I get down in weight.

FYI I was 276 in early August, I'm 232 now. (6' tall)


Andris,

I didn't post it but I did think it was hysterical that on all the bikeforums I saw people telling newbies not to buy an under $2K road bike because it was trash. At this point if I make a change it will be just for the drop bars and comfort.

[NJSPEEDER]

5'8" was 221lbs on March 30th when I ran my first 5k, now 180lbs and I plan to run my first marathon at Disney in January. My goal is 170lbs and to qualify for the Boston marathon, 3hrs 10mins is the acceptable time for my age group, I will get there by the end of next summer.

-Tim

[sgarnett]

At this point if I make a change it will be just for the drop bars and comfort.

Considering your history of back trouble, you might want to try borrowing a bike with drop bars to try for a few days before you spend the money.

[Racerdad916]

I raced BMX until the back surgery this spring. Great way to stay in shape when your over 40. Crashing sucks. Then again, 8 guys over 200lbs, bar to bar, going into the first turn on a fast track is always exciting..... Road bikes are awesome cardio and keep the joints in good shape..... the doc tells me I can ride now, but never race again, and I have to keep BOTH wheels on the ground. Where's the fun in that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bikes and bike parts are just like cars/car parts. If you buy cheap stuff, it won't last. Buy something from a good bike shop. They will fit you to the correct frame, and you won't spend a ton of cash upgrading a low dollar ride. You will get a good bike at a decent price if you stay away from the Dept store stuff.
MTB bikes are a good time as well. Just remember NOT to ride beyond your skill level......
just my 2 cents....