Title says it all.

I went to LBS (local bike shop) today to look at road bikes. I promised my wife that my out of shape azz would join her in a century ride (100 miles) later in the summer. I started biking late last summer and I am ready to get back into it.

The selection had my head spinning! Aluminum frames, carbon frames....ugggggh. Any one have any advice for me? I'm not afraid to spend a little money to get a decent bike.

Thanks!

Does this mean your siggy is motivational and not just clever? Good luck on training and the century. I rode mountain bikes before I got hurt but now I can't. I was talking to someone who suggested that we give a tandem road bike a try with me as the stoker. Gotta convince my hubby we should try this. He is a little protective.

Hehe...right now my sig is true. I'm in such horrible shape that I broke a sweat trying out a few bikes on the stand thingy!

I bet you guys would have a good time on a tandem. I would try that with my wife, but she would take over all the pedaling. My wife is a marathon runner and over all psycho when it comes to fitness. I still cant figure out what she sees in me! :D

I still cant figure out what she sees in me! http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/../images/smilies/biggrin2.gifLOL! I think it is the hair! Seriously, I say, just do like me and be thankful that he does for 26 years and counting!

Does this mean your siggy is motivational and not just clever? Good luck on training and the century. I rode mountain bikes before I got hurt but now I can't. I was talking to someone who suggested that we give a tandem road bike a try with me as the stoker. Gotta convince my hubby we should try this. He is a little protective.
I've had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with this dimunitive dynamo and her husband has every reason to be, "a little protective". That's all I have to say about that!!!:love!::tongue2: --- :rotfl:

Dick

:D It does take a lot (like a drunk driver) to slow me down! :D

i dont know what territory the 100 miles covers, but id suggest a decent mountain bike as aposed to road bike. At least you have more freedom with choices where as road bike is strictly decent black top stuff!

Weight & componantry goven the normal choices these days bud.
You want a reasonably light frame, quality gearing & brakes, & do yourself a fav & go for an after market gel seat or something to that effect. Your @ss gets taxed hard on long rides.

I bought a new bike afew years back for the great Vic bike ride, alps to bay with an average of 80 - 100 klm per day for 10days. I cant fault GT or Giant as brands with shimano componantry.

I've had mountain bikes in both those brands and liked both. I second the seat advice. I'd not only get gel, I'd buy one designed for a guy's anatomy. The anatomical saddles help keep pressure off of certain key components. :)

If you wife is an enthusiastic cyclist she has probably already educated you as to the importance of some functional bike shorts. If lycra isn't you style you can get ones that have a bike short liner and looser shorts outside. The ones my hubby likes look like cargo shorts on the outside.

I have a Italian aluminum road bike and a pretty nice mountain bike. I ride to work when the weather is permitting. If I could get a new bike it would be a crossover (road bike and mountain bike in one). As far as what brand to get it really depends on what fits you physically the best. You get what you pay for just like skimmers.

You know what else is bad, some previously good bike manufacturers have started selling junk bikes at mass merchandisers.

Skinny tire bikes roll a lot easier then their chunky tire cousins.

you are so right !!! Trek used to be a top notch CO. now their Chinese crap.

the hybrids have a medium all-terrain tire.

you are so right !!! Trek used to be a top notch CO. now their Chinese crap.

I know some of Treks frames are now being built it Tiawan, but supposedly the Tiawanese are very good at working with carbon fiber (supossedly). I was actually looking at a Trek 5200, thats an '06 holdover AND is a Made in USA bike. Of all the brands I tried, I fit the best on the Treks...the only problem is that its $1800! :wow:

I figure that'll be what motivates me not to let the thing sit and collect dust! :D

I used to race road bikes, so I've tried out a fair bit of them. If you're really set on getting a road bike vs. a mountain bike, then I would suggest the new "fitness' bikes. They have a road frame and components, but the handlebars and front post are more mountain bike style. I think that unless you're looking into seriously racing, then the fitness bike would be more comfortable. It is, however, not any less of a bike...all the components and frames are the same as the road bikes.

Having said that....a mountain bike ain't bad either. YOu can always have two sets of wheels....fatties for doing some single track rides....and some smoothies for the city/road rides.

Thanks Christi, I thought about the mountain bike thing, but I already have two that I don't use. I tried using them on the road, but I didn't care much for the weight and handling. Truth is I dont see myself beating through the woods anymore. I really think the wife and I will have more fun taking day trips on the open road.

Wait...maybe I should buy a motorcycle instead! :D

Wait...maybe I should buy a motorcycle instead! :D

Here's just the model for you and the wife, poppin_fresh. The Redneck Harley.

http://www.theculturedreef.com/Redneck%20Harley.gif


Dick

That thing is sweet!

P.S. How did you know I was a redneck?? :D

Oh, I guessed by your avatar.:rotfl:

Oh, I guessed by your avatar.:rotfl:

you mean his spelling?!
:o:p:D sorry poppin...had to give you a hard time! ;)

HAHAHAHAHA!

Thanks Christi! It took all day, but I finally realized what I had spelled wrong! I must have had a few when I came up with that sig...ok who am I kidding. Of course I'd had a few! :D

The sad part is that some one who took "English as a second language" noticed it and I didn't, even though Firefox had it underlined in red (indicating I'm an idiot). :)

actually....just to make you feel better....English isn't my second language. :) I grew up in Boulder, Colorado! :D

but...it was still funny all the same....

OK, NOW I BUMMED!
I picked up my new bike on my lunch hour and could wait until this evening to ride. I get home, take the bike out of the car, get suited up and ready to go.Go to hop on the bike and realize my back tire is totally flat. Tried to put air in it...no go, found a a big puncture near the valve stem.

WHAT THE HECK? I haven't even ridden it yet and I already got a blow out. Of course I wasn't smart enough to buy a spare tube today either! :mad:

Ahhh man, that stinks.

ha ha, what a run youve had. so.....im guessing your taking the wheel back for a replacement

you should be asking for an extra free tube in that case!

last time i took my bike in for a tune up & thick skin applied, they scuffed my orsome seat on the outer side & acted like it never happened, i went sick at them in store with the place packed full of people , as you guys know-Im happy go lucky most of the time, but just imagine that same energy on the dark side when im annoyed, needless to say they replaced the seat double time & gave me my next tune up for free.

The LBS was good about the whole thing. They replaced the tube and showed me the proper procedure for changing a road tube. I then bought two spares, a patch kit, tire removal tool and emergency CO2 inflator. I figure that way I'm guaranteed never to have a flat again!

I know I'm going to pay for it tomorrow, but I did a 15 mile all around town ride. Keep in mind that I live in Vermont, not Kansas, and the longest flat stretch I rode was about 500 feet. :showoff:

And there is probably like 3' of snow still!

I just purchased my first road bike today. It is a beautiful gun metal gray cannondale (built in the USA!). So far I love it but I have only put 8 miles or so one it. If you are still looking for a bike, though it looks like you are not, they are now making a "29er" bike. This is a bike that can do BOTH on road and mountain biking. It is guilt to use 29in wheels like a road bike and has road bike wheels/tires but it can also be fitted with mountain bike tires. It is a pretty nice bike but it starts around $800. I did not buy that one :)

Nice John! It is getting harder and harder to find those made in USA products. Not too many hills in FL for mountain biking are there? :)

I already have two mountain bike in the basement that I dont use. I just cant see my self crashing through the woods anymore, even though I'm surrounded by 100's of acres of bikeable woods. I've also rode one of those "hybid" bikes, but I dont care for them, they're too heavy.

On another note...
My wife gave me an early B-day present yesterday with a Trek Incite 8I wireless ride computer! Its tells me my speed, distance, ride time, etc. No more hopping in the truck to retrace my route to see how far I went!

The Cannondales are great bikes....although I might be a bit biased, because those are the bikes I raced!

Thanks PhotoJohn for the tip....I'm actually going to check those bikes out!

OK, Christi. You can't say something like "...because those are the bikes I raced!" and not tell us about it!

Jon, crashing through the woods and jumping over things were the parts I liked the best about mountain biking. I could act like I was 12 and no one thought twice about it!

Well....it feels like ages ago...almost a lifetime ago! When I was in college, I raced road bikes. I had a pretty bad crash, though, that set me out for quite awhile, so when I went back to it, I ended up doing biathlons and triathlons. When I moved to Germany to do my PhD, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the lack of time to train (while still in Colorado, I had trained every day for 3-4 hours) and eventually wasn't able to keep up with it anymore. Besides the fact that the weather sucked!

Now....when I think back at what I used to do, it's almost discouraging. It all feels so much harder now.

And Carmie...I agree with you regarding the joy and freedom of mountain biking. It was definitely my second love. Should I ever move back to Colorado, a mountain bike would be the first on my shopping list!

Wow! I'm impressed. I do understand that whole thing about life getting in the way! Sorry to hear about the crash, I think that coming back is hard physically and and perhaps even harder mentally.

yeah...I was freaked out for quite awhile to ride in a large pack. It's amazing how quickly things happen in there.

But...now the mental challenge has more to do with motivation and discipline! I don't have time anymore to train 3-4 hours/day - it's a bit frustrating to feel so out of shape! :)

I was having a really serious discussion with my hubby this weekend about how unhappy I am with my 49 year old body. Since I got in that wreck I have gained 15 lbs and although he keeps saying I look good, I feel out of shape. Besides that he is biased! And I have had MONTHS of PT, just think how bad it would be without that.

By the way, it in awfully late in Sweden. Are you in the US again?

Yes, Carmie....I am back again. You caught me! :) I arrived this past weekend and will be here for another month again! So...hopefully you'll see me around a bit again!

Maybe TRL???

not this Sunday...I'm heading to the Grand Canyon for a 5-day hike! But....maybe the next Sunday..it just might work! :D

WOW! I would love to do that. Have fun.