Comments on: Your Ride Tells All, Even With Bikes

By: sam the sham

sam the sham — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:25:39 +0000

OH – bikes and Lucky 13!!! What fun it was the day I was strolling around on 16th street. An SUV pulled up, the coulple’s bikes were on top and I made note of them as they took their bikes down and peddled off.

Imagine my surprise when, less than ten minutes later I was walking past Lucky 13…there were the bikes and the couple sitting with other healthy bike “riders” cooling down with a few beers. I did make note of their “sweat” certainly made by the water from their water bottles.

So much for North End biking. At least the bikes got out of the garage.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:21:59 +0000

Naznarreb: You nailed it! Department store crap, umpteen dollar racer, retro, whatever, a bike is a bike is a bike, and if it fits you and serves your purpose, it is exactly the right ride for you (no matter what some of the bike snobs may think).
And it keeps a four-wheel cage off the road for a bit, doesn’t pollute the air so much (if you exhale while riding, of course, that’s a bit of pollution, but a tiny one compared to the gas burners) and gives you some good exercise.
BC and others who responded re the gears: Thanks for the explanations. With the wide variety of riding conditions, I can see where more choices for gear ranges might be worthwhile.
Now if I could just figure out how to get more than a mile without getting a flat tire from the goatheads …
Yeah, I’ve tried Kevlar liners and various goops, but with not much success. Has anybody tried those “solid” tires — apparently regular tire rubber outside and foam rubber or some such inside? I realize they’d be a bit heavier, but since I loved my old Schwin full-dress cruiser years ago, I don’t guess a few extra pounds on my cheap-crap mountain bike (and on me) would bother me any. Would like to know what any who have tried them think of them.
And my cheap-crap mountain bike served well for quite a few miles before someone stole it. Wanna get a new one, and will look for the best cheap-crap one I can find. If I have to replace it in a few years (which I doubt, if I oil the chain regularly and lube it once in a while), I’ll do so, rather than shell out hundreds for one that might or might not be better … and would be a major blow in the wallet if it got stolen.

By: dog

dog — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:16:36 +0000

My daily ride has one gear and does not coast. Both me and my bike are fixed. I regularly blow the doors of lycra/spandex clad bike ninnies on their $4000.00 road speed racer specials up the Bench hill roads. I do get stomped by them in the foot hills. If you ever want to truly be one with your bike try a fixie. Be prepared to give blood when you crash one.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:13:24 +0000

Well, put, Nazarreb! (And I sincerely hope my snide remarks weren’t construed as anti-bike! One more bike frequently means one less car. And the Boise area is a great place to be a cyclist.)

Comment on department-store bikes… they ARE crap. Most of the components are not rebuildable, so when something breaks you throw the whole bike away and head back to Wal-Mart. (What would Algore say?) If you spend $300 instead of $59.95, you can get a bike that will last a lifetime instead of 500 miles. (Of course, if you only plan to ride 500 miles in your lifetime, the Huffy Special might be just the ticket. But PLEASE – oil that chain from time to time… a pet peeve.)

Comment on “27 speeds” – typically I only use 4 or 5 of my available 24. (Touring bicycle – 8×3) And I’d guess that there’s a lot of redundancy. But now and then, the “granny gear” comes in handy to climb Cartwright Road or Bogus… and it’s a heady experience to ride back down using the BIG ring.

(I cordially invite GUARDIAN readers who are interested in transportation-cycling to visit my “Bike Nazi” blog – http://bikenazi.blogspot.com . I’ve been trying to post stuff regularly. Thanks.)

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:10:48 +0000

Guardian, now you see why you should never try to be “light-hearted” here. Most of the people who blog here take this site very seriously and can’t handle levity of any kind. Just the thought of the Guardian on his bike with lycra shorts and an Eagles tour t-shirt on kinda’ gives me the willy’s. Some of us need to lighten up just a tad. After all, it’s a great day to bike in a great city. ( Mine’s a speedster recumbant that is just plain fun to ride)

By: tucker

tucker — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:15:16 +0000

Wow!!!! I have to agree with Naznarreb! I think people all pick/build the bikes they do for a good reason: cost, functionality, pleasure, ego, etc…..

I would love to go against my politics and “build” a ratrod bike or have a cruiser. I live up in the Foothills, so a single speed did not make sense for commuting as I have a few “big” hills to get up.

I ended up with a 21 speed, with the latest gadget for gearing, DualDrive. It has a seven speed rear derailer with a 3-speed internal hub. I can use all 21-gears 🙂

By: BoiseCitizen

BoiseCitizen — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:04:30 +0000

Gordon,
The number of gears I use depends on where I am riding. If I am riding up to the Boise Ridge road on the Hard Guy trail, I may only use one gear for the climbs. However, when I race at mountain bike races around the region I am continually working to maintain a steady pace. I will use various gears to acheive that. Having the choice sure makes it easier for me. Of course for those sado-masochists out there, you have the option of owning a single speed bike. My preferences are for multiple gears. As for being too busy to enjoy the ride because I am shifting all the time. Well, no. It is part of the experience. I can stop any time and enjoy the view. It is all about being on the bike. Good for you that you are out on yours.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:11:47 +0000

Naz, You make the best point on this page. A person on a bike is one less 1.5 ton lead sled on the road. So cruise around or pedal your tail off to work or fun.

By: Naznarreb

Naznarreb — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:27:48 +0000

As much as Guardian and most of the others who post here hate traffic and growth and all that comes with it, it astonishes me that you’d actually complain about someone’s choice of bike. So what if they bought a “crappy department store” bike or are just a “poser” with their “northender” bike more concerned about image than biking? It seems to me, if you truly hate the traffic and smog and pollution, anyone riding any bike anywhere for any reason is a Good Thing.

I know it’s not much, but if someone’s crappy bike gets them off the road one day a month, isn’t that a start? If some wannabe rides his cruiser to alive after five to try and pick up chicks, isn’t that better than him driving down there? Hell, the fact that bikes (or at least certain types of bikes) can be seen as desirous status symbols should elate everyone here. Bikes are cool! The young kids want to own one and be seen on it!

I am actually shocked that, given the nature of this website, any of you would be so hypocritical as to cast aspersions upon someone riding a bike.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:26:01 +0000

I don’t like this stereotyping nonsense. I know it’s tongue-and-cheek (it better be), but hey, it’s L A M E. S U P E R L A M E. like me. I’m the lamest.

I ride this L A M E old Schwinn RACER and I’m all rich and fancy and live in the NORTH END FOOTHILLS. I actually HATE MOUNTAIN BIKES.

But generally, I don’t web-publish my own biases.