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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Bicycles

    Hobbies and Pastimes
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    • J
      Jett129
      見習いボス
      Joined:

      @sabergirl:

      One thing I will say is that I don’t like the design of the cannondale bad boy. That’s the one that has a single sided fork, right? I’m sure it works fine, but it feels unstable to me

      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

      I have a Cannondale 29er,with what's called the Lefty frame. While it's appearance might be a little unsettling,it's a great really well balanced bicycle. Also have the OG Bad Boy,which came out in 2000,and still enjoy riding it.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • NikN
        Nik
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        All these bikes sound like great options. My response though is that I'm a little surprised about putting a hybrid on a kickr. What about two bikes, one for road rides that are exercise as well as on the trainer and another for trips around town? Hybrids are great for that, and I also wonder if you've considered e-bikes, which have come a long way and are really cool. The other thing to consider is whether you need to lock up or not. No matter what kind of lock you have, bikes can be stolen.
        I've got a great Scott carbon road bike that is worth more than my car that I use for real rides and on the trainer (wahoo kickr core) and then a super cheap fixed gear for riding around town and locking up places, and then a Brompton folding bike which I used to use when my commute involved bike and trains.
        Before considering specific brands then, I wonder why a hybrid?

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • henry_davidH
          henry_david
          Joined:

          @Nkwkfld:

          All these bikes sound like great options. My response though is that I'm a little surprised about putting a hybrid on a kickr. What about two bikes, one for road rides that are exercise as well as on the trainer and another for trips around town? Hybrids are great for that, and I also wonder if you've considered e-bikes, which have come a long way and are really cool. The other thing to consider is whether you need to lock up or not. No matter what kind of lock you have, bikes can be stolen.
          I've got a great Scott carbon road bike that is worth more than my car that I use for real rides and on the trainer (wahoo kickr core) and then a super cheap fixed gear for riding around town and locking up places, and then a Brompton folding bike which I used to use when my commute involved bike and trains.
          Before considering specific brands then, I wonder why a hybrid?

          This is very sensible, @Nkwkfld. I myself ride one bike for all: a Ritchey Swiss Cross canti on some 700x38s. I have a hip pack/saddle bag combo for fun rides (long rides off the beaten path) and don a waterproof rolltop Ortlieb for errands around town that I can carry a couple of locks in. Most people I know have a quiver with a few options for varied sorts of riding like you do.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • JDelageJ
            JDelage
            啓蒙家
            Joined:

            @Nkwkfld - Hybrid seems like a good compromise for someone like me who will (1) mostly use a bike for short-ish urban commutes, (2) go on relaxed rides from time to time, and (3) not do any serious road biking. If I get a Wahoo Kickr trainer, it will be for general fitness / aerobic training (zone 2, max lactate clearing), not to train for any type of bike sport per se. In other word, it's an alternative to a stationary bike.

            I think I would prefer hydraulic disk brakes and also would rather get a complete bike than a frame. If I were knowledgeable, I'd love to research and decide each component one by one, but I'm not there.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • henry_davidH
              henry_david
              Joined:

              @JDelage:

              I think I would prefer hydraulic disk brakes and also would rather get a complete bike than a frame. If I were knowledgeable, I'd love to research and decide each component one by one, but I'm not there.

              With that in mind, either Surly or its sister brand, All City, would be serviceable.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                sabergirl
                見習いボス
                Joined:

                It sounds to me like you’re potentially throwing money at a habit that may not stick. I’d say go down to your LBS and let them put you on a mid-range trek or specialized or jamis, and beat the heck out of it commuting for a while. If you love riding, and it’s working, the you could upgrade. Also, fwiw I have used a cycle ops mag trainer as a glorified exercise bike for years. I swap out the rear wheel for a single speed one with a trainer tire on it. Not sure you need to invest in the kickr for this purpose, either.

                Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • NikN
                  Nik
                  Raw and Unwashed
                  Joined:

                  Sounds really sensible, and there's lots of great advice here. Most important thing is that I bet you'll have a lot of fun on whatever you get, biking is great!

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • BloodnThunderB
                    BloodnThunder
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined:

                    For what it's worth a buddy of mine has a Surly Straggler and loves it.  If weight isn't a concern then this is a great option.  It's got plenty of tire clearance for running a larger tire and with the stem run at the very top of your steerer tube you can get into a very relaxed position if that's the goal.  There are plenty of fancier steel bikes out there but there is really no need to bother.  If you end up falling in love with cycling then that's when upgrading becomes something to consider.

                    IG: Shadesofindig0

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • henry_davidH
                      henry_david
                      Joined:

                      @sabergirl:

                      Also, fwiw I have used a cycle ops mag trainer as a glorified exercise bike for years. I swap out the rear wheel for a single speed one with a trainer tire on it. Not sure you need to invest in the kickr for this purpose, either.

                      I rocked one of those myself! Yup – had a trainer wheel and tire on hand, too.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • mclaincauseyM
                        mclaincausey
                        見習いボス
                        Joined:

                        I think @sabergirl is wise about not making a huge investment up front, @JDelage but I also think you're gonna love riding.

                        I think one move to consider is to get a "fitness bike" like this Specialized at a trusted LBS. You can add fenders and saddlebag racks if you want, get a clip-on U-lock (but don't leave it out overnight), and use it as a commuter bike that is a bit more playful and quicker than more of a cruiserly style commuter, and not a lower-back-killing forward-leaning street racing design. It's enough bike to get around town and work out on, and if you ever need more you can either sell it or upgrade the components. And if you have dirtbags stealing bikes where you live, it's not the end of the world if it gets stolen (though you'd definitely want to register the serial number in all the right places and lock it up).

                        Think it, be it.

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • JDelageJ
                          JDelage
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined:

                          Well, in the last few days I spent a lot of time researching various options. Once I had narrowed my options it proved nearly impossible to find exactly what I wanted. I was thinking about getting a naked frame and building the bike (but the frame sets and components are also hard to find). Finally I was able to find my top choice in a shop in Bend, OR (I'm in Seattle). It's a shop-built Surly Disc Trucker, and they agreed to ship it to me. It should arrive to me early next week. I'm super excited.  😛

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • henry_davidH
                            henry_david
                            Joined:

                            WTB tires are rad and the handlebars look great! Good call, @JDelage  😎

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • mclaincauseyM
                              mclaincausey
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              Gorgeous bike and good pickup @JDelage !

                              Think it, be it.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • NikN
                                Nik
                                Raw and Unwashed
                                Joined:

                                Looks like a sweet setup, especially for Seattle! I used to ride between Capitol Hill and Magnolia everyday, and that big chainring would have been useful. That'll also be a sound bike for throwing on a trainer and playing around on Zwift, which is more fun than I thought it would be. Nice choice on the bike, enjoy!

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • henry_davidH
                                  henry_david
                                  Joined:

                                  Plus, you can hit some fire roads/trails with that, too, and not only have more fun, but also avoid cars.  😉

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • zhivagoZ
                                    zhivago
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined:

                                    You did will @JDelage!! Enjoy the shit outta that baby!!

                                    Zhivago

                                    MM: "we all got to start somewhere"

                                    G: "Never once did he bitch, moan or complain.  He just motivated the team and got on with it"

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • bryaneidins70B
                                      bryaneidins70
                                      Iron Heart Deity
                                      Joined:

                                      @JDelage

                                      Nice bike and agree about the WTB tyres. I have the Riddlers on my CAADx and had my first puncture in 3yrs last week, I do a lot of off road with the bike.

                                      What wheel size are on the bike, look like 650b?

                                      Are the shop cutting down the steerer for you, you don't want to be smacking that?

                                      'Fail we may…Sail we must'

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • JDelageJ
                                        JDelage
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        Yes, the shop elected to put 650b on it. The bike is being shipped to me as is, and then I have to adjust it to me. I'll probably do that at a local bike shop and have them cut the top of the stem off.

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • chrisjohnnickC
                                          chrisjohnnick
                                          Iron Heart Deity
                                          Joined:

                                          Think I'm going to pick up a bike this week. Been wanting to get one for the last year or so, but used ones in my local market have been getting snatched up as fast as I can save the listings.

                                          Mostly going to do commuting and touring around town, but I'm in Nashville so have a lot of hills and trails I would like to take advantage of as well.

                                          Found a Ritchey "Crazy Pete" from 1995 locally that I may get.

                                          Wants List:
                                          IHSH-20-Red, XL
                                          IHSH-208-Indigo Kersey, L-XL
                                          IHSH-254-Grey Kersey, L-XL
                                          IHSW-45 Black, M
                                          IH-526SV 21oz type III, 38 or 40
                                          IH-777S-SB size 32
                                          IH-777S-142 size 31 or 32
                                          IHJ-142-BLK or IND, M

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • henry_davidH
                                            henry_david
                                            Joined:

                                            Pics please, @chrisjohnnick!!! I'm a huge Ritchey fan and ride this fucker:

                                            2011/2012/2013 Swiss Cross canti with 700x38 knobbies. Such a lovely frame and all about the magic of steel Ritchey.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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