Bicycles
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@Chesson @mclaincausey I am hoping for a 30 lb build with some nice components. Drivetrain is taken care of so there is not too much stuff to spec for the build.
I am not overly fussed on the weight of bikes, I tend to prioritise durability and geometry over light weight. I am the largest contributing factor to the bike + rider equation. A few lbs here or there on the bike ain't going to make much of a difference. Biggest difference for me would be loosing some lbs and getting stronger.
I already have a GeoMetron G1 and really like the fit of the bike. Weight is not a priority on the G1 either. What I have found makes the most difference is wheel and tyre choice. On the G1 for example I run two sets of wheels. A relatively light 29er pair with 2.2 trail tyres and a more heavy duty mullet set up with aluminium rims and proper DH tyres. Light wheels for local stuff, trail centre and most riding. The burly wheels go on for uplift days or visits to the local jump park. I find it works well.
I am building two sets of wheels for the Saturn also, with similar intent.
Already a fan of the gearbox concept, I have already owned the old G Boxx Nicolai bikes, TFR and TST. Super robust but pretty old school geometry. I keep seeing my old TFR bike pop up on eBay. It is like nuclear war and cockroaches you just can't kill it.
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https://carbonwasp.com/shop/1afxtcezq1ixv2qsxvoo160y9hhi5d
150 gram saving on carbon pinion crank replacements anyone?….......
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My work life has changed rather dramatically due to Covid-19, as I now work from home full time rather than travelling. As a result I was going a bit stir crazy (my wife, who was able to continue as before pretty much throughout the pandemic, likened it to having an excitable puppy at home) and I needed to release some energy. Enter my first mountain bike:
Great way to blow off some steam
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https://carbonwasp.com/shop/1afxtcezq1ixv2qsxvoo160y9hhi5d
150 gram saving on carbon pinion crank replacements anyone?….......
Very cool. Being concerned about weight on a pionion gearboxed bike seems odd to me. But that doesn't mean the crank arms aren't rad.
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Looking for recommendations…
I'm in the US, looking for a hybrid / urban bike. I have never been a serious cyclist, and I only know the bare minimum. I have no idea what's good. I visited my local REI and they have Cannondale and Co-op brands. The Cannondale Bad Boy 1 looks very cool but I don't want the internal gear / belt transmission (because I may want to also buy a Wahoo Kickr trainer on which to set up the bike).
I'm willing to pay premium prices for premium quality, within limits. I've read good things about Surly...?
@endo - That Bottcher bike is lovely.
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Looking for recommendations…
I'm in the US, looking for a hybrid / urban bike. I have never been a serious cyclist, and I only know the bare minimum. I have no idea what's good. I visited my local REI and they have Cannondale and Co-op brands. The Cannondale Bad Boy 1 looks very cool but I don't want the internal gear / belt transmission (because I may want to also buy a Wahoo Kickr trainer on which to set up the bike).
I'm willing to pay premium prices for premium quality, within limits. I've read good things about Surly...?
@endo - That Bottcher bike is lovely.
A lot of my friends have Surly frames, @JDelage. They like them a lot however it's worth noting that the frames are rather heavy. Are you looking for more of a road frame with aggressive (forward leaning) geometry? Or for a more upright, relaxed geometry (think: Dutch bike)?
I would also suggest a wheel off trainer (my buds all have Kickrs and Wahoo bike computers) otherwise you need to have a scrap tire at home to get run bald on the rollers.
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If I get a trainer, it will be one of the Wahoo Kikr smart trainers (wheel off), but we're not there yet.
I'm not going to carry the bike up stairs, so the weight is not critical.
I'm looking for a hybrid position. The bike will mostly be used for urban commuting & week end rides, though I might want to do some longer relaxed rides at some point. I probably wouldn't go for drop bars, but I would have no problem putting a flat bar on a bike that is originally sold with a drop bar. E.g., I've seen some examples of Surly Stragglers with flat bars.
@sabergirl - I agree the 1 prong fork looks weird. The more I'm reading and the more I think the Bad Boy might not be the best bike for me.
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Personally, I would suggest going to your LBS ("Local Bike Shop") rather than a big box shop like REI. Your LBS can do a bike fit and build a bike up for you using the frameset of your choosing (such as a Straggler). That way you get a say on the tires and wheels, etc., rather than needing to replace each item on a bike pre-built.
I would recommend a bike meant for long miles, around town, and overall comfort. If price isn't an issue (while still staying within reason), I would recommend Rivendell. Based in the Bay Area, Riv makes some lovely frames and will even build out a bike to your specs. See more here: https://www.rivbike.com/
Also, some Rive frames can be had on the secondary market in near-new/almost new condition. See here: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/d/oakland-rivendell-homer-hilsen/7369538498.html
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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
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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.
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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? -
@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.
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@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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
