Post Punk Kitchen Forum

this is helpful!

quick everyone! the husband has to decide by tomorrow whether or not he wants one - he has a giant that's like 2 months old and he had forgotten how much he loves biking. aside from snow and deep sand, is there another reason to get this one specifically? also, we're in woodsy NC right now but will go back NE eventually. northeast.

Not really. I know there are people out there who ride them wherever/whenever but those suckers are heavy. My boyfriend has one and I've ridden it and while it's fun I wouldn't want to do more than ride through the snow. If I wanted a bike to take on trails I'd get something else. If you moved back to the NE it would be fun if there was a lot of powder, but it's not even really an ideal winter commuter. More a super fun bike.

It's also an expensive bike The complete bike is over $1600, if you build one from the frame up you still have the tires that are $100 a piece, etc.

yeah it's $1800 and he has to put down a deposit if he wants it. i get that they're popular but it stinks you can't even sit on it or try them out.

I would pass if I were him. Surly makes some great (by all accounts) mountain bikes that are a bit more all-purpose than the pug. I hear the troll is pretty awesome...

In other news, I am thinking about getting a mountain bike. I HAVE A PROBLEM.

Oh my god I understand! If I'm not lusting after a bike I'm thinking about upgrades.

Yup. Everyone around here does tonnes of mountain biking, and the team I joined is a mtb/cx team, so right now, all the mtb stuff is happening. I want in on the action.

thanks guys! i'll break the news to him now.

eta: he took it well!

join the club. ive got my eye on a niner hardtail... might sell off the salsa and pick up a mtb sooner than later.

I'm probably going to go see a Marin women's specific bike this weekend. It's nothing amazing, but it looks like it might be a good entry level bike for someone like me. Now if I can only figure out where to put it...

if found its best to buy the bike first, then figure out where to put it later :)

jordan, good write-up of embro. also one of my favorite blogs to pick up great pointers.

http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2 ... -balm.html

Oh, thanks!

If I had to do it again with my MTB I would definitely go 29.

Yeah? Do you mind elaborating on why? I've been told that at my size (5'6 and slight) that a 29er would be more of a hindrance than a benefit, so I'm curious to hear another woman's experience.

My friend explained it using a dime and a quarter and demonstrated how much easier it was for the quarter to roll over an object than the dime, which was useful for me in envisioning how much easier it would be to overcome obstacles with a bigger wheel. Assuming everything else about the bike fit right.

I'm shorter than you, though, so I am interested in hearing the anti- argument!

Also, for the record, I do love my MTB regardless; I just wish I had more opportunity to ride it.

as a taller dude, a 29 is a bunch of fun. total steamroller over rocks and lumps. that is all I have to contribute :(

Interesting. Thank you! I actually was talking with a couple people at an event about mountain bikes yesterday, and they also said that a 29er is the way to go. One of them is the same height as me and said I could borrow his to try it out. I think I'll take him up on it, so I'm stoked!

I'm also inspired to get back out there despite the crappy weather. I volunteered and worked a checkpoint at a spring classic ride put on by my team yesterday. The main route was 100 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing, and the shorter route was about 80/7,000. I had hoped to do the shorter ride, but I had a crazy month at work and combined with the bad weather we've had, I didn't feel fit for it. Anyway, it was pouring rain and, like, 44. I was at the first checkpoint 30 miles in, and it was utter insanity. I think over half of the riders (140 showed up) dropped out, and a bunch of them had to be rescued. The ride was mostly road but about 10% "mixed terrain" (read: dirt), so people were coming in just caked with mud. I think one person ended up getting mild hypothermia (and was taken to the hospital, treated, and released). Today looks like more shitty weather, and I'm definitely going to get out there for a ride, even if it's short.

In conclusion, cyclists are crazy people in the best kind of way.

I'm planning on doing a solo bike tour for a couple weeks in June.....and have gotten a negative reaction from so many people. Planning is still in its early stages....but if anyone has words of wisdom they'd be greatly appreciated!

Have you ever toured before? Where is your route?

My gut reaction, to be honest, is also negative. Why not go with some other people?

Years back- never solo. I'm still debating on which route. Part of me would love to go with other people but in all honesty I don't have anyone to go with. The real reason is a bit hard to explain.....but basically I'm tired of people seeing me as weak or vulnerable.....and so the thought of doing something awesome on my own is pretty appealing. It's something I've wanted to do for a while and just never have for a variety of reasons (school, jobs, medical stuff etc.).

I absolutely understand that (cycling has been super huge for me in that regard) but would recommend something other than a potentially dangerous solo tour. That's a huge undertaking, expensive, and, as before, potentially dangerous. Why not sign up to do a charity century or something? That's a really great thing that you can train for throughout the spring and summer and is totally do-able and bad asparagus.

Cycled along a canal towpath to the second of two training days for work. Yesterday I took the bus, but felt horribley travel sick on the way back, so I looked at the map and realised I just had a short distance through streets and then could follow the canal, so didn't have to worry about getting lost. It was great; I didn't fall in the water! Oh, and didn't have to leave any earlier than I would to get the bus, which meanders through town.
In the morning it was beautiful and misty and I saw moorhens and coots and a big swan and sparrows and flowers. In the afternoon it became very, very hot so there were lots of people out walking along the canal, so I got lots of use out of my bell. And saw ducks!
Definite win for bikes.

Also, my route home passed a group of people I usually practise with on Sundays, and they hadn't left yet, so I stayed with them for a few hours. Two of the guys fought over wanting to have a go on my bike and my boyfriend said at least 6 six times that he really likes my bike. Apparently it is relaxing to ride.

Do it! (And report back :) )

I will try out my friend's as well when I get back to the east coast.




Indeed!

Sorry to add to the crowd, and I know women do tour alone, but I really would advise against it. Heck, I won't even go on a 30 mile neighborhood ride without at least one fellow cyclist.

My advice: Meetup.com. Start your own group if you want to set the limits. I bet you will find others who want to do what you want to do at your pace.