Bicycle riders ?

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  • Reply 21 of 40
    If you've never studded your own tires and gone winter mountainbiking over snowy hills and frozen lakes, you haven't lived. :cool:
  • Reply 22 of 40
    [quote]Originally posted by pscates:

    <strong>I've just never understood this...that's why I posted the above "rant" because to me it is rude and shitheaded behavior...not to mention DANGEROUS!



    Believe me, I'm not out to hit anyone and I've nearly been into sideswiping accidents with cars to my left in my efforts to safely clear some of these chucklehead cyclists who, for whatever reason, don't want to ride in the center portion of THEIR lane.



    It would be like me driving down the freeway with my left tires on (or beyond) the lane divider and making those on the left of me nervous and, in turn, scooting more to THEIR left.



    Yes, there are plenty of bad car drivers out there...for all the reasons you mentioned.



    But I ain't one of 'em.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Hi. I'm a newbie in here (I only heard about the AppleInsider forums after they were in their "hiatus," so I'm checking them out now), but I don't think I'd be out of line in answering your question (to the best of my knowledge). It sounds like you're genuinely interested in getting an answer.



    I'm a bike rider, too, and although I ride much more off-road than on, I've put in plenty of miles on the pavement.



    Anyway, the riding-on-the-line thing? It's all about the friction. Even a skinny-tired road bike is going to feel a difference (drag) between the smoothness of the painted surface and the roughness of even well-laid blacktop or concrete. It's all the more noticeable on a fat-tired mountain bike.



    That's probably not always the reason, but it often is, and it will usually be the reason for any unusual position the bike rider will put him/herself in on the road.



    Doesn't mean it isn't stupid to do it when there's a lot of safer space available, but that's the why of it. I am very often frustrated to infuriated by the stupidities I see bike riders doing over and over again, but car drivers get a share of their own jerks, as well.



    Hope that helps.



    [ 12-04-2001: Message edited by: thin shadow ]</p>
  • Reply 23 of 40
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    Thanks. That does make sense, I guess.



    But is it worth risking getting hit by a car, or causing said car to hit another car in an effort to avoid a line-riding biker?



    To me, that's one of those "big risk, small gain" investments.



  • Reply 24 of 40
    falconfalcon Posts: 458member
    [quote]If you've never studded your own tires and gone winter mountainbiking over snowy hills and frozen lakes, you haven't lived.<hr></blockquote>



    I plan to do that this winter. Galbraith mt which is where I bike is high enough elevation to get some good snowfall. just need to find a spare tire and some screws . Can you imagine dirtjumping in the snow? Dear lord thats gonna rock.
  • Reply 25 of 40
    Just got back online tonite. I got caught in the crossfire between Excite@Home and AT&T. So now I guess I get to jump into a whole bunch of discussions late and see how many threads I can kill doing it.



    Getting back on topic, I have a Cannondale road bike. I haven't done any mountain biking although I am planning on getting a mountain bike. They are better for riding in the city. I'll take the Canondale out for weekend daytrips and use the mountainbike for an every day mule. But I won't be doing too much more biking before the weather turns. It's been amazingly warm here lately but this can't last for much longer.
  • Reply 26 of 40
    [quote]Originally posted by Falcon:

    <strong>



    I plan to do that this winter. Galbraith mt which is where I bike is high enough elevation to get some good snowfall. just need to find a spare tire and some screws . Can you imagine dirtjumping in the snow? Dear lord thats gonna rock.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Go for it man, I promise you'll have an unforgetable experience <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />



    Word of caution: when studding your tires (tyres for the UK lads) make sure there is adequate protection on the inside wall of the tire between the stud and the inner tube! Other wise you may find yourself going through a small cycle shops supply of tubes!! There may be some place that sells already studded tires now? I've done it before in unstudded knobblies which can be fine on the snow but when going across frozen lakes and ponds? :eek:
  • Reply 27 of 40
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    Studded tires scare me, especially since I still use semi-slicks for nearly everything...knobbies aren't my style...and I wouldn't like to endo and have my bike w/studded tires land on me, which I do a lot...
  • Reply 28 of 40
    [quote]Originally posted by roger_ramjet:

    <strong>I am planning on getting a mountain bike. They are better for riding in the city.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I don't know about that. Road bikes are so much faster than mountain bikes. Plus any mountain bike will be geared for mountains and not street. For the city I might get an old but good road frame, put some thick tires on it.
  • Reply 29 of 40
    [quote]Originally posted by Scott H.:

    <strong>

    I don't know about that. Road bikes are so much faster than mountain bikes. Plus any mountain bike will be geared for mountains and not street. For the city I might get an old but good road frame, put some thick tires on it.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Not looking for speed in the city. I'm thinking potholes and the shocks you get on a mountainbike. I can always change the chainring and rear cassette if I don't like the gearing. I don't know jack about mountain bikes though.
  • Reply 30 of 40
    falconfalcon Posts: 458member
    [quote]Word of caution: when studding your tires (tyres for the UK lads) make sure there is adequate protection on the inside wall of the tire between the stud and the inner tube! Other wise you may find yourself going through a small cycle shops supply of tubes<hr></blockquote>



    I have heard that the poor-mans fix for this is good oldfashioned American DuctTape. Ducttape is like the force, it has a light and dark side, and it holds the universe together. Sorry couldnt resist.



    [quote]Studded tires scare me, especially since I still use semi-slicks for nearly everything...knobbies aren't my style...and I wouldn't like to endo and have my bike w/studded tires land on me, which I do a lot...<hr></blockquote>



    True true you would have to go a little bit easier. I remember on my last ride with my possy it was so incredibly muddy that I endo'd 4 times, fell of a brige, plus my platform pedals cut a 1-2 inch gash into my leg to the bone... it was so much fun.



    [ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: Falcon ]</p>
  • Reply 31 of 40
    [quote]Originally posted by Falcon:

    <strong>plus my platform pedals cut a 1-2 inch gash into my leg to the bone... it was so much fun.

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    I raked the back of my leg across the chain ring at the beginning of the summer. It's a nice scar to show people because it's on my calf just under my sock, "Here, check this out..."
  • Reply 32 of 40
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    I have ATACs, no need to worry about pedals making a gash in my calf.



    As for riding a mountain bike in the city...



    1) get semi-slicks

    2) pay attention to gear ratios...A lot of mountain bikes these days have tiny chainrings and large cogs...You probably want your large chainring to have at least 46 teeth and your small cog to have 11 teeth or fewer.
  • Reply 33 of 40
    falconfalcon Posts: 458member
    [quote]I raked the back of my leg across the chain ring at the beginning of the summer.<hr></blockquote>



    Ack those can get messy . I bet it was fun to. The funny thing about my gash is that I didnt feel a thing. One moment I was powering through this hudge puddle up to my ankles on the bike, and the next I hit this mud pack and bam my front tire looses traction and slips and sinks, and down I go my foot sliding back behind the pedal and my body then pulling my leg back over the pedal and through the pedal. I get up to cheers from my buds I guess it was cool to watch. Look down with blood gushing out of my leg, open it with my hands, see bone, and go "oh this is a bad one."
  • Reply 34 of 40
    For "city" tires I use IRC Metros. I used to ride the Avocet cross but the skinwalls on those tires don't seem to last at all.



    On my road bike for "city" tires I have Michelin <a href="http://cycleus.webmichelin.com/tires/axialbisport.htm"; target="_blank"> Axial Bi-Sports </a>. They have a little bit of tread down the middle and say they are a little thicker. Which is good because I was always picking glass out of the last pair which were full road slicks.



    [ 12-08-2001: Message edited by: Scott H. ]</p>
  • Reply 35 of 40
    dragging and old thread back up



    I just got some new wheels for my bike. Some $70 cheap-os from Nashbar. Not too cheap, on sale. I'm just waiting for my chain whip and shimano cassette tool to show up and I'll put them on. It will be odd not to hear spokes ticking and brakes rubbing while I ride
  • Reply 36 of 40
    falconfalcon Posts: 458member
    I also recently got some new gear for my bike. I picked up a pair of Avid Mechanical Disk Brakes, XT disk hubs, and a snazzy T.H.E. front fender to keep the mud out of my eyes where barreling 45-50+ down the logging roads. Though I havent been able to install the disks yet becuase my disk hubs havent arrived grr.
  • Reply 37 of 40
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    Dennis Leary said it best on track 12 (President Leary) of his "Lock 'N Load" CD:

    [quote] Let me tell you somthin' else! When I'm President of the United States, all you assholes who ride bikes in the city, LOCK AND LOAD! OK? You're goin' down. Yeah, what the FUCK are you people thinking about, eh? You wanna ride a bike in the city? Move to China, go ahead! Eat some rice for the rest of your life. Are you fuckin' insane riding a bike around the middle of Manhattan traffic, huh?! There is no speed limit in New York! Have you noticed that? Have you ever seen a speed limit sign in Manhattan? No they don't exist! Red lights here mean stop if you want to! Last guy who got a speeding ticket in Manhattan was the guy who crashed his plane into the Empire State Building back in 1937-wake the fuck up and smell the maple nut crunch!

    They drive me fuckin' NUTS! Have you had that experience? When you are gettin' out of a cab and you open the door and a BIKE guy smashes into the car door! And then he gives you that attitude: "Hey man, thats my space!" No it isn't! Thats the space for the door to fuckin' open asshole!

    They got they're little spandex pants on, they're little gloves, 'n they're riding around. "I have the right to ride my bike right in the middle of traffic. I have my little whistle. Flan-flan." I HAVE A HORN! BONG-BONG! YOU'RE DEAD!

    And you rollerbladen' assholes, LOCK AND LOAD! Lock and load. With your pink spandex and your headphones on, dancing doin' the hustle in the middle of traffic. Make up your mind, dance or drive OK asshole? Just make up a descision.

    fuck... I don't get it. You know? Why don't you just put on clown-pants and ride a unicycle right down fifth avenue? "Hey, look at me!" Why don't you PARASAIL right down broadway? "LOOK AT ME! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS!" No you dont, snip-snip your out! Happy now? <hr></blockquote>



    I could go on about the cops who ride bikes, but I think this is enough! <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 38 of 40
    Denis should know that some of us who ride LOCK AND LOAD. Better hope he gets the first shot off.
  • Reply 39 of 40
    Denis should know that some of us who ride LOCK AND LOAD. Better hope he gets the first shot off.
  • Reply 40 of 40
    Still savings my pennies for <a href="http://www.fisherbikes.com/images02/bikes_large/sugar3_plus_disc.jpg"; target="_blank">this</a>. :cool:
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