View Single Post
  #6  
Old July 11th 08, 04:01 PM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
David L. Johnson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,048
Default Selecting a Bike

Katuzo wrote:
Doctor told me to get a bike. Consumers Reports say Giant FCR3 is good
for exercising ( I'm 57, 5'7", 170 pounds). When I went to the LBS,
and told them I wanted a bike that was also comfortable, and could
take some bumps (be easy on my butt + back), handle curbs, be fitted
with baskets and perhaps even be ridden in a campground occasionally
or a dirt path, they told me to go with something like a Giant Sedona
or a Cannondale Comfort 5 instead. When I talked to the people at
work, they all seem to like low end mountain bikes like the Iron Horse
Warrior 3, except for one buddy who got a $100 dual suspension bike
whose bearing failed in a coupled of yrs.


For that price, he was lucky to get a couple of years.

My advice is to not focus too much on what seems like comfort. Soft
saddles feel better at first, but can cause havoc once you are riding
more than a few miles at a stretch. Dual suspension seems like it will
smooth over the bumps, but it is heavy, and the suspension prevents you
from climbing well out of the saddle, so you will have more trouble on
hills. The knobby tires slow you down, without giving you that much
advantage unless you are riding in dirt and sand.

"Some bumps" suggests you want to ride on roads. Mountain bikes are
ill-suited to that. I can't imagine why you would want to jump curbs.
Avoid them, don't ride over them.

Road bikes work fine for occasional dirt paths. You might also consider
a hybrid, but again suspension has more negatives than positives.

So right now, I basically
confused with conflicting advice. It seems that big tires are the way
to gain comfort but exercise bikes don't seem to have them, and if the
bike isn't comfortable I know I won't ride it.


Your commitment to exercise should carry you through the first hurdle,
where your butt becomes conditioned to the saddle. What's really
comfortable in the long run is NOT the same as what is comfortable on
the first ride.

Don't get skinny tires, but you don't need balloon tires to be
comfortable. Road-bike sized tires with 32mm width are very
comfortable, as would be mountain-bike slicks 1 1/4" wide.

I really would like a
dual suspension, even if it's used + a little scratched.


Dual suspension, or even front suspension, is not helpful except for
rough mountain rides.

--

David L. Johnson

You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but what
canst thou say?
-- George Fox.
Ads
 

Home - Home - Home - Home - Home