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#1
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
I just bought a Schwinn Crisscross, 10 speed bicycle at a local flea
market. I gave $35.00 for it. I had to get the adapter for putting air in the tires, and did so. I took it for a short spin around a parking lot, and the breaks work well, and it rides OK. How does one correctly and safely, shift the gears on one of these? There are two levers, one long and one short, on each side of the handlebars. Do any of you know of a website that explains how to do this? I have not ridden a bicycle since I as a kid, and I'm 55 now. This bike isn't for me, it's for my better half, as she wants to start riding for exercise. I will most probably have to find one for me too. Nick |
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#2
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
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#3
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
Nick Smith wrote:
Stick to the bike paths with soft grass on the sides while you learn. Ride slow and easy. Experiment. Figure out how your bike works. And read Sheldon's site. Never shift while pedaling hard, but only while pedaling. If you find yourself needing to shift while you must pedal hard, then you're in (a little bit of) trouble. It helps if you know how to fall without injuring yourself. But if you don't, you don't. If you ride your bike long & often enough, you will fall. Accept it. Here's hoping that you enjoy it enough to buy a good (better) bike soon. There's nothing like riding a good bike on a good road on a nice day. -- Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999, |
#4
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
Thanks for the information. I appreciate your help.
Nick |
#5
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
Raptor wrote:
Nick Smith wrote: Stick to the bike paths with soft grass on the sides while you learn. Ride slow and easy. Experiment. Figure out how your bike works. And read Sheldon's site. But speed brings stability. Speed up as soon as you feel comfortable. Never shift while pedaling hard, but only while pedaling. If you find yourself needing to shift while you must pedal hard, then you're in (a little bit of) trouble. If you must start on an uphill and am in the wrong 'gear', turn around and start downhill, shift, then head back uphill. Don't feel embarrassed, just look like you think you dropped something on the ground. But really most people won't notice. It helps if you know how to fall without injuring yourself. But if you don't, you don't. If you ride your bike long & often enough, you will fall. Accept it. The longer you ride, the more comfortable you'll become and the less likely you'll fall. Here's hoping that you enjoy it enough to buy a good (better) bike soon. There's nothing like riding a good bike on a good road on a nice day. Any day! -- Mike Vore 2007 Photo Calendar with Scenes along the NCR and York Heritage Trails: http://www.lulu.com/ohmywoodness/400827 |
#6
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
Thanks again. We ride laps around the parking lot (2/10th mile) at my
son's school, every afternoon. I had to find a bike for me too and wound up with a Huffy 15 speed. It rides OK too. We are enjoying getting out for a bit of excersize. On closer inspection, the Schwin turns out to be an 18 speed. We just toodle around and take it easy. I am still figuring out the gears and the shifting. No crashes. (yet) Nick |
#7
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
N in WNC wrote:
Thanks again. We ride laps around the parking lot (2/10th mile) at my son's school, every afternoon. I had to find a bike for me too and wound up with a Huffy 15 speed. It rides OK too. We are enjoying getting out for a bit of excersize. On closer inspection, the Schwin turns out to be an 18 speed. We just toodle around and take it easy. I am still figuring out the gears and the shifting. No crashes. (yet) Nick The number of gears isn't really important. More gears just means you have closer gears and your chance of finding just the right one to match your desired effort in the conditions at hand is better. Don't think you're done experimenting until you get some speed going and shift, especially going up and down hills. It's mechanically the same, but subjectively different from low speeds. You've got a helmet right? Also gloves for when you do fall. When you've got your cheap bike dialed-in, you'll want to upgrade to something with clipless pedals and cleats that match. That locks your foot to the pedal and makes for more power and efficiency. But it's also more learning, which is fun. -- Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999, |
#8
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me
"N in WNC" wrote in message
... Thanks again. We ride laps around the parking lot (2/10th mile) at my son's school, every afternoon. I know I'd be very bored doing laps. Then again, this is one of the reasons why I loathe swimming. And when I was a running, running around a track, no way -- I had to run on the street, where there was more variety in the scenery. Even to do a relatively short ride, say, 5 miles, is a lot of 2/10th of a mile laps! So I recommend, when you feel more confident about your bike handling skills, ride around the neighborhood, too. What might seem initially scary gets easier as you build experience. -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
#9
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New Guy + Dumb Question = Me / Been there
I have an old Schwinn CrissCross myself. It was my first adult "return
to cycling" bike which I purchased new back in '93. I've gotten other bikes since then, but I'll still get out this a fun retro-experience, as a loaner for guests, and as an occasional travel partner. Schwinn was undergoing major financial problems at the time this bike was being sold, and it's hard to know exactly what your componentry is. IF YOU HAVE THE BOWTIE HANDLEBARS - this may apply to you. (If your handle bars look normal - it might not.) The bowtie shaped handlebar may have the Suntour grip-shifters for your larger sprockets on the left/driver's side of your handle bar. (Nowadays, you tend to see Shimano-brand rather than Suntour). Unlike most shifters, these Suntour chainring adjustments (for the three larger front sprockets) are managed in 5 click positions instead of the more conventional three. The high and middle gears have 2 click positions each. Here's how: When you shift to the larger size chain ring, the protocol is to "over-click" - or click to the second-position on the left shifter to engage your shifter to the larger sprocket, and then down-click slightly after it is engaged to secure the chain and reduce some clatter noise. It's always felt a bit "industrial" to me, but it works. Also, the gear numbers on the right side of the handlebar may be in reverse order, the number 1 position is actually number 7, 2 is actually 6, and so on. . . Also rather bizarre, but hey, it works too - and we newbies can be blissfully unaware of incorrect labeling. At my time of purchase, Schwinn was a company (yes, it was a company instead of just a label) with major problems. Thus, I described to you a couple of OEM features (flaws?) that would be unthinkable today. If you decide that you really like bicycling, then you may seek advice on whether you should spend the bucks to "tune up" this bike. I like mine - warts and all. Welcome to our midst. Bicycing has been a great adult experience for me since '93, It is still great! Hope the same good things happen for you. Time for my CrissCross and me to go out for a ride! Dayton Capri |
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