|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#81
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 15:02:42 -0400, The Wogster wrote:
RonSonic wrote: Ah, yes, conventional wisdom. That's why it's so hard for me to find a "comfort bike" with "performance" specs! Sorta like finding a luxury car with sports car performance and minivan cargo capacity. Actually it's easier to do with a bike, but it would need to be custom built, start with a light frame, preferably one with fittings for fenders and racks, add a carbon or Ti fork, then build up the way you want from there. Bike components are all highly interchangable, so it should be easy enough to build a comfort bike, using some racing components, some MTB components, and add a Brooks saddle for comfort. Yep, as an example there are a lot of "cross" bikes out there that'll never be used in competition. Also seeing a lot of rigid mountain bikes sporting slicks and fenders. Ron |
Ads |
#82
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 20:12:37 GMT, "Bill Sornson"
wrote: NYC XYZ wrote: Bill Sornson wrote: NYC, Just frigging go to a shop already; why is that so distasteful for you?!? Well, I guess I'd be ****ing off folks there, too -- so why not come here and do it? =) Also, I'd feel obligated to buy something for all the questions I'd pepper them with. Besides, they'd have other customers coming and going...etc. One last try. The idea is to buy a bike. You go to a shop, tell them about the kind of riding you do (or want/plan to do), and listen to their advice. You try out what they have to offer. Maybe something really grabs you; maybe nothing really does. Repeat a few times at /various/ bike shops, and either pick something or wait a while longer. Or, just buy one of those Airbornes and make it work. Then go ride. Out, BS I'll believe it when I see it. You're just too stubborn. Ron |
#83
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
On 23 Jul 2005 11:20:46 -0700, "NYC XYZ" wrote:
Bill Sornson wrote: As I said 12 hours ago, "Dude, you're all over the map." Stream-of-consciousness tends to be like that...and no, I can't organize my thoughts 'cause I have no idea of the "territory" here so questions just come out -- like when you're doing something for the first time and you just do whatever instead of in any systematic way because you haven't any theory in you by which to organize your actions.... Bill "OK, this time I /really/ give up!" S. Thanks for playing! Seriously, I figured I'd get that response from a bike shop, too, so that's why I'm here. =) They get paid for it. Ron |
#84
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
On 23 Jul 2005 11:16:40 -0700, "NYC XYZ" wrote:
Well, I guess I'd be ****ing off folks there, too -- so why not come here and do it? =) That's nice. Now that you've admitted that your primary motivation for posting is annoying us, I think i wont' be reading any more of your posts. You are the weakest link, goodbye. Jasper |
#85
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
On 23 Jul 2005 06:32:01 -0700, "NYC XYZ" wrote:
Does it seem suspicious he also deals in used bikes, on the side, on his own?). Only inasmuch as he's probably fencing stolen goods. If that doesn't bother you, they're probably pretty good value for money. Jasper |
#86
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 16:39:12 GMT, "Gooserider"
wrote: "NYC XYZ" wrote in message roups.com... Vis-a-vis the price, anyway -- $1,300 for 19-lb. bikes!! http://www.airborne.net/eready/janet...TI-special.asp http://www.airborne.net/eready/janet...TB-special.asp You want to be comfortable? Here you go: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly....html#complete That's a pretty damn cool bike. One could quibble about some of the component choices but no disagreeing that they're a great bang for the buck package. A bunch of upgrades and this'll cost as much as what the OP was looking at. Steel frame, fat tires, relaxed geometry. Fender-able, rack-able. Heavier than your 19 pound Chinese wonder machine, but comfortable enough for you to actually ride the thing. You ride the Surly enough and you'll easily drop the 6 pounds of weight difference. Plus, the Surly is a better fit for NYC, unless you think the gossamer wheels on the Airborne are going to handle potholes and curbs well. Good points all. Ron |
#87
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
"RonSonic" wrote in message ... On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 16:39:12 GMT, "Gooserider" wrote: "NYC XYZ" wrote in message groups.com... Vis-a-vis the price, anyway -- $1,300 for 19-lb. bikes!! http://www.airborne.net/eready/janet...TI-special.asp http://www.airborne.net/eready/janet...TB-special.asp You want to be comfortable? Here you go: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly....html#complete That's a pretty damn cool bike. One could quibble about some of the component choices but no disagreeing that they're a great bang for the buck package. A bunch of upgrades and this'll cost as much as what the OP was looking at. Since I would automatically add clipless pedals(maybe a combo clip/platform), a rack, and fenders, it would reach $1200 in no time. However, a fifty dollar upgrade here and there amortized over time would be no big deal. I think I would upgrade the derailleurs and crank(go to Deore or even 105, maybe a Sugino crankset). Other than that, it would be OK for years. Steel frame, fat tires, relaxed geometry. Fender-able, rack-able. Heavier than your 19 pound Chinese wonder machine, but comfortable enough for you to actually ride the thing. You ride the Surly enough and you'll easily drop the 6 pounds of weight difference. Plus, the Surly is a better fit for NYC, unless you think the gossamer wheels on the Airborne are going to handle potholes and curbs well. Good points all. Ron There's a reason Surlys are big with messengers. I think the Cross-Check complete bike package is just about the best deal going. Plus---it doesn't have a flashy paint job, nor does it scream "TITANIUM PLEASE STEAL ME". Wait, any bike screams that in NYC.... |
#88
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
"Bill Sornson" wrote in message ... NYC XYZ wrote: Bill Sornson wrote: NYC, Just frigging go to a shop already; why is that so distasteful for you?!? Well, I guess I'd be ****ing off folks there, too -- so why not come here and do it? =) Also, I'd feel obligated to buy something for all the questions I'd pepper them with. Besides, they'd have other customers coming and going...etc. One last try. The idea is to buy a bike. You go to a shop, tell them about the kind of riding you do (or want/plan to do), and listen to their advice. You try out what they have to offer. Maybe something really grabs you; maybe nothing really does. Repeat a few times at /various/ bike shops, and either pick something or wait a while longer. Or, just buy one of those Airbornes and make it work. To be fair, Airborne does appear to have a pretty detailed online fit program. Whether a buyer will end up with a racer-type fit or a real world comfortable fit is unclear, but they do measure inseam, torso length, and arm extension. They also set buyers up with different crankarm lengths according to inseam, and provide differing handlebar widths. That's pretty thorough. I would imagine even a newbie could get a pretty good fit this way. I'm certain a buyer could inform Airborne of the desire to get the bars up. I would rather spend this kind of money at an LBS, though. |
#89
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
"NYC XYZ" wrote in message oups.com... Thanks for the ref -- I've never heard of "tensioned leather"...sounds like a throw-back to yesteryear! The more this thread develops, the more I'm getting a sense of that "blind men describing different parts of an elephant"...where I'm all three blind men! Sigh...gotta learn with some $$$ what saddles suit me, I see. So I'm gonna get a Serfas RX and one of these leather thinggies, too, and see! I have to agree with the Brooks B17 recommendation. Even though I'm fortunate to never have ridden an uncomfortable saddle---I have an el cheapo Velo on my town bike, a Performance house cheapo on my MTB, and Brooks B17s on both road bikes. I used a Specialized Body Geometry for years, and it was one of the gimmicky saddles with the cutout. Very comfortable. The Brooks, however, become YOURS once they're broken in. Break-in doesn't take as long as you would imagine, and the saddle is still comfortable before. They're great, they're handmade, and they look fantastic. |
#90
|
|||
|
|||
How Do These Airborne Specs Look?
wrote in message oups.com... Get yourself into a LBS and have them find you something that is just right for you. They can swap out stems and handlebars and seats (for a small upcharge usually, sometimes they'll do even trades) and get it dialled in. Mail-order shops can't do that for you. There are no small charges at an lbs. They will want $30 for a stem you can get for$10 online. LBS have crappy return policies. Order saddles online then you can return them . Or get a Brooks B17 and be in bliss. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a bike online. I have bought online and got a good result. I knew my size and exactly what I wanted, and I'm a capable wrench. If somebody is lacking those qualifications, then an LBS would be a good idea. I did have my LBS build my new bike, but I bought a bunch of parts myself. The shop owner showed me his QBP catalog, and I beat his prices on the drivetrain components and brakes. I got my handlebar from Rivendell, since it's their bar. Everything else I got from the shop, and they gave me 10% off accessories. They were able to beat everybody's price on my fenders and rack, too. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Anyone have the scoop on Airborne? | res09c5t | Techniques | 4 | September 5th 05 12:23 AM |
How Do These Airborne Specs Look? | NYC XYZ | General | 160 | July 28th 05 01:53 PM |
How Do These Airborne Specs Look? | NYC XYZ | Techniques | 152 | July 28th 05 01:53 PM |
Where can I find torque specs for Easton EC90 Equipe? | GT | Techniques | 2 | May 29th 05 11:05 PM |
specs for a 1990 Bridgestone MB-5 fork? | Kevin Gammon | Mountain Biking | 1 | July 28th 03 05:20 PM |