dry run to the markets

Cyclists -

Bike: Sun Retro-Alloy Cruiser. It’s a 3-speed with coaster brakes.
Today I took a dry run to the grocers and mall where I'll do most of
my shopping. There is one hill of which I still can’t get to the
top. I’d like to stand up to pedal, but I’m still quite large and I’m
afraid my chain will break.

Once I’m able to climb that hill, I’ll install my pannier baskets,
which weigh about 6 lbs and try a few more dry runs to the stores.
The baskets will be more or less permanently attached, so I might get
a used bike for exercise and fun riding. I like the 3-speed but maybe
I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

There’s another hill right by my house (at the top of the hill)
Lately I’ve been making it to the top of that one, but by then I’m in
the lowest gear and I’m almost to a full stop, not to mention out of
breath. I’d rather not get into that situation while away from
home.

Local buses now have bike racks and there’s a park in Liverpool with
great bike paths. And also you can ride along the Erie Canal for
endless water-level miles, from what I hear. I think the pannier
baskets will interfere with loading on bus and car racks, but I won’t
know ‘til I try it.

Happy riding,

Bob Syr
Syracuse, NY

bob syr wrote:
Cyclists -

Bike: Sun Retro-Alloy Cruiser. It’s a 3-speed with coaster brakes.
Today I took a dry run to the grocers and mall where I'll do most of
my shopping. There is one hill of which I still can’t get to the
top. I’d like to stand up to pedal, but I’m still quite large and I’m
afraid my chain will break.

Have no fear on that score. Your chain will not break. Lots of large
cyclists climb very steep hills in very low gears, and their chains
don't break.

Once I’m able to climb that hill, I’ll install my pannier baskets,
which weigh about 6 lbs and try a few more dry runs to the stores.
The baskets will be more or less permanently attached, so I might get
a used bike for exercise and fun riding. I like the 3-speed but maybe
I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

Up-to-date?

There’s another hill right by my house (at the top of the hill)
Lately I’ve been making it to the top of that one, but by then I’m in
the lowest gear and I’m almost to a full stop, not to mention out of
breath. I’d rather not get into that situation while away from
home.

That's part of the fun. Really.

Local buses now have bike racks and there’s a park in Liverpool with
great bike paths. And also you can ride along the Erie Canal for
endless water-level miles, from what I hear. I think the pannier
baskets will interfere with loading on bus and car racks, but I won’t
know ‘til I try it.

I don't really get the bike-on-bus or bike-on-train idea. I mean, you
have a bike. What do you need with a bus or train? For now, bike where
you are, and go where you can on the bike.

--

David L. Johnson

"What am I on? I'm on my bike, six hours a day, busting my ass.
What are you on?"
--Lance Armstrong

David L. Johnson wrote, On 6/20/2008 12:54 AM:
bob syr wrote:
snip

Local buses now have bike racks and there’s a park in Liverpool with
great bike paths. And also you can ride along the Erie Canal for
endless water-level miles, from what I hear. I think the pannier
baskets will interfere with loading on bus and car racks, but I won’t
know ‘til I try it.

I don't really get the bike-on-bus or bike-on-train idea. I mean, you
have a bike. What do you need with a bus or train? For now, bike
where you are, and go where you can on the bike.

I certainly get the "bike-on-bus or bike-on-train idea". Its fun explore
other places - places that are too far away to comfortably reach from
home by bicycle.

Bob just wants to check out some other places to ride. What's wrong with
that?

--

Paul D Oosterhout
I work for SAIC (but I don't speak for SAIC)

On Jun 20, 8:05 am, Paul O wrote:
David L. Johnson wrote, On 6/20/2008 12:54 AM: bob syr wrote:
snip

Local buses now have bike racks and there’s a park in Liverpool with
great bike paths. And also you can ride along the Erie Canal for
endless water-level miles, from what I hear. I think the pannier
baskets will interfere with loading on bus and car racks, but I won’t
know ‘til I try it.

I don't really get the bike-on-bus or bike-on-train idea. I mean, you
have a bike. What do you need with a bus or train? For now, bike
where you are, and go where you can on the bike.

I certainly get the "bike-on-bus or bike-on-train idea". Its fun explore
other places - places that are too far away to comfortably reach from
home by bicycle.

Agreed. Bikes make a great combination with bus and/or train transit
and allow for much greater flexibility of destinations. Where I am
there are also a number of bridges which don't allow bicycle access so
using a bus to get across opens up whole new areas for bike rides,
whether for transportation or for recreation. The bus bike racks that
I've used space the bikes pretty well so I'd think you could still use
them with the side baskets attached. Some bus companies have a demo
rack where you can try out the operation without any pressure from an
impatient driver (or passengers). Check with your local companies to
see if they have something conveniently located.

In article ,
"David L. Johnson" writes:

Local buses now have bike racks and there’s a park in Liverpool with
great bike paths. And also you can ride along the Erie Canal for
endless water-level miles, from what I hear. I think the pannier
baskets will interfere with loading on bus and car racks, but I won’t
know ‘til I try it.

I don't really get the bike-on-bus or bike-on-train idea. I mean, you
have a bike. What do you need with a bus or train? For now, bike where
you are, and go where you can on the bike.

For cycling commuters, rack-fitted buses and commuter
trains which allow bikes onboard can be a boon for
shortening travel time to or from work. Sometimes
it's worth it, just for that extra (or only) cup o'
tea or coffee.

And if the weather suddenly turns inclement, it's nice
to have to option to take public transit most or all
of the way.

If you're lost out in the boonies (e.g: Cloverdale, BC,)
the bus can get you to some familiar spot where you can
at least regain your bearings.

But, yeah -- once awheel, I too generally harbour a
profound reluctance to dismount and relinquish riding
to adopt another mode. That's why I don't "get"
triathlon ;-) I mean, really -- how could anyone
just dump their bike and run away from it!? That's like
enjoying a few morsels of a nice steak dinner, and then
leaving it to scrub bathroom tile grout.

Perhaps triathlon would be improved if the running segment
was replaced with throwing darts at balloons tacked onto a
pegboard, or throwing baseballs at milk bottle pyramids,
or shooting BBs at moving tin ducks. Kinda like biathlon.

Maybe triathletes should, instead of running, use
public transit.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

a used bike for exercise and fun riding. *I like the 3-speed but maybe
I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

Up-to-date?

Hey, that's what the salesman told me as he tried to sell me a 25-gear
$1,800 special today only.
You gotta get up to date.

In article
,
bob syr wrote:

a used bike for exercise and fun riding. *I like the 3-speed but maybe
I¹ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

Up-to-date?

Hey, that's what the salesman told me as he tried to sell me a 25-gear
$1,800 special today only.
You gotta get up to date.

25? I'd like to see photos of that drivetrain.

More confusingly, bikes priced in the $1800 (new) range tend to be
nominal 27-speeds (for MTBs) or 20/30 speeds (for double- and
triple-equipped road bikes).

My newest drivetrain has 8 speeds,

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

"bob syr" wrote

a used bike for exercise and fun riding. I like the 3-speed but maybe
I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

Up-to-date?

:Hey, that's what the salesman told me as he tried to sell me a 25-gear
:$1,800 special today only.
:You gotta get up to date.

I don't know if you really need an $1800 25-gear bike or not, but you can
get some much less expensive 27-speed bikes with much better gear options
than is likely on a 3 or 5 speed.

On Jun 20, 10:28 pm, bob syr wrote:
a used bike for exercise and fun riding. I like the 3-speed but maybe
I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

Up-to-date?

Hey, that's what the salesman told me as he tried to sell me a 25-gear
$1,800 special today only.
You gotta get up to date.

I'm not sure that you need a new bike as much as a new salesman.
Me, I like having a wide range of gears. But I think I could get a
nice bike (with low gears for climbing with a load and big gears
deadheading) by spending a lot less than $1800.

$1800 seems pretty pricey for a commuter bike - that's the kind of
dough that them recreational weight weenies spend on their bikes. It
may be a very good deal, but I suspect that it's something that the
store would like to get rid of rather than something that other
customers have been asking for and they are having trouble stocking
due to high demand.

Here is a bike sold by REI - who are generally NOT known as a discount
retailer - It may not be the bike of your dreams but it does seem to
have a wide range of gears (but still only 8 speeds) and luggage
carrying capabilities for about half the price you mentioned:
http://www.rei.com/product/744803?cm...:referralID=NA
Plus it comes with lights and a dyno-hub to generate juice for the
lights, a pretty utilitarian setup in my book. If you have an REI
store near you it might behoove you to look at the plethora of bikes
there before you plunk down more than a grand.

Kona doesn't publish a MSR on their web site:
http://www.konaworld.com/08_ute_w.htm
But their Ute looks like it could be used to bring home some bacon,
even though it doesn't really have the big ring for the empty side of
the trip.

Google for utility bike and I'm certain you'll find lots of reading
material.

On Jun 24, 11:41*am, DennisTheBald wrote:
On Jun 20, 10:28 pm, bob syr wrote:

a used bike for exercise and fun riding. *I like the 3-speed but maybe
I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.

Up-to-date?

Hey, that's what the salesman told me as he tried to sell me a 25-gear
$1,800 special today only.
You gotta get up to date.

I'm not sure that you need a new bike as much as a new salesman.
Me, I like having a wide range of gears. But I think I could get a
nice bike (with low gears for climbing with a load and big gears
deadheading) by spending a lot less than $1800.

$1800 seems pretty pricey for a commuter bike - that's the kind of
dough that them recreational weight weenies spend on their bikes. *It
may be a very good deal, but I suspect that it's something that the
store would like to get rid of rather than something that other
customers have been asking for and they are having trouble stocking
due to high demand.

Here is a bike sold by REI - who are generally NOT known as a discount
retailer - It may not be the bike of your dreams but it does seem to
have a wide range of gears (but still only 8 speeds) and luggage
carrying capabilities for about half the price you mentioned:http://www.rei.com/product/744803?cm...datafeed-_-pro...
Plus it comes with lights and a dyno-hub to generate juice for the
lights, a pretty utilitarian setup in my book. *If you have an REI
store near you it might behoove you to look at the plethora of bikes
there before you plunk down more than a grand.

Wow, that's pretty cool. If I wasn't so hooked on "drops" and making
the best time I can on the unloaded side of the trip I'd seriously
consider one. I just don't see myself being happy on a bike that
weighs 34lbs, though that is acceptable for what the bike is intended
as.