relevant importance of variables when choosing a new bike

davek writes:

It may also be worth bearing in mind that a cheap bike that makes
you
work harder will also make you lose weight quicker. A sleek,
lightweight road bike is almost too easy to ride!

But does a cheap bike make you work harder, or just mean that you go
slower and for a shorter distance.

Riding with a fit friend, who has a decent bike, might make you work
harder

Jeremy Parker

Actually, particularly useful on the Sheldon Brown pages are the
mention that whilst 20years ago the design of bikes was such
that
having the seat just high enough to get a tippytoe on the floor
when
at a stand, the design of bikes is such that this isn't the case
now,
and that seats should be higher. (I had wondered why some
cyclists
seem to have seats way higher than I would have expected - I
thought
that maybe they had exceptionally long legs!)

Does Sheldon say why? I think the reason is some regulation by the
American Consumer Products Safety Commission, worried by riders
leaning over while going round a curve, being too stupid to stop
pedalling, thereby hitting their pedal on the ground (I doubt if the
CPSC has even heard of a fixie)

Jeremy Parker

On Fri, 8 Sep 2006 20:44:52 +0100, "Jeremy Parker"
wrote:

and that seats should be higher. (I had wondered why some
cyclists
seem to have seats way higher than I would have expected - I
thought
that maybe they had exceptionally long legs!)

Does Sheldon say why? I think the reason is some regulation by the
American Consumer Products Safety Commission, worried by riders
leaning over while going round a curve, being too stupid to stop
pedalling, thereby hitting their pedal on the ground (I doubt if the
CPSC has even heard of a fixie)


He reckoned on the trend by cycle manufacturers to build the bottom
bracket higher off the ground these days

http://sheldonbrown.com/standing.html


M

On Thu, 7 Sep 2006 11:37:45 +0100, Marcus Red wrote
(in article ):

Actually, particularly useful on the Sheldon Brown pages are the
mention that whilst 20years ago the design of bikes was such that
having the seat just high enough to get a tippytoe on the floor when
at a stand, the design of bikes is such that this isn't the case now,
and that seats should be higher. (I had wondered why some cyclists
seem to have seats way higher than I would have expected - I thought
that maybe they had exceptionally long legs!)


Eh? isn't that a bit dangerous? (My bike is over 20 years old)

No it isn't dangerous.

One of Sheldon's best pages imho is on starting and stopping:

http://sheldonbrown.com/starting.html



--
Patrick

My bikes: Moulton AM7 and two Moulton APBs - an R18 and a "mongrel"
Pic of R18: http://patrickjames.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/R18.jpg

A few paragraphs about the Scottoiler chain lubrication system:
http://patrickjames.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/scottoiler.html

patrick j wrote:
On Thu, 7 Sep 2006 11:37:45 +0100, Marcus Red wrote
(in article ):

Actually, particularly useful on the Sheldon Brown pages are the
mention that whilst 20years ago the design of bikes was such that
having the seat just high enough to get a tippytoe on the floor when
at a stand, the design of bikes is such that this isn't the case now,
and that seats should be higher. (I had wondered why some cyclists
seem to have seats way higher than I would have expected - I thought
that maybe they had exceptionally long legs!)

Eh? isn't that a bit dangerous? (My bike is over 20 years old)

No it isn't dangerous.

One of Sheldon's best pages imho is on starting and stopping:

http://sheldonbrown.com/starting.html



What happens if/when the brakes fail? You can't stick your feet on the
ground.

In article ,
says...
snip info on setting saddle at correct height

What happens if/when the brakes fail? You can't stick your feet on the
ground.


both brakes failing at the same time? you either don't bother
maintaining you bike properly with two working brakes, or you're so
unlucky you probably don't have much longer to live anyway.

--
Colin

Coincidence is the alibi of the Gods

(remove FOOT to reply)

in message , Marcus Red
') wrote:

patrick j wrote:
On Thu, 7 Sep 2006 11:37:45 +0100, Marcus Red wrote
(in article ):

Actually, particularly useful on the Sheldon Brown pages are the
mention that whilst 20years ago the design of bikes was such that
having the seat just high enough to get a tippytoe on the floor when
at a stand, the design of bikes is such that this isn't the case now,
and that seats should be higher. (I had wondered why some cyclists
seem to have seats way higher than I would have expected - I thought
that maybe they had exceptionally long legs!)

Eh? isn't that a bit dangerous? (My bike is over 20 years old)

No it isn't dangerous.

One of Sheldon's best pages imho is on starting and stopping:

http://sheldonbrown.com/starting.html

What happens if/when the brakes fail? You can't stick your feet on the
ground.

What happens if the brakes fail on your car? You can't stick your feet on
the ground. If you've maintained your brakes properly, it won't happen.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

[ This mind intentionally left blank ]

On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 12:19:23 +0100, Marcus Red wrote
(in article ):

Eh? isn't that a bit dangerous? (My bike is over 20 years old)

No it isn't dangerous.

One of Sheldon's best pages imho is on starting and stopping:

http://sheldonbrown.com/starting.html



What happens if/when the brakes fail? You can't stick your feet on the
ground.

With a higher saddle you can still stick your feet on the ground. You just
can't do it when your posterior is on the saddle



--
Patrick

My bikes: Moulton AM7 and two Moulton APBs - an R18 and a "mongrel"
Pic of R18: http://patrickjames.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/R18.jpg

A few paragraphs about the Scottoiler chain lubrication system:
http://patrickjames.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/scottoiler.html

In article
Marcus Red wrote:
snip
What happens if/when the brakes fail? You can't stick your feet on the
ground.

Sit on the frame and put your feet down.
Jam your foot against the back tyre.
Put a little more effort into maintaining your bike.
Learn how to fly.

On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:19:23 GMT, Marcus Red wrote:


What happens if/when the brakes fail? You can't stick your feet on the
ground.


One of the funniest things I ever saw, which involved bringing a bike
to a quick stop, was when one of the school bullies whizzed down the
road, and aimed a kick at the seat of the pants of a boy on the edge
of the payment.

He connected satisfactorily, but the recoil, and the fact that he was
travelling at speed, meant that his foot ended up between the spokes
of his rear wheel which, once they came into contact with the rear
spokes, brought his rear wheel to a complete standstill in an instant.

Not sure I would recommend that though, as he screamed in a huge
amount of pain. hehehe.

Mark W