#11
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Comfortable Bikes
Paul Cassel wrote:
Ryan Cousineau wrote: Can you be more specific? Is this a feet-forward bike like some Electras, or is it a full-on cruiser bike that looks like a reincarnation of a 1950s creation? Closest would be an Electra. The top of the headset is above the seat level which gives it, to me, an awkward look. .... .... The winning combination here is decent frame and decent components in a comfortable arrangement. In the past, all the bikes of this profile I encountered were 60 lb monstrosities with cast iron frames and crappy components. This bike is practical and fun to ride PLUS you can ride it in street clothes. I was sort of hoping my daughter would tire of the bike and then I'd ride it to work but my wife said she has first dibs if daughter tires. We both currently ride in 'costume' making the changing, etc. tedious. -paul You should look at the RANS crank-forward bikes, specifically the "crank forward" models. These are the bikes that Electra Townies wish they were born as. http://www.ransbikes.com/ I have a 2006 Fusion, specifically. It can be ridden in street clothes but they're not ideal. I wear recumbent shorts that are lycra, but without any padding. A lot of non-bicycle-riders think it's perfect, but I would want to try a Dynamik if I had to do it over again. The Fusion can be adjusted so that you're sitting perfectly upright (which is very comfortable for someone who does not ride regularly) but it's hard to ride at a fast pace that way. To me, it always seems like my chest is catching a lot of air. For casual riding it is great--much less seat pain, no hand pressure or neck strain. ~ |
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#12
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OT: bicycle clothes was Comfortable Bikes
DougC wrote:
I have a 2006 Fusion, specifically. It can be ridden in street clothes but they're not ideal. I wear recumbent shorts that are lycra, but without any padding. Where do you find these? I have *one* pair that I bought maybe 10 years ago that didn't get worn out/thrown out/whatever. Not being a hardcore spandex-and-jersey guy, I usually ride in boxer briefs under cargo shorts but the lycra feels nicer (less chafing.) I'm not a big fan of the padding, even on a road/CX bike, I'm not sure how much it really helps me (I don't often get a sore butt, at least not with the mileage that I typically ride) and it's one more thing to get sweaty and nasty - which is a real concern if you're a damnyankee forced to live near DC, a.k.a. Our Nation's First Swamp. nate (80 degrees is hot. I don't care what you southerners say.) -- replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel |
#13
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Comfortable Bikes
DougC wrote:
Paul Cassel wrote: You should look at the RANS crank-forward bikes, specifically the "crank forward" models. These are the bikes that Electra Townies wish they were born as. http://www.ransbikes.com/ My friend has one and I've ridden it. Very impressive. The one my daughter got isn't pedal forward and also is a lot less expensive. My price on it (new) was U$250. |
#14
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Comfortable Bikes
Ryan Cousineau wrote:
What pushes me into changing clothes for a commute is less about the bike, and more about either sweating or wearing out the crotches of nice pants. The secondary consideration is comfort on rides of that distance. I know now that part of the reason she didn't use her other bikes for commuting was that she didn't want to dress up, dress down, carry clothes. There is something mellow about this bike which makes the effort to ride it about the same as walking. I'm content going maybe 10 mph or even less for all I know. I'm hoping to prise it from her to see if I can commute on it in street clothes w/o the sweat issue. I suppose I could ride my regular bikes in street clothes for short distances by taking a few precautions, but the only time I tried I got a cuff caught in a chainring ruining a pair of decent trousers. |
#15
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Comfortable Bikes
Nate Nagel wrote:
Paul Cassel wrote: I do get your point, though - there are so many bikes on the market for various racing purposes, but try to find a *quality* bike that is just a good bike for tooling around. With few exceptions, you basically have to buy a bike that is optimized for the kind of racing that sort-of describes your riding style, and try to find one with the appropriate braze-ons etc. for the crap you're going to want to add. I did recommend a Schwinn Coffee for a friend's wife based on comments here though, I hope I did not lead them astray (assuming that they're actually going to go look at one, that is.) My daughter eyed a 'cream' but settled on this bike. I think the bike she got was more comfortable than the cream. I heard there was a coffee around somewheres, but I never saw it. The bike is definitely within the theme of the coffee / cream ones. One note - my daughter is fairly athletic. She sometimes runs 5 miles just to shake a few webs out. So maybe a person who is sedentary won't enjoy the coffee as much as she is enjoying her bike. |
#16
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OT: bicycle clothes was Comfortable Bikes
Nate Nagel wrote:
DougC wrote: I have a 2006 Fusion, specifically. It can be ridden in street clothes but they're not ideal. I wear recumbent shorts that are lycra, but without any padding. Where do you find these? I have *one* pair that I bought maybe 10 years ago that didn't get worn out/thrown out/whatever. Not being a hardcore spandex-and-jersey guy, I usually ride in boxer briefs under cargo shorts but the lycra feels nicer (less chafing.) I'm not a big fan of the padding, even on a road/CX bike, I'm not sure how much it really helps me (I don't often get a sore butt, at least not with the mileage that I typically ride) and it's one more thing to get sweaty and nasty - which is a real concern if you're a damnyankee forced to live near DC, a.k.a. Our Nation's First Swamp. nate (80 degrees is hot. I don't care what you southerners say.) Hostel Shoppe sells some, I prefer the Volae shorts. http://www.hostelshoppe.com/ Kucharik also sells some recumbent shorts that have "thin padding". I've not tried them myself. Other people have mentioned using various synthetic exercise and rowing shorts, but the problems with these is that they usually aren't intended to be worn without underwear (the fabrics can stretch and become rather transparent at certain angles). And if you have to wear something under them, then the whole point fails. ----- Cotton pants of any kind is bad for riding. And the problem with regular shorts (on a recumbent or the RANS c-f bikes) is scooping bugs in the pantlegs. ~ |
#17
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Comfortable Bikes
"Paul Cassel" wrote in message
. .. On a whim, I got on it and rode it. What a revaluation. I've never been on a bike which didn't demand special clothing and a rather contorted position. This thick tired, step through bike sat me up comfortably and felt right in my street clothes. .... Just goes to show how neat a bicycle can be if they are comfortable to ride instead of specialized exercise equipment. I think there is a lesson here but I"m unsure what it is. It's not just about the shape of the bike, it's the attitude. Bikes were originally transport, not exercise equipment - they're there to make getting places easier, the opposite of exercise! Bikes should always be comfortable to ride (ok, high-level competition is probably a fair exception). And there should be a place in everybody's life for a bike to be used for everyday life, rather than just lycra-clad sport (my bike covers both :-) ). When I want to get somewhere on my bike, I do it - no specialised gear (*), I wear exactly what I wear the rest of the time. This is how it should be. The bike can cope with all weathers, all lighting conditions. Again, this is how it should be. Riding a bike isn't 'special', it's normal. And when I want to take exercise rather than just get somewhere, I put the lycra on and head off. So yes, if you found your bike was uncomfortable and required specialised clothing, something was wrong. I'm glad you've found what it is, and wish you luck in letting the fun continue :-) (* ok, I cheat a bit here - I've got SPDs, but I'm old and unfashionable enough to get away with those as normal footwear :-) ) cheers, clive |
#18
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OT: bicycle clothes was Comfortable Bikes
DougC wrote:
Nate Nagel wrote: DougC wrote: I have a 2006 Fusion, specifically. It can be ridden in street clothes but they're not ideal. I wear recumbent shorts that are lycra, but without any padding. Where do you find these? I have *one* pair that I bought maybe 10 years ago that didn't get worn out/thrown out/whatever. Not being a hardcore spandex-and-jersey guy, I usually ride in boxer briefs under cargo shorts but the lycra feels nicer (less chafing.) I'm not a big fan of the padding, even on a road/CX bike, I'm not sure how much it really helps me (I don't often get a sore butt, at least not with the mileage that I typically ride) and it's one more thing to get sweaty and nasty - which is a real concern if you're a damnyankee forced to live near DC, a.k.a. Our Nation's First Swamp. nate (80 degrees is hot. I don't care what you southerners say.) Hostel Shoppe sells some, I prefer the Volae shorts. http://www.hostelshoppe.com/ Kucharik also sells some recumbent shorts that have "thin padding". I've not tried them myself. Other people have mentioned using various synthetic exercise and rowing shorts, but the problems with these is that they usually aren't intended to be worn without underwear (the fabrics can stretch and become rather transparent at certain angles). And if you have to wear something under them, then the whole point fails. ----- Cotton pants of any kind is bad for riding. And the problem with regular shorts (on a recumbent or the RANS c-f bikes) is scooping bugs in the pantlegs. ~ Thanks for the ideas. I'm usually wearing these *AS* underwear, and on a standard diamond-frame bike, so no worries there. Like I said, I typically just ride in cargo shorts (so I can carry keys/wallet/cell etc. without having to carry a backpack,) just want something underneath so the insides of my legs don't get chafed on the nose of the saddle. Sort of like MTB shorts, but without the padding, and in two pieces. nate -- replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel |
#19
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Comfortable Bikes
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
... I do get your point, though - there are so many bikes on the market for various racing purposes, but try to find a *quality* bike that is just a good bike for tooling around. Hooray for rightpondia :-) Touring bikes never died out, or if you want something a bit nippier, an audax bike makes a darn fine utility bike. Mudguards, rack, lights, comfort. cheers, clive |
#20
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Comfortable Bikes
"Paul Cassel" wrote in message
... I suppose I could ride my regular bikes in street clothes for short distances by taking a few precautions, but the only time I tried I got a cuff caught in a chainring ruining a pair of decent trousers. :-) Something you learn about as a kid if you ride to school in long trousers. Socks, trouser clips, or rolling up the trousers. Don't worry about looking 'dorky' - life's to short to miss out on fun because of worries about appearance :-) cheers, clive |
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