How Do These Airborne Specs Look?

Bill Sornson wrote:


DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS MAN -- HE'S A HORSE'S ASS.

?

I have to concur with his statements about an LBS -- that's how it's
been with me, too. Of course, like I said, I do realize that a
brick-and-mortar operation has expenses above the typical internet
business'....

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.

Hey, good catch! Thanks!



res09c5t wrote:


Airborne has a free stem exchange policy. They do charge if the new stem is
more expensive.

http://www.airborne.net/eready/janet...e/swaproad.asp

Gooserider wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

since you want a Ti bike, I would suggest that you go he
http://www.habcycles.com/
Habanero frames are good quality, just like airborne. However, it is
smaller volume, and the owner, Mark, will spend more time talking to
you and answering all the questions that you have very patiently. Mark
is a regular poster here and a nice guy, but don't talk politics with
him.

Andres


Habaneros are still Chinese. If you want Ti, save up and buy a Litespeed.
Otherwise, there are plenty of perfectly fine bikes made from other
materials. Ti can't do anything good steel doesn't. So it doesn't rust? I
live in Florida, ride steel, and I don't have a rust problem. Proper
maintenance goes a long way. Ti is



Rust doesn't have to be an issue for steel elsewhere either, keep a bike
clean (wash it once a week, a good time to lube the chain, check
adjustments like brakes and chain stretch), then touch up any paint
scratches and chips with one of those kits used for doing the same on an
automobile. I know Canadian Tire has them in Canada, Target or Ace
should in the US.... Steel bikes that get rusty, have not been properly
maintained.....

W

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. =)

!Jones wrote:


Well, some folks get wound up pretty easily and methinks this one is
in search of a reason. You're perfectly on topic asking a
bicycle-related question here.

Thanks -- I'd just as soon go to a bike shop, but of course they're
trying to sell something, and likely to be busy with other customers,
too.

If you want to see him have a conniption fit, propose restricting
bicycles or requiring insurance... something like that. Sometimes
it's fun to push a hot button and watch them slaver and chew the rug;
however, you don't ever *learn* anything therein and I have a short
attention span for that sort of thing.

Jones

Well, I was wondering how come you don't see those shapely sexy babes
on bikes very often...seems like they're all skinny or old and
sun-burned!

PEDALING

"Gooserider" wrote in
:


You want to be comfortable? Here you go:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly....html#complete

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.




Wow...now you're talkin'. I thought the days of a quality steel bike for
under $1000 were long gone. It's like a Rivendell Atlantis's kid brother,
right down to the uber-cool bar-end shifters.

On 23 Jul 2005 10:36:29 -0700, "NYC XYZ" wrote:


Jeff Starr wrote:


Bill, he kind of reminds me of early Maggie, without the charm. This
guy is so full of preconceived ideas, that it will take a miracle to
get through to him.

LOL -- actually, I simply have no idea what it means to be "fit to a
bike"...what, they take out the tape measure like at the tailor's?

Yep. For starters anyway.

For the OP, go to a LBS and get a professional fitting, bicycles can
be comfortable.

That's just the thing -- I haven't any idea what "comfortable" means!
There's this bike shop, Pedal Pushers, that claims to do *laser*
fitting...how do I know it's not just a gimmick?

It IS a gimmick. But is probably part of a decent fitting. One of the tricks now
is to use a laser to track leg motion while pedaling.

I say bikes are uncomfortable because I just haven't experienced total
"comfort" on any -- but then again, all physical activity involves some
measure of discomfort...could just be the hectic way I ride, too --
could be all the pothole patches in NYC I have to go over, all the
bumps...who knows?

True "comfortable" in this context is a relative thing. That said, as much as
you ride you should be able to get not uncomfortable.

Overly padded bike saddles are generally not
comfortable on longer rides. Another thing, two brands of bike with
the same size listing, may be very different. Geometry and where they
measure, affects this.

Wow, this is worse than buying clothes and shoes!

Yep.

Maybe some background would help. What is your age and level of
fitness? How often do you ride? Do you wear padded bicycle shorts?
Where are you located?

33, very fit (cardio and anaerobic), been riding since like 13, commute
two hours four days a week and/or ride for six hours on the weekend
exploring the NYC area. I don't wear padded shorts.

Sorry, biking alway's been a "pick-up-and-go" affair for me...never
imagined it's can be such a science for amateurs!

Really depends on how deeply you care to dig in.


Life is Good!

Indeed
Ron

Jeff

On 23 Jul 2005 11:03:10 -0700, "NYC XYZ" wrote:


RonSonic wrote:

SNIP



Sorta like finding a luxury car with sports car performance and minivan cargo
capacity.

Yup! What's the big deal with that?? Why can't you have a woman
that's pretty and smart? DUCKS

I just want a hooker who's a virgin and can cook.

Well either get off your ass and find out -

Uh, how do I get off my ass and "find out"...I thought that's the whole
point of this thread!

We'll all get tired of explaining things long before you know everything.

Nah, just need to learn to do your own maintenance.

So things are supposed to wear out??

I guess I really have got it backwards...I'm think bikes are inherently
"uncomfortable" but should "last"...seems like the only thing that
lasts is the frame itself -- everything else can be expected to see
replacement, including rims!

Like anything else they wear and need maintenance. You seem to put in some
pretty serious mileage too.

I'm just saying, in response to your question, that at 5'11" and 230
lbs. I ride often and I ride hard!

Yeah, that can be rough on parts. I'm not much lighter.

My question is what's wrong with the Trek that it should be replaced.

Um, LOL -- it's stolen! =(

I'd suggest starting from there. What about the Trek would you change or
improve? Look at it from a baseline, unless you just want to try something
completely different.

You should be getting out of the saddle and shifting your position regularly.
Don't get settled in to one position.

Yes, I do. Glad to see I'm doing something right, then! Always
figured on bicycling being a "natural" thing.

Really isn't all that complicated is it. Shouldn't be painful or uncomfortable
though. I think the difference between a bike that fits well and one that
doesn't is that you can adapt to the one that fits, the one that doesn't is
always gonna hurt.

For example we talk about "breaking in" a saddle, and when you feel that heavy
"chew toy" grade leather then reach down and feel your own ass you gotta wonder
just which is the one doing the breaking in. Nonetheless we do get comfortable
after some miles.

Ron

Gooserider wrote:


Then you shouldn't be worrying so much about frame material and a couple of
pounds on the bike.

I am all the more, actually, precisely because I myself am so heavy!

Comfort is more about position and fit on the bike. Comfort is cumulative.

Indeed, and that's why, being cumulative, I figured that every pound
counts where it can be shaved off, even if to wind up making room for
something else deemed necessary!

No, but it definitely affects comfort. An upright position with less weight
on the hands makes a huge difference.

On the hands! That's why I'd said elsewhere that cycling seems
"inherently uncomfortable"...always something being stressed out. =)

Well, if anything, I've learned from all these discussions that a
drop-bar would be better, insofar as it offers more hand
positions...seems obvious now, but I'd just never thought of it!

I'd say the majority are. There are some aluminum(Cannondale comes to mind)
and some Ti(Airborne, Lightspeed), but most are steel.

Hmm!

di wrote:


Actually I wasn't even thinking about performance and hybrid in the same
chain of thought,

I know, I "caught" folks "off-guard" by not stating my premises.

most of the people I know who start with a hybrid and stay
with cycling will eventually go to either a good quality road bike or
mountain bike and drop the hybrid.

I figured on the hybrid as the all-purpose bike. Later on I'd get
different bikes for specific roles.

BY the way you can buy a very good
recumbent for $1200.

Not a nineteen-pounder!