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

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

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

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

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

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

"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....

"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.

"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.

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.