A couple of questions about cycling.

Etxy wrote:
2. Under $1000, you'd be better looking for a second hand bike. You can
get a $2500 bike for under $1000 second hand.

Sounds like a good idea on the face of it, but you can't take it back
for a refund if it turns out to have problems ... so what should one be
on the lookout for?

I'm sure there are some things that look bad but are simple/cheap to fix
(e.g. worn brake pads), while there must be other things that are
difficult to spot that could be costly or difficult to fix. Does anyone
know of a list of what these things are?

Also, I'd want to know why it's being sold - surely a common reason
would be that it has some problem that's beyond economical repair? Or
like cars, are there some people that just have to have this year's model?

TIA,

&roo

Etxy wrote:
2. Under $1000, you'd be better looking for a second hand bike. You can
get a $2500 bike for under $1000 second hand.

Sounds like a good idea on the face of it, but you can't take it back
for a refund if it turns out to have problems ... so what should one be
on the lookout for?

I'm sure there are some things that look bad but are simple/cheap to fix
(e.g. worn brake pads), while there must be other things that are
difficult to spot that could be costly or difficult to fix. Does anyone
know of a list of what these things are?

Also, I'd want to know why it's being sold - surely a common reason
would be that it has some problem that's beyond economical repair? Or
like cars, are there some people that just have to have this year's model?

TIA,

&roo

"PC" wrote in message
...

My bike also has a 12" wide touring saddle for extra comfort

Seriously? That's not a saddle, that's an armchair! :-)

Yep, it narrows to about 2" at the front.. Velo market it under the
Webspring brand, and there's at least one other brand on the market
that's similar.. I buy em at Brunswick Street Cycles in Fitzroy..

This fascination casual cyclists have with wide saddles never ceases to
amaze me. Just because a saddle has heaps of padding doesn't mean it's
going to be comfortable. You have to remember that cycling (unless it's a
motorbike you're riding) involves rotating pedals at some point, which in
turn involves moving your thighs back and forth.

Now like most people, I only have a gap of an inch or so between my thighs,
so if I try to pedal on anything wider, they rub, and I get chaffing, which
hurts. That's the real reason why anyone who spends any decent time on the
bike ends up using nice narrow saddles. It's not some masochistic thing,
but just the opposite. The more padding you stuff in between your legs, the
worse you're going to make it, so better to go with a nice narrow saddle
that's got a little bit of spring in it, and even then be sure to wear
proper cycling shorts to protect your thighs from rubbing.

Regards,

Suzy

"PC" wrote in message
...

My bike also has a 12" wide touring saddle for extra comfort

Seriously? That's not a saddle, that's an armchair! :-)

Yep, it narrows to about 2" at the front.. Velo market it under the
Webspring brand, and there's at least one other brand on the market
that's similar.. I buy em at Brunswick Street Cycles in Fitzroy..

This fascination casual cyclists have with wide saddles never ceases to
amaze me. Just because a saddle has heaps of padding doesn't mean it's
going to be comfortable. You have to remember that cycling (unless it's a
motorbike you're riding) involves rotating pedals at some point, which in
turn involves moving your thighs back and forth.

Now like most people, I only have a gap of an inch or so between my thighs,
so if I try to pedal on anything wider, they rub, and I get chaffing, which
hurts. That's the real reason why anyone who spends any decent time on the
bike ends up using nice narrow saddles. It's not some masochistic thing,
but just the opposite. The more padding you stuff in between your legs, the
worse you're going to make it, so better to go with a nice narrow saddle
that's got a little bit of spring in it, and even then be sure to wear
proper cycling shorts to protect your thighs from rubbing.

Regards,

Suzy

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 09:44:29 GMT, "Suzy Jackson"
wrote:

Yep, it narrows to about 2" at the front.. Velo market it under the
Webspring brand, and there's at least one other brand on the market
that's similar.. I buy em at Brunswick Street Cycles in Fitzroy..

This fascination casual cyclists have with wide saddles never ceases to
amaze me. Just because a saddle has heaps of padding doesn't mean it's
going to be comfortable.

It also never ceases to amaze me how many people think that everyone
has the same size butt, or is the same weight, or the same height..
This applies especially to bike equipment designers and retailers,
either not making/selling multiple size ranges or not putting them
through proper testing to make a quality product

Anyway, the bones in my posterior seem to be wider set than most, and
need a wider seat, and my legs are set apart, so the wide-ish front
doesn't bother me at all no matter how long I ride.. Even if that
wasn't the case, the sheer thought of my entire upper body weight
sitting on the six square inches of the average saddle frightens me..
Surface area should count for something..


PC

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 09:44:29 GMT, "Suzy Jackson"
wrote:

Yep, it narrows to about 2" at the front.. Velo market it under the
Webspring brand, and there's at least one other brand on the market
that's similar.. I buy em at Brunswick Street Cycles in Fitzroy..

This fascination casual cyclists have with wide saddles never ceases to
amaze me. Just because a saddle has heaps of padding doesn't mean it's
going to be comfortable.

It also never ceases to amaze me how many people think that everyone
has the same size butt, or is the same weight, or the same height..
This applies especially to bike equipment designers and retailers,
either not making/selling multiple size ranges or not putting them
through proper testing to make a quality product

Anyway, the bones in my posterior seem to be wider set than most, and
need a wider seat, and my legs are set apart, so the wide-ish front
doesn't bother me at all no matter how long I ride.. Even if that
wasn't the case, the sheer thought of my entire upper body weight
sitting on the six square inches of the average saddle frightens me..
Surface area should count for something..


PC

"PC" wrote

Even if that
wasn't the case, the sheer thought of my entire upper body weight
sitting on the six square inches of the average saddle frightens
me..
Surface area should count for something..

You must be scared to death when you're walking and place all of your
weight on the ball of one foot then. Much smaller area than the
average saddle.

Theo

"PC" wrote

Even if that
wasn't the case, the sheer thought of my entire upper body weight
sitting on the six square inches of the average saddle frightens
me..
Surface area should count for something..

You must be scared to death when you're walking and place all of your
weight on the ball of one foot then. Much smaller area than the
average saddle.

Theo

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 10:50:28 GMT, "Theo Bekkers"
wrote:

Even if that
wasn't the case, the sheer thought of my entire upper body weight
sitting on the six square inches of the average saddle frightens
me..Surface area should count for something..

You must be scared to death when you're walking and place all of your
weight on the ball of one foot then. Much smaller area than the
average saddle.

My feet are designed to take my weight.. As my posterior bones are
set too wide for the average saddle, the weight would fall directly
onto muscle and tissue in the area, and that is quite painful..


PC

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 10:50:28 GMT, "Theo Bekkers"
wrote:

Even if that
wasn't the case, the sheer thought of my entire upper body weight
sitting on the six square inches of the average saddle frightens
me..Surface area should count for something..

You must be scared to death when you're walking and place all of your
weight on the ball of one foot then. Much smaller area than the
average saddle.

My feet are designed to take my weight.. As my posterior bones are
set too wide for the average saddle, the weight would fall directly
onto muscle and tissue in the area, and that is quite painful..


PC