Honestly dudes, maybe Britisherians' ways are different, but in my experience bike shop workers are insanely friendly and if you talk to them for around five minutes about yr biking goals you'll get the use of things like a chain tool, etc, and they'll usually throw in any v. small parts you might need like screws n shit
Also, if there are any bike co-ops in yr area, as a rule, they'll have specialized tools you can use for free.
That said, a multi-tool with a chain tool is u+k
― ENERGY FOOD (en i see kay), Thursday, 3 September 2009 10:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah I've got the odd free screw from my local bike shop guy.
Ahem.
― ledge, Thursday, 3 September 2009 10:51 (fifteen years ago) link
So today I broke my Fuji frame right above the bottom bracket coming out of an intersection. I think the gear ratio (53:16) was too high for a single speed, although I was going to change it anyway because it had gotten so annoying. I'm thinking about buying a frame on craigslist and then having my old parts put on it. Last time this happened (on a Raleigh frame that broke in a different place) I lived near a pretty friendly bike store and got a new frame and labor for $200. We'll see what my luck is like. I've been, in the meantime, looking at this:
http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/1355953008.html
Except I want that damn seat.
Also this:
http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/1355023370.html
That's all I see right now. Comments on those?
― bamcquern, Thursday, 3 September 2009 13:43 (fifteen years ago) link
yow what is that crazy seatpost?
― ledge, Thursday, 3 September 2009 13:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Cuttles, why selling the 1-Way? Seems like an ideal commute/errand bike?
if i'm communting, generally i have already ridden that morning. i find riding a single-speed (even though not fixed) limites my ability to do strictly a high-cadence recovery ride on the way to work. the bridge ascents especially hurt me on the one-way after a hard work out. i could always switch the chain-ring, but then i'd be spinning out way too much on the flats.
sorry, bikes should have gears, unless you are on the track or riding on an airstrip.
― cutty, Thursday, 3 September 2009 16:04 (fifteen years ago) link
just get a three-speed hub!
― crabRCISE (gbx), Thursday, 3 September 2009 16:35 (fifteen years ago) link
i'd rather ride my road bike to work, thanks
― cutty, Thursday, 3 September 2009 16:38 (fifteen years ago) link
eek, hope you can bring it into the office
― crabRCISE (gbx), Thursday, 3 September 2009 16:39 (fifteen years ago) link
Having a fixed for my commute and a geared bike for other riding is perfect - I fucked my last road bike by using it for a commute through the winter, so I've found having something that is relatively easy to clean and maintain is useful and I can leave my road bike for the days when I can get out, come back and clean it up if necessary. I clearly don't ride anywhere near as much though as lots here though - it's just a case of what suits, really.
Also, um, I do really like riding fixed in town.
The lack of gears isn't really relevant (in London anyway), and having a nice low gear (48/19) ensures that I've got a generally high cadence and can get away from junctions easily, and well, that feeling of rolling along just really sets me up for the day.
― GamalielRatsey, Thursday, 3 September 2009 16:47 (fifteen years ago) link
my building has a gated bike area with key entry. also NYC just passed a local law requiring all buildings to have indoor bike parking space.
― cutty, Thursday, 3 September 2009 16:53 (fifteen years ago) link
!!!
― crabRCISE (gbx), Thursday, 3 September 2009 17:14 (fifteen years ago) link
I have a friend that works for Tr3k and can get me the 30% employee discount - is this worth it or should I just get a bike on sale somewhere?
― my future wife has to love talking about the ninja turtles (los blue jeans), Saturday, 19 September 2009 03:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Trek make good bikes, there's a lot of choice and you'll know you're getting something decent. If there's something in their range that fits your desired spec and price range, then it might be ideal. But sale bikes are definitely worth keeping an eye on - Trek is perhaps a little bland and commonplace a brand and there are certainly more interesting bike out there.
― Mark C, Saturday, 19 September 2009 09:47 (fifteen years ago) link
any of you cats got an opinion of ARGON 18, by any chance? the local bike shop has a couple of their lower-end models in at the moment.
― surge gainsbourg protector (haitch), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 00:00 (fifteen years ago) link
I think they're fine, except a) it looks like you've got a bike from Argos and b) it reminds me of Comb4t 18...
― Mark C, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 17:17 (fifteen years ago) link
was not aware of the latter group, jesus christ!
― Hey Hey It's A Blackface Incident (haitch), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:49 (fifteen years ago) link
lol, what an unfortunate unrelated display name change
― Hey Hey It's A Blackface Incident (haitch), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:51 (fifteen years ago) link
Hopefully most people aren't aware of it, haitch! Is 18 the atomic number of Argon, or something?
― Mark C, Thursday, 8 October 2009 10:04 (fifteen years ago) link
anyone know anything about flying scots?
― coz (webinar), Wednesday, 14 October 2009 17:20 (fourteen years ago) link
Should I buy this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270469942198&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_9952wt_909
tbh I can't afford it till later in the week, and even then I am borrowing against my salary in january for the job I got offered, however it is really pretty.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 18 October 2009 13:31 (fourteen years ago) link
oh that looks niiiice. buy it, it's only money!
― racist of the falling leaves (haitch), Sunday, 18 October 2009 13:44 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, tht is gorgeous, another buy it from me!
― coz (webinar), Sunday, 18 October 2009 15:10 (fourteen years ago) link
I restrained myself ;_;
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 19 October 2009 11:08 (fourteen years ago) link
that said, it didn't sell, so if they re-list for <1500 ...
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 19 October 2009 11:11 (fourteen years ago) link
hey haitch been thinking baot buying a bike from wiggle or chainreactioncycles in teh uk even w/postage of about AU$200, so many cheap non-horrible roadbikes O_O. u thot about doing this??
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:20 (fourteen years ago) link
like some no-name brand alu frame w/full ultegra deilvered for $1700
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:21 (fourteen years ago) link
i sorta been leery about the online stuff partly because i wanna try before i buy and partly because of the no-nameness, jees most of it is miles cheaper than what you can get out here tho!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:27 (fourteen years ago) link
even for the more exxy stuff, like competitive cyclist is clearing '09 cervelos including like built-up S2s with dura ace everything for half what that'd be here
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:29 (fourteen years ago) link
yuh true. the bmc carbon thing w/ultegra for $2877 is intersting to me.
http://i50.tinypic.com/29vx9x5.jpg
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:54 (fourteen years ago) link
watch for local price to rise 20% due to cadel halo effect, lol
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 04:09 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Raleigh_Avanti_Carbon_Race_2009/5360045551/
could pull trigger on this one i reckon
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 04:19 (fourteen years ago) link
wow really cheap. too small for me tho :(
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 04:21 (fourteen years ago) link
have also been considering this:
http://www.bikes.com.au/p/514314/2010-mbc-r1-carbon-shimano-ultegra.html
same price practically, and local!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:09 (fourteen years ago) link
wwoow
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:19 (fourteen years ago) link
srsly considering that
maybe when i get back from the OUTBACK
lol
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:22 (fourteen years ago) link
u could have it delivered, what else are u gonna do out there!!
That is a nice bike! Much nicer than the Raleigh imho. Also, I don't think Wiggle does no-name bikes - which are you thinking of? Focus? I have one - it's ace, and fantastic value.
― Mark C, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:02 (fourteen years ago) link
Hey Mark, I was thinking Cube. But after a bit of research it's obvs not a totally dodge bike co.
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:08 (fourteen years ago) link
focus just got picked up for australian distribution and wiggle won't ship them over here any more. be interesting to see how much they land here for - the one in the ad i saw has deep-section carbon lightweights and super record so i assume that'll be pricey!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:31 (fourteen years ago) link
^^ha was just gonna say I tried to add a Focus bike thru wiggle and it didn't let me, that's why!
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:34 (fourteen years ago) link
Cube are pretty decent - and (IMHO) one of the better looking brands. I'd be very comfortable buying one.
― Mark C, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:45 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus-lzalco-excampy09-med.jpg
$6k for this on wiggle - will not land here under $12k if usual aus distributors are anything to go by
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:47 (fourteen years ago) link
Do you have to pay substantial customs/VAT duties when importing an expensive item like a bike to Oz?
― Mark C, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:58 (fourteen years ago) link
nah vat(gst) is only 10%. market forces i guess.
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:01 (fourteen years ago) link
..wouldn't hav a clue about customs actually tbh
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:04 (fourteen years ago) link
local distributors just seem to ramp up prices on full bikes, parts etc to a massive degree. saw dura ace pedals at bike shop near work for $500 the other week, can get same off PBK for $380. lol mark-up is hueg.
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:24 (fourteen years ago) link
make that $280, even worse!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:40 (fourteen years ago) link
maybe considering a canyon once they start shipping to aus again (they're working on this apparently). brilliant specs for such cheap bikes!
this is really hott in the blackcheaper alu option
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Friday, 20 November 2009 02:40 (fourteen years ago) link