Cold Weather conditions...

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

It depends on what the weather forecast is. If it isn't likely to get very warm, I will just wear tights. If it is going to warm up quite a bit (and we get coastal fog sometimes in the am so our temperature can vary a bit during the day) I will wear the warmers.

Let me add a comment about the cost of gear. All the high tech gear is nice, but you don't need it. All you need is a bike and a road. Don't get caught up in all the gear stuff. The only things I think you really NEED are good bike shorts, gloves and a helmet. T-shirts work fine. When I was a kid I had my mom sew some pockets on the back of my t-shirts as jerseys were not very common where i was and they were out of my price range. Like they say, it's not the bike (or the gear), it's the engine that counts. There is a whole movement out there that despises lycra and gore-tex on bikes. See http://www.rivbike.com/clothing/our_...ch_to_clothing

and before you get all snooty on these guys (their facility is about 1/2 mile from my office) let me tell you they make BEAUTIFUL bikes, true pieces of art. So don't break the bank for all that stuff, as all you really need you already have.

Looks like reverse snobbery to me. Remember Sam Walton and his old pick up truck?

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Looks like reverse snobbery to me. Remember Sam Walton and his old pick up truck?

There is an element of reverse snobbery, I suspect, but they also make some valid points. It's sort of like the old guy that lives next door when you were a kid that used to walk outside in Bermuda shorts and black calf socks with sandals and a stained t-shirt and you couldn't imagine how he could present himself in public like that. Now, at my age, I sometimes wear things my kids are embarrassed by, but I don't care because they are comfortable and I like them. That's how I try to guide my bike gear purchasing decisions. If I like them and they work, that's all I care about.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

There is an element of reverse snobbery, I suspect, but they also make some valid points. It's sort of like the old guy that lives next door when you were a kid that used to walk outside in Bermuda shorts and black calf socks with sandals and a stained t-shirt and you couldn't imagine how he could present himself in public like that. Now, at my age, I sometimes wear things my kids are embarrassed by, but I don't care because they are comfortable and I like them. That's how I try to guide my bike gear purchasing decisions. If I like them and they work, that's all I care about.

Some of that stuff doesn't look comfortable. Lycra and spandex is comfortable, and I'm not certain I find his answer about non-clip in cleats acceptable. It seems as if a lack of cleats would cause you to develop an asymmetrical pedal stroke.

As for how something looks, I'm the least style conscious person there is. I want to be warm and comfortable.

I buy two colors of bikes, carbon and ti.

[bluegoose]

Titanium is overrated.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Titanium is overrated.

Maybe, but it's comfortable, durable and light.

My wife's ti, Lightspeed, is 1.7 pounds of frame. And she loves it.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Some of that stuff doesn't look comfortable. Lycra and spandex is comfortable, and I'm not certain I find his answer about non-clip in cleats acceptable. It seems as if a lack of cleats would cause you to develop an asymmetrical pedal stroke.

As for how something looks, I'm the least style conscious person there is. I want to be warm and comfortable.

I buy two colors of bikes, carbon and ti.

I agree with you, in general, about clipless pedals, which I can't imagine riding without, even when touring. Nonetheless, the point he is making is still valid: You don't need all the gear to have fun riding. ByuPride was lamenting the fact that he was unable to invite friends to particpate becasue of the expense and I was merely trying to point out that the expense is not required. You, my friend Arch, are clearly not a target of the Rivendell plan.

Have you ever seen one of the rivendell handmade frames? Truly a beautiful bike.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

I agree with you, in general, about clipless pedals, which I can't imagine riding without, even when touring. Nonetheless, the point he is making is still valid: You don't need all the gear to have fun riding. ByuPride was lamenting the fact that he was unable to invite friends to particpate becasue of the expense and I was merely trying to point out that the expense is not required. You, my friend Arch, are clearly not a target of the Rivendell plan.

Have you ever seen one of the rivendell handmade frames? Truly a beautiful bike.

Rivendell frames are beautiful.

You can do it cheaply too. Most cyclists are cheapos. We middle aged professionals like to hide our incompetence with gadgets but we drive the real, authentic cyclists nuts.

I borrowed my first bike, my first shorts and shoes. For several months, I rode borrowed.

[bYuPride]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Maybe, but it's comfortable, durable and light.

My wife's ti, Lightspeed, is 1.7 pounds of frame. And she loves it.

Are there big differences between aluminium, carbon fiber and titanium frames? If so, what are the general differences... I really like the carbon fiber frame I got, but I'm not sure if an aluminum frame would be much different for me? would I be able to tell a difference over time?

[bYuPride]

Originally Posted by creekster

I agree with you, in general, about clipless pedals, which I can't imagine riding without, even when touring. Nonetheless, the point he is making is still valid: You don't need all the gear to have fun riding. ByuPride was lamenting the fact that he was unable to invite friends to particpate becasue of the expense and I was merely trying to point out that the expense is not required. You, my friend Arch, are clearly not a target of the Rivendell plan.

Thanks for giving me hope... Everything that I've purchased so far has been pretty expensive for me, and so I don't know any other way at this point. Maybe as I become more knowledgeable I'll be better able to help my friends. Also, my wife is wanting to get into riding as well. She's 5'0" probably just over 100 lbs. (kid bike?) She wants to do it maybe a couple times a week as it will be an activity we can do together. Can we get her into a decent bike for around $1000?

[bYuPride]

Originally Posted by creekster

It depends on what the weather forecast is. If it isn't likely to get very warm, I will just wear tights. If it is going to warm up quite a bit (and we get coastal fog sometimes in the am so our temperature can vary a bit during the day) I will wear the warmers.

Let me add a comment about the cost of gear. All the high tech gear is nice, but you don't need it. All you need is a bike and a road. Don't get caught up in all the gear stuff. The only things I think you really NEED are good bike shorts, gloves and a helmet. T-shirts work fine. When I was a kid I had my mom sew some pockets on the back of my t-shirts as jerseys were not very common where i was and they were out of my price range. Like they say, it's not the bike (or the gear), it's the engine that counts. There is a whole movement out there that despises lycra and gore-tex on bikes. See http://www.rivbike.com/clothing/our_...ch_to_clothing

and before you get all snooty on these guys (their facility is about 1/2 mile from my office) let me tell you they make BEAUTIFUL bikes, true pieces of art. So don't break the bank for all that stuff, as all you really need you already have.

So it looks like I'll be needing tights and leg warmers. The list keeps growing... I'll probably just start out with the leg warmers because it's spring and it should warm up soon...