Cyclists Q&A

[speg]

My previous cycling experience is nothing fancy - $400 road bike from Canadian Tire (i.e. Walmart) that I got for 50% off and seems to work fine.

So for my summer adventure this year I picked up a brand new Surly Long Haul Trucker for $1500 with a bunch of touring gear and started biking across the country.

1. Why does my, or any other "pro" bike not have a bloody kickstand. I've been having to lean it up against sign posts on the side of the road. How could $1500 not include something so basic?

2. Same deal with the saddle. This is supposed to be a touring bike and it comes with this POS saddle that destroyed my ass after the first day. Replaced with some $20 thing from Canadian Tire and I am happier.

3. I am definitely doing this one wrong, but what is the point of quick release wheels if you still have to get them out of the brake pads?

4. How is this any better than a cheap bike? It's nice and all - but my $400 for $200 bike still gets me around, and it's not like it's a THOUSAND dollars worse. A THOUSAND. Why are these "pro" bikes so expensive?

That is all for now. Happy riding!

 

[Baked]

Looks like you got the wrong type of bike. You should've bought a cruiser. It comes with kick stand and a saddle that's extra wide and string loaded that can with stand the biggest asses. Quick release wheels so you can put it in the car. Pro bikes use exotic material for the frame to reduce the weigh of the bike.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: speg
My previous cycling experience is nothing fancy - $400 road bike from Canadian Tire (i.e. Walmart) that I got for 50% off and seems to work fine.

So for my summer adventure this year I picked up a brand new Surly Long Haul Trucker for $1500 with a bunch of touring gear and started biking across the country.

1. Why does my, or any other "pro" bike not have a bloody kickstand. I've been having to lean it up against sign posts on the side of the road. How could $1500 not include something so basic?

2. Same deal with the saddle. This is supposed to be a touring bike and it comes with this POS saddle that destroyed my ass after the first day. Replaced with some $20 thing from Canadian Tire and I am happier.

3. I am definitely doing this one wrong, but what is the point of quick release wheels if you still have to get them out of the brake pads?

4. How is this any better than a cheap bike? It's nice and all - but my $400 for $200 bike still gets me around, and it's not like it's a THOUSAND dollars worse. A THOUSAND. Why are these "pro" bikes so expensive?

That is all for now. Happy riding!

Definitely doing everything wrong. When you buy nice bikes, you are concerned with weight just as much as a lot of other things. Replacing the saddle is fine, but it takes some getting used to if you want a lightweight one. Wearing biking shorts helps as well since they have padding in that area.

Taking the wheel off and dealing with the brake pad takes like...5 seconds? The quick release prevents you from carrying around extra tools and is just more convenient. The brake mechanisms usually have clamps that can be released to move the pads away from the wheel.

As for point number 4, not to sound like a bike snob and no offense but if you feel that way you are gaining nothing from having a "pro" bike and should have stuck with your less expensive one or bought a different kind.

 

[Safeway]

1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

2. They put a super cheap saddle on to keep the cost low, knowing that you will replace it with your choice.

3. Brakes, if they are cantilever, should have a release lever on them. V-brakes also have a release. The tire slides out easily, without touching.

4. A Surly LHT isn't a pro bike. It is a good touring bike, and it is definitely a THOUSAND dollars better than your old bike. Higher quality components and frame and wheels matter a ton with you are biking across the country. Your old bike would probably be in shambles.

 

[MichaelD]

Ah, where's Fausto1 when you need him? I miss him.

I know nothing about bikes, sorry. But we used to have a semi-pro level bicyclist here...his knowledge and attitude are missed.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Ah, where's Fausto1 when you need him? I miss him.

I know nothing about bikes, sorry. But we used to have a semi-pro level bicyclist here...his assless chaps are missed.

 

[torpid]

I have a relatively inexpensive cruiser and have used the kickstand less than 10 times in several years. It really is only useful when I need to get off the bike and examine it for some reason.

 

[NaOH]

kickstand.....are you serious?

 

[tallest1]

kickstands are really fricken heavy! I wouldn't want to tow one around!

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

removing the wheel is trivial if you're doing it right:

wheelremoval.JPG

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: NaOH
kickstand.....are you serious?

No kidding. Kickstands are for noobs. I'd much rather lean my bike up against something or even lie it down than deal with a kickstand.

 

[DrPizza]

I can't recall having a kickstand on a bike in the last 20 years. If it's a valuable bike, seems to me that if you left it unattended, it would be against something, so it can be locked to that something. Hence, why do you need a kickstand?


Re: the saddle - if you haven't been on a bike in a while, your ass is going to get sore. Usually after a couple days, you adjust to the saddle & will find it more comfortable in the long run.

 

[Gibson486]

nothing wrong with a kickstand. They are usually omitted because more serious riders do not deal with them because they just add weight (actually, that is just an excuse with with some turth. The main reason is simply to cut costs). It would be a waste of money for a manufacture to add something that would just be taken off.

Bikes usually have a mean of making teh brakes go back so you can remove the wheel. It's not very apparent it you never did it.

Classic mistake is the saddle. You use it for seconday support, while main support is on the legs. People usually just sit on the saddle. It's not really for sitting, it just for support. I made this mistake too...thing is, once you start riding a bike with using your legs as the main support, you will bike better and get more exercise.


DIfferenc between high end and low end? Well....


Pretty much everything under the $1k range from each company is gong to have the same frame, but better components (this is generally speaking). Once you get higher in price it could have the same frame, but have an improved fork...or maybe the fork has a suspension with lockout. Once you get really high in price, the bike will no longer be made of aluminum, instead it will be made from carbon fiber or something.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Ah, where's Fausto1 when you need him? I miss him.

I know nothing about bikes, sorry. But we used to have a semi-pro level bicyclist here...his assless chaps are missed.

Yarrrghh. I see whut ya'did tharrrrrrrr! Nonetheless, you're correct.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Ah, where's Fausto1 when you need him? I miss him.

I know nothing about bikes, sorry. But we used to have a semi-pro level bicyclist here...his assless chaps are missed.

Yarrrghh. I see whut ya'did tharrrrrrrr! Nonetheless, you're correct.

Now you have me!

 

[NaOH]

The times I am off my bike are all situations where a bike stand would prove to be pointless. Also, why add another part just for the bike to be able to stand on it's own? Do you really need your bike to have the capability of standing on its own?

As for the seat, yes, this is a big complaint to many people that start out. Even with a decent pair of shorts and a quality seat, it will still probably hurt if you're not used to it. I have some cheapo seat on my bike right now, but it feels fine to me. I can ride for an extended time without getting sore.

The only time I do is if I'm just cruising like 13mph with my coworkers or friends and i'm just sitting there the whole time....

 

[JulesMaximus]

More expensive bikes are usually lighter weight and have better quality components (ie, they shift better, are more reliable).

Kick stands add weight and they don't really offer much added benefit plus it is possible for them to come down when you least expect it and cause an accident.

Dude, quick release wheels are a blessing. Have you ever tried changing a flat tire with bolt on wheels on the side of the road?

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
More expensive bikes are usually lighter weight and have better quality components (ie, they shift better, are more reliable).

Kick stands add weight and they don't really offer much added benefit.

Dude, quick release wheels are a blessing. Have you ever tried changing a flat tire with bolt on wheels on the side of the road?

He wasn't releasing the brake tension.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Ah, where's Fausto1 when you need him? I miss him.

I know nothing about bikes, sorry. But we used to have a semi-pro level bicyclist here...his assless chaps are missed.

Yarrrghh. I see whut ya'did tharrrrrrrr! Nonetheless, you're correct.

Now you have me!

Where the heck have you been? You've been MIA for the longest time and now you're back in full force.

I liked being the only surgeon avatar dude here.

 

[speg]

I now know how to release the brakes :thumbsup:

As for the kickstand... I have often had to stop in the middle of nowhere with nothing around and just lay the bike on the ground, with all my gear on it I thought it might be nice to just have it stand up. Oh well...

 

[Chryso]

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

 

[Abe Froman]

I cycle every day, and I keep a kickstand on my bike. People can talk all they want, but my bike doesn't fall down.

 

[KingGheedora]

How does one bike across the country? Are you actually using the bike a means of transporting yourself across the country, or do you actually drive around in a car to different cities and parks or whatever, and bike around when you get to these different locations?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Chryso

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

I would argue that someone who cannot handle a bike without one is a wuss. I can carry one around, I just choose not to cause I don't need it. Just like I don't ride around with a metal basket, bell or beloved patriot horn.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Abe Froman
I cycle every day, and I keep a kickstand on my bike. People can talk all they want, but my bike doesn't fall down.

Funny, I have two road bikes and neither of them have kickstands nor have they ever fallen down.