Any Bicyclists Out There?

[pappymac]

I saw the discussion about bikers and though, "How many bicycle riders are out there?)
Growing up in SE Texas, I and my friends rode our bikes all over the place. Some of us even rode our bicycles to school until we got our license and could drive.
I continued riding while stationed in Seattle but pretty much stopped riding around 1975.
I started riding again last fall after my wife passed away and found it was a good way to release stress and to just cope with everyday life.
I am not a "professional" bike rider like those who ride what is now called a road bike while wearing skin tight spandex. The bike I bought in September was a seven gear, hybrid (cross between a road bike and a mountain bike) and I wore mostly t-shirts and shorts or joggers.
(Okay, I now own three biking jerseys. The picture below is me with my Ozone 500 Black Canyon hybrid bike.).


After riding about 575 miles on it in eight months, I decided to buy a second bike. (The bearings had to be replaced because they weren't greased properly when installed.) My new bike is a HBBC Old Skool cruiser with seven gears. I bought it on April 25 and have
already put over 66 miles on it.

What do you guys ride?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have a collection of bikes that I enjoy. Mostly, I ride a customized bike that I had Specialized make for me. I asked for the peddles to be moved back under me, so that the geometry of the bike did not have me leaning forward. The classic style of geometry for 99% of all bikes has the rider leaning forward to grasp the bars, which forces the rider to keep their head down. This is great for riders wanting more aerodynamics for competitive riding, but we take our bikes on vacation with us, and we want to be able to take in the vistas of the beach or the mountains, not look at the road the entire time. This bike allows me to set straight up and talk with whomever I am riding with and enjoy myself more, while riding. Also, I can fit it with paneers for long rides where we will be shopping, or just a ride to the grocery store in town, or to take a lunch and dinner with us while riding the rails to trails from Birmingham to Atlanta.





But, I also have a mountain bike that I will use to cut the trails through the mountains. I punish and grind this bike.



I also have quite a few classic bikes that I have rebuilt and a couple of road bikes that I spent a lot of money on, but I just detest riding on the roads with them. Nothing like having a yahoo in a pick up run you off the road, just because they felt like being a dick.

 

[bobpnm]

@pappymac , love the cruiser! That would be great for banging around town. My Argon 18 Dark Matter. It’s a gravel bike. This is the bike I ride the most. At 67, I ride different than I used to. I sold my road bikes. I use this for road and moderate off road. I have a mountain bike for rowdier off roading.

 

[ssjones]

I rode with a club in the 1990's (Cannondale road bike), they swtiched to a then new, mountain bike for trail use in Western MD. Bought a motorcycle in 2001 and the bike got relegated to occasional beach/vacation use.
I started riding again during Covid. Tried a hybrid, my brother said I would hate it - he was right (sold to a neighbor). Bought a cool flat-bar gravel bike, a Fuji Redux. It wasn't geared well for road use, so I sold it. (for a profit in Covid!)



Used that cash to buy a Salsa Warbird, a NOS bike found at a NY shop I traveled past.
I installed a "StopShock" stem, Specialized CG-R suspension seat post, SPD pedals and a Surly Trucker bar.
I rode on country roads and the nearby C&O Canal when I was up in MD.
I could go 100 miles in either direction and don't encounter much, if any car traffic.
I use a Garmin cycling computer with a rear light that has radar, coupled with a bar mirror.

Every year, on my August birthday, I would ride my age. I started at 60. This is last summer, a week before we moved. Man, I miss the C&O Canal towpath



Here in Louisiana, I'm a 2 mile ride on a reasonably safe rural road to the paved St. Tammany Trace (old rail bed). Its kind of boring, with lots of road crossings that drive me crazy. I'm not brave enough to try all roads out here yet, there is no should and a big ditch on either side. I think hauling the bike out to the country might work, but it's been so convenient to just ride out my driveway I haven't tried that yet. I have a set of light road wheels/tires that I use on the Trace. So far, I haven't found any "gravel" to ride down here with the gravel tires. I suspect that I have to ride North into the country or over in Mississippi.

I also picked up a Fuji Hybrid for $100 during my hip replacement recovery. I can ride it with wife/grandkids. I added seat, bar and clip in pedals (two sided, flat on one side).

 

[ssjones]

Love that new cruiser Pappy Mac!

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

@pappymac i second the love of your bikes! After I lost my job in the Great Srecession I pivoted back to school to finish a degree and to change careers. About a year after I was laid off my trucks transmission took a dump and I had no way of getting the money to fix it. My friends at the time were long time riders and bike couriers in Milwaukee and convinced me to pick up bike commuting and so I did. For over five years I went without a car and ride my bikes everywhere averaging about 25-30 miles a day. In the colder months I’d take the bus and for things I couldn’t get home on a bike if order online or have friends help me.

These days I have a car but I’m still riding. I’m not as thin as I was back then but no matter. I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone as just the act of riding brings me a calm I can’t quite explain.

Glad to see another cyclist on the forums!

 

[bobpnm]

I rode with a club in the 1990's (Cannondale road bike), they swtiched to a then new, mountain bike for trail use in Western MD. Bought a motorcycle in 2001 and the bike got relegated to occasional beach/vacation use.
I started riding again during Covid. Tried a hybrid, my brother said I would hate it - he was right (sold to a neighbor). Bought a cool flat-bar gravel bike, a Fuji Redux. It wasn't geared well for road use, so I sold it. (for a profit in Covid!)

View attachment 390818

Used that cash to buy a Salsa Warbird, a NOS bike found at a NY shop I traveled past.
I installed a "StopShock" stem, Specialized CG-R suspension seat post, SPD pedals and a Surly Trucker bar.
I rode on country roads and the nearby C&O Canal when I was up in MD.
I could go 100 miles in either direction and don't encounter much, if any car traffic.
I use a Garmin cycling computer with a rear light that has radar, coupled with a bar mirror.

Every year, on my August birthday, I would ride my age. I started at 60. This is last summer, a week before we moved. Man, I miss the C&O Canal towpath

View attachment 390820

Here in Louisiana, I'm a 2 mile ride on a reasonably safe rural road to the paved St. Tammany Trace (old rail bed). Its kind of boring, with lots of road crossings that drive me crazy. I'm not brave enough to try all roads out here yet, there is no should and a big ditch on either side. I think hauling the bike out to the country might work, but it's been so convenient to just ride out my driveway I haven't tried that yet. I have a set of light road wheels/tires that I use on the Trace. So far, I haven't found any "gravel" to ride down here with the gravel tires. I suspect that I have to ride North into the country or over in Mississippi.

I also picked up a Fuji Hybrid for $100 during my hip replacement recovery. I can ride it with wife/grandkids. I added seat, bar and clip in pedals (two sided, flat on one side).

View attachment 390825View attachment 390826

Love your Salsa! Nice ride! I love my Garmin Varia radar! Makes riding in traffic much safer.

 

[Hillcrest]

the act of riding brings me a calm I can’t quite explain.

Kind of like pipe smoking ... although there are many threads trying to explain it ! ,,,

 

[Hillcrest]

I used to ride a bike regularly. For pleasure not competition. Many years ago, I took up repairing "free" bikes people would put out for pick up. I have about 9 bikes of various types and ages (nothing "new
") left, but do not currently have the time to go for a ride. A favorite rebuild was an Iron Mountain mountain bike someone tossed out for garbage pick up after stripping the handlebars, front wheel etc. I stripped the frame and painted it. Long story short ... I put on a comfort seat and high rise wide handlebars and wider flat tires and made it look and ride like an adult size schwinn stingray. Its at a relative's house now and even though more expensive bikes are available there everyone always wants to ride that one bike ... because when you get on it ... you're 9 years old again ! (Although now with 21 gears vs3). Even my bike repair guy who has since retired and moved rode it and said it was a great build and he would have to make one like it. This thread has me thinking I need to make some time to ride again. Thanks for posting this thread !!!
P.S. There is a bike route in my area that has now been posted on the internet ...about 20-25 miles that is now considered a Category 5 training ride for competitve cyclists ... when I was a kid I used to do that ride 3 times a week on a single speed schwinn !!! I probably couldn't do it at my age now.

 

[pappymac]

I have a collection of bikes that I enjoy. Mostly, I ride a customized bike that I had Specialized make for me. I asked for the peddles to be moved back under me, so that the geometry of the bike did not have me leaning forward. The classic style of geometry for 99% of all bikes has the rider leaning forward to grasp the bars, which forces the rider to keep their head down. This is great for riders wanting more aerodynamics for competitive riding, but we take our bikes on vacation with us, and we want to be able to take in the vistas of the beach or the mountains, not look at the road the entire time. This bike allows me to set straight up and talk with whomever I am riding with and enjoy myself more, while riding. Also, I can fit it with paneers for long rides where we will be shopping, or just a ride to the grocery store in town, or to take a lunch and dinner with us while riding the rails to trails from Birmingham to Atlanta.
View attachment 390808

View attachment 390809


But, I also have a mountain bike that I will use to cut the trails through the mountains. I punish and grind this bike.

View attachment 390810

I also have quite a few classic bikes that I have rebuilt and a couple of road bikes that I spent a lot of money on, but I just detest riding on the roads with them. Nothing like having a yahoo in a pick up run you off the road, just because they felt like being a dick.

I ride on the Tammany Trace its a 26 mile rail-to-trail path. I wish there were more bike/hiking paths like that because its a lot safer for bike riders. I've covered about 18 miles of it because the rest of the trail crosses too many busy streets and a state highway.
I didn't know about the one from Birmingham to Atlanta so I may have to check it out this summer.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I ride on the Tammany Trace its a 26 mile rail-to-trail path. I wish there were more bike/hiking paths like that because its a lot safer for bike riders. I've covered about 18 miles of it because the rest of the trail crosses too many busy streets and a state highway.
I didn't know about the one from Birmingham to Atlanta so I may have to check it out this summer.

It starts in Birmingham, but a leg of it from there to Anniston is on a regular road. They will soon have it complete from Birmingham to Atlanta on a nwer RtT.
But, if you want to stay off of roads completely, you can access it from Anniston. It is a combination Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet RtT.
If a stretch on a road doesn't bother you, you can take a series of Rotary, Red Rock, and a Greenway.

But, honestly, Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet is already a challenge. You can camp at Rock Campground on the Georgia side, or stay at a B&B in Marietta.

 

[BingBong]

In London, it's an even split between cyclists and psycholists.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

It starts in Birmingham, but a leg of it from there to Anniston is on a regular road. They will soon have it complete from Birmingham to Atlanta on a nwer RtT.
But, if you want to stay off of roads completely, you can access it from Anniston. It is a combination Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet RtT.
If a stretch on a road doesn't bother you, you can take a series of Rotary, Red Rock, and a Greenway.

But, honestly, Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet is already a challenge. You can camp at Rock Campground on the Georgia side, or stay at a B&B in Marietta.

That sounds like a fun bike camping ride.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

That sounds like a fun bike camping ride.

It is, and a fun lil' camp ground. But, it is at the top of a steep hill, so after riding on basically a level trail all day, it is a challenge to get up that hill, ha ha.

 

[briarbuck]

I saw the discussion about bikers and though, "How many bicycle riders are out there?)
Growing up in SE Texas, I and my friends rode our bikes all over the place. Some of us even rode our bicycles to school until we got our license and could drive.
I continued riding while stationed in Seattle but pretty much stopped riding around 1975.
I started riding again last fall after my wife passed away and found it was a good way to release stress and to just cope with everyday life.
I am not a "professional" bike rider like those who ride what is now called a road bike while wearing skin tight spandex. The bike I bought in September was a seven gear, hybrid (cross between a road bike and a mountain bike) and I wore mostly t-shirts and shorts or joggers.
(Okay, I now own three biking jerseys. The picture below is me with my Ozone 500 Black Canyon hybrid bike.).

View attachment 390804
After riding about 575 miles on it in eight months, I decided to buy a second bike. (The bearings had to be replaced because they weren't greased properly when installed.) My new bike is a HBBC Old Skool cruiser with seven gears. I bought it on April 25 and have
already put over 66 miles on it.
View attachment 390806
What do you guys ride?

I have a Ti 29'er, a Ti Lightspeed Road bike and a bunch of others. It's a curse....

 

[georged]

One-time ultra-marathoner checking in. Late 80's and early 90's. State crossings for time, 12 and 24 hour loops for distance, etc. Matt Bond (a 6-time RAAM finisher) was a friend, as well as John McKinley and a handful of other go-fast-'n'-never-stop head cases.

Centuries were my claim to fame (such as I had), with a personal best of 4:18:08 for a 100 mile time trial (no drafting).

I also once rode in the same event as Lance Armstrong when he was a junior. Thought he was a thoroughly obnoxious little psycho prick. (Took a while, but it turned out my impression was spot on. )

 

[pinem]

Within the Bike Snob NYC taxonomy, I would self-identify with the Retrogrouch typeclass most closely.

https://zoboko.com/text/v084yeoj/bike-snob-systematically-mercilessly-realigning-the-world-of-cycling/9

I own 5 bikes (road, mountain, fixed gear, touring, and townie/commuter [pictured]). The pictured one is my pride and joy. Built from scratch (including the wheels) on a custom frame I had built for me by the best lugged steel frame maker in the world, Mercian of Derby, England. Sort of a modern take on the old British path racer concept, driven by a Sturmey Archer 3-speed coaster hub. It's pretty much the only bike I ride now, unless I'm feeling sporty, and then I will dust off the fix gear.

I don't do long rides on lonely highways anymore. I'd much rather tool around town, and its outskirts, and eventually end up at a bar. The Challenger Strada Biancas 32s (best tires for ride quality, short of a full-on tubular, IMHO) will handle everything including gravel, so I've never bothered to add a gravel bike or crossbike to my stable.

 

[irishearl]

Always had terrible balance which has worsened with age. 2 of my 3 orthopedic surgeries were due to bike accidents-broken collar bone from a tumble and later jammed shoulder from colliding with a van. Worst pain I've ever had. So, haven't touched my bike in about 5 years.

 

[carlomarx]

The Continental was my commuter through college and for my job for many years and I still get it out every once in a while. It is a heavy beast and the steel rims make breaking problematic when wet!
The 1987 Cimmaron was and still is my going to and around town bike. I'd guess I have about 2K off road miles on it since new. I've replaced just about every moving part over the years including the original Biopace chain rings.
The All City is my road bike. I'm seventy four and do at least one to two hundred miles a week ( not during PA winters).
I keep the old bikes because I can do the repairs and maintenance. New bikes a not so user friendly and the local bike shop charges $125.00 an hour for repairs. I might be a bike codger.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

View attachment 390972View attachment 390973

View attachment 390974
The Continental was my commuter through college and for my job for many years and I still get it out every once in a while. It is a heavy beast and the steel rims make breaking problematic when wet!
The 1987 Cimmaron was and still is my going to and around town bike. I'd guess I have about 2K off road miles on it since new. I've replaced just about every moving part over the years including the original Biopace chain rings.
The All City is my road bike. I'm seventy four and do at least one to two hundred miles a week ( not during PA winters).
I keep the old bikes because I can do the repairs and maintenance. New bikes a not so user friendly and the local bike shop charges $125.00 an hour for repairs. I might be a bike codger.

As a kid and a college student, I would buy cheap heavy steel bikes and it was ready to ride any day, any time, year round for years and years. Then when I started buying bike shop bikes, after one year, you have to get everything back into adjustment, even if you haven't ridden it but a few times. Even when I started doing the repairs and adjustments myself, it seems like they always need attention. But, even after being in storage for decades, I can pull out my WalMart Rock Hopper from college and a squirt of oil and it's ready to ride.

It is a trade off, smoothness and ease of riding, for a mandatory $150 a year to get everything back into whack. It has crossed my mind that bike shop bikes are sort of a scam.

When asked if a cheap WalMart bike is worth it... I always do this break down for them. Is the ease and weight worth an added $150 year at least. Or, just buy a $150 bike, and have it always ready to ride.