Cycling forums?

[Homeslice]

Any good cycling forums (road, not MTB), let me know

[azoomm]

I'm assuming you mean bicycle - right?

http://www.bikeforums.net/index.php I've found this one to be the most helpful.

[neebelung]

www.mapmyride.com is a good site... I know they have forums, but I haven't browsed them much yet.

[Homeslice]

Good stuff, thx

[Smittie61984]

bikeforums is good. And I'm sure there is some sort of "ORBA" (Off Road Biking Association) for California.

I just found "beginner triathlete" since I started doing them. It deals with a lot of road bikes so you'll be fine. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/category-view.asp

Best part about beginnertriathlete is a triathlete is way different than a roadie (road bicyclist only). Triathletes actually consider strength training while road bikers would cut off their arms if not for their arms supporting their head.

You looking into a road bike or already have one?

[Homeslice]

I'm tired of mtb bikes because you can't go fast on them, and I want to try some distance riding and some good workouts. Haven't owned a road bike in 10-15 yrs though. Not sure whether to get a race-capable bike, or a so-called "touring" bike.

[101lifts2]

Homescizzle...did you move up north yet?

[askmrjesus]

I like this one:

www.ifitdoesn'thaveamotorit'sfuckingworthess.com

They have some great topics:

Ball-Stretch: Pleasure or Pain?

Spandex, uber gay, or just regular gay?

Girlfriend left me for a Ducati rider, should I kill myself?

Cabernet stains on my jersey, suggestions?

JC

[Homeslice]

Homescizzle...did you move up north yet?

check profile, foo

[Homeslice]

I like this one:

www.ifitdoesn'thaveamotorit'sfuckingworthess.com

They have some great topics:

Ball-Stretch: Pleasure or Pain?

Spandex, uber gay, or just regular gay?

Girlfriend left me for a Ducati rider, should I kill myself?

Cabernet stains on my jersey, suggestions?

JC

I used to think spandex was ghey too.......Until you do a long ride in board shorts and can barely walk afterwards

[askmrjesus]

I used to think spandex was ghey too.......Until you do a long ride in board shorts and can barely walk afterwards

My shorts have never been bored.

JC

[Smittie61984]

I don't know how serious of a rider you are. I mainly road bike for a duathlon or triathlon. My bike is a road bike and not a tri-bike which sucks but I don't have $2,000-8000 for a good tri-bike. Even when I don't ride in a race I usually run on the treadmill at my gym and then ride my bicycle or run on foot and then bicycle.

I have a Trek something, Discovery edition. It's about a $900 bike new but I got it for $400 in great shape used. My only problem with it is I hate trying to figure out the gearing. If you don't have the sprockets in perfect order they want to skip like crazy. But I might replace the Shimano with some nice Sram which helps a lot.

Here is a pic of my bike...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3552338961_0247a26abb_b.jpg

Oh yeah. I went for another mountain bike ride after doing my triathlon. Holy shit was I 10x stronger when I rode. I had no leg fatigue at all.

Which here is a vid of my mountain bike ride. I wasn't as fast on the downhill because I hadn't rode in a month from breaking my rear derailer and months before that. Once I ride some more I can knock those hills out super fast...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwMPQ0Acjn0

[101lifts2]

check profile, foo

Yeah that's why I asked. U like it better than socal? Gettin sick of living here..too many people..specifically Mexicans. lol

[Homeslice]

I don't know how serious of a rider you are. I mainly road bike for a duathlon or triathlon. My bike is a road bike and not a tri-bike which sucks but I don't have $2,000-8000 for a good tri-bike. Even when I don't ride in a race I usually run on the treadmill at my gym and then ride my bicycle or run on foot and then bicycle.
]

I'm not serious yet obviously, but I intend to make it a new hobby, so eventually I will be. Whats the difference between a road bike and a tri bike?

BTW what do you think of those aero bars on the bike on the left? Stupid, or worth it?

[Homeslice]

Yeah that's why I asked. U like it better than socal? Gettin sick of living here..too many people..specifically Mexicans. lol

Replace the Latinos with just as many Asians, increase the cost of living, increase the amount of arts and culture, increase the average IQ and income, and improve the weather and the air quality, and that's what you get up here.

[Smittie61984]

BTW what do you think of those aero bars on the bike on the left? Stupid, or worth it?

Triathlon Bike...
http://whynottri.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/scottplasmaltd.jpg
Road Bike...
http://www.vurbmoto.com/P2D/images/stories/20080918_suxcool/roadbike.jpg

You only want the aero bars on the triathlon bikes. The aero position is ungodly uncomfortable and the seating position on a road bike makes it harder to use compared to a triathlon bike. A lot of people said that their is a benefit if you get serious in tri/duathlons and are between the point of converting from a road bike to a triathlon bike. What the full on technical differences are I have no clue. But apparently there is besides everything being made out of CF.

Triathlon bikes cannot handle turns well. They are designed for distance. A road bike can handle turns better and their wheels are built stronger to handle turns. Try and take a tri-bike around a mountain turn full speed and I've heard of rims becoming tacos.

Now a lot of local bike shops will let you demo ride their bikes. Also when you get one make sure the bike shop sits you on the bike and adjusts everything to you. seating position is very important on a road bike. And if you didn't before make sure you have some riding tights with padding in them.

[101lifts2]

Replace the Latinos with just as many Asians, increase the cost of living, increase the amount of arts and culture, increase the average IQ and income, and improve the weather and the air quality, and that's what you get up here.


Sounds like you got the short end of the stick. More Asians. LOL

[Homeslice]

So the only difference I see is that the triathalon bike is CF, has fucked-up looking wheels, a higher seat, and probably cost 5K. But plenty of road bikes are CF too :scratch:

You only want the aero bars on the triathlon bikes.
How come that road bike on your left has them?

[azoomm]

So the only difference I see is that the triathalon bike is CF, has fucked-up looking wheels, a higher seat, and probably cost 5K. But plenty of road bikes are CF too :scratch:

How come that road bike on your left has them?

The body position and fit are different. For a triathlon you don't want to use up the same muscles - instead support those that you will use in the swim and run.

Go get fitted. Any reputable shop will fit you for a bicycle - and it's use. If you plan on REALLY getting into it - it's really easy to hurt yourself if you don't do it right.

Clips are a must have. That goes with the right attire - what works for some doesn't work for others. Even though I'm now on road bikes I can't stand roadie shoes, I still use my SIDI mountain bike shoes.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/azoomm/_Bicycle/BMCRoadie01.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/azoomm/_Bicycle/BMCRoadie03.jpg

[Smittie61984]

How come that road bike on your left has them?

A lot of people put them on just because. Same reasoning behind someone putting a stabalizer on a early 90s 600. Technically it can help but there isn't really a point like there would be on an 08 1000.

Now in the mountains with the long declines where you can run out of gearing I've seen roadies use them for a short tuck.

I found this on google search...
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/road-vs-tri/dia.gif

But azoom has it pretty much dead on.

(azoom mind if I let my bike fornicate with your bikes so I can have a decent bike)

[azoomm]

Just so you know, it's my opinion that gears are complicated. :lol: I prefer my Single Speed - even in steep hills to the gears. Well, I'm USED TO my single speed because I can just go - I'm not thinking of shifting - I'm just pedaling. Uphill?? Just pedal harder.

[Smittie61984]

SS would be a bitch in a triathlon. Though someone at my triathlon was on a beach cruiser style bike. I heard someone say they had two speeds. Hard and Fucking Hard.

[azoomm]

SS would be a bitch in a triathlon. Though someone at my triathlon was on a beach cruiser style bike. I heard someone say they had two speeds. Hard and Fucking Hard.

It's the best to show up for a weekend ride with a bunch of lycra'd up wanna-bees on their sparkly bikes when I'm on my SS. They usually don't notice until they are whining about how *long* the pedal is, and curious how they are being paced by a chick.

To be clear - a group ride on a bicycle freaks me out more than a group ride on a motorcycle does.

If I were hard core I'd be on a fixie...

[Smittie61984]

It's the best to show up for a weekend ride with a bunch of lycra'd up wanna-bees on their sparkly bikes when I'm on my SS. They usually don't notice until they are whining about how *long* the pedal is, and curious how they are being paced by a chick.

To be clear - a group ride on a bicycle freaks me out more than a group ride on a motorcycle does.

If I were hard core I'd be on a fixie...

I'd like a 29 rigid SS so bad. But it is funny when I'm on a hard ride dying on my geared bike and then some fucker (usually a fat fucker at that) comes by on a SS and they are so cheery when they ask "How's it going". Fuck you bitch I'm dying! Enjoy my mace fucker!!!

I remember when I rode my 12year old GT Timberline rigid that had only 3 speeds that worked on it and blasting down horrible rutted hills at full speed to blow by some fucker on a nice ass FS. I blew by a group of FS bikes who cussed me out for going too fast down the hill.

[Homeslice]

How exactly can you go faster on an SS?
I don't understand how you could be "dying" on a geared bike while a SS blows by you.

[Smittie61984]

How exactly can you go faster on an SS?
I don't understand how you could be "dying" on a geared bike while a SS blows by you.

You go down hills faster knowing you have to peddle faster up the hill. Since you are in a higher gearing you crank up the hill as opposed to putting it in a lower, slower, easier gear.

And how can SS people blow by me on a gearing bike? People who generally ride SS bikes are very hardcore riders who are in far better shape than me or other riders who ride recreationally. IIRC many of the pro cross-country racers run a 3" suspension hardtail steel frame because it's faster overall. I ride a 5-6" suspension hardtail.

I'm fast on the the short term. I can move through very tight trails really really fast. But about 10miles into a ride and I'm dying. I'm not built well for endurance.

I'm sure you can put me on Rossi's bike and Rossi on my 96 CBR600 and Rossi would still blow me away.

[Homeslice]

But isn't the gear ratio on an SS bike somewhere between the lowest and highest gear on a full-geared bike? If so, the full-geared bike would be able to go faster. Just like if you tried to take a Ducati and modify it so that only 3rd gear worked, it would not be able to hit 180 mph anymore.

[Smittie61984]

But isn't the gear ratio on an SS bike somewhere between the lowest and highest gear on a full-geared bike? If so, the full-geared bike would be able to go faster. Just like if you tried to take a Ducati and modify it so that only 3rd gear worked, it would not be able to hit 180 mph anymore.

But would you need 180mph at in the tight turns of Deal's Gap?

[Homeslice]

I know, but I'm just trying to understand what an SS bike is good for. Right now, the only advantage I can see is that it's cheaper and less failure-prone. But in terms of performance advantages, I don't see any.

[101lifts2]

Instead of paying 2k for a lighter bike...pay 300 and then use the extra money to increase your engine size....via squats/leg press/hack. :wtfru:

[Smittie61984]

I know, but I'm just trying to understand what an SS bike is good for. Right now, the only advantage I can see is that it's cheaper and less failure-prone. But in terms of performance advantages, I don't see any.

Shit. Those fuckers are expensive as hell. I know people who have dumped $2000 on a SS. And they run no suspension fixed gearing (where you can't stop peddling) with steel frames compared to aluminum. It's like a glorified BMX bike. (I think a lot of it is overpriced)

But suspension takes power out of your peddle and you learn the fast lines really well. You loose power through your gearing like a transmission and it just challenges and forces you to become a better rider. I've ridden a SS once and it felt so much better. Plus the 29" wheels roll much better than a 26" wheel.

I like all forms of riding and want a FS, SS, Fixed gear, BMX, Hardtail, 69er, 650b, triathlon, road, speed, downhill, trial, etc. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. But I'd like to exploit them all.

[Homeslice]

Suspension? 29" wheels? Sounds like you are talking about an SS mountain bike, but I thought we were talking about SS road bikes.

[Smittie61984]

Suspension? 29" wheels? Sounds like you are talking about an SS mountain bike, but I thought we were talking about SS road bikes.

Shit. No wonder we aren't clicking here.

Geared FTW on a road bike. I do see some people ride SS road bikes but those people are doing that just to do it. It just makes going on a geared road bike 10x easier once you hop off the SS.

[Homeslice]

Cool, as long as I have one less thing to consider, that works for me.

Hey how fat of a seat can I get away with on a road bike? I have kind of a sensitive taint, and this seat has the biggest cutout I've seen so far. But is it skinny enough for a road bike?

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z71/Relipics/1243132480.jpg

[Smittie61984]

Bigger seats suck on road bikes.

Now before you go asking what is the best, seats vary big time. Many local bike shops (LBS) will let you try a seat out for a week or two and then try another one until you find the one you like. I have a stock but my Pearl Izumi shorts work very well and I've never had a problem with my butt hurting from a bike ride. But any decent LBS will let you try a seat out. REI will let you buy one and return it no questions asked.

[HokieDNA01]

I have also been looking into getting a road bike. Stopped at a local bike store and took a liking to a Giant. Does anyone have anything good/bad to say about that brand? I do not know much about bikes.

[Smittie61984]

I have no personal experience with Giant but from what I have heard they are great bikes. A friend of mine got herself a new Giant mountain bike from a place called "Roswell Bikes" in a northern suburb of Atlanta and they are one of the most reputable dealers in the state. So I assume they are good bicycles.

[Homeslice]

Yeah I used to have a Giant Iguana MTB like 15 yrs ago.....Thought nobody would steal it cuz it was just a steel hardtail, but no such luck.... lol