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I love bikes

GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
edited November 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
I just love them. I love going into a bike store and looking at all the different types. I always wish I had a use for some kind of flashy-painted cruiser. Actually, I'd have all sorts of bikes if I could. I love riding a bike. it just feels very independent- when I was a kid and I went off on my bike it was huge release and I still feel that way sometimes! I love the bike guys I pull up next to at lights, they're always cute. I love bungie cords and helmets and bike lights.

are there any other bike people?

P.S. I'm talking bicycles, not motorcycles.
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Comments

  • madjackmadjack Posts: 213
    I know what your saying man, I love them too! I rode a friends Heritage to a bike rally in the smokies a couple of weekends ago, I loved it. I had a goldwing at one time when I was married, since the divorce, I've not had a bike. I've started shopping, I'm lookin for a road king or maybe a street glide.
    Come on and play on the edge of life with me. Its fun and I love every minute of it!!!
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    madjack wrote:
    I know what your saying man, I love them too! I rode a friends Heritage to a bike rally in the smokies a couple of weekends ago, I loved it. I had a goldwing at one time when I was married, since the divorce, I've not had a bike. I've started shopping, I'm lookin for a road king or maybe a street glide.

    lol, I think we're talking about different kinds of bikes!

    Never had a motorcycle but I think they're cool!
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    i had to get a new chain ring on my bike ... it's a 15 year old purple hybrid that's a tank ... ride it everywhere ...
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    polaris wrote:
    i had to get a new chain ring on my bike ... it's a 15 year old purple hybrid that's a tank ... ride it everywhere ...

    I've been having some *chain* issues with both my bikes, both pretty new. The first nice day of the spring I took my road bike out, bought it last fall and rode it maybe 5-10 times before winter. I get down the block and all of a sudden my bike comes to a screeching halt. the chain had come off and wedged itself between the front gears-it was a mess, completely tangled up. I couldn't get it out so I took it to the bike shop- once they got it (took 3 mechanics in the shop) out they discovered the chain was actually broken, had to buy a new one, a fun $60. I was kind of perturbed.

    today, I'm riding into work, on Mass ave (very busy street) on my hybridy thing, and the chain just pops right off. I hadn't even shifted, I was just riding along on flat ground. I had a hard time getting it back on too as it somehow went on the outside of the front gears- very weird. came into work all greasy. this is a new bike too- maybe that's why, it hasn't been like broken in yet.
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I just love them. I love going into a bike store and looking at all the different types. I always wish I had a use for some kind of flashy-painted cruiser. Actually, I'd have all sorts of bikes if I could. I love riding a bike. it just feels very independent- when I was a kid and I went off on my bike it was huge release and I still feel that way sometimes! I love the bike guys I pull up next to at lights, they're always cute. I love bungie cords and helmets and bike lights.

    are there any other bike people?

    Total bike guy. I may be an environmental nut job but I try to walk the talk as much as possible. My office just moved and now I bike 36 blocks along the greenbelt path next to the river that runs right through Boise. I see wildlife almost every day (eagles, minks, foxes, bums, etc.)
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  • PahkTheCahPahkTheCah Posts: 193
    GTD: Did you get both bikes at the same store? Are they the same brand? What you're describing should NOT have happened. I'm wondering if the same person built them up and in the process messed them up....

    But I do love a long bike ride. Lately it's just my commute to and from work ...
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    eyedclaar wrote:
    Total bike guy. I may be an environmental nut job but I try to walk the talk as much as possible. My office just moved and now I bike 36 blocks along the greenbelt path next to the river that runs right through Boise. I see wildlife almost every day (eagles, minks, foxes, bums, etc.)

    cool! not too much wildlife on my route...

    I've always been a huge walker, but I'm trying to become more of a bike person. after my old commuting bike got stolen last spring it set me back until a few weeks ago when I could afford a new one (I made the mistake of buying a fancy-schmancy road bike instead of a commuter last fall, should have bought the commuter first). I think the biggest problem I have with taking a bike *everywhere* is clothing. I don't like to ride in my jeans and stuff too much because I've learned in the past it destroys clothes, so I usually just ride to work and stuff where I can change or to places where I can wear pants with paint and grease on them.
  • jbalicki10jbalicki10 Posts: 517
    Man, I thought for once people were excerising. I was hoping it was the pedal type of bike. Not a motorcycle.... Oh well...
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    PahkTheCah wrote:
    GTD: Did you get both bikes at the same store? Are they the same brand? What you're describing should NOT have happened. I'm wondering if the same person built them up and in the process messed them up....

    But I do love a long bike ride. Lately it's just my commute to and from work ...

    I got them at the same shop, but they are not the same brand. one is a trek and the other is a gary fisher. It's really a GREAT bike shop though, I'd be surprised if a mechanic there screwed it up. Just chains though at least, not too much of a big deal.

    the fisher though, which I bought a few weeks ago, always sounded crunchy, even when I test drove it. I told the mechanic too to check the chain and gears. now that the chain came off and I put it back on though, it sounds better...
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    jbalicki10 wrote:
    Man, I thought for once people were excerising. I was hoping it was the pedal type of bike. Not a motorcycle.... Oh well...

    we are talking about pedal type bikes.
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I got them at the same shop, but they are not the same brand. one is a trek and the other is a gary fisher. It's really a GREAT bike shop though, I'd be surprised if a mechanic there screwed it up. Just chains though at least, not too much of a big deal.

    the fisher though, which I bought a few weeks ago, always sounded crunchy, even when I test drove it. I told the mechanic too to check the chain and gears. now that the chain came off and I put it back on though, it sounds better...

    i would say that isn't normal ... hopefully, it's fixed itself ...
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    polaris wrote:
    i would say that isn't normal ... hopefully, it's fixed itself ...

    yeah it is a wee bit strange the more I think about it.
  • PahkTheCahPahkTheCah Posts: 193
    polaris wrote:
    i would say that isn't normal ... hopefully, it's fixed itself ...

    +1

    I was having a similar "issue" and they had to re-do my bottom bracket. All's well now. Frustrating as shit at the time. But it's worth being able to ride a well oilied machine.
  • PJaddictedPJaddicted Posts: 1,432
    Hubby just got a really nice Mt. Bike! It is actually GORGEOUS! He had parts of it custom built too. I'm really happy that he will be spending less time on the Motocross bike, and some on his Mt. Bike.

    oxc
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  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    PJaddicted wrote:
    Hubby just got a really nice Mt. Bike! It is actually GORGEOUS! He had parts of it custom built too. I'm really happy that he will be spending less time on the Motocross bike, and some on his Mt. Bike.

    oxc

    I give you props for mt biking. I'm terrified of the whole concept!
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    PahkTheCah wrote:
    +1

    I was having a similar "issue" and they had to re-do my bottom bracket. All's well now. Frustrating as shit at the time. But it's worth being able to ride a well oilied machine.

    it was funny ... dude was like "do you use your middle or bottom ring?" ... i was like nope ... big ring only ... i change between 1 or 2 gears usually ... :p
  • PahkTheCahPahkTheCah Posts: 193
    polaris wrote:
    it was funny ... dude was like "do you use your middle or bottom ring?" ... i was like nope ... big ring only ... i change between 1 or 2 gears usually ... :p

    Same here. Not much need to do much shifting on my commute. It's more of a work out as well.
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    PahkTheCah wrote:
    Same here. Not much need to do much shifting on my commute. It's more of a work out as well.

    I keep it on the middle ring, less chance of accidentally crunching it. then I usually just shift between the hardest back gears. it's like completely flat around here. When I lived in raleigh-durham I used a lot more gears I think, but still kept the front on the middle. I hate shifting the front gears, causes more problems than it's worth.

    oh as for a work out- I am with you, I enjoy pushing on harder gears, but apparently that is not the correct way to ride a bike, even from an exercise standpoint. Apparently you're supposed to spin more.
  • jbalicki10jbalicki10 Posts: 517
    Quick Question: I see all these people who wear helmets and stuff. Does the law require this now? I would like to ride my bike more now and I don't want to wear a helmet. I never wore one and never will. I don't like wearing a helmet playing hockey either but I do now because they wont let me on the ice at the rinks anymore without it.
  • senninsennin Posts: 2,146
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I just love them. I love going into a bike store and looking at all the different types. I always wish I had a use for some kind of flashy-painted cruiser. Actually, I'd have all sorts of bikes if I could. I love riding a bike. it just feels very independent- when I was a kid and I went off on my bike it was huge release and I still feel that way sometimes! I love the bike guys I pull up next to at lights, they're always cute. I love bungie cords and helmets and bike lights.

    are there any other bike people?

    P.S. I'm talking bicycles, not motorcycles.

    http://www.feltracing.com/

    I love Felt bikes!
  • senninsennin Posts: 2,146
    jbalicki10 wrote:
    Quick Question: I see all these people who wear helmets and stuff. Does the law require this now? I would like to ride my bike more now and I don't want to wear a helmet. I never wore one and never will. I don't like wearing a helmet playing hockey either but I do now because they wont let me on the ice at the rinks anymore without it.

    http://www.iihs.org/laws/HelmetUseCurrent.aspx
  • jbalicki10jbalicki10 Posts: 517
    sennin wrote:
    http://www.iihs.org/laws/HelmetUseCurrent.aspx

    Sweet THANK YOU!!! I am going to get my old bike up to shape now. I think I will try going to the Morton Arboritum (sp) in a couple of weeks to try it out, Thanks to this thread. I need more excercise. I keep telling my GF she's a cubby chaser now since I gained weight. This will help.
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    sennin wrote:
    http://www.iihs.org/laws/HelmetUseCurrent.aspx

    Good, I don't have to legally wear a helmet. Not that I would anyway. I reserve the right to give my noggin' a floggin' anytime I want. Hell, if I survived my childhood without wearing a helmet, I can't see much use for one now..
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  • senninsennin Posts: 2,146
    eyedclaar wrote:
    Good, I don't have to legally wear a helmet. Not that I would anyway. I reserve the right to give my noggin' a floggin' anytime I want. Hell, if I survived my childhood without wearing a helmet, I can't see much use for one now..


    Great logic. ;)
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    eyedclaar wrote:
    Good, I don't have to legally wear a helmet. Not that I would anyway. I reserve the right to give my noggin' a floggin' anytime I want. Hell, if I survived my childhood without wearing a helmet, I can't see much use for one now..

    I always wear a helmet unless I'm just going down some quiet side streets, but that usually doesn't happen. The way I see it, when I was a kid I was riding my bike around the suburbs. Now I'm going up and down mass ave during rush hour. there's a lot more chance I'm going to get hit by a car, a bus, a car door, or a person (because for some reason, when people cross the street, they think "oh there is a bike coming, that's no problem, I'll cross now). I am quite peeved that my trek helmet I loved broke and now I have this bell that I'm not quite thrilled with.
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    sennin wrote:
    http://www.feltracing.com/

    I love Felt bikes!

    oo I like the cruisers they have. I need to move to a beach town just so I can ride around on a cruiser in my flip flops.

    cool, some of those "cafe" cruisers have the rack built right into the frame...that's really interesting!

    this is the bike I get around on. it's all black and very boring looking. I should have put more effort into getting a cute bike :)
    http://www.discoverycycle.com/wingra.jpg
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I always wear a helmet unless I'm just going down some quiet side streets, but that usually doesn't happen. The way I see it, when I was a kid I was riding my bike around the suburbs. Now I'm going up and down mass ave during rush hour. there's a lot more chance I'm going to get hit by a car, a bus, a car door, or a person (because for some reason, when people cross the street, they think "oh there is a bike coming, that's no problem, I'll cross now). I am quite peeved that my trek helmet I loved broke and now I have this bell that I'm not quite thrilled with.

    Yeah, like I said, my biking commute is easy breezy Japaneezy (on a bike path next to the river and totally removed from traffic). If I did wear a helmet, I would wear a football helmet just for the looks I'd get...
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  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    eyedclaar wrote:
    Yeah, like I said, my biking commute is easy breezy Japaneezy (on a bike path next to the river and totally removed from traffic). If I did wear a helmet, I would wear a football helmet just for the looks I'd get...

    In 2002 I biked across ireland with an REI group- we had to sign a waiver that we'd never get on a bike without a helmet. Like we had to put on a helmet to ride the bike from one end of a driveway to another. it was a bit ridic.
  • jammergirljammergirl Posts: 599
    yay, a bike thread! i live in a total biking town, its a college town with not alot of hills and plenty of quiet shady streets. i ride around on a blue and white beach cruiser with a basket on the front. the only problem is that even though there are alot of people on bikes and proper bike lanes, alot of people here don't know how to share the road with bikes! i've been almost hit plenty of times, and i try to stick to the quieter roads. my friend got hit when someone opened their car door right in front of him. his bike got totalled, and he's all bruised up. be careful out there guys!
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    jammergirl wrote:
    yay, a bike thread! i live in a total biking town, its a college town with not alot of hills and plenty of quiet shady streets. i ride around on a blue and white beach cruiser with a basket on the front. the only problem is that even though there are alot of people on bikes and proper bike lanes, alot of people here don't know how to share the road with bikes! i've been almost hit plenty of times, and i try to stick to the quieter roads. my friend got hit when someone opened their car door right in front of him. his bike got totalled, and he's all bruised up. be careful out there guys!

    I don't think people anywhere know how to share the road, even around here where there are tons of people on bikes!

    Raleigh-durham was BAD though. it was scary as hell, students were always getting hit.
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