Bikes!

[Perry Winkle]

Good advice all around. Thanks everybody.

One of the jobs has indoor bike parking (as in a room in the office dedicated to bikes) and showers for us sweaty folk. I wouldn't worry about it getting stolen there. But I plan to use the bike for most of my transportation needs, with a liberal dash of public transport and my car, when I really need to get out of the city.

I looked into a couple of bike builders and was a little surprised at how they source their frame stock. They seem to get it through bike-specific suppliers. I don't know what they pay, but I'd be surprised if it weren't more expensive than buying it closer to the source. Though I'm sure the price of the materials is nothing compared to the labor of building the bike and the more specialized components..

[footfootfoot]

And the specialized tools. The frame finishing tools (for steel) are very pricey. Cutters, reamers, threaders. The Campy tool kit, for example:

http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/campagnolotoolkit.html

[ZenGum]

Two thoughts:
Wire cable locks are easy to cut. Chain is tougher. Those hardened steel D-locks are monkey-fighting tough.

Or, just offer your local junkie $10 bucks a week to bring you a new bike every Monday morning.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I used to work with an old man that preached there's no advantage to a 15 lb bike, over a 25 lb bike, if you have to carry a 12 lb lock and chain.

[gvidas]

Hardened steel U- or D-locks, like Kryptonite and derivatives, take less than a minute to cut with an angle grinder. These days, every major tool manufacturer sells a cordless angle grinder.

You can also break them apart with a generic scissor jack from a car, although that might take 3-5 minutes if you're being ginger about it.

That said, I rely on a kryptonite U-lock. All the bikes I've had stolen were someone taking advantage of my laziness. If it's going to be somewhere overnight, take the front wheel off and be sure you're locking both wheels + the frame. Otherwise, lock the frame + a wheel. Never ever ever lock just a wheel, unless you're at the neighborhood coffeeshop and you might be able to get away with locking the back wheel through the frame, since it's unridable and anyway you're sitting right there.

Probably the most effective lock is one of a size that you'll actually carry and use.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Probably not good for uphills, or down , but it solves the theft problem.

[Griff]

Good teens on bikes!

[LabRat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=L-QLcO-aw6A

Ely, Iowa to the Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Linn County Trails Map
Ely is the small town southeast of CR. The Cedar River is on the right during the end of the movie.
My neck of the woods, though I have never ridden this particular section of trail. I have to now though.

Thought some of you might enjoy this. :-)

[xoxoxoBruce]

Hi rat.
Looks pretty flat, one gear to start and one gear to fly.

[xoxoxoBruce]

At $3200 you'd need a hefty lock.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

At $3200 you'd need a hefty lock.

And a good job.

[Griff]

Great ride this morning! Hit the trail at 7:30 ended about 11:15. It was very dry and fast. My fitness level is pretty good but I seem to be getting some arthritis in my left wrist, the one I broke, still I was plenty fast today with a lot in reserve. Some kind of event was starting just as we left. My buddy stopped to check it out but you know me anti-social... didn't want the humans to steal my buzz.

Anywho for your reading pleasure here is an ultra mountain biker's blog. It is worth a read.

http://leopershall.blogspot.com/

[BigV]

Just bought a bike for SonofV. I got it from the local thrift shop, it's a Rockhopper by Specialized circa mid 90s-00s. It has a number of upgraded components, a new suspension fork by Bomber, front disc brake and front rim brake (and levers) by Avid, a new seat (Bell) and handlebars, etc. I replaced the brake cables and housings (the old ones were shift cable housings--totally inappropriate for brakes). I trued the rear wheel, bought a kickstand, cleaned it up, lubed it, etc. I spent $70 for the bike and about that much on cables and tuneup stuff (side note: I got a pair of dedicated cable cutters similar to these--they're the Real. Deal. I chastised Luke at the bike shop for not compelling me to buy them earlier.) It's a nice ride now. It will give him a way to get around town for short-ish trips so he's not burning up his bus card or my gas to get to the store or his friends' houses.

[Griff]

Sounds like a good deal.

[BigV]

For the record, the bike has a front disc brake and a rear rim brake.

D'oh.