Out of all the capitalistic endeavors in this world,
I believe one of the few things people are entitled to are affordable transportation. If nothing else in this world, you should be able to get where you need to go without having to rely on limited and sometimes expensive public transportation.
I believe it's up there below freedom of speech. An inalienable right.
Yes, naive of me I know.
I have nothing against the exotic $5000 carbon fiber 13 lb racing bike. If you can afford it, more power to you. I still own my cool Italian racing bike I got 30 years ago, when I weighed 60 lbs less than I do now. I just find it uncomfortable and the whole class unnecessary for most people's needs. Mine has been collecting dust.
I believe in comfort. I believe that comfort trumps aerodynamics and speed. Being uncomfortable, being in pain is a horrible thing on a bicycle.
If you ride a racing bike with your head down, staring at the road because you can't lift your head (it's known as Shermer's Neck) then what fun is that? If your ass is killing you because your seat is too hard in the wrong places, if your naughty bits are numb, then how is that motivating you?
How does that encourage you to ride a bicycle more?
Alot of the snobs say, "You have to get used to it!" or "your seat needs to be broken in."
Nonsense.
I say, sit up and enjoy the ride. I ride cruisers for hours at a stretch that I retrofit with BMX bars (about 6" higher) and my choice of comfortable seat. My biggest problem is exhaustion, not pain.
There are two seat brands I am partial to: Specialized's 'Body Geometry' and Planet Bike's A.R.S.
Seat technology has evolved enormously in the past several years, and before that I didn't know seats could actually be pain-free.
A bike shop is invaluable in this respect, they should allow you to try seats so you find one that maximizes your comfort, making your biking experience enjoyable and not painful.
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Now if you've been biking for any length of time, you have no doubt encountered your share of bike snobs. Sometimes they're wearing the latest stretchy spandex and lycra and clipless shoes, secretly checking you out and judging you if you're not looking like them or if your bike doesn't have the latest gear.
I see them on the internet bike boards sometimes.
And all of them will thumb their noses at the dearth of bikes sold at what's commonly known as 'The Big-Box Stores.' Walmart, K-mart, Target.
These are the bikes that start at $100.
"They are made like shit," "They fall apart," "Made in China crap!"
Guess what? The corporation that makes the bikes sold in Walmart, known as Dorel, also makes most of the bikes sold in most bike shops. Cannondale? Schwinn? Mongoose? Pacific? All Dorel products.
Some of these companies are also made at the same company in China, known as Kinesis: Diamondback, Trek, GT, Kona, Giant, Schwinn, Jamis, K2, Felt, and Raleigh among them.
The major difference between the big-box store and a bike shop is ONE very important element: The bicycle mechanic.
Big-box stores don't employ one. The bikes are usually built by the employee who volunteers and has a modicum of mechanical aptitude. So your bike from Walmart will usually be in severe need of basic adjustment, and grease in most cases. Bearings will be too tight or too loose, wheels will not be trued, tires will be under-inflated, derailleurs and brakes will need adjusting.
Not to mention you as the rider would be needing to be sized properly. Your seat will need to be high enough and adjusted for your comfort and efficiency.
These are all things you pay for when you go to a bike shop. And well you should.
So my philosophy is this: By all means go to a bikeshop and pay for their services because they are, in fact, invaluable to your riding comfort as well as the longevity of your machine. Even if you can't afford to buy from a bike shop, buy one from one of the big-box stores and bring it to the bike shop of your choosing and pay them to tune it properly and size you correctly.
It will be well worth their expertise.
But just be aware, the big-box store bikes are NOT always the junk that the bike snobs claim they are.
I should know. I own several.
There are hidden gems amongst the bikes. They are the bikes with aluminum frames.
This is my K-mart bike, a Mongoose X:20:
It cost me $150. The day before I'm writing this, I rode from Woodside Queens to City Island in the Bronx and back, about 32 miles.
Ok, full disclosure, it didn't start out looking like this. It came loaded down with lots of steel components like the handlebars, the cranks, the fork, the seatpost, and a 3 lb rack and fenders.
Apart from swapping out the above-mentioned parts for lighter aluminum components, I rebuilt the wheels. The bike weighs about 8-10 lbs less than when I started.
But the point being that if a bike-store bike is out of your price range, you can get a great 'starter' affordably at a box-store and upgrade as you go.
An aluminum frame ensures that you're not making a 'silk purse from a sow's ear.'
This is how it looked when I first bought it, price tag and all:
Not horrible. But that seat hurt.
But no matter what bike you own,
There are two other main points to biking efficiency:
1. Keep your chain properly lubricated
2. Keep your tires inflated to their MAXIMIUM rated pressure.
I always see people riding with rusty chains, you can even hear them squeak. You can actually feel the dramatic difference once you oil your chain.
And tire pressure, almost everyone is ignorant on this subject. Higher pressure lowers rolling resistance, which means YOU GO FASTER.
When your tires have low pressure, more of the tire makes contact with the road surface, slowing you down. You are also way more susceptible to FLATS and severe rim damage (as in, when you hit a pothole.)
Low pressure is only effective in mud and sand.
Inflate them to the MAXIMUM pressure. Don't worry, they won't explode. (If they do, it's because of some other problem.)
Take proper care of your bike and it will return the favor exponentially.
