I want to buy a bicycle, I want to buy a biiiike

The Black Hunter

The more suspension the bike has, the more power delivery is lost

I ride my bike pretty hard. I found popping tires on impact and bent wheels etc is much more common on smaller tires. As much as I'd like super thin race tires, I'd burst them every 5 minutes.

9 miles is a pretty long way, really. You'd be pretty buggered after a ride like that, especially in the stop and go of the city. I wouldn't be using it to get to work.

Improvolone

I won't be riding in a downtown area. I will have access to sidewalks and more open roads than you may think when you hear "city".

saltiness

Don't ride on the sidewalk.

Improvolone

But... people do around here?

DeathPrawn

They're wrong. Bicycles belong on the street. It's safer for you and safer for pedestrians.

Improvolone

The bike lanes on the roads down here are like three inches wide and are usually filled with dropped palm fronds. I can't imagine anyone riding in them all the time.

edit: I'll stick to roads if I can, but Miami drivers actively try to kill you it seems

dbl edit: I am reading Florida bike laws right now

DeathPrawn

If you're not comfortable riding in the bike lanes, you're better off riding in the middle of the right-most lane. Being in the middle of the lane means some jackass in a SUV can't try to squeeze past you in the same lane, but sticking to the right lane means that pissy drivers can still pass you.

Esh

Until you get very, very, VERY comfortable riding, I'd suggest leaving the kiddie seat off for a while.

Improvolone

Where no bicycle lane is marked, a white edge line is often marked to indicate the edge of the roadway. On a road with curbs, the gutter is not part of the roadway. A cyclist should avoid the gutter area; pavement joints or debris may be hazardous. On a road with flush shoulders, any pavement beyond the edge line is a paved shoulder; it is not a bicycle lane unless it is marked with the bicycle lane marking.

Ah, it seems bicycle lanes don't even exist on the roads that I travel then.

Also

* When riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks, a bicyclist has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian.
* A bicyclist riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing.

So its legal at least

note: I will stick to the roads as much as I possibly can and I will not bring my son with me until I'm riding in areas that I'm comfortable in.

MrDelish

saltiness wrote: »

Do NOT buy a cruiser.

Do NOT buy anything with suspension if you're only riding on the road unless you're like 50-years-old.

These kinds of bikes are fine for leisurely riding where you're more concerned with looking at pretty trees and little animals than actually getting anywhere. If you want the bike for commuting and grocery-getting chris is leading you in the right direction.

I followed chris's links and I actually think this Giant Escape would be an awesome city bike. It's got a rack, fenders, 24 speeds and it's still relatively light-weight. You'll be more hunched-over than on a cruiser or hybrid but you'll also be a lot more efficient that way and you won't be nearly as stretched out as on a purpose-built road racer.

I wanted to say this but was beaten to it. Follow this advice and do not get a cruiser.

Djeet

If the main purpose of the bike is to do a one-way 9 mile commute to work I'd get a completely different bike then if I were mainly going to leisurely ride around the neighborhood with the kid (not that u can't use a roadbike with a trailer, but the riding experience is different). Maybe u aren't sure what you'll be mainly be using it for, but I'd think about t.

And it's safer to take the lane. I'm in a very bike-friendly city (the city, not necessarily the drivers) and I take the lane if I don't feel safe in the bikelane, eventhough our bikelanes are at least 4 ft, probably more. Drivers may hate you, but it seems like they don't even see you when you're on the sidewalk. It's scary at first, but you get used to it.

Improvolone

I guess I don't get the "no crusier" thing. Is it a speed thing? Control? High energy output?

Also, the 9 mile commute is very much a "not sure I'd even do this but this is the absolute farthest I see myself ever going on the off chance I actually do this" kind of thing. If anything I'd take the bike to the metro stop, mile away or so, and get on that. The metro lets out across the street from work. I am not buying a bike to commute with as its main use, I am buying a bike to ride around for fun, run some errands because hey why not I live close to some shit, etc.

saltiness

Cruisers are not efficient or maneuverable in bike terms. They're also fucking huge and heavy which would suck if you're taking it on public transportation.

bowen

Djeet wrote: »

If the main purpose of the bike is to do a one-way 9 mile commute to work I'd get a completely different bike then if I were mainly going to leisurely ride around the neighborhood with the kid (not that u can't use a roadbike with a trailer, but the riding experience is different). Maybe u aren't sure what you'll be mainly be using it for, but I'd think about t.

And it's safer to take the lane. I'm in a very bike-friendly city (the city, not necessarily the drivers) and I take the lane if I don't feel safe in the bikelane, eventhough our bikelanes are at least 4 ft, probably more. Drivers may hate you, but it seems like they don't even see you when you're on the sidewalk. It's scary at first, but you get used to it.

If it's legal, which it is apparently, I'd stick to the sidewalk as much as possible. Most places aren't like NYC where you've got 80 people on any given stretch of sidewalk. It's safer for you, safer for drivers (who cares, biggest thing is it's safer for you). Giving a pedestrian right of way is nothing in a less "walk-centric" area.

Fats

So long as your idea of giving me right of way doesn't involve barely missing me while going 15 MPH, which seems to be the thing around here.

schuss

bowen wrote: »

Djeet wrote: »

If the main purpose of the bike is to do a one-way 9 mile commute to work I'd get a completely different bike then if I were mainly going to leisurely ride around the neighborhood with the kid (not that u can't use a roadbike with a trailer, but the riding experience is different). Maybe u aren't sure what you'll be mainly be using it for, but I'd think about t.

And it's safer to take the lane. I'm in a very bike-friendly city (the city, not necessarily the drivers) and I take the lane if I don't feel safe in the bikelane, eventhough our bikelanes are at least 4 ft, probably more. Drivers may hate you, but it seems like they don't even see you when you're on the sidewalk. It's scary at first, but you get used to it.

If it's legal, which it is apparently, I'd stick to the sidewalk as much as possible. Most places aren't like NYC where you've got 80 people on any given stretch of sidewalk. It's safer for you, safer for drivers (who cares, biggest thing is it's safer for you). Giving a pedestrian right of way is nothing in a less "walk-centric" area.

Actually, riding on the sidewalk is illegal in most places. For all legal intents and purposes, a bicycle = car on the road. In actuality, cars will fuck you up if you let them. People are crazy and don't pay attention.

bowen

He already found out it's legal, that's why I said what I said.

Djeet

There's nothing wrong with cruisers, but IMO they aren't forgiving for rides over a few miles unless you're taking a leisurely pace. Heavier bikes with little to no gearing are just more of a workout, especially when slowing to a stop and starting from a dead stop, once you get rolling it's not as bad, though your top end is lower. An area can be pretty level but still have some steep grades (going under and over highways) in which you'll appreciate having more than 3 gears in the cassette. Mapmyrun has some pretty good tools if you'd like to see the elevation changes over a particular route.



The primary resistance to riding on the street is that at first it's kind of scary since you're sharing with 2+ ton vehicles, whilst on sidewalks you only have to contend with pedestrians. Everytime I've contacted pavement it's been when riding on the sidewalk (e.g. a driver turns into a parking lot or backs out of a driveway and cuts me off, I have to stop quick and turn sharp and eat it, not sure if it's cause he doesn't see me, or assumes I'm travelling the speed of a pedestrian; or someone runs out of an establishment with out looking and I have to do quick brake/manuever to avoid hitting him).

Also, sidewalks are what 6 ft wide, and likely to have a curb drop off and traffic streetside, and who knows what on the non-streetside (wall, grass, rocks, fences, cafe tables/chairs, mailboxes, etc.), while a lane is a carlength wide. If you're travelling faster then a pedestrian I think there's a lot more opportunity to get hurt.

I'll stick to my original assertion that taking the lane is probably your safest bet (regardless of the legality of riding on sidewalks), once you get over the nerves. You can add a mirror (handlebar or helmet) to improve situational awareness, but I find those more of a distraction than just doing an over-shoulder check.

IronKnuckle's Ghost

Ultimately I think sidewalk versus street has to do with your own comfort level. When I first started getting back in to cycling as an adult, I would only ride on sidewalks due to fear of cars. After a few weeks I became adjusted enough to transition to the street on all but the busiest streets.

Also depending on where you live you may have paved multi-use trails! My city is exercise-oriented enough to have several main trails that never cross streets.

Telex

Quick tip for someone not used to biking with traffic:

Practice looking over your shoulder while biking. It sounds funny, but if you try to do it the same way you do while walking, you will veer in the direction you are looking (ie the street). Just spend some time in an empty parking lot biking straight and checking over your left shoulder, and it will become second nature. The key is keeping your shoulders facing forward - imagine you are trying to touch the top of your shoulder with your chin.

Also, I recommend biking in bike lanes rather than the sidewalk. Be smart about it, and the nerves will go away fast. Just be cautious and always give cars the right of way unless they explicitly tell you to go. Like others have said, cars backing out of driveways/people doing weird things are probably more dangerous than a car driving next to you. In the times I've had to share a bike path with pedestrians, I've had them jump to the left when I tell them I'm coming up on their left and other things like that.