Going bike shopping!!

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catwoman

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near Fort Worth TX
Going bicycle shopping this afternoon with a friend who is pretty heavy-duty serious about bike rides. :D Told her I was open to a "gently used" bike as well as a brand new one. Probably comfort level.

Other than the bicycle, what else am I getting myself into, purchase-wise? I'm assuming a helmet (yuck! am sure it will be very hot to wear but very wise since I'm on Coumadin), some way to tote it should I transport it (I have a Honda CRV, which may do the job inside).
 
Good luck on bicycle shopping. Keep in mind, the level of your bike ride satisfaction pretty much depends on the quality of your bike.
I'm baking 4-5 times a week for about an hour or two during a ride. I try to get at least 15-17 miles out of the ride and sometimes go over 30 miles if have enough energy and time. I wish I had more time I could dedicate to bike riding. Before my AVR in 2002 I was able to do up to 50-60 miles a day. That?s my goal now. Perhaps in a year or so I will be able to.
I have a Trek road bike, it?s actually made by a US manufacturer. Helmet is a MUST for anybody riding the bike and especially on Coumadin. The helmet saved me twice before my AVR and once after.
I would also recommend gloves and sport sunglasses (which is a nice to have), water bottle might be useful. Here is a couple of bike related websites:
http://www.performancebike.com/
http://www.nashbar.com/
 
Catwoman,

I assume Debra is taking you bike shopping. One thing to think about is your contact areas. Those being the palms of your hands, your rear end, and your feet. Get some padded gloves, gel type preferrably, a good pair of biking shorts and some stiff shoes. The shorts are most important. Many people think a big cushy seat is nice. In reality, if you ride much at all, a smaller seat is best to minimize the amount of your bottom that is touching the seat. It's a bit painful after the first few rides but great after your sit bones get used to it. The Trinity trail is agreat place to ride this time of year in Ft. Worth. If you go from Bryant Irvin to the Stock Yards and back it's 20 miles with zero car traffic!

Have fun,

Jim
 
Jim:

Yes, Debra is taking me. She's on vacation this week. Trinity Trail sounds like a great course. Years ago, when I was single, I did take a bike I owned down to the trail. Had a Datsun car then with a bike rack on the back. Gave the bike to my niece after I got married almost 25 years ago and no longer used it... My husband still has his "premarital" bike, hasn't been ridden in many years.
Debra suggests having the bike shop she uses take a gander at my husband's bike to see if it's worth rehabbing for John to use.

Will let you know what I get. I'm not in a big hurry -- yet.
 
My best advice would be to make sure you get a good quality helmet that fits properly, not the cheapest one you can find at a discount store. May cost you a bit more, but will be worth it if you ever need it. Bike shorts make a world of difference comfort-wise.
In my case, I've had carpal tunnel surgery and gel-padded gloves have helped a lot also.
Sport sunglasses are functional and look :cool:
And of course I always wear my Lance Armstrong "Livestrong" yellow bracelet...
 
Gel padded gloves. I am glad to hear about these. I have been riding my bike about 20-30 minutes on flat ground 3x a week but my right hand tingles. Would gloves help? or is it the way I am sitting? I know 20-30 minutes doesn't sound like much time, but I aslo walk daily and swim 2-3x a week.
 
Found a Trek 7200. I was told I didn't really need gloves because of the padding on the handlebars -- I'll be riding upright for exercise, not forward for speed. Priced helmets at the bike shop, along with a flat pack, pump, etc. Haven't checked into bike shorts yet.

Will take my husband back either today or next week.

Do bike shorts come in the Armor (sp?) fabric, the fabric that runners wear?
 
labguides said:
Gel padded gloves. I am glad to hear about these. I have been riding my bike about 20-30 minutes on flat ground 3x a week but my right hand tingles. Would gloves help? or is it the way I am sitting? I know 20-30 minutes doesn't sound like much time, but I aslo walk daily and swim 2-3x a week.

The gloves help me a lot, but I still have to change my hand position every few minutes to keep my right hand from getting numb. My triathlon aerobars took some getting used to, but are actually more comfortable than the regular drop bars because most my weight is on my elbows rather than my hands.
 
Nice wheels!

Nice wheels!

Nice bike, Marsha. Should be a joy to ride & provide many years of reliable use. I started biking several years ago in my late 30's just to get some moderate exercise. Fell in love w/ joy riding, then distance riding, then touring. Nice thing about a bike is that you can make it as easy or as intense as you want to, but it's still easy on the joints. Riding the bike was an important part of my rehab after OHS. I hope you find it as enjoyable as I have.
 
Marsha,

The gloves do help, even if you're mostly riding upright. They're also handy for brushing glass, etc. from your tires if you ride through some. And when the inevitable day comes that you "eat" some asphalt, gloves can really save your hands from some nasty stuff.
 
catwoman said:
Found a Trek 7200. I was told I didn't really need gloves because of the padding on the handlebars -- I'll be riding upright for exercise, not forward for speed. Priced helmets at the bike shop, along with a flat pack, pump, etc. Haven't checked into bike shorts yet.

Will take my husband back either today or next week.

Do bike shorts come in the Armor (sp?) fabric, the fabric that runners wear?


Marsha, definitely puchase a pair of bike shorts. The part of our bodies that touch the bike will hurt if you don't take the proper precautions.

I would still purchase a pair of gel gloves and definitely a helmet. There are only two types of riders; (1) those who have crashed and (2) those who will crash. :) Even though you might not ride fast, etc, a squirrel, grate cover, tree branch, etc. can all cause accidents.

Lastly, I suggest you invest in a bike computer. Installation can be complex, so maybe you can work out a good deal with the bike shop you purchase(d) your bike from. They provide good information and can help you log miles, speed, etc. Some even have heart monitor links that will help you manage calories burned, heart rate, maximum heart rate etc.

However, with all the technology, simply enjoy the fun of biking!
 
Hi Marsha,

i realy enjoy off road biking, I hope you do too. The bike looks great. I would make sure I got a good, soft front suspension avoiding too much impact and vibrations on the sternum. The RST you got there is quite good.

You must wear a helmet!

As to all the other goodies, it never ends. get going, enjoy it, and see what you need as you go along. The safety basics are: helmet, gloves and shoes (if you are going off road), to protect you when falling.

Have great fun!!

Daniel
 
Think I'm going to get the bike this afternoon after work. I may go to my sister's lake house this weekend and would like to take a bike there -- some gentle hills, a couple of not-so-gentle ones, and I'd like to get used to the bike a few days first.

Allen:
A friend has something on her bike so she can measure heart rate, etc. Maybe that's the computer you mentioned?
She's got me set up so I can get 10% discount on accessories at that shop. It's between my home & office, so it makes sense to buy there so they'll service it (sans repairs) free.

Will get bike shorts.
 
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