--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00026 Date: 05/09/96 From: PHIL PILTCH Time: 11:47am \/To: DOUG CARTER (Read 9 times) Subj: Metro updates Hi Doug, I've noted the posts on ILS. Not much new to contribute here. Metro Cycling Committee has had its first meeting on April 9th, and will have its next the the 22nd of May, during Bike to Work Week. I'm starting to get things going with my subcommittee, and we may deal with the issue of ILS at some time. The Network Planning Subcommittee has been the most active so far, dealing with various bike route and facilities issues. I've been keeping an eye on what comes out of that subcommittee, since some of it has safety implications. The most recent issue of concern is over the wide curb lane policy of Metro Transportation. Seems few cyclists here feel they make things better for cyclists, and have concluded that they may even be more dangerous for cyclists, since motorists are encouraged to go faster. The push, at least from the NPSC is to create 1/2 to 1 metre "paved shoulders" next to curb. In-line Skating issues have not come up, though in the new terms of reference that is being proposed, a ILS rep. was listed as one of the members. We were also requested to add pedestrian issue to our mandate, after a group called "Feet on the Street" ( no Miriam among them ! ) requeted Metro create a pedestrian issues committee. We requested that Metro create this new advisory committee rather than merging it with the Metro Cycling Committee. We shall see where this goes. You might be interested to know that Jack Layton, who is our current chair, is now chairing the Planning and Transportation Committee of Metro...hmmm should be very interesting this year. Have you been able to find more info on CANBIKE? I was in Vancouver for a very wet day, and found the location of the Alternative Tranportation Centre, location under the Science World Sky Train station. Found out their first BTWW is in early June, two weeks after ours. No info on CAN-BIKE though. Phil * SLMR 2.1a * ...Ouch! Slipped a disk (into drive B: ) --- Maximus/2 3.00 * Origin: One Less Car * Cycling in Toronto * (416) 480-0147 * (1:250/238) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00027 Date: 05/15/96 From: BARRY COUPER Time: 02:22am \/To: MELVIN HATCHER (Read 8 times) Subj: Re: choosing a bike => Melvin typed at Ryan Young => MH> I am in the market for a new Bike. I presently MH> have a 21x26-inch ten speed road bike, which I can't get MH> enough seat height. This causes my knees to hurt on long MH> hard to pull hills. PMFBI, I can't tell from your description whether your road-bike frame fits you. But if your bike is more than 10 years old, and you're just getting back into cycling, then I think you're doing the right thing (ie rather than getting a longer seat post and/or replacing the crankset with triple chain-wheels.) MH> I also looked at the Fuji, and Giant. [...] Sounds like you've got a clear idea of what's going to meet your needs. MH> Now I don't plan to do a lot rough "hotdogging" MH> type of off-roading. However I do want a bike that climbs MH> wells, fit me, and to be easy on my old knees. MH> I like to ride for 10 to 16 miles a day for MH> pleasure, also I would like to do all my errands and light MH> grocery shopping by bike. A rear bicycle rack works for me, but I'm seeing an increasing number of people riding with panniers. Reading _Effective Cycling_ by John Forester was a help to me. Once I started riding with a cadence @ 90+/min, the hills weren't nearly as tough (but then, most of my commuting was up and down the valley, not up and down hills ;) It took me about a month before my crotch was comfortable with the 10mi ride to class every day, but then it got fun and I now do 40-60 mile rides on weekends to visit used bookstores. (I'm using those to train for the 80mi rides that get me to *interesting* locations, and let me circumnavigate the Quabbin Reservoir.) MH> So any information on size, MH> brand, gear set (gear ratio), how many speeds, and anything MH> I may have left out will be greatly appreciated. The thing that probably makes as much difference as anything is having a couple of pairs of bicycle shorts. That, and having a decent bicycle pump, so that it's easy to keep tires at the correct pressure (which makes a real difference in the ride & in avoiding flats.) That'll make it comfortable riding, and easy to keep up the cycling habit. (but what do I know--you've got 10 years on me, and I don't yet understand about the "easy on my old knees" stuff;) I'm assuming that the people in your local bikeshop will set you up with slick tires rather than knobby ones if you're not going to be doing any off-road riding. Happy cycling. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 --- Maximus 2.01wb * Origin: Pioneer Valley PCUG1 (1:321/109) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00028 Date: 05/14/96 From: KEN PECK Time: 05:27am \/To: MELVIN HATCHER (Read 7 times) Subj: Mountain bike? -=> Quoting Melvin Hatcher to All <=- MH> I am new to this echo, although I have lurked here from time MH> to time. My name is Melvin Hatcher, and I live in Maryland. I am MH> interested in purchasing a mountain bike, in the three, to five MH> hundred dollar range. In that price range you should be able to get a good "entry level" bicycle. MH> My questions to the group are; What is the best bang for the MH> buck, gear set, gear speeds, and frame size? I have looked at, and The frame size shouldn't be a price factor unless you are either so small or so large as to require a custom frame. Get the frame size that is correct for you. You will probably find that in that price range, bikes will come with essentially the same gear group. I haven't shopped for a mountain bike, but I would guess that they all will have a Shimano "low end" group with a triple chain ring and seven cog free wheel. There is nothing wrong with a "low end" Shimano group. Typically what you pay for in higher priced groups is lightness and a more aesthetic finish. MH> rode a mountain bike, belonging to a fellow a co-worker. He bought it MH> from Toys or Us, and paid one hundred dollars for the bike. MH> To say the least, I wasn't impressed with his bike at all. MH> The brakes squealed, and did not hold that well This was disappointing MH> to me for a mountain bike. This isn't surprising. Toys R Us sells toys. And they are assembled by folks with little idea of how to put together and properly adjust a bike. And there is no after sale support. And they are difficult even for the most experienced bike mechanic to adjust and maintain. And ridden with any degree of regularity, they will need maintenance. They also turn out to be virtually impossible to "upgrade." MH> Last night I stopped by WheelPower and looked at a 630 Giant MH> with a 21-speed shifter. I rode it around the parking lot in front of MH> the store. MH> I was impressed with the smoothness of the bike, the gear MH> Change, the ease of peddling, and the quick release features. MH> Thanks for any time you take to answer my inquiry. As far as I know, Giant is a reputable bike manufacturer and this would be a decent, servicable bike that should last a long time. If you can, you might try out some others makes in your price range. I think you will find them all impressive. === ==== = _@ Ken Peck + _ \<._ ========= (_)/ (_) Kenneth_Peck@clr.com ... I wear a bike helmet because I'm too old to re-learn the alphabet. --- Blue Wave/QWK v2.10 --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: Texas Phoenix (1:130/1017.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00029 Date: 05/13/96 From: RYAN FOREST Time: 06:52pm \/To: ALL (Read 6 times) Subj: Broken colar bone Hi, I've never posted a message in here, but I was just wondering what kinds of injuries you guys have encourted on your mountain biking escapades, my friend broke his colar bone the other day.. Well, bye. Punks NOT dead --- Maximus 3.00 * Origin: NMD Maximus (1:3402/6) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00030 Date: 05/14/96 From: RAY SHANNON Time: 08:08am \/To: BOB ROSS (Read 6 times) Subj: Traffic lights PP> In Metro Toronto, a similar programme is under PP> way. Forester's recomendation on dealing with non-responsive signals is PP> to treat them as "inoperative" and proceeding when save ( thus treating PP> the signal a "stop sign" ). BR> That's what I do at one traffic light that doesn't seem to want to BR> change unless a car comes along. Crossing the Trans Canada Highway, BR> which is very busy, I usually have to go up on the sidewalk and press BR> the pedestrian button to get the light to change in my favour. When I was 40 or 50 years younger and was riding my Harley 74 and came up to a Red Light that had the treadle for chnging I would stop so that my left foot was over the treadle plate and with my Cycle Boot just stomp on that sucker. Worked every time. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 * LAKOTA v1.5 --- Alexi/Mail 2.02b (#51) * Origin: The Port Brew | S. A. Tx.| 210-337-4338 (1:387/310) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00031 Date: 05/15/96 From: JOHN O'NEILL Time: 01:16pm \/To: ALL (Read 6 times) Subj: 8-speed hub cog spacing Both Shimano and Campy 8-speed cassette Hubs are 130mm. Of course Shimano cogs only go on Shimano hubs and Campy on Campy but is the distance between the cogs the same on all 8 speed hubs? The reason I ask is I am interested in a road bike with Campagnolo Mirage Components and want to also get some aero type rims for it. Many Aero wheel makers I see advertised come with shimano compatible hubs. I know I would have to put the right cogs on the right hubs but I would like to be able to change wheels without adjusting my index shifting each time. John O'Neill ... Cold waves from Canada. Can't we weatherstrip the border? ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 --- TriToss (tm) Professional 10.0 - #12 * Origin: Bird Brains * Allentown, PA * (610) 437-4438 (1:2607/201.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00032 Date: 05/14/96 From: PATRICK CONVERY Time: 08:56pm \/To: BILLY O (Read 6 times) Subj: Re: camber etc. < Quoting Billy O to Bill Burton > BO> The people at Rans, in Kansas, got their start in recumbents by BO> building sail bikes. They would know. Do Rans still make sail bikes? Also, do you have their address? Patrick Convery --- Maximus/2 3.00 * Origin: One Less Car * Cycling in Toronto * (416) 480-0147 * (1:250/238) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00033 Date: 05/13/96 From: PHIL PILTCH Time: 11:15am \/To: DAVE HUGHES (Read 7 times) Subj: Driver licence for bikes DH>growing areas south of Houston. But, I see people with nice- DH>looking equipment even, who should know better, riding on DH>the left side of the road (????!!!). One of these days, I'm DH>just going to stop one, and at the risk of pissing him off DH>real bad, tell him about it before he has a serious DH>encounter with a motor vehicle. The debate over whether cyclists should be licensed has come up numerous time around the Metro Toronto area, especially with the annoying habit quite a few cyclists here have of riding on the sidewalk ( piising off pedestrians, including a number who like to write to their local councillor ) or who behave eraticly in traffic. Add to that the often self rightous "I'm saving the environment" tone.... and of course that of motorists who feel " I've paid many times over for the road, why don't they pay for it if they want to use it".... As for the habit of riding against traffic, I am at a loss as to where this comes from, except perhaps that it may be an old childhood one, or else a erroneous connection to walking - i.e. you must walk against traffic if there is no side walk. It may simply be a reaction to the fear many cyclists have of getting hit from behind. I'm not sure how many fatalities or injuries are caused by this habit, but I do know of one fatality about 12 years ago while I was an undergrad at Sonoma State in California - a young and promising athlete was on the way to SSU, cycling against traffic and swerved out to avoid a truck she apparently assume was about to make a right turn - it didn't and she hit it head on - I read this in our university paper and in the local paper. It's something I often tell to others... but then humans have this "wonderful" ability of self-denial " it won't happen to me..." Phil * SLMR 2.1a * Answers: $1;Short: $5;Correct: $25;dumb looks still free --- Maximus/2 3.00 * Origin: One Less Car * Cycling in Toronto * (416) 480-0147 * (1:250/238) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00034 Date: 05/13/96 From: PHIL PILTCH Time: 11:30am \/To: MARK BLAISDELL (Read 6 times) Subj: Steve Bauer " Whirlwind" -=> Quoting Mark Blaisdell to Rolf Hauckwitz <=- MB> Bottom line.....see what you can get for the same money NEW! If money MB> is the major factor, look for a newer used bike with up to date MB> components (index shifting, STI levers, etc......) Watch the bulletin MB> boards at local bike shops, club newsletters, etc. Good luck. An older bike is not necessarily a bad deal, and while there have been some changes, there are still a lot of things that haven't changed much. Indeed, some changes seem more for marketing than for real improvements. The main concerns about buying a used bike are: 1. Has it been well maintained? Is the owner selling to upgrade or is there a serious flaw with the bike? 2. What are the availibity of replacement parts. This becomes an issue even if one bought a bicycle new, but has kept it for several years - moving parts eventually wear out and need replacing - I have a seven year old Trek 420 for which replacing certain parts is not too easy. After a while I may forced to replace it simply because I can no longer find parts for it or more to the point - replacing them out right would require expensive changes to the frame... 3. Bicycle fit - even if the bicycle seems like a good deal, if it does not fit you properly, you should not buy it ( unless you are a collector ). Phil * SLMR 2.1a * Answers: $1;Short: $5;Correct: $25;dumb looks still free --- Maximus/2 3.00 * Origin: One Less Car * Cycling in Toronto * (416) 480-0147 * (1:250/238) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 150 BIKE NET Ref: D5K00035 Date: 05/13/96 From: PHIL PILTCH Time: 11:46am \/To: RICHARD GLAZER (Read 6 times) Subj: Steve Bauer " Whirlwind" RG>I would say the 1986 bike is outdated. Groupos today on the RG>lower echelons would out class any components of that time. RG>You can find bikes today with similar prices of that Steve RG>Bauer bike of 10 years ago. I'm sorry, but I believe that RG>half price is too expensive for something that is outdated. RG>Kind of like buying a new 286 computer today for half of RG>what they use to go for when they came out. Perhaps $1000. RG>Don't get me wrong. The Steve Bauer bike will be ridable, but I don't believ RG>you will get your money's worth. Bikes seem to age a bit better than computers, but I would tend to agree that 1/2 price for a 10 year old bike is a bit high. Shimano's 1986 "600" grupo main not compare well to today's "Ultegra" but these were very good racing components for their day, and it in good condition should still give great performance. The rest of the components also sounded fairly good. It's interenting to note that a few years ago Bicycling Magazine had an article pondering the "death" of road bikes - seems mountain bike sales continued to climb, as were hybid sales, while road bikes, particularly touring bikes seem to be disappearing and sales were fairly small. What was overlooked was that most roadies were likely quite happy and comfortable with their steeds and were more likely to upgrade components than to buy a new bike, while mountain and hybrid bike sales went to first time buyers. It's interesting to see that road bikes, and even touring bikes have made somewhat of a comeback as those who purchased MTB's and Hybrids look to something faster and lighter.... Phil * SLMR 2.1a * Toronto - the best place to bicycle! --- Maximus/2 3.00 * Origin: One Less Car * Cycling in Toronto * (416) 480-0147 * (1:250/238)