What have you learned from rubbish/the wrong bike?

[ms pepperpot]

I'm currently riding a borrowed bike until I get my new bike. It's very old, very heavy and the gears don't really work so I'm stuck in a single gear - so a rubbish bike which is making my daily commute rather slow and not such fun.

But....I have found there are things I like about it.

- I like that fact that once it gets going it's nice and smooth and relatively sturdy - it's made of steel and maybe that's the reason.

- even though it's heavier than my last bike I'm coping fine and once I get going it's not too slow, so I'm no longer so bothered by making sure i get something that's faster and lighter.

I'm sure there's other things too. It just made me think that riding a bike that's "wrong" is helping me figure out more about what I want in my next bike.

[Aggie_Ama]

My commuter is a lower end road bike and a men's design. It is just a "close enough" fit not a good fit. It has really made me appreciate my fun road bike that is the exact size for me. My commuter is squirrelly on handling because it has a longer top tube, making me stretched out and also has bars 4 cm too wide. It works but it makes me realize how having an appropriately sized bike really is a big deal. And how much I love the small reach shifters and better drivetrain on my other bike. My road bike I ride for leisure seems so right this one so wrong.

[invsblwmn]

After riding an upright cannondale for years and struggling with neck pain, buying special gloves, special bib shorts with just the right padding, and good shoes, I was in an accident and forced to ride a recumbent due to a new back injury.
Lemme tell ya something, these bikes/trikes fit like a glove, and I feel better AFTER a ride. My neck is SOOO happy as is my lower back. Recumbents make you use different muscles so things are sore in new ways, but my body generallly loves the feel of 2 and 3 wheel recumbents. Wish I had discovered them before. No hand pain, no butt or "special place" pain, toes never numb, back never aches. With the trike, too, don't worry about unclipping in time before eating the pavement. Only have to unclip when I get home. Life is good!

[kie_fujo]

my first bike was a men's bike and to big. over time i began to have a lot of neck and arm pain from having my elbows locked out to reach my bars. it definitely made me realize how important bike size is.