another new rider

[momtohanna]

HI everyone,

What a refreshing place to find!! I've recently started riding again. I'm on a cheap dept store bike and still loving it. My first goal is a 35 mile ride in late Sept and my eye set on Bike Across Kansas (BAK) in 2011.

I would like a better bike but I'm not sure what to be looking at. I live in Kansas and there is a lot of gravel/dirt roads ~ including the road I live on which is 1/2 mile to a paved road. I want to do longer rides on the road but also need to be able to get over the gravel to get there ~ any suggestions?

great to find you guys!!

[Little Lyon]

I am torn on types of bikes. When I had a hybrid (Specialized make) it was great on various surfaces. But I could only go 3-5 miles on it. When I got my Giant Avail road bike, I could go up to 20 miles, but sand and road cracks nearly took me out. I think if you have some bad road and some good road, I'd say a hybrid with clips is good.

[HillSlugger]

Something like a cyclocross bike might do the trick

[momtohanna]

I have heard of these bikes, and tried to look for them online ~ is it a brand name or a type of bike for a certain type of event? Having trouble finding them.

Jackie

[HillSlugger]

I have heard of these bikes, and tried to look for them online ~ is it a brand name or a type of bike for a certain type of event? Having trouble finding them.

Jackie

It's a type of bike used for racing/riding on multiple types of surfaces. For example, look at the Specialized Tricross (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=38443) or the Kona Jake (http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=jake)

[Deborajen]

Welcome, momtohanna! I don't have gravel roads to contend with since I live in town, but I ride a mountain bike a lot of the time because the bigger, thicker tires aren't as sensitive to surface as the road bike tires. Personally, I just like the mountain bike - it handles better, I like the position, etc. But we have a bike rack and can carry the road bikes to a starting point if we want.

I haven't done BAK but from what I've heard, I wouldn't go with a heavier bike like a mountain bike for that. If you're planning on doing some longer rides, tours, etc., you might want to check into a touring bike and car transport options. There are lots of older threads you can search, or feel free to ask again as you're thinking it through!

Deb

[momtohanna]

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Deborajen ~ Yes, I definitely want to get something different/lighter for longer rides ~ however, I have to kind of prove myself to my hubby before he's gonna let me lay out more money for a bike than we've spent on quite a few of our cars ;)

I'm definitely having fun looking and it can be a little confusing since I don't know a lot of the terminology. It seems some bikes would be right for me, but then I read in forums and it seems they maybe aren't. We have an awesome LBS in Wichita, so I will go in and talk to them over the coming months.

I'm hoping I can maybe get some cash for Christmas to fund a new bike. :)

[momtohanna]

I stopped by a couple bike shops today and was offered completely different options.

The first shop took me first to the hybrid section and when I said I wasn't really looking for a hybrid to the fitness bike and once I asked about it the cyclocross options.

The second bike store took me to the hybrids first and I again said I didn't really want a hybrid, he told me he wouldn't really let 1/2 mile of gravel stand in his way. (I was a little put off, but then realized he was trying to help.) He then showed me the Giant Dash series (which is coming out in 2010), and after we talked for a while recommended the Dash 2.

So what do you think? I haven't actually sat on or tested out any of these bikes, but I was surprised someone recommended a road bike for me, as I didn't think I would be able to do it with so much gravel between me and the road.

I do mainly want to ride on the road, and do long trips including of course Bike across Kansas in a couple years, but don't want to have to put my bike on a car to get to the road. kwim?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

[HillSlugger]

I stopped by a couple bike shops today and was offered completely different options.

The first shop took me first to the hybrid section and when I said I wasn't really looking for a hybrid to the fitness bike and once I asked about it the cyclocross options.

The second bike store took me to the hybrids first and I again said I didn't really want a hybrid, he told me he wouldn't really let 1/2 mile of gravel stand in his way. (I was a little put off, but then realized he was trying to help.) He then showed me the Giant Dash series (which is coming out in 2010), and after we talked for a while recommended the Dash 2.

So what do you think? I haven't actually sat on or tested out any of these bikes, but I was surprised someone recommended a road bike for me, as I didn't think I would be able to do it with so much gravel between me and the road.

I do mainly want to ride on the road, and do long trips including of course Bike across Kansas in a couple years, but don't want to have to put my bike on a car to get to the road. kwim?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

The Dash 2 looks like it might be able to suit your needs since it is able to accommodate 28c tires. 28's are a good compromise between on road performance and comfort and the ability to deal with your gravel road and other rough-ish surfaces. One thing to consider is that since this bike is a "flat bar" road bike it offers you less hand positions than you get with a "drop bar" bike. On a long ride, like BAK, a drop bar gives you hand positions on the hoods, in the drops, and on the flat top part. A flat bar gives you only the one position, with an option for a second if you add on bar ends.

I assume you are thinking that whatever you buy in the near term will be THE bike you'll have for the long term and for BAK? Is there a chance of another new bike in a year or so before BAK?

So, when are you going to start test riding? ;)

[momtohanna]

Good to note ~ yeah I'm thinking the bike I get now will probably be what I do BAK with.

I'm pretty sure the guy at the shop said the Dash would come with the sidebars on the straight handlebars.

I think I need to do some riding with the drop handlebars as they still kinda freak me out lol.

I'd love to start test riding, just a matter of having the bike in stock and someone to watch my daughter while I do it. (which is pretty hard to come by these days). SOON though if I have anything to say about it :)

[wannaduacentury]

HI everyone,

What a refreshing place to find!! I've recently started riding again. I'm on a cheap dept store bike and still loving it. My first goal is a 35 mile ride in late Sept and my eye set on Bike Across Kansas (BAK) in 2011.

I would like a better bike but I'm not sure what to be looking at. I live in Kansas and there is a lot of gravel/dirt roads ~ including the road I live on which is 1/2 mile to a paved road. I want to do longer rides on the road but also need to be able to get over the gravel to get there ~ any suggestions?

great to find you guys!!

I ride my mtn bike from dirt to pavement often(dirt rd near me I use as a cut thru). It's pretty good although not the same rolling resistence on pavement like the roadie, but it works on those rides. I have a road bike that I srickly use on pavement as well. Welcome and Have fun. Jenn

[uk elephant]

My recommendation from my limited experience would be a cyclocross bike. I got the Specialized Tricross for the same reason you are asking. I needed a bike to do long distance road riding (from commuting to ALC) that could also handle the dirt trail down to uni. The tricross works great. Sturdy bike that can take tyres with a little extra tread for the dirt trials, but sleek enough for long distances on road. And it had braze ons for attaching rack and fenders for commuting. Not sure how many thousands of miles I've put on this bike by now, but it did get me through ALC twice, down the dirt trail to uni daily when I worked there, and regular commutes on rough roads up big hills here.