I met some newbies on the path today

[Bluetree]

KSH, Kudos to you for stopping and gave these people a hand. I'm new out on the road and it can be intimidating, esp with these guys on their $5000 bikes blowing past me... it sure makes my day to hear a friendly voice!

[ladyfish]

At least you got him to buy a bike that fit him. My DH insists that it's crazy to spend all that money on a new bike when they are for sale all over the place at garage sales and on Ebay.

Unfortunately he won't believe me that he needs a bigger bike than he keeps looking at (I believe he's in the same boat as your DH thinking that any bike size is fine as long as the pedals spin and you get somewhere). He's now bought at least 5 used bikes. One we kept for my 13 year old son (not yet as tall as me, and at least 5" shorter than DH). Three he has sold on Ebay--wrong sizes. One other we've kept for me (a trek hybrid that I have to figure out how to get to the bike shop for a tune-up without him knowing!!! He doesn't believe in those either--he's a do-it-yourself type, but this bike needs some new parts).

So he still doesn't have a bike that fits him. He's still looking, and I'm still biting my tongue!!! In the mean time I bought myself a bike (I asked for it for Christmas and INSISTED that he NOT buy it for me) that fits and I LOVE!!! Sigh! Maybe if I buy him a gift certificate to a shop, he'll be forced to buy a bike that fits!!!

[mimitabby]

At least you got him to buy a bike that fit him. My DH insists that it's crazy to spend all that money on a new bike when they are for sale all over the place at garage sales and on Ebay.

Unfortunately he won't believe me that he needs a bigger bike than he keeps looking at (I believe he's in the same boat as your DH thinking that any bike size is fine as long as the pedals spin and you get somewhere). He's now bought at least 5 used bikes. One we kept for my 13 year old son (not yet as tall as me, and at least 5" shorter than DH). Three he has sold on Ebay--wrong sizes. One other we've kept for me (a trek hybrid that I have to figure out how to get to the bike shop for a tune-up without him knowing!!! He doesn't believe in those either--he's a do-it-yourself type, but this bike needs some new parts).

So he still doesn't have a bike that fits him. He's still looking, and I'm still biting my tongue!!! In the mean time I bought myself a bike (I asked for it for Christmas and INSISTED that he NOT buy it for me) that fits and I LOVE!!! Sigh! Maybe if I buy him a gift certificate to a shop, he'll be forced to buy a bike that fits!!!

I wonder how guys transform from this type to the type (like mine) that has to have every cool bike thing in the bike shop and can't enter a new town without visiting the LBS in it!!!
"i'll bet you can't go in there without spending 100 bucks!!"
mimi

[RedRansV2]

KSH,
Good for you for taking the time to help those people out. Yeah, that whole putting both feet down thing is a lot more common that I ever thought. It was just never an issue for me. I've seen postings on the bentrideronline board about it. When I bought my partner a recumbent, she confessed that her inability to get both feet on the ground upon stopping was a major factor in her reluctance to ride a bike. She loves the bent and really enjoys riding now.
Beach cruisers and the Electra Townies have been mentioned here but I'd like to suggest another line of bikes that'll let you put both feet down but are far more performance oriented than the Electras. There are actually four different designs but this http://www.ransbikes.com/fusion26x26.htm# is the one that I've ridden and it was a blast. I'll keep my bent but I think I'm going to have to get one of these too! I've heard that you can order one of these and try it out for something like 30 days and return it for 90% of the purchase price. I don't know if that's accurate information, but it's a small company and they're really responsive if you call or email.

[KSH]

KSH,
Good for you for taking the time to help those people out. Yeah, that whole putting both feet down thing is a lot more common that I ever thought. It was just never an issue for me. I've seen postings on the bentrideronline board about it. When I bought my partner a recumbent, she confessed that her inability to get both feet on the ground upon stopping was a major factor in her reluctance to ride a bike. She loves the bent and really enjoys riding now.

Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind to try to put my feet down while still sitting on my seat. So, I had a hard time understanding why she kept falling off her bike... which made her scared of it... even though she didn't have clipless pedals. Poor thing.

I wish I could see her again to give the riding lesson tips that Keno listed! What wonderful tips!

[Kano]

I wish I could see her again to give the riding lesson tips that Keno listed! What wonderful tips!

I did good? Which tips? Oh wait, let's don't call them TIPS -- newbies don't want those! tips hurt!

Karen in Boise

[laughlaugh18]

I guess that's one good thing about being short - when I learned to ride (at age 12 - a late bloomer), it never even occurred to me that it might be possible to put both feet on the ground at the same time, not even on the Stingray I was taught on!

[Kano]

I guess that's one good thing about being short - when I learned to ride (at age 12 - a late bloomer), it never even occurred to me that it might be possible to put both feet on the ground at the same time, not even on the Stingray I was taught on!

That's what it was! Being short! I remember my first bike: bluegreen, white trim, and chrome. And there was this headlight built into the front, with a huge battery compartment between the tubes. I was five, I think. It had 24" wheels, and there was NO way I could touch the ground from the seat. Heck, for the first while, it was mighty danged challenging to reach the pedals when I was on the seat! Yup, that would have been when I learned to hop off the seat when I wanted to stop -- and boy howdy, do I still remember one particularly sudden dismount where I had hit a bump in the road at the same time I was trying to get down from the seat....

Karen in Boise, who learned early about top-bar clearance!

[Evie]

Are you supposed to get off the saddle at lights, too? I usually balance on the ball of one foot and stay on my seat. Is that bad? I can never get across without the light turning yellow (and often red), because they change ridiculously fast.