Buyers remorse/panic: Bit of a saga, sorry!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have Pasela brand Panaracer tires 700x28mm, with kevlar (to help prevent flats) on my road bike. I can and have ridden over the most god-awful sharp rocky gravel roads you can imagine, including through fields of tractor ruts, too...several thousand miles....no flats yet.

By the way, I do NOT inflate them to their stated maximum pressure of 105 psi. I keep the back tires at around 95, and the fronts at about 85. That keeps my ride way smoother, gives me more stability on slippery gravel and in wind (and NO, it has not slowed my average speed down- I compared my average speeds with when I pumped up both to 105). Remember when your tires are super inflated and hard, they will bounce more and have less road contact. That can translate to less traction, more wasted vertical bounce movement, and thus loss of forward power.
I realize a lot of people disagree with this, but I figured I'd throw it in anyway. Works for me.

[uforgot]

Wow, thanks Lisa! I really wanted a tire that would go on my road bike, but on light gravel also. Sounds like what you have is just the ticket. Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

I have Vittoria Randonneurs with reflective sidewalls. 700 x 28.

I've ridden on grass, asphalt, broken asphalt, and small gravel. They are low pressure tires, max inflate is around what Lisa uses. Very comfortable!

[uforgot]

I have Vittoria Randonneurs with reflective sidewalls. 700 x 28.

I've ridden on grass, asphalt, broken asphalt, and small gravel. They are low pressure tires, max inflate is around what Lisa uses. Very comfortable!

Thanks Knotted. I did a search on these and Lisa's and my favorite lbs carries these, so I guess I'll have to make the trip there soon. Next weekend maybe we can discuss headlamps? waterbottles?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Claudia,
Dumb question, but...I assume you already know whether 28mm wide tires will indeed FIT on your road bike, right? (Also, if you have fenders, will they fit WITH the fender clearance as well?)

[uforgot]

Claudia,
Dumb question, but...I assume you already know whether 28mm wide tires will indeed FIT on your road bike, right? (Also, if you have fenders, will they fit WITH the fender clearance as well?)

Thanks for the headsup, but I did check. The 28mm is the maximum I can use. No fenders.

[KnottedYet]

Next weekend maybe we can discuss headlamps? waterbottles?

Poly-something water bottles from Soma. They don't grow cooties! (I have 3 of them and Trek has them, too.)

http://www.somafab.com/bottle.html

[chakra]

In the end, I coudn't bring myself to keep that Cannondale RW, because every time I went into the shop, I felt the disinterest and disdain of the owner and his fit specialist - they are really an "elite racer" shop, as it turns out, and in the negative sense of the word... I just could not bear to do business with them.

So I took the RW back - I lost money on it, and they wouldn't take the child seat back (since it was a special order) so it remains in our garage unused to this day! Turns out DH cannot use it on his bike, he has a disk-compatible rack, which is not compatible with the seat!! Gonna try to sell it on craigslist or some such. . .

The Good News

And now I have two bikes! An Electra townie with an 8 speed internal hub, for tootling around town, riding with the kids, maybe to xtracycle one of these days. . . a very nice, slow-riding couch of a bike! I feel no need for speed on this baby! Bought at an absolutely lovely lbs, with a wonderful attitude and great enthusiasm for riding and for *all* riders.

And. . .

A Surly Long Haul Trucker!! She's being built up by another lovely lbs who have shown great kindness and patience over innumerable test rides and wafflings! She should be ready by midweek next week! I think that I will be getting the best feel in terms of speed, smooth ride (a lovely ride- I tried her in the 52, a touch large, so I'm getting the 50cm) nice solid feel, v. responsive. . . anyway, I'm excited!

I really like having two bikes that are so differant from each other, and sort of represent two very differant sides of me - I like speed, and enjoy long rides (even though I'll confess I don't know how often I'll be able to fit them in) and I am glad I'll have a bike as versatile as the LHT (it can handle a huge number of tire widths, fender clearance is not a problem, it can have front racks too, and is good and comfy for long rides as well as commutes. Anyway, I'll stop gushing!

What I Learned (a specific and opinionated list):

Find a good shop. Having an LBS you trust, like and can ask questions without feeling silly is really important. They should love riding. They should really want to help you find the bike you will love, and will ride. They should be willing to change out the saddle, fit the bike properly, and answer all your questions. Most important, they should be willing to help you figure out what you really need and want in a bike. In return, you'll drag all your friend to their door, and will proclaim about them enthusiastically to all!

North Park Bicycle Shop and Fairfield Bicycles, you really go the distance!

Maybe you do need more than one bike. But before you buy more than one, ride, ride, ride. And not just on sunny days! Make sure this is the sport for you before you spend loads of hard-earned cash! Borrow bikes and try them out. Test ride over and over. Buy second hand! Because I learned that what you think you want is not necessarily what you need, or will ride. Bike lust can be indiscriminate!

Don't let your ego get in the way when buying a bike. I love my townie, but was afraid to buy one at first, lest I seem um, not sporty enough. Riding it makes me happy, and not remotely competitive. I put tons of stuff in the front basket, and with its dynamo lights and 700c wheels, we git aroun' jus' fine.

I know I will love the LHT too - and in choosing it I wasn't looking for a cool, fast bike. I was looking for what felt right to ride, and what would make ME happy.

The only thing I'll miss? My Townie is a lovely burgundy, and the LHT is blue. I have a thing for orange bikes, but I'll live I think someday the LHT will get a new powder coat. . .

Thanks for all the consideration, care, and help from all you wonderful experienced riders.

Chakra

[mimitabby]

wow! Pooks has a bike like your Electra, and Knot has a bike (I think) like your Surly.

WE WANT PICTURES! I am sorry you wasted the money on the kid seat,
but I'm glad you now have two lovely bikes that you are happy with.
did I say; Pictures are nice?