New to the forum, cycling, and choosing a bike.

[Trek420]

I was planning to get the LHT specifically because I thought it would be ideal for the ALC.

I ride a full custom Mondonico Futura Legero. There's no other bike I could have done my first ALC on, or as well my 2nd time. I love this bike.

The LHT is ideal for my next ride. I'm surprised we don't all get one. But then I'm happy because if everyone got a LHT how would we find our bikes each morning in a sea of 2000 bikes? Tassels?

After my last ride I asked my LBS "what's the best bike that is up for the ride, light and fast, with all day ... no all day all week comfort ... but that I'm not going to get farklempt if someone knocks a row of bikes over in bike parking (btw the crew is awesome, they will spoil you for any other organized ride, and I've never seen anything like that happen!) and it gets a tiny scratch.

He said the LHT is the bike for me. I've ridden one and he's right. When I first got on the bike "oh, nice but not as good as my custom ride" but he's also right that the longer you ride ... the more you will like this bike! I truly feel at the end of a week I'd like it as much or more than my custom ride.

Other bikes I've seen people very happy with on ALC are Rivendell and there are a lot of Riv riders here. And I'd love to have a Riv but my thought is to get a bike up to the task but that I won't be worried if it gets a real dusty, someone or a whole group leans their bike on it ....

[Blueberry]

Interesting, Trek. I'd think the weight would be a little heavy.....

Out of curiosity, I'm guessing you would get a 26" size? If so, do you think finding narrow tires been a problem? My LBS certainly discouraged me from it - because of the lack of availability of tires...

CA

[Trek420]

Hey, why worry about the weight of the bike when the engine (me) could stand to loose oh ... 40-50 lbs? Yes, it's all muscle! Yeah right.

When I can't take 20% off the engine I'll start to worry about the weight of the bike. The Mondonico is surprisingly light especially for steel but a lot of that has to do with what's on it; Campy record, Rolf Elan wheels.

[GraysonKelly]

This may have no significance at all, but I did a bunch of measurements and basically figured that with my height, weight, blah blah that any bike from a 54 to 56" was about ideal for me. I stupidly went into my LBS and told them what I'd figured out but didn't bring my bike so they could tell me what size it was to compare. They put a 54" road bike (it was a Trek but beyond that I don't know what it was) on a trainer and I felt so cramped! They took some measurements and concluded that the 54" was too small for me. I could have told them that. Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I could comfortably use the LHT in the 56" frame and wil be able to get the bigger wheels. I hope anyway. I'm going to see if I can find a bike similar to the LHT that is in a 56" frame just to see. My LBS said that several of their employees have owned and/or still own and ride surly's so they will put it together for me if I order it online or they will order it for me and put it together. We'll see.
Hey Trek 420 I have a question about the ALC...do you know if there is anyone from the east coast specifically around the WV,PA,MD, VA area that has done the ride? I am wondering about how people from around this area trained. Right now I'm mainly riding the "rail trail" which is an old railroad route that was converted to trails. It's pretty nice but only goes so far. As I said earlier, there is no real place to ride on the road and I'm wondering about different areas to go to get not only mileage but also some more hill work. Mountain biking for the hills is great, but not in anyway similar to what I've heard about the ALC.
Gray

[Trek420]

If you enroll in the ALC discussion board

www.aidslifecycle.org/discussion

You may find ALC'ers in the East Coast. We're from all over. But you don't have to train with ALC'ers to do the ride. Is there a local club near you with organized rides?

[GraysonKelly]

I don't rightly know if there are any clubs around here. I never see any groups of people riding around here but I don't think that necessarily means they don't exist. When I did my first 40 mile ride a few weeks ago, I met these two amazing women on the trail who really encouraged me and gave me tips as we rode. They gave me their contact info and the name of their group but they are all retired and their normal rides were these 2-3 day tours not one day things. Because of my job I can't do those. These women are also from Pittsburgh which, while closer that most other places, is still over an hour away. I do all of my training by myself. I can't find anyone willing to go with me. And believe me I've asked everyone I know. I even tried to get my coworkers to form a mini club with me but they don't wanna ride as far as I do. My gf says that when I get to the point where I need to ride along the road to get in more miles and hills that she'll kind of drive out to specific spots along the road just to keep an eye on me. That's awesome of her by the way. Okay, I've babbled enough. I'll just have to ask around a little more. The only club that I know of is the college's cycling club but they are students and I doubt I could ride with them. But, it can't hurt to ask.
Take care,
Gray