Townies, Hybrids, etc.

[teigyr]

I did many centuries on a mountain bike! You can do whatever you tell yourself you can do. I was actually averaging 15-something too. To be honest, my average actually went down when I switched to the road bike but I think it was because I wasn't used to that type of bike.

So ride what works for you! I honestly didn't mind the long rides on the mountain bike. I did put road tires on it though, I would recommend that at least.

[Geonz]

I do fairly long rides on heavy bikes... but I worked up to it. Those first metrics on the Giant - at the end of the season - were pretty long & hard... but still fun. Big thing was I wasn't trying to keep up with anybody - our little group was tooling along at 11-12 mph. Rest stops every 10-11 miles.
For me, that was pretty "hard riding" - and there are generally large groups of folks doing exactly that same thing at any of the long club rides.
ON the other hand, lighter bikes *are* easier and faster to get going over long miles.
On the third hand, those heavier bikes are **great** for training - when I've been haulin' around the big bikes then those rides on the Trek are sweet.
I think, too, that Townies have a specific geometry so you can put your feet down... and yea, I would want to try it on short and medium and sort of long rides before I took it long just to k now I won't have a killer backache at the end (or chafing or whatever).

[Luna]

Just a note, My townie electra is a 21 speed.

[Luna]

I also want to say that I felt stronger each time I rode the bike and I went up this incline 2 times prior to this 3rd that I think really torqued my back. I was on a mountain bike prior and it killed my back and shoulders after one ride. So the townie felt good for many rides. But I push too. I get strong and ride out at 14-15mph for a steady 6-7 miles, and I have only been riding bikes for about 5 months. I really think i pushed too hard too quick. I had back problems prior to biking it just seems to be aggrivated. sigh.

[pooks]

This is all very informative. Thanks for all the answers.

My bike is HEAVY -- almost 40 pounds, loaded! And yes, when I go up a hill, I work HARD. (Of course that has nothing to do with fifty extra pounds I'm carrying on my body, does it?)

I'm beginning to see that I can justify the idea of having two bikes. Heh.

[SouthernBelle]

Pooks,

I think you can totally justify 2 bikes. Just use for different purposes.

[Kano]

This is all very informative. Thanks for all the answers.

My bike is HEAVY -- almost 40 pounds, loaded! And yes, when I go up a hill, I work HARD. (Of course that has nothing to do with fifty extra pounds I'm carrying on my body, does it?)

I'm beginning to see that I can justify the idea of having two bikes. Heh.

Oh Heck yes, Pooks! You certainly can justify a second bike!

I've got my heavy comfort-beast, and will surely ride it now and again, probably put the "dirt tires" back on it one of these days, for when DH really REALLLY wants to go on the dirt trails, and I be a nice wife and suffer through them (even though they terrify me!) but I'm finding that I LOVE the feel of my new roadie! She makes one heckuva difference, I think!

DH does tease me a bit -- he says I was riding better on the old one, but you know, I'm getting the feel of this one, learning how she handles and all, along with staying behind him, cuz then I know where he is, cuz sometimes, he makes quite an obstacle of himself!

Karen in Boise

[farrellcollie]

I have a 40lb or so hybrid that I now use for commuting and light trails but it used to be my only bike. I rode up to 50 miles on it without incident - just a lot slower than my road bike pals. I now have a road bike - 19lbs - and am quicker - but I did not mind riding my hybrid longer distances .

[northstar]

I have a hybrid and a road bike too. The longest ride I ever did on the hybrid was about 50 miles...it was fun then, but on the road bike, those miles just fly by. I didn't feel a bit guilty keeping it when I got my road bike because the hybrid is perfect for loading up and running errands around town, something my road bike would not be well suited for. DH didn't even give me any grief about it. Can't imagine my little road bike locked up at the rack at the supermarket...I'd probably want to bring it in the store with me instead!

[pooks]

I think that's what I'll be doing, too. My only prob is -- I have nowhere to put the bikes we have now. (My bike is in the living room; I'm looking at it as I type. My husband's is in the middle bedroom because he hasn't used it recently. Gack.

I've got to figure out a better way of handling this! But we are so crowded in our house and urrrrrgh. That would be the primary reason my husband would complain. Heck, if cycling were his hobby instead of mine and he wasn't putting his bike in the middle bedroom and leaving it in the living room because it was easier, I'd be chewing him a new orifice!

[mimitabby]

Pooks, this is even worse:
My DH had a garage built. There are no cars in our garage. But where are the bikes? they sit in our office area. There is PLENTY OF SPACE in the garage.

[Geonz]

Figure out how to address the space problem, and realize that a lighter bike is easier to store, too. It's still a bike but it's liftable and you could even pop the wheel off if you found the right corner in your abode. Think creatively! Maybe there's a rack that can go in that middle room that can handle all three bikes!
40 pounds *loaded* isn't over the top ... but it is holding you back a bit. My Xtra is 39 pounds unloaded and I have taken it on week-long tours that included a century, and had a pleasant time riding with the folks who cruise at 14-16 mph. However, I prefer the aluminum bike for that Saturday metric or riding with the faster guys (except at the beginning of the season when they're out of shape ... I *think* it's easier on their egos )

[pooks]

I think having a bike that doesn't fit is a bigger problem for me than having a bike that is heavy. Oh yeah, going up hills is harder, I'm sure. But when I need to lose a lot of weight, myself, it's probably kind of silly to begrudge my bike a few pounds, isn't it?

[Kano]

I think having a bike that doesn't fit is a bigger problem for me than having a bike that is heavy. Oh yeah, going up hills is harder, I'm sure. But when I need to lose a lot of weight, myself, it's probably kind of silly to begrudge my bike a few pounds, isn't it?

Pooks, I sure agree with you -- and I don't begrudge my comfort beast it's many pounds either, but oh MY the difference my new blue bike makes! The other day, one of his friends was asking about its weight -- which had me thinking I should weigh it when we got home, but still haven't done. We joked to him that it weighs "air" -- it feels like picking up a feather! I'm astonished that there can be so much difference, and I'm astonished at the difference in my ability with it!

I'll warn you, though, Pooks -- it DOES feel different to ride in this new position!

Karen in Boise

[pooks]

Do you ever get on your hybrid any more?