Thanks for the comments, folks.
Some people suggested I look for a cheap-o bike for sale on Craigslist or in the neighborhood or something. Because I’m without a car, this sort of garage sale, Craigslist type method can be a real pain. This is why I’m looking into buying from an honest-to-God store at this point.
Cross bike or Mountain bike? I’ve found that new mountain bikes are cheaper than new cross bikes. So I’m leaning mountain bike right now. The bike shop guys told me the UW campus is perhaps the most “bike theft” prone place in the Pacific Northwest. Since I plan to be riding to the UW in the relative near future, I’m very conscious of the price I’ll be paying for the bike, considering it seems likely to be stolen at some point. But if I do get into riding as a real activity, I’ll look into getting a dope ride.
drool said:
Performance Bike offers free lifetime tuneups if you buy from them at their brick/mortar store.
Very nice!
rae said:
Hopefully it goes without saying, but judging the number of cyclists I see running red lights, please remember that those and other traffic laws, apply to you as well.
Well, you’re right, but when a cyclist runs a red light, the cyclist is dead, whereas the car that hits him isn’t. Cyclist have a lot more to lose. Sometimes cyclists aren’t able to trigger the sensors in the roadway that makes the lights change. While it is technically illegal, I have no problem seeing cyclists look both ways and go.
Also, I’ve heard conflicting things about bike lanes. Use ’em or not? I’ve heard it’s safer just to ride in the regular lanes.
If you can get in a bike lane and stay in it I use them. There’s a street near me where you switch between bike lane sidewalk and the road in about a mile and I just stay in the road on rather than jumping in and out of traffic.
If you’re going short distances at lower speeds the Mt. Bike V. Cross bike thing probably isn’t an issue. Just make sure you get road tires if you get a Mt. Bike.
Also, I’ve heard conflicting things about bike lanes. Use ‘em or not? I’ve heard it’s safer just to ride in the regular lanes.
As Michael suggests, it varies with each lane. There’s one here in Spokane that is so safe, I can settle into the aerobars on my road bike and go like a bat; it’s about as safe as any bike lane I’ve ever ridden. There are others that are simply too dangerous for me.
Check out your route options and pick the safest one. Don’t get hung up on whether it has a bike lane or not.
Poster Child said
“Take your rightful place on the right side of the road (but stay out of the door-zone), be predictable and signal your intentions (right arm out to turn right, left arm out to turn left) and if you need to, don’t be afraid to take the middle of the lane if that’s the safest choice for you. We all have to submit to the road choices of the drivers in front of us. Some drivers may forget this when the driver in front of them is pedaling, but you have to choose your own line.”
Yeah, well that attitude may be a good way to stay safe, it’s also guaranteed to make for a really stressful ride, what with the honking, obscene gestures, shouting and occasional hard projectile thrown at you. (I’ve not been shot at yet, but I don’t ride in rural areas.) Even in Seattle, bikes are still second class road users, so “middle of the lane” is usually a last resort for me.
I’ll agree the 2nd ave bike lane is not safe. Mostly though, bike lanes and/or paths are safe and, maybe more importantly, the most efficient for keeping your momentum up.
Biased thoughts on bike selection:
If you’re planning on doing all your riding on pavement, suspension doesn’t help you as much as running slightly wider tires (for cush and flat-prevention), and is just more weight to haul up and down those hills.
Having a frame which has adequate clearance for cushy (albeit un-knobby) tires and fenders points in the direction of a mountain or hybrid / cross bike. Road bikes are undergoing a renaissance, but many don’t have much room for anything more than 23mm wide tires and those won’t get you safely through SDOT’s pot-holes.
Some people like an upright position and some want to be stretched out like racer-joe, but you should pick a bike which allows you to balance your weight somewhat evenly with butt and hands. It’s an individual choice, so when you go shopping be prepared to ride a lot of different bikes – some more than once.
Don’t be seduced by the fixed-gear zeitgeist. Gears (and brakes) are your friend (and some people’s knees really react badly to the fixed gear thing, wouldn’t it be a drag to find out you were one of them?)
A word on terminology: a road bike or racing bike is what Lance rode, a mountain bike has 26 inch wheels (although there’s a trend toward 29 inch wheels and people love ‘em). A hybrid bike tries to straddle the middle ground between dirt-capable but with 700c (an arcane measuring system not to be confused with centimeters or millimeters and not worth going into other than to say 26” wheels are also called 650c) …and lightweight street friendly and nimble. They are sometimes called “cross” bikes – but this should not be confused with cyclocross bikes which are road bike shaped but with mountain-bike style cantilever brakes and good tire clearance for muddy winter time racing. These are also enjoying a surge of popularity and many (including me) commute on them.
Congratulations on your decision. Bike commuting is really great and you can smugly know that you’re willing to do for yourself and for the globe what Mayor McCheese is not.
Larry,
quelle coincidence, I was just typing…
yes, I agree about the stress – and I’m not advocating hanging out inthe middle of the lane all the time – I’m merely saying there are times when traffic or pavement conditions make that the safest place to be, and when it is, that’s where you should go.
for most purposes being over on the right (shoulder if there is one) is the right choice and is where motorist expect to see you. I’m totally about being predictable on the road.
the stress sucks, but it’s part of the deal, I’m afraid.
the stress is, by the way, why Mr. Bikes-are-a-part-of-our-transportation-plan Mayor (Nickels) McCheese refuses to cycle to work. any reconnoitering of bike routes he’s done with transportation planners has been by car.
Something that might be worth keeping in mind here:
Q Why are most bicyclist so smart?
A The stupid ones die young.
In line with Poster Child above, do try out a few road bikes before you buy, especially if you don’t have any experience with them. I rode a hybrid for years, then tried a road bike once and haven’t gone back. Even if you aren’t a speed demon the vastly greater efficiency of a road bike on pavement makes riding around town much more fun.
Bikes commonly considered touring or cyclocross bikes, like the Bianchi Volpe, Cannondale T800, Surly Cross-Check, etc have good tire clearance for slightly wider tires and the all-important fenders, but are still pretty efficient. Any good bike shop can point you toward more similar bikes.
I got a trek 7000 that I’ll sell cheap, if it’s the right frame size for you. It’s mountain. I’ve switched back to road bikes, cause the mountain bikes are uncomfortable. Road bikes are way better than they were 10 years ago. I’d definitely go cross bike before mountain. The handle set-ups make all the difference.
Also, as to the bike lanes, they seem located between the road and the parked cars. I ride in the lane when I have the speed, and on the sidewalk or sidestreets when I can’t keep speed.
If I’m forced into a bike lane, then I watch the parked cars like a hawk to see if anyone’s going to door check me.
@8
Rock on!
@9
I went the other way, from road bikes to a cross bike for shorter city riding. I like the more upright posture while in traffic and the lower gearing is nice when I’m going slower and I don’t get as sweaty. It’s also nice to be able to ride a little fatter and squishier tire that deals well with gravel and is curb hopping friendly.
I did a 60 mile ride on my cross bike once. I wont be doing that again. But, for the 2.5 miles to work or the coffee shop it’s the cross bike for me.
Using bike lanes depends on the route, so get familiar with conditions on your route.
Bike lane on 2nd Ave is not really a bike lane – it is a delivery, double park, construction, left turn lane. Add to that the chance of parked cars pulling out or dooring you and I ride the regular lane there.
Bike lane on Dearborn is great (in large part because of no parked cars next to it) and I always use it.
Bike lane on 12th Ave goes along parked cars so you have to be careful, but it does not seem to have all the other problems that 2nd does so I use it
The other problem with sholders, wide lanes & bike lanes is that NONE of them actually go anywhere. You will be riding along happy & free and suddenly the shoulder disappears into a ditch, the wide lane suddenly pinches you into traffic at a corner and bike lanes just quit. I often ride in the lane even if there is space to the right because I know in a couple of hundred yards it will go away and I really don’t like dodging into and out of the flow of traffic – if I am going to have to be there, I start there.
You do have a right to use lanes. You have to ride as far right as is safe. I make a liberal definition of safe – it is not on the side with gravel, grates, broken glass, branches and such. There are roads where the traffic is too heavy or fast and I find an alternate route rather than use those but you will find your own comfort level and it will increase with practice. Some people ride the Auora bridge in traffic, bully for them but that would not be for me.
As far as buying a bike, if used won’t do it for you find a shop that you feel good with and one that you can get to if your bike is down and you need to get it into the shop (close by or on a bus route). Your bike will need tune ups and regular maintenace so pick a shop that you can build a relationship with and whos advice works for you. Montlake has done good work for me, as has All About Bike & Ski where 45th meets Sand Point Way.
Cross, Hybrid, Mountain & Road style bikes all have their strong points and it mostly depends on how you want to ride and feel comfortable. More than one style may suit. My first bike was a Bianchi Boardwalk hybrid (stolen – from my garage) after that I found a nice Kona Mountain Bike (lost the knoby tires straight away). A bike is a serious investment of money and time, go to several shops, try out several styles. When you get to a couple that really look good to you, ask to take a long test ride or rent it for a few hours. You don’t really know how a bike feels until you have been on it for over an hour and if your route includes hills try it on similar hills to make sure that the gearing works for you. If you get into it, most psycho bikers don’t limit themselves to just one bike…
If you are worried about theft, invest in really good locks. Take pictures of your bike (as fully equipped – for posting with your stolen bike notice) and remember to record the serial number on the bill of sale and keep it in a safe place to prove you own the bike.
Want still more advice on this? The Cascade Bike Club web site has discussion forums (you don’t have to be a member to post) and you can get bike advice, route advice, conflicting advice and random blathering along with notice of events of interest to bikers.
A note on triggering traffic lights. You can always hit the walk button if one exists, and there are many spots on designated bike routes where you will see a painted ‘T’ by the sensor loop, this is a spot that is set to detect bikes. Of course there are several spots without all of that too so then just crossing is what is left.
Who knows, next year this time you might be prepping up to ride the STP.
Do they sell word processors or typewriters from 1971 on Craigs list? Just wondering. hehehehehehe
Go Goldie, here’s my $0.02. Not sure where you live or how much serious hill climbing you have to do, but I think a hybrid, specifically a Trek 7.2 or 7.3 FX would work. well for you. They come with fairly beefy road tires, plenty of room for rack, fenders, etc. and start at $400. Get a rearview mirror, blinky lights fore and aft, little saddle bag with tire levers and spare tube, frame pump, and learn to change a tire. The geared-hub bikes are used a lot in European cities that don’t have big hills: very durable but heavy.
I work at Gregg’s Cycles (Green Lk) Fri and Sun, would be glad to help you test and decide.
Oops, sorry Will!
I commute on an older version of the FX 7.3 and it works grand. I swapped out the original tires for a pair of WTB Allterrainasaurus’s.
re 14: Do you believe in abstinence training? Can you tell us a story from your youth when you were this close to getting some and then said “no” and became yet another youthfull Republican hero of abstinence.
Why are Republicans funding private groups (to the tune of billions of $$$$)to go around the world telling people to stop fucking?
There’s a REpublican sucker born every minute. They must not be listening to their abstinence coaches.
Oh, yeah! hehehehehe
Will, you should check out the bikes and the service at Recycled Cycles; they’re down on Boat St. at the bottom of UW, near the University Bridge: http://www.recycledcycles.com/ (map)
Will
I am not sure what your realtion to the UW is, but it may include low cost memebrship in Flexcar. GoodDeal!
Will, Get Tom Fitzpatrick to put you on a GF dual sport bike like a Kaitai or Montare to try out. They have the larger diameter wheels (700c/29 inch) and are off road capable.
I was at the Tumwater Costco last night and they have a special on lots of different bikes, must have been 40 bikes there. Right next to books. All different kinds. Sign says they will be there until sold. Different bikes than in their regular bike section, but they all looked to be high end bikes and great prices.
Not sure what your connection to the UW is, but as a staff member/faculty/student (I think its true for students), you can get a bike locker on campus. It costs about $65 a year, but its well worth it.
#23 Robin,
Watch out for Costco bikes. If you do no know a lot about bikes just stay away from them. I would always go to a real bicycle shop if you do not know what you are looking at. Flashy paint jobs are a lot less expensive that quality components which are a major factor in the price of a bike. El cheapo bikes will just wear out fast and not stay adjusted (if they work correctly from the beginning).
Big box store bikes are all pretty much in the same league from what I have seen. Even some major brands have their “crap” line that they sell in Walmart, Sports Authority, etc.
will responds: “Well, you’re right, but when a cyclist runs a red light, the cyclist is dead, whereas the car that hits him isn’t. Cyclist have a lot more to lose. Sometimes cyclists aren’t able to trigger the sensors in the roadway that makes the lights change. While it is technically illegal, I have no problem seeing cyclists look both ways and go.”
It isn’t technically illegal; it’s illegal. And in addition to putting a motorist who does have a green light (perhaps one you don’t see in your scan of both directions) in a sad position when he hits you. It’s your fault. Are you carrying insurance to cover his damages, even if small? Laws aren’t really written to apply to the other guy. They apply to all of us. You will be setting a very poor example to young kids. And if you have any kids of your own, will you be teaching them to blow through traffic stops when out on a family bike ride?
#26 Rae,
Amen.
Will, paint your new bike army drab green.
Years ago I read a piece in Mechanics Illustrated about this guy who bought a nice Raleigh bike for $500. And that was 1960’s dollars.
First thing he did was paint it army drab green. Painted everything, including the chrome. Nobody ever stole it. They’d steal Schwinn 3 speeds, but didn’t touch his ugly green Raleigh.