Bicycles-recommendations?
Thinking of getting new bicycles. We are older now & certainly don't need a gagillion speeds. Any recommendations would be appreciated. THX
Forum Discussion
If I were to buy a general bike, I'd see about buying one with a Rohloff 14 speed hub. It is priced at around the same price as a decent shifting group, and weighs just as much... but you can shift while stopped, the chain lasts longer, since it isn't bounced between gears, and it lasts longer. Just make sure to change the oil.
I would run, not walk from department store bikes. Just looking at them, I saw brakes that couldn't be adjusted, forks that were impossible to repair, and many other details. From a distance, they looked decent, but no so when close. At least get a low-end model from a reliable brand (Trek, etc.) That way, you can upgrade the fork, components, and other items as one sees fit as time goes on.
As for bicycles, I'd consider different types, depending on use:
If I had to just have one general use bike, I'd go with a mountain bike. For city roads, I can use slick tires which give a surprisingly good amount of traction. It isn't as roadworthy as a dedicated road bike, but it is better at handling whatever terrain a RV park throws at you. I wouldn't go too high-end, so if it it gets stolen, it isn't too much of a loss.
If I could go with another bike, I'd have the mountain bike, but I'd also have a decent quality folding bike like a Brompton or Dahon with a good carrying case. Case in point. Here in Austin, there are a lot of cyclists, and the buses have at most two slots on the front for a normal bicycle. I've seen people actually get into fistfights about those. The folding bike is a lot better for crowded areas, especially if you have to use buses or subways. Plus, when folded, it doesn't take that much room in a RV.
After that, depending on where I was going, a good quality mountain bike, road bike, or whatever is the best for the area.
I would run, not walk from department store bikes. Just looking at them, I saw brakes that couldn't be adjusted, forks that were impossible to repair, and many other details. From a distance, they looked decent, but no so when close. At least get a low-end model from a reliable brand (Trek, etc.) That way, you can upgrade the fork, components, and other items as one sees fit as time goes on.
As for bicycles, I'd consider different types, depending on use:
If I had to just have one general use bike, I'd go with a mountain bike. For city roads, I can use slick tires which give a surprisingly good amount of traction. It isn't as roadworthy as a dedicated road bike, but it is better at handling whatever terrain a RV park throws at you. I wouldn't go too high-end, so if it it gets stolen, it isn't too much of a loss.
If I could go with another bike, I'd have the mountain bike, but I'd also have a decent quality folding bike like a Brompton or Dahon with a good carrying case. Case in point. Here in Austin, there are a lot of cyclists, and the buses have at most two slots on the front for a normal bicycle. I've seen people actually get into fistfights about those. The folding bike is a lot better for crowded areas, especially if you have to use buses or subways. Plus, when folded, it doesn't take that much room in a RV.
After that, depending on where I was going, a good quality mountain bike, road bike, or whatever is the best for the area.
