So, something like this:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/bik/65404656.html

might be overdoing it, as it has front suspension? It seems like a good price for the bike + peripherals...

You know, it's not awful, it just doesn't sound like you need it for what you're going to do, and it adds a fair bit of weight, and on a cheap bike doesn't help the handling. Dunno. I'm not a mtb expert of any sort, but specialised has a pretty good rep. I'm sure that bike would do the basic job you have in mind if you've got $250 lying around.

ride bikes

To the strip-club. Get on your BMX trick models, and pedal over to see some labial distension, in honour of N.E.R.D., which is no longer with us.

Remember your anxieties about small people, now.

$20 says he lives with his parents.
any takers?
i'm not kidding.

this probably doesn't help BUT, I picked up one of these last year and have been completely happy with it:



Kona Jake the Snake

Basically I was looking for a road bike I could bunny hop and would be able to handle the crappy road conditions here in TO (I commute about 60km a day in the summer). My only complaint is it tends to beat the snot out of me on really rough stuff.

I have gotten terribly out of shape, and one of the reasons is I've stopped riding my bike as much. I've always been a mtn biker, so the idea of riding on the road, in the winter is totally foreign to me.

Here's my quandary--what do I need? Or rather what would you recommend? Maybe we've had this discussion previously with winter commuting. But search turned up nil.

Does it snow there?

Also, for fun or to work and stuff? (ie, how far at a time and are you carrying stuff?)

Yup. In fact, it did this morning.

But it probably won't snow consistently here for awhile yet--if at all. Last winter was real dry.

Right now it's hovering around freezing. I'm thinking some long pant bibs, ls jersey, jacket, gloves, wooly eared hat might suffice? Thoughts?

It will be for fun, walk to work. Starting out slowly, hoping to do more and more mileage.

So you're asking more about clothing / gear than bike setup? Because a rear fender if not a front will help you a lot with slush being slung around. So for clothes, here's what I like (for what that’s worth):

OVERALL THING TO REMEMBER
You will start out cold, then get very hot and sweat. So everything needs flaps and pit zips and breathability. You'll be dressing in a way that would be a little too cold if you were standing around, but will be just right after 5 -10 mins of pedaling. Nothing that locks you in and cannot be opened up to breathe. Also most of my bike riding apparel is either A) not “apparel” but like regular clothes and stuff, or B) motorcycle gear like gloves and boots and a neck dickie. Also, don’t spend money. RARELY do you truly need something bike-specific to ride a bike around in the city. But people will gladly take your money by specializing something for the task and marketing it as such. Just dress like you’re going for a walk, but go 1 layer lighter on your body core with lots of flaps and zippers, and have GOOD cover for your hands.

Head
I have a version of this guy from like 8 years ago, probably its great-great grandaddy. Similar though. The things I like about it are 1) that it fits under my bike helmet (when I remove the helmet's snap-in liner), 2) it has a brim to keep the sun out of my eyes (which is a big deal), and 3) it can go from “too warm” to “just right” by lowering or raising those giant flaps. There are smaller options with just triangle flaps over the ears, which is fine, but this guy can loop under your chin and cover your neck when you’re REALLY cold, and then in ten minutes when you’ve warmed up, just undo it and the flaps open up out of the way to let your throat get some cold air. **Most people wear something thinner than this, but my ears get COLD and it’s hard to warm them back up so this guy works for me. Minimum = get something that is thin and goes under a bike helmet, something NOT woven and wooly because your helmet may have exposed male velcro once you remove a lining. Velcro snags and tears wooly stuff.

When it’s in the 30’s or lower I also use one of these, ALMOST… mine is older and has a zipper… very important to be able to open it up after you get hot! Shit, now I can’t find one anywhere that has a zipper. I’d take something to cover your throat for sure when it’s cold, but you need to be able to open it up or take it off easily. Damn. Also, you will see some other ones that cover your whole head, and you’ll look outside at the snow and think it sounds like a better idea. Some people like them – a thin silk layer from your shoulders up over your head may be ok. I just like being able to open it up or take pieces off, and with a 1-piece that’s hard.

Hands
Ski-grade mittens are great. You don’t need your individual fingers, and keeping them all together is always warmer. Waterproof is a huge plus.

Legs
So if you’re cruising around the city, and it’s dry out, I wouldn’t wear anything more than long underwear and carhartts or jeans. As long as you can bend your knees, you’re set. If it’s slushy and shitty out, then I would wear some slip-over rain pants (about $90 from REI) and forego the long underwear, because 3 layers will be HOT unless it’s like 15 out. A longjohn bib thing is great when you aren’t moving around much but when you’re biking for 30+ mins, you’re gonna get hot enough to not really need it. And like I said above, I’d be afraid of overheating in a thick long bib setup… what are you gonna do if you get hot, take off the top half and let it flap? You’re kinda locked in.

Feet
Hiking boots. I don’t really need to flex my ankle much to ride a bike, donno about you. If you’ve got some good boots broken in well (and you seem like the kind of guy who might) then you’re set. Again, waterproof is a BIG plus. Warmth first… feet and hands suffer most.

Core
I haven’t found anything perfect for me yet. An REI ski jacket (fleece liner, waterproof breathable outter) is ok at first but can get too hot, or on the flipside it can be too loose and let drafts up and inside it. Ski gear tends to be puffy… bike gear tends to be tighter, for a good reason. So a good setup for 35 degrees might be: T shirt, light sweater, and a wind-proof tight fitting rain jacket that comes down just past your belt. Not a super-thin rain shell, but like a “technical” jacket like this guy, which has pit zips. Pit zips are a huge plus.

Also if you're rocking knobby tires on the streets, you're doing too much work. Just something to consider. You could be going 10% faster or so for the same effort if you weren't roaring down the street on knobs. Plus if it snows, they just get packed full of it and weigh a ton. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Nice. Thanks. I have a military helmet liner that I forgot about that would fit nicely under *surprise* my helmet, and wraps around the chin.

Yeah, on the set-up portion a guy who has done RAGBRAI, RAAM, and has been a pro-mechanic for 20 some odd years is helping me out. Guy started coming to our church, so we've been chitty-chatting about bikes.

Mostly will be doing rural riding out of the metro area.

Awesome. Well, find some good mittens/ski gloves if you don't have any, and let him go nuts on your bike. Sounds like some commuter tires might be perfect... if you wanna skip to the end of the tire search where you figure out what the best tire is, it's probably the Schwalbe Marathon. Things just do NOT get flats.

here

That tread is zexy.

When we went to the netherlands, and we rented bikes, we told them we were biking all the way to belgium with a 2 yr old on board. I was like "shouldn't I carry a patch kit?" "No. You will not need it with these tires." Sure enough. Wife's had them on her bike for 2+ years, biking through broken glass etc in downtown boston 5 days a week all year for work, zero flats. Before these tires, one flat a month minimum.

i've been really happy with vittoria tires over the last few years. i still keep gatorskins on my single-speed, but my regular road/commute bike needs a little more than they offer and the vittorias have been great. and it seems like every shop worth their salt suddenly stocks them.

The vittorias are well made and they come in white, which = the new sexy.

I need to look into those tires that don't go flat. Riding around town here I always get flats. But, I only ride in nice weather because I am not crazy.

Marathons aren't cheap, but man is it worth it. I'm done with cheap tires.

Specialized Armadillos.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbo=d&scli ... 66&bih=651

I should fix my bike next spring. then i could ride my bike to work in the summer. would work out well since we only have one car.

Power went out in much of Cambridge yesterday at about 4:15PM. When my all-day meeting finally ended, and we went to dinner, it was 9 when we got done. Traffic was still terrible. Found out today it took people 30+ mins to get out of the parking garage, and some then took another 2 hours to get home. Meanwhile nothing changed for cyclists, other than less light and tricky intersections (no traffic signals). Once again I was happy.

Cap, have you seen these:

http://ass-savers.com/

Seems rather effortless and not a permanent fixture.