Cold Weather conditions...

[creekster]

Originally Posted by bYuPride

so do you prefer the leg warmers over the tights? The salesperson recommended the warmers to me... it seems like it would be nice just to rip them off and throw them in your pocket.

all I purchased yesterday was a wind breaker type shell. It's supposed to repel water, is very light weight and can easily be folded up and put in my pocket. It's supposed supposed to breath very well too.

you know, I've been trying to get my friends to get bikes so I'll have more people to ride with, but with each purchase I make, I'm afraid to encourage someone to do this because it's so freaking expensive. I'd hate to talk someone into this and then have them find out they don't like it!

It depends on what the weather forecast is. If it isn't likely to get very warm, I will just wear tights. If it is going to warm up quite a bit (and we get coastal fog sometimes in the am so our temperature can vary a bit during the day) I will wear the warmers.

Let me add a comment about the cost of gear. All the high tech gear is nice, but you don't need it. All you need is a bike and a road. Don't get caught up in all the gear stuff. The only things I think you really NEED are good bike shorts, gloves and a helmet. T-shirts work fine. When I was a kid I had my mom sew some pockets on the back of my t-shirts as jerseys were not very common where i was and they were out of my price range. Like they say, it's not the bike (or the gear), it's the engine that counts. There is a whole movement out there that despises lycra and gore-tex on bikes. See http://www.rivbike.com/clothing/our_...ch_to_clothing

and before you get all snooty on these guys (their facility is about 1/2 mile from my office) let me tell you they make BEAUTIFUL bikes, true pieces of art. So don't break the bank for all that stuff, as all you really need you already have.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

It depends on what the weather forecast is. If it isn't likely to get very warm, I will just wear tights. If it is going to warm up quite a bit (and we get coastal fog sometimes in the am so our temperature can vary a bit during the day) I will wear the warmers.

Let me add a comment about the cost of gear. All the high tech gear is nice, but you don't need it. All you need is a bike and a road. Don't get caught up in all the gear stuff. The only things I think you really NEED are good bike shorts, gloves and a helmet. T-shirts work fine. When I was a kid I had my mom sew some pockets on the back of my t-shirts as jerseys were not very common where i was and they were out of my price range. Like they say, it's not the bike (or the gear), it's the engine that counts. There is a whole movement out there that despises lycra and gore-tex on bikes. See http://www.rivbike.com/clothing/our_...ch_to_clothing

and before you get all snooty on these guys (their facility is about 1/2 mile from my office) let me tell you they make BEAUTIFUL bikes, true pieces of art. So don't break the bank for all that stuff, as all you really need you already have.

Looks like reverse snobbery to me. Remember Sam Walton and his old pick up truck?

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Looks like reverse snobbery to me. Remember Sam Walton and his old pick up truck?

There is an element of reverse snobbery, I suspect, but they also make some valid points. It's sort of like the old guy that lives next door when you were a kid that used to walk outside in Bermuda shorts and black calf socks with sandals and a stained t-shirt and you couldn't imagine how he could present himself in public like that. Now, at my age, I sometimes wear things my kids are embarrassed by, but I don't care because they are comfortable and I like them. That's how I try to guide my bike gear purchasing decisions. If I like them and they work, that's all I care about.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

There is an element of reverse snobbery, I suspect, but they also make some valid points. It's sort of like the old guy that lives next door when you were a kid that used to walk outside in Bermuda shorts and black calf socks with sandals and a stained t-shirt and you couldn't imagine how he could present himself in public like that. Now, at my age, I sometimes wear things my kids are embarrassed by, but I don't care because they are comfortable and I like them. That's how I try to guide my bike gear purchasing decisions. If I like them and they work, that's all I care about.

Some of that stuff doesn't look comfortable. Lycra and spandex is comfortable, and I'm not certain I find his answer about non-clip in cleats acceptable. It seems as if a lack of cleats would cause you to develop an asymmetrical pedal stroke.

As for how something looks, I'm the least style conscious person there is. I want to be warm and comfortable.

I buy two colors of bikes, carbon and ti.

[bluegoose]

Titanium is overrated.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Titanium is overrated.

Maybe, but it's comfortable, durable and light.

My wife's ti, Lightspeed, is 1.7 pounds of frame. And she loves it.

[bYuPride]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Maybe, but it's comfortable, durable and light.

My wife's ti, Lightspeed, is 1.7 pounds of frame. And she loves it.

Are there big differences between aluminium, carbon fiber and titanium frames? If so, what are the general differences... I really like the carbon fiber frame I got, but I'm not sure if an aluminum frame would be much different for me? would I be able to tell a difference over time?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by bYuPride

Are there big differences between aluminium, carbon fiber and titanium frames? If so, what are the general differences... I really like the carbon fiber frame I got, but I'm not sure if an aluminum frame would be much different for me? would I be able to tell a difference over time?

Yes and no.

Top end aluminum can be very light and expensive, but in general, aluminium is heavier, stiffer, less comfortable and cheaper.

Carbon fiber is widely produced and can be stiff or not stiff. Stiff is good for heavy people or in short rides. Less stiff is better for lighter persons and for long rides.

Titanium is the most expensive, can be very stiff and very comfortable. My bike guys state that ti is too pricey even for them for what you get.

You can get your wife something from Trek in a package.

[bYuPride]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Yes and no.

Top end aluminum can be very light and expensive, but in general, aluminium is heavier, stiffer, less comfortable and cheaper.

Carbon fiber is widely produced and can be stiff or not stiff. Stiff is good for heavy people or in short rides. Less stiff is better for lighter persons and for long rides.

Titanium is the most expensive, can be very stiff and very comfortable. My bike guys state that ti is too pricey even for them for what you get.

You can get your wife something from Trek in a package.

How do I know if my carbon frame is stiff or not? I'm 5'11" 190 lbs.. Am I a heavier rider? Thanks for the advice on the Trek package... I'll look into it..

[bYuPride]

Originally Posted by bYuPride

How do I know if my carbon frame is stiff or not? I'm 5'11" 190 lbs.. Am I a heavier rider? Thanks for the advice on the Trek package... I'll look into it..

Sorry about the billion questions... I guess I could do the research myself, I just like hearing info from people that I believe I can trust...