tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post4203706449300146187..comments2024-03-29T04:01:31.445-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: The Starter BikeVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44406773500142678732012-01-21T03:45:52.782-05:002012-01-21T03:45:52.782-05:00or maybe they buy a new bike after reading blog po...or maybe they buy a new bike after reading blog posts like this! ;PAngie Kritenbrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17878595044600808636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20622677591589317842012-01-05T19:42:55.590-05:002012-01-05T19:42:55.590-05:00When we were re-starting my wife, it was not easy ...When we were re-starting my wife, it was not easy to find what we wanted. One problem with the expense is that you don't necessarily want to spend a lot of money before you are sure exactly what you want, or exactly how you will use the bike.<br /><br />Choices documented here. We had peculiar requirements, It still needs a dynamo light.<br />http://dr2chase.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/choosing-a-new-bike/dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24274763487505387412012-01-05T02:04:09.280-05:002012-01-05T02:04:09.280-05:00Twenty years ago I went through three bikes in a y...Twenty years ago I went through three bikes in a year - a 'starter' cheap mountain bike, a better quality mountain bike, then a custom build up on a nice Italian frame with wide road tyres. <br /><br />I agree with Anonymous 8:52PM that cheaper bikes are heavier and not so nimble. The little custom build up was a super bike compared to the original starter.<br /><br />Three years ago I did it again when I wanted to get back into riding but wanted a vintage ladies' bike with a more upright riding position. I got a lovely vintage bike but it didn't fit as well as - you guessed it - a loop frame Pashley Princess I got a year later after finding out more about upright bikes. <br /><br />Maybe starter bikes are like cars. When you're first learning to drive you don't do it in a Ferrari with a flappy paddle gearbox. You learn the rudiments on something cheaper until you get the hang of it and when your budget allows you move onto something that suits your skill level and your needs better.<br /><br />Learner cyclists, even cashed up ones, are usually reluctant to spend big dollars on their first bike. What if they don't enjoy riding? What if that first tumble puts them off? In these tight financial times even $500 can be a big outlay on something you're not sure you'll be using in a year's time.Carinthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09490217708697574505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-81756780230525555072012-01-04T20:52:46.080-05:002012-01-04T20:52:46.080-05:00I've gone through the "starter bike"...I've gone through the "starter bike" phase twice. The first time was for a road bike, the second for a transportation bike. <br /><br />I went through a few bikes for the road bike because as I got more into it, so many things changed... my fitness level, the kind of riding changed, the places I went riding -- over about five years, everything changed! You can get away with lesser quality and no fit when you're just doing 15 mile weekenders. But if you catch that bike fever and get into greater distance or more interesting terrain, I have to say that fit and quality really made a difference in how I felt after my rides. For somebody catching the road cycling bug, I honestly don't think it is a snobby thing or fashion when you trade up on your bike.<br /><br />A decade or so later, I've recently gone through a similar thing with finding a commuter bike -- much to my surprise! I thought I knew a lot. But I've changed bikes three times just getting used to what I actually needed for carrying stuff and still being able to keep up a reasonable pace. Cheaper bikes do tend to be heavier and not as nimble -- not that I want to race, just don't want to be so slow as to make bike commuting a time suck or a tiring thing. My commute is 18 miles round trip and I want/need to arrive fresh and able. <br /><br />Anyway, I think the "starter bike" is a real issue because we're always changing -- it isn't always vanity or consumerism. I certainly think I'm fortunate to have had my process. But I work hard and save my money and this is my guilty pleasure. There are worse things I could be spending my money on -- like designer shoes and handbags... it's amazing what some women pay for far less utilitarian items. I'm just a bike girl -- at 48! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84575242147235761562012-01-04T16:49:17.520-05:002012-01-04T16:49:17.520-05:00I am working with a friend/coworker who is looking...I am working with a friend/coworker who is looking at buying her first bike since she was a kid. She's recently lost a lot of weight and thinks she would like to pick up cycling - after much discussion with her I am exited to help her look at bikes. She's specifically looking for intermediate/beginner road bikes ($500-800 price range so her budget allows for helmet and other gear) that she can start using on local trails and some organized rides. <br /><br />We've already been to one shop with a fairly large selection but nothing was in her price range (all much higher or the wrong type of bike). She rode a couple higher priced models in the $1,000 to $1,200 range and they were way beyond her skills. After riding them myself, I was loving them, but with hairtrigger responses, there was no way they suited her. She's also taller than average which complicates things. Moderately priced bikes are hard to find, and I disagree that just because it's in the moderate price range that it's a poorly made bike. If one does research and finds the bike that's the right size, type, etc, and performs regular appropriate upkeep, that bike should last for some time. Not everyone is ready to spring for a thousand dollar bike if they are unsure about starting up in the first place. And my local bike shop, where we are going next, understands this. They carry a good selection of good bikes in a moderate price range. I am confident she'll find a bike she'll love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-63714783137684767402012-01-04T16:43:11.734-05:002012-01-04T16:43:11.734-05:00I've gone thru this 'starter bike' rig...I've gone thru this 'starter bike' rigamarole in the past year, but not as a new rider; rather, as a reformed rider of what i call 'necessity bikes': those purchased/acquired with little regard to much other than affordability (usually under 200$) and aesthetics (must reflect my taste). This method has brought a variety of low-quality vintage bikes and a couple of budget hybrids into and out of my life.<br /><br />About this time last year I was in search of a new bike after my latest- a 1980s Gitane mixte that looked cool but weighed a ton- was seriously banged up after having been parked on the street. I decided a brand new bike would be refreshing. Research led me to your blog, which has been a tremendous resource in my quest to "get it right this time". I test rode many before settling on a Linus... and regretting it after a couple of short months. That's when I decided to stop letting price be prohibitive and started saving for something I would love, not merely settle for.<br /><br />Finally I am riding an authentic Dutch bike- the one I really wanted but felt I couldn't afford or handle. It rides like magic. I've never treasured a bike so much. Buying a bike in late fall is also a great way to get it on sale ;) <br /><br />A decade of adult bike riding has taught me that while preferences and environments may change, quality is best not compromised. Huge thanks to you for all you've done to improve my knowledge and appreciation for bikes and cycling!ghostofjenhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08242807929840703634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44875931798075107042012-01-04T15:40:00.454-05:002012-01-04T15:40:00.454-05:00I am so thrilled to have found your blog! I live ...I am so thrilled to have found your blog! I live in LA and I just turned 40 and recently realized I have never owned a bike as an adult. My husband is an experienced cyclist who hasn't been riding much in several years. We both want to get new bikes, and because of our backgrounds, our approaches are pretty different, but we are getting close to making our decisions, thanks in part to you! It's been so fun reading your reviews, looking at your gorgeous pictures, and thinking about all the philosophy that many of your posts touch on. Thank you for the inspiration!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73602961058363376142012-01-04T15:05:46.672-05:002012-01-04T15:05:46.672-05:00I think you're missing the point.
There are n...I think you're missing the point.<br /><br />There are no readily available spots to test ride, even for 15 minutes, different higher end commuters where MOST of us live. So we're stuck reading on the internet. And then risking 1,000 or more dollars to order something to be shipped to us??!!<br /><br />There is a rant above about how we need more ride time to learn and more ride time to adjust. How do I get that when it's thousands of miles to a bike shop that might carry two of the better models?<br /><br />I buy a 500 dollar piece of junk locally or I read on the internet. <br /><br />Velouria you are perfectly positioned to give us a wider range of cross-referenced 'test rides' so that if I'm going to spend my money to travel to a bike shop with one or two of the bikes at a higher price point I will have at least a chance of narrowing it down to Chicago or Seattle to travel to. Or I can feel more comfortable with the risk of ordering online.<br /><br />The reality of my choices is pretty limited if I'm to spend at the level I've budgeted.c.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82733252763338880142012-01-04T14:32:08.736-05:002012-01-04T14:32:08.736-05:00I always feel like my head is going to explode wit...I always feel like my head is going to explode with info after reading the comments, Velouria :) Im in a starter bike mode ( a Schwinn collegiate for around town and it's fine for an hour's ride) but I have a feeling choosing my upgrade will be like picking a mattress. I still havent found the perfect one for my back. So, I'm waiting til my family is at a different stage and I am able to ride more and see what I need at that level before I upgrade at all. When I do, I will have lots of mental notes taken from your blog to help with my decision. Until then, I really am looking for that elusive mattress.Michellehttp://www.myso-calledhandmadelife.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-78001455837848708412012-01-04T14:06:38.848-05:002012-01-04T14:06:38.848-05:00After doing as some research (many thanks for your...After doing as some research (many thanks for your blog!) and test riding a few bikes(there's a lack of quality bikes out there to test) I settled on a Pashley Princess. It is my Christmas present from my husband and I am still waiting to receive it from the maker.<br /><br />After reading the comments here I began to panic as 1. This is not a 'budget' bike, 2. I really only had about a mile or so to ride it. and 3. I would really be saddened if I chose the wrong bike for myself! <br /><br />However, upon reflection, I made the best choice for myself with the knowledge and riding experience I have at this time. How can I know what will be 'perfect' for me until I actually own and ride it for awhile? Additionally, I wanted a quality bike so that I WOULD want to ride it all the time and not something that would be falling apart 6 months into it. I may feel different later (again, who knows?) but I am more excited about starting this great adventure than worrying if I bought the 'wrong' bike. The Pashley is beautiful and I can't wait till I can feel the wind on my face with my Princess. <br /><br />I love your blog, by the way, and look forward to your posts. Thanks so much!Sharonhttp://www.spotonfitness.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-650558445397264072012-01-04T14:06:03.985-05:002012-01-04T14:06:03.985-05:00I (m., maybe r. has more incisive commentary as a ...I (m., maybe r. has more incisive commentary as a slightly newer rider) initially wanted to say more about the sudden stylishness of bicycle transportation, but I'll bite my tongue and say only this:<br /><br />Ultimately, whether it's a "starter" bicycle or a "serious" one, a good transportation bicycle has to fit the rider and run well (and maybe not look too desirable). Period. Anything additional is just gravy and in concurrence with DeBlass (1/3 8:46pm), sticking with it is more important than shelling out on some palliative, atmo.m.r.kittynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31466906101409562282012-01-04T10:01:53.126-05:002012-01-04T10:01:53.126-05:00Velouria said...
I would add a 4th category there ...Velouria said...<br /><i>I would add a 4th category there of cherished classic-vintage bikes</i><br /><br />Ditto for Berlin. When I took my husband there for the first time, he was shocked at the all the classic Italian bikes. I still remember two burly guys (who looked more like they should be on motorcycles) with a perfectly matched set of old Pinarellos. Their confusion and suspicion at some guy photographing their bikes changed to delight when I explained that he was American and those bikes are much rarer in the U.S., and they actually moved the bikes into better position and posed for photos with them. And then there was that Basso mixte that still haunts my dreams...sausendnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52775558798028568402012-01-04T08:09:26.913-05:002012-01-04T08:09:26.913-05:00This is an eye-opening post. I'm currently sti...This is an eye-opening post. I'm currently still riding my starter, a new low-end Raleigh hybrid that I got last spring. And yes, for me it was ALL about worrying that I wouldn't stick with it. Well, I definitely have, and I've probably put around 1,000 miles on the hybrid if not more, and while I'd like to upgrade I do feel guilty about letting this bike go. Also my husband, who bought me the bike, doesn't realize that there are differences between bikes and thinks it's silly to upgrade after so short a time. Might be a moot point, as I'm fairly certain it wasn't meant to be ridden this much and might potentially fall apart in the next year. (Actual quote from the sports store where I bought it when I took it in for maintenance: "You ride this a LOT, don't you?" with a puzzled expression.) I may just build up my vintage Sports with a modern hub, since I love it but it's not really good at climbing hills.Erica L. Satifkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134032079725071000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-23324515288336031632012-01-04T04:10:53.453-05:002012-01-04T04:10:53.453-05:00Hi there
Started with a new Kona MTB, thinking i&#...Hi there<br />Started with a new Kona MTB, thinking i'd ride it 90% for offroad and 10% for transportation.<br />Ended up liking it so much that i was using it 90% for transportation, getting dirty from the chain and being vulnerable to rain.<br />Now i'm riding a used Raleigh 3 speed and really enjoying it! Also, being able to ride in office clothes and carry groceries is very nice.<br />I like that you used the Bucharest photo, that's my town :)<br />Have a nice day,<br />FritzescuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87681931940571172252012-01-04T02:05:29.734-05:002012-01-04T02:05:29.734-05:00Oh the starter bike....my step daughter said she w...Oh the starter bike....my step daughter said she wanted a bike for christmas after steadfastly refusing to ride a bike last year when she lived with us, nor any bikes she has had in the past. The only time she'd get on a bike would be when visiting and we'd go into town to run errands, go for sushi, see a movie etc. She'd very reluctantly ride and then complain endlessly about how hard it is. gosh, when I was her age, I hopped on my mom's old raleigh and ride to hell and back! Her dad is a hard core rider, so there may have been some rebellion involved. All she said was that she wanted a bike with skinny tires. He wanted to get her a hybrid, and when he took her to look at bikes, she went straight for the vintage bikes, which is what I suspected. Some of her friends must be riding vintage bikes and she is always in awe of how pretty ours are.<br />But she lives elsewhere and would not have anybody to look after the bike for her, so he didn't want to get a vintage bike that does not work properly, has steel wheels etc..<br />She was unimpressed with everything modern....so, in the end she got my bso, which is the bike she rode whenever she came to visit. It's a giant cypress and has a swoopy frame like a dutch bike except that is nowhere near a dutch bike. It's not the worst bike in the world, but I certainly stopped riding it as soon as possible and regretted buying it. As an experienced cyclist it was so underwhelming etc.<br />.....We said if she actually rode it and got into cycling we would get her a spring/summer/fall cool bike.<br />As it is, it's hard to tell if she will ride, as she has been unmotivated so far. There is the risk that a cheap bike will turn one off cycling, but to find a really good bike requires a good amount of money.<br />I'd take it more as an education, and a right of passage. The benefits far out weigh the cons, even on a pos!Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-12079730887734708192012-01-04T01:44:01.271-05:002012-01-04T01:44:01.271-05:00maxutility - You have pretty much described Vienna...maxutility - You have pretty much described <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2011/10/off-beaten-path-in-vienna.html" rel="nofollow">Vienna</a> as well, although I would add a 4th category there of cherished classic-vintage bikes.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86815635991162517502012-01-04T01:25:23.652-05:002012-01-04T01:25:23.652-05:00The "typical" Berlin bike seems to one o...The "typical" Berlin bike seems to one of three types. The heavily used, beat up transport bike that is left outside year round with the thinnest of cable locks securing it, the highly designed and quite expensive transport bike from the richer neighborhoods, and then the occassional oddballs on a fixie, classic racer, or something else very specific.<br /><br />I'll grant that Americans do tend to identify with their transportation more than most people on the planet. But Germans who do ride the beat up black universal transport bikes do also seem to make it a point of pride that it was cheap, old, and they do no maintanance on it. (Does anyone lube their chain in Berlin?) I'll give you that it's a less "consumerist" attitude, but I'm not sure it's any less affected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40409694916862050682012-01-03T23:35:19.634-05:002012-01-03T23:35:19.634-05:00Anon 11:22 - To some degree of course there is tha...Anon 11:22 - To some degree of course there is that. But I think there are also other factors involved. One of them is that people who buy bikes in countries like Germany actually plan to ride them and will raise a fuss if a bike is unridable, so fewer crappy toy-like bikes for adults are sold there in the first place. Another factor is that fewer adults there are starting from scratch skills-wise, compared to the US. And finally there is a huge difference in infrastructure. When you can get almost anywhere via bike paths, as you can in Berlin, for instance, the handling of the bike matters a lot less than when your daily commute includes a good chunk of VC. This is just brainstorming on my part, but intuitively I feel there is a great deal more to it than cultural differences in consumerism alone.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50447838996356520662012-01-03T23:22:52.360-05:002012-01-03T23:22:52.360-05:00I didn't mean there's anything wrong with ...I didn't mean there's anything wrong with purchasing many/fancy bikes. I simply mean the starter bike phenomenon in the US seems to have less to do with the bicycles than with the consumers (sorry I mean riders).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-29917435915468910632012-01-03T23:08:54.192-05:002012-01-03T23:08:54.192-05:00Jvera
That Miyata 912 may have a humble name and m...Jvera<br />That Miyata 912 may have a humble name and mid-tier paint. It is frame-building at a high level. The mfr lost money on every one of those sold in North America. When you find one that good and it fits right you keep it. Enjoy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-48541221229118506782012-01-03T23:05:59.026-05:002012-01-03T23:05:59.026-05:00I'm grateful for the Starter Bike phenomenon, ...<i>I'm grateful for the Starter Bike phenomenon, because it puts some awfully nice bikes out into the used-bike marketplace. </i><br /><br />Hear, hear. I always encourage new riders to buy the bike I want, not the bike they want -- I'll be buying it from them, soon enough...<br /><br />Seriously, though I never exactly stopped riding, I purchased my first post-college bike (1984 Peugeot road) for $40 at the Salvation Army in the late '90s. I modified it slightly for transport use (upright handlebars, fenders, rack, etc.) and rode it 'til I crashed it eight years later. I then managed to find an identical vintage bike to replace it, and have been riding it as my #1 bike ever since. Sometimes you do get it right the first time...BGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650718276049777977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60286639745280766232012-01-03T22:32:33.933-05:002012-01-03T22:32:33.933-05:00Nonna's not a novice: http://www.youtube.com/...Nonna's not a novice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms7y6KWuatc&feature=youtu.beGround Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-39221224547043934272012-01-03T21:45:55.378-05:002012-01-03T21:45:55.378-05:00Interesting how different impressions can be. I...Interesting how different impressions can be. I've been to Germany also. There is a big bicycle boom in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, among other places. Lots of bikes being purchased. New city bicycle brands born in recent years as well. See Retrovelo, Bella Ciao. <br /><br />Anyhow, if the bicycle is the new big screen TV I think that's a good thing. After all, people watch those TVs. Maybe they'll ride the bikes.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54935207278517585672012-01-03T21:35:23.057-05:002012-01-03T21:35:23.057-05:00Another reason for 'upgrading' after less ...Another reason for 'upgrading' after less than a year is the triumph of marketing and the resulting people's self-actualization through retail. The bicycle is the new big-screen tv!<br /><br />On a recent holiday in Germany I noticed that (1) lots of people, of all ages, get around by bike and (2) as long as it has two wheels, they'll ride it. Most of the bicycles are black; there are lots of mountain bikes; many seem quite rickety. Most have fenders, kickstands and racks/baskets but I didn't see a single one that struck me as particularly beautiful. Perhaps the Germans express themselves by other means?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61626462259405579062012-01-03T20:46:06.739-05:002012-01-03T20:46:06.739-05:00I think, as others have said, sometimes it's n...I think, as others have said, sometimes it's not the case of buying the wrong bike the first time, but rather that after your first year of riding you're not the same cyclist you were when you got your starter bike. <br /><br />As for the price, well, $500 is a lot of money for some people (hell, 2011 was a bad year, that's more money than I've earned in the past six weeks), but one can get a pretty good bike for that much. Not a great bike, and certainly not the perfect bike, but it will buy plenty of reliable mountain bikes and hybrids that will get you to work on time.Matt DeBlasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com