Bicycles, what are you all riding?

[gb6491]

I've had a renewed interest in cycling (used to ride a lot in Japan). I could hit some cycling forums, but I'm not really of that crowd, so I was wondering what folks here might be riding. I know CJB posted a fine machine a while back, so maybe some other folks would post theirs (wouldn't mind seeing CJB's again).
As for myself, I have a Raleigh hybrid hanging in the garage. I've had that bike about 22 years. Good bike for me when I bought it...did some upgrades and such, but my butt has grown distant from it.
Most any riding I've done in the past couple of years has been on this Huffy cruiser:
http://i66.tinypic.com/sdcy2g.jpg
Damn thing tried to kill me a few months back when the front inner tube blew out...sounded like a shotgun blast and blew the tire off the rim. Only my superior piloting skills allowed:lie:....OK, only dumb luck kept me from being hurt more seriously than I was.
http://i63.tinypic.com/apb9yq.jpg
So that brings me to the bike that has renewed my interest in cycling again. A couple of weeks back, while in town and out of the blue, I decided to stop by a local bike shop. They had a used recumbent (Sun EZ-1 SX Classic) on the floor, so I took it for a test ride. I liked it and my my butt liked it, so it went home with me.
It's a different experience riding bent, but I'm digging it:hippie:, except for the four dogs that have chased me:eek:
http://i66.tinypic.com/sy8ow8.jpg

For firearm content, my bike gun:
http://i60.tinypic.com/2yn1ojl.jpg
Fortunately, the bike accelerates quick enough that I haven't had to use it against any wheel chasing mutts :)

Regards,
Greg

[ltxi]

Short version, without pics...

I'm a cyclist...now primarily a rec/fitness rider. Current road bikes are a new this year BMC GF02 and a 2013 Cannondale Synapse, both full Ultegra. An Electra 21d Townie cruiser for shopping and bad/winter weather riding. And a '95 Trek 930 MTB.

That AZ desert shot brings back memories. I first took up adult cycling in Tucson in 1980. Lotta miles I done put on thereabouts

[CJB]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/CAM00939_zpsqawhhzsa.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/IMG_20150615_192811_zps48r4wajf.jpg
I have no idea where this is... someplace closer to Ponce Inlet than Daytona. I saw the concession and dived in for a lemonade.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/IMG_0792_zpswi0dqzk4.jpg
Great little hole in the wall for locals in Daytona.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/IMG_0795_zpsunrttbrz.jpg

And a bit of firearms relevance for the post....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/gun_zps5e105034.jpg


The fatbike is not quite configured like that any more. The riser extension is gone, and I've put some Jones H-Bar Loop bars on it. Brakes have been increased in diameter from 160/140mm to 200/180mm (front rear) as well as changed to the excellent BB7 mechanical calipers. Note the Serbu Super Shorty mount up front. Almost forgot, there's a Made in England Lion Bellworks bell on it as well. Notable because it is a REAL bell, loud, clear, and piercing, made of bell brass and stainless the old fashioned way in the UK.

Tires outer diameter is just shy of 32 inches, and 4-1/4 inches wide. Pretty much goes through anything. There's a shot there of Daytona Beach - during a break.

No PeeWee Herman aspirations of the Tour de France, I can assure you!

[ltxi]

As before...that's a nice fat tire, CJB

[b4uqzme]

Good thread Greg. I recently started trail riding again (getting a little thick in the middle). So I cleaned up my old Kona. The Rockshox front fork was blown out so I put the original rigid fork back on plus a set of trail tires. Entered a 25 mile charity ride a couple of weeks ago and had some fun. This thing was my hardcore off road bike years ago and most everything has been upgraded or swapped out from original.

[b4uqzme]

I'll probably start riding off road again soon so I need to get this old Porsche running again. It was a trade in at the local dealership. Really.

[CJB]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/IMG_1044_zpskddfyegb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/IMG_1045_zpsrbdiqe9l.jpg

Its rainin', so I got off my duff and took two quick snaps of the current config.

The bags are "musette" bags I got online for a few bucks each. They were olive and really stiff. Well... I washed 'em and they came out that color. Go figure. There's a 1/2 inch PVC conduit behind each bag so they can't flop into the spokes. Notice the lights front and rear (not needed on the beach but riding home at night... helps for safety). And the H-Bar Loop bars from Jones. Pricey, but I find them way more comfy than a mountain bike bar, for my own riding, which is mostly back roads, levees and beaches. And the bell!

Those with a keen eye will also notice that the right brake lever has been routed to the front brake, while the left lever is on the rear brake. Right/front is the same as m/c's... and backward from the bicycle world, but it works for me.

Weird color there. Garage door is open, and the sky is a nice deep puplish pink, with the sun in the west, sinking under the edge of the clouds for that interesting color.

[yqtszhj]

Can you do the water bottle and the Serbu Shorty?

[Barth]

Stopped owning bicycles before high school.
Last one was some German 10 speed with a racing cluster.
Just wasn't cool in So Cal in the 70s to ride a bicycle.
Walked until 15 and then bought a 72 Triumph 650 Tiger.
At 16, with a car license, bought a 67 Camaro SS.
Only bikes i ride these days are recumbent bikes in the gym 5 days a week for cardio - LOL :cool:

[DavidWJ]

I still have a Giant 20 speed mountain bike. Used to ride it a lot when in grad school, in a liberal tree-hugging town with lots of bike paths. Quit when I moved to the foothills because it's unsafe on these roads and I have to travel to find a bike path. Now I hike the hills. Pretty easy to find a path with an 800 foot elevation change in a mile.

[gb6491]

Short version, without pics...

I'm a cyclist...now primarily a rec/fitness rider. Current road bikes are a new this year BMC GF02 and a 2013 Cannondale Synapse, both full Ultegra. An Electra 21d Townie cruiser for shopping and bad/winter weather riding. And a '95 Trek 930 MTB.

That AZ desert shot brings back memories. I first took up adult cycling in Tucson in 1980. Lotta miles I done put on thereabouts
I really like that Swiss bike.
Speaking of Tucson and bicycles, I miss TucsonMTB's contributions to the forums.


Good thread Greg. I recently started trail riding again (getting a little thick in the middle). So I cleaned up my old Kona. The Rockshox front fork was blown out so I put the original rigid fork back on plus a set of trail tires. Entered a 25 mile charity ride a couple of weeks ago and had some fun. This thing was my hardcore off road bike years ago and most everything has been upgraded or swapped out from original.
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14022&d=1470519808
Nice! I really like the colors on that bike. As a kid, I had a Murray English three speed that was a similar shade of gold....rode the hell outa that bike.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/MAIN/IMG_1045_zpsrbdiqe9l.jpg

You are a bad influence....just ordered myself one of those bells.:biggrin1:

Regards,
Greg

[b4uqzme]

Nice! I really like the colors on that bike. As a kid, I had a Murray English three speed that was a similar shade of gold....rode the hell outa that bike.

Regards,
Greg

Thanks Greg. I think this one's been to Hades and back a couple of times. We were young and really abused our bikes back then...crashed a lot...even hit a barbed-wire fence once. Fortunately I cleared the fence as I cleared the bars. :D I never did get the hang of bunny-hopping either. So I stuck the chainrings in a log or two. More endos. :o

Most of the parts that are swapped out were to replace stuff that simply wore out: chains, bottom brackets, etc. I knew a small shop owner who would sell me the parts and any special tools required then teach me how to fix it for free. Those were good times.

[CJB]

Mine is engraved "The Dogs Bollocks"!

[gb6491]

Mine is engraved "The Dogs Bollocks"!
LOL:D....mine is not so...decorative.

Well to revisit my new to me recumbent bicycle:
I had a "short fuse" in my youth. I like to think that the burn rate of that fuse has slowed some as I've aged, but it can still flare at times. I also have what I like to think of as a "fine eye for detail". My wife probably better describes my condition as anal. Well, I didn't like that tape put on the frame to protect the paint from the seat was messed up. I thought to myself that it wouldn't be that big of a job to replace that tape....here fellas, hold my beer. I got the tape off, but glue residue remained. Cleaning this off, revealed some damage to the top coat. I should've stopped right there and just put new tape in place or, as I know just enough about paint to get in trouble, consulted a professional. I did neither, opting instead to get into trouble. Let me just say, I now know a lot more about painting than when I started and even own an airbrush.
Anyway, I screwed up my first attempt at fixing the top coat, which led to me screwing up my first attempt at color matching...and so it went. With flies buzzing my head and sweat dripping down my face, I was lovingly sanding down the messed up paint when the old short fuse flared. Screw this color matching, cracked paint SOB, I ordered some VHT Strip Fast and took that b..witch down to bare metal. By this point, even though I'd already had my new airbrush and much more knowledge about paint (thank you youtube), I decided to forego two part paints. I wanted something that I could touch up as needed without much fuss. Rust-Oleum flat black enamel and matte enamel clear coat from rattle cans would be my choices. I didn't care (and don't care now) if they will not be as durable as the two part stuff. Anyway, after hanging out over my patio for a week, the recumbent went back together yesterday. I liked the blue bike, but I'm not disappointed with it's new look.
Just hanging out
http://i64.tinypic.com/o0uh08.jpg
Ready for a test spin
http://i66.tinypic.com/1ftldu.jpg
Matte black and new decals
http://i68.tinypic.com/29c4ba9.jpg
New head badge should be here this weekend
UPDATE: the head badge I intended to use (left, below) just didn't have the right look to me once I had it in hand. I ended up going with a die cut vinyl decal instead and like the look.
http://i64.tinypic.com/103h4ea.jpg
Already have my new bell
http://i63.tinypic.com/jh52kl.jpg
From this morning's ride
http://i63.tinypic.com/30ixgnl.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Ed M]

Looks pretty good to me!

Needs some blue cable ends - I'd be happy to send you some. :cool:

[Bawanna]

Strange looking contraption. Guess I've not seen many recumbent bicycles before.

My wife has a recumbent exercise bike and has been talking about a new bicycle that you can ride and actually go someplace.

I'll have to share your photo's with her, might be the ticket. She don't really want a mountain bike. She wants something she can sit up on like an old Schwinn which we have but with lots of gears.

You got a permit to go on that range. I have to assume so since we've seen that sign a few times. Another means of finding solitude if not everybody can go out there.

[gb6491]

Looks pretty good to me!

Needs some blue cable ends - I'd be happy to send you some. :cool:
Hey thanks Ed :) I'm not sure if I'm going to leave the blue pedals on it or go with some silver Power Grips performance pedals. I do appreciate the offer.


Strange looking contraption. Guess I've not seen many recumbent bicycles before.

My wife has a recumbent exercise bike and has been talking about a new bicycle that you can ride and actually go someplace.

I'll have to share your photo's with her, might be the ticket. She don't really want a mountain bike. She wants something she can sit up on like an old Schwinn which we have but with lots of gears.

You got a permit to go on that range. I have to assume so since we've seen that sign a few times. Another means of finding solitude if not everybody can go out there.
It's a pretty comfortable bike. It's not fast by any measure, but I enjoy riding it. There's not much of a learning curve with it either.

I do have a permit and you have to call range control when entering/leaving the range. El Camino del Diablo (the Highway of the Devil) cuts across this range.


Since my new ride was down and for a break from my cruiser, I took my Raleigh USA C50 down from the garage ceiling and put it back in service. First ride was an adventure, the front tire blew about a mile from home, but aside from the noise and the flat it was uneventful. The tire failed as well. About 2 hours later, the rear blew while the bike was on the repair stand, gave me a startle for sure. Anyway, new rubber all around and I'm happy with it's ride. I think not bad for a 22 year old bike:
http://i65.tinypic.com/20iba0k.jpg

Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

I blew a left side tire 2 or 3 months ago. Course on my way out the door right outside the briefing room where half a dozen officers were going on shift. They usually just go flat. This one actually blew quite loudly followed by a string of profanity since I knew it was coming, there was a bulge but I just went easy hoping I could make it home.
I had a set of tires and tubes at home. (I need to order some more, got none in stock).

I still remember my first new bike as a kid, tires were very low after my dad put it together.
I pushed it probably a mile to a gas station, back in the days when they had air and checked your oil and stuff.

Fella asked if he could help me but I wanted to act grown up and told him I thought I could do it.

Proceeded to blow the brand new tire off the rim, that was loud.

Pushed it back home and had to save up to buy a new tire and tube. Another life's lesson in bawannaville.



PS: Bike looks might fine for 22 years old. Sometimes old is best. I'm figuring that out real quick.

[340pd]

Gave up riding a few years back when cell phone addicted drivers hit the road. Back in the day it was a Gitane frame all campy equipped road bike. I put 3500 miles in over one summer. Now, a Cannondale Silk Path 700 gathers dust in my basement.

[Bawanna]

3500 miles! Gosh durn, that's a lot of pedaling for one summer.

You must be in good shape, use your abs for a slush box working the gold?

[Ronni3_J]

I used to do a lot of riding but ive been slacking this year. I need to get back to it asap.


http://www.pedalroom.com/p/umezawa-keirin-track-18818_8.jpg

[b4uqzme]

^^^ what? single speed - no brakes. that's hardcore!

[Ronni3_J]

Technically fixed gear but yes. I ride 49x15 (if you know the ratios)

[gb6491]

That's a good looking track bike! I really like the look of the frame set. The wheels look nice as well.
Regards,
Greg

[340pd]

3500 miles! Gosh durn, that's a lot of pedaling for one summer.

You must be in good shape, use your abs for a slush box working the gold?

No, but I now have a prostate the size of a bagel.

[Ronni3_J]

That's a good looking track bike! I really like the look of the frame set. The wheels look nice as well.
Regards,
Greg

Thanks Greg! It's a Japanese frame set with lots of good parts custom built whee set. It's been neglected but the weather is great to ride right now in AZ

[skiflydive]

http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14148&stc=1

[Bawanna]

Damn! I hurt and wanna cry just looking at that picture. How's the hands and arms?

Well Greg got me again, he does this a lot. In a moment of ignorance or perhaps trying to make brownie points with the missus I showed her a picture of his bike. As I predicted she got quite excited and thinks it's just swell.

I've already begun the search. So far I'm mostly finding the ones with the pedals further out front and about level with the seat, they don't appeal to me much.
I like the angle and pedal location of Greg's, not sure why. Lots of trikes built along those lines too but with our narrow roads that would limit things a bit.

The search continues.

[CJB]

Fat bikes enuf fer me

[skiflydive]

Damn! I hurt and wanna cry just looking at that picture. How's the hands and arms?

Thanks. All OK now. That was a month ago. 4 miles into a 30 mile ride. I finished the ride.

[Ronni3_J]

Thanks for the motivation! Woke up early and went for a ride this morning

[Bawanna]

Do you ride that beautiful track bike off the track. I'm curious what you do for the no brake situation.

We have a track near here with the really steep banked turns, actually mostly turns not much straightaway. They really get to ripping around that thing. I guess the lack of brakes is in case of a crash you don't skid over somebody???

I know that's the rule in ice racing motorcycles and quads. Back in my old flat track motorcycle days we weren't allowed front breaks, of kick stands or anything that protruded below the frame.

Went and watch some of that a few years ago and it's a different ball game now. We had true flat track bikes, now they got headlights, mirror, even turn signals, moto cross bikes, just about anything goes. Wasn't the same.

All this bicycle talk, I think I'll check out the new trick wheelchairs. Just for grins.

[Barth]

http://shop.lifefitness.com/UserFiles/Club-Series-Recumbent-Bike-l.png

[b4uqzme]

^^^ looks like there's a place for your beer. That's cool.

[Bawanna]

I noticed that right off. Empty beer holder.

[Armybrat]

Last bike I had was a Schwinn 3-speed. Sold it before going overseas in 1957. Awesome bike.
There are a couple of recumbent bikes zipping around our neighborhood - odd lookin' things. I think one is a 3 wheeler.

Yesterday while we were driving on one of our nearby streets, an adult on a bike flew past the stop sign on a side street without slowing down out into the intersection. The posted limit is 30mph and I had no stop sign - lucky for him I NEVER go over the posted speed limit in any neighborhood because of kids playing. We both hit our brakes and my Jeep came to a stop about three feet from his left front quarter. Dude started waving his arms apologetically & said he was sorry. Bet he had to go home and clean his brains out of his spandex tights.

[MW surveyor]

^^^There's a lot of stupid bike riders around that don't think traffic laws/signs apply to them. Sometimes Darwin does win.^^^

That being said, I've got one Marin Kentfield comfort type bike and a Sun EZ-Sport AX Limited recumbent. The recumbent is the longer version of Greg's bike. Got it for a very good price used (no way would I pay the amount of money that a new recumbent goes for) with a fairing on it. With the fairing it is pretty good in the winter as it keeps most of the wind off your chest and it does allow you to go just a bit faster. I put some clipless pedals on it also, first time using them I could not get unclipped and fell on my left elbow (bled like a stuck pig and had to use my sweat band as a temporary bandage) and also broke the rear view mirror. Happy to say that that's been the only time.

Ride both in fairly equal amounts but the recumbent is very much more comfortable after a long ride.

[Bawanna]

I'm researching these recumbents for my wife. Mostly I see them with the pedals very high and out front of the frame which doesn't look good to me for some reason. I like the way Greg's is set up with the pedals a bit lower and behind the front wheel.

Is there a name or style or something to look for to find that?

She rides a recumbent exercise bike kind of like Barths, only not so fancy and don't have a beer holder every morning.
Seems like the recumbent bicycle would be a good fit.

[b4uqzme]

Here ya go Colonel. Check this site out. Everything you wanted to know about 'bents but was afraid to ask: http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents/recumbents.htm

I agree with MW = buy one used. They cost a fortune new.

[MW surveyor]

^^^This^^^

There are quite a number of recumbent types as you have found. Greg's is a short wheel base and mine is a long wheel base. The short wheel base can have the crank either in back of the steering (front wheel) or ahead of the front wheel. Turning radius on mine is just about the width of a two lane road! Some are very low to the ground like the trikes and also some two wheeled ones that are low. Trikes come in delta (two wheels in back one in front), tadpole (two wheels in front, one in back).

PS - If it doesn't rain, I'll be on the recumbent from about 5 to 7 pm today and tomorrow from 6 to 9 am!

[gb6491]

Thanks. All OK now. That was a month ago. 4 miles into a 30 mile ride. I finished the ride.
Now that's a manly man...I like it!

Thanks for the motivation! Woke up early and went for a ride this morning
Hell yeah!


38 Minutes 5 Days a Week after weights - LOL![/h]]
Yeah, I've done those in the past....some of the benefits, but just not the same...more power to ya sir!

....

There are quite a number of recumbent types as you have found. Greg's is a short wheel base and mine is a long wheel base. The short wheel base can have the crank either in back of the steering (front wheel) or ahead of the front wheel. Turning radius on mine is just about the width of a two lane road! Some are very low to the ground like the trikes and also some two wheeled ones that are low. Trikes come in delta (two wheels in back one in front), tadpole (two wheels in front, one in back).

PS - If it doesn't rain, I'll be on the recumbent from about 5 to 7 pm today and tomorrow from 6 to 9 am!
Short? Who you calling short? We likes to refer to them as compact long wheel base:p;):)
Pedal on brother!

As I admired the bell CJB shared, I'll venture a try at returning the favor. This tail light has worked well for me:
http://i66.tinypic.com/2ih05xz.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/11hxt2h.jpg
Description from Amazon:


Powerful 50 Lumen tail light with sop Technology that lets you Independently adjust brightness and flash speeds
Steady pulse mode: alert motorists with pulses while lighting the path at night
6 lighting modes: steady > Zoom > steady pulse > triple flash > single flash > random flash ; lasts up to 500 hours on a single Charge
Extra compact (55 g) , water resistant, and USB Rechargeable with internal Li-Ion battery
Includes tail light, mini USB charging cable, seat post mount, seat stay mount

There's an 80 lumen model available, but I think this one is pretty bright. On predawn rides, I actually aim it down a bit.
http://i68.tinypic.com/zkj29h.jpg
Yeah, I stopped to admire the big rooster.
http://i66.tinypic.com/1jumgl.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Lots of rock walls round your area huh?

Great photos. Awesome sunrise.

[Slugnutty]

Moved from a GT Karakoram

https://s.graphiq.com/sites/default/files/796/media/images/2012_GT_Karakoram_2.0_233045.png




To a Raleigh Ventur 4.0




http://www.raleighusa.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/a/raleigh-16_venture-4.0_m_pewter.jpg_1434407836


The Mt. Bike profile was making my hands go numb and making my shoulders hurt.
Plus I looked like a monkey trying to make love to a football on a real MT. bike.

The Venture puts me more upright and the bar weight rests on the palms of my hands and not my wrists.

[Bawanna]

Before Greg introduced the recumbent this was what my wife was preferring.

She prefers to sit more upright with the handle bars higher.

Sit upright, higher bars and lots of gears I believe was her exact words.

That Raleigh is a nice looking bike.

[CJB]

As I admired the bell CJB shared, I'll venture a try at returning the favor. This tail light has worked well for me:
http://i66.tinypic.com/2ih05xz.jpg


Dunno what light I've got. Up front it has hi and low and generally I keep it on low unless I really just can't see. That has happened on the beach at night! But if there's any sort of dwelling or street light, generally low does ok. The back has a "on" and "blinky" and I have no idea of the lumens or such. I bought 'em as a set at Performance bike on close out, mostly because they were _not_ rechargeable but used common AA and AAA batteries. I figured it would be hard tto get stuck that way, since I hardly ever use lights, and would forget about charging them.

[gb6491]

Lots of rock walls round your area huh?

Great photos. Awesome sunrise.
Thanks! It was an excellent sunrise :)
Most of those walls are made of "Mexican brick". It was extremely inexpensive around here at one time, as was the labor to build it. Many folks like it for the look as well.
http://i65.tinypic.com/dhelg3.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Slugnutty]

....Guess what boss - The pawn shop I just purchased that $190 CW45 at when I made my introduction to KahrTalk here last week..... is the VERY SAME pawn shop I purchased the Raleigh at very end of March ~ early spring time this year.

I S* you not.
I tell ya, find a good pawn shop and you can go far in life!
http://www.stickershoppe.com/mm5/graphics/CDMerch/S-4430-G.jpg

It has a nice thick gel seat and the hand grips have a fat swell off to the outside. They are not round which allows me to put more weight not on my wrists but long bones of my arms

Very very close to my grips, but the ones on the bike are Raleigh branded more cushioned and maybe slightly fatter also.

http://bit.ly/16tzkyh

Allows my fat butt to get out and see the world from NOT behind a windshield.
I HIGHLY recommend this bike for comfort and a more upright riding position for sure, here is a link of a mega size picture of the ones on the bike.
(I jacked it from an Electo-Bike mod site, but the grips are the ones I have)

https://electricbikereview.com/wp-content/assets/2016/03/2016-raleigh-detour-ie-velo-dual-density-ergonomic-grips.jpg


(https://electricbikereview.com/wp-content/assets/2015/11/raleigh-venture-ie-lcd-throttle-grips-1200x800-c-default.jpg)

[ltxi]

Before Greg introduced the recumbent this was what my wife was preferring.

She prefers to sit more upright with the handle bars higher.

Sit upright, higher bars and lots of gears I believe was her exact words.

That Raleigh is a nice looking bike.

Maybe take a look at an Electra Townie. Crank forward design.