The cycling thread
Aug 12, 2011, 9:18 am
#1
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The cycling thread
Another thread started to get side-tracked into cycling recently, so I thought I'd start an all-purpose cycling thread.
I've got both road and mountain bikes and I use a recumbent or a spinning bike in the gym.
I don't travel with my own bikes because it's so expensive!
I have taken cycling holidays - for me, a great fitness-fun balance.
I like to take a bike tour the first time I go to a new city. Helps me deal with jet lag and it also helps me get my bearings. (I'm not someone who finds it easy to connect a map with what I see in front of me).
I've got both road and mountain bikes and I use a recumbent or a spinning bike in the gym.
I don't travel with my own bikes because it's so expensive!
I have taken cycling holidays - for me, a great fitness-fun balance.
I like to take a bike tour the first time I go to a new city. Helps me deal with jet lag and it also helps me get my bearings. (I'm not someone who finds it easy to connect a map with what I see in front of me).
Aug 12, 2011, 11:41 am
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Aug 12, 2011, 2:24 pm
#3
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If I rent a bike, I not only save outrageous baggage fees, I also don't have to worry about carrying spare parts. I usually take my own saddle and pedals.
Aug 12, 2011, 3:34 pm
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I wish cycling were a more "travel-friendly" sport.
I take my own pedals and helmet, but not my saddle.
I'm pretty particular about staying on a road bike. (Yeah, I'm one of those roadies.
) The problem is that it's pretty hard to find decent road bike rentals. That said, I think it's also getting easier and more common to rent road bikes. I have located decent roads bikes for rent in:
I did once rent in Monterrey, California, but the bike was in such horrible disrepair that I would have been completely justified in asking for my $$$ back.
I take my own pedals and helmet, but not my saddle.
I'm pretty particular about staying on a road bike. (Yeah, I'm one of those roadies.
) The problem is that it's pretty hard to find decent road bike rentals. That said, I think it's also getting easier and more common to rent road bikes. I have located decent roads bikes for rent in:- Boulder, Colorado
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Whitefish, Montana
I did once rent in Monterrey, California, but the bike was in such horrible disrepair that I would have been completely justified in asking for my $$$ back.
Aug 15, 2011, 3:18 pm
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Aug 16, 2011, 2:37 pm
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I wish cycling were a more "travel-friendly" sport.
I take my own pedals and helmet, but not my saddle.
I'm pretty particular about staying on a road bike. (Yeah, I'm one of those roadies. ) The problem is that it's pretty hard to find decent road bike rentals. That said, I think it's also getting easier and more common to rent road bikes. I have located decent roads bikes for rent in:
I did once rent in Monterrey, California, but the bike was in such horrible disrepair that I would have been completely justified in asking for my $$$ back.
I take my own pedals and helmet, but not my saddle.
I'm pretty particular about staying on a road bike. (Yeah, I'm one of those roadies.
) The problem is that it's pretty hard to find decent road bike rentals. That said, I think it's also getting easier and more common to rent road bikes. I have located decent roads bikes for rent in:- Boulder, Colorado
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Whitefish, Montana
I did once rent in Monterrey, California, but the bike was in such horrible disrepair that I would have been completely justified in asking for my $$$ back.
Aug 16, 2011, 6:48 pm
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I would never have thought of taking my own pedals. Why would I do that? I might be missing something obvious here but I am not a roadie and you lot live by different rules (in the nicest possible way!) I think !
Aug 16, 2011, 7:27 pm
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Aug 16, 2011, 8:43 pm
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I assume those taking their own pedals are using clipless pedals, and also taking their cycling shoes with the corresponding cleats. But maybe they just have flat pedals that are so great they won't use any other.
Aug 17, 2011, 6:17 pm
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I assume those taking their own pedals are using clipless pedals, and also taking their cycling shoes with the corresponding cleats. But maybe they just have flat pedals that are so great they won't use any other.
If I'm going to be on the road, I'm going to be wearing my 'road' shoes, so I take my pedals.
If I'm going to be on the trail, I like a flat pedal with a toe-clip ('basket'). I absolutely won't ride without a toe clip. It's easier to take the pedals, clips and all, than it is to take the clips off (and hope they fit the pedals of whatever bike I'm renting).
Aug 18, 2011, 2:11 pm
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I'd probably take my own pedals if I were taking my shoes, because I don't use SPD pedals. If you use SPD, you're probably ok, because I've found that that's what most rentals use. If you use a different pedal standard, however, then your cleats on your shoes aren't going to work. I suppose you could swap cleats, but if you're like me, I can't really use SPD for a variety of reasons.
Feb 10, 2013, 12:41 pm
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S&S couplers
Good news, I just specified a travel bike with my local bike shop. That's the Pedal House right here in the Gem City! (Bicyling! magazine top 100 bike shop). Get this....for about a grand.
They provided a deeply discounted Surly Tucker Deluxe frame with S&S couplers. We took the drive train off my '94 Trek 520 and wheels from my '02 King Bee. They had some great used components: headset, bars, stem, front deraileur. Put all this on Tioga City Slickers. I expected some pretty boring geometry, but dude, it's kinda sweet!
The S&S couplers allow the frame to break in half and fit in 26" x 26" x 10" container(s). I figure it will pay for itself with about two trips overseas.
It's do-able, cuz we did it. ^
They provided a deeply discounted Surly Tucker Deluxe frame with S&S couplers. We took the drive train off my '94 Trek 520 and wheels from my '02 King Bee. They had some great used components: headset, bars, stem, front deraileur. Put all this on Tioga City Slickers. I expected some pretty boring geometry, but dude, it's kinda sweet!
The S&S couplers allow the frame to break in half and fit in 26" x 26" x 10" container(s). I figure it will pay for itself with about two trips overseas.
It's do-able, cuz we did it. ^
Last edited by pierre mclopez; Feb 10, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Feb 11, 2013, 8:35 am
#14
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Just noticed this thread.....it's a good one considering how popular travelling by bike has become.
My big bike tour days are over however I still ride the Claud Butler that I've had for over 25 years. It's been on quite a few air journeys in Europe and N America none of which cost a penny extra even when over my luggage allowance.....It'll be different nowadays I bet.
My big bike tour days are over however I still ride the Claud Butler that I've had for over 25 years. It's been on quite a few air journeys in Europe and N America none of which cost a penny extra even when over my luggage allowance.....It'll be different nowadays I bet.