Team-BHP - The Bicycles thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by kshivaa (Post 3830919)

This is a newbie question. I am planning to start doing some cycling (some health consciousness and to lose weight). As a start, did some research and narrowed on Btwin My Bike White. Wanted some feedback on if this is a good option? I am 5 feet 9 inches and weigh 95 Kg - would this cycle handle my weight ??

I have no intent of doing any racing or speed drives, and would mainly be on only normal Chennai roads, and hence ruled out MTB's.

thanks
Siva

The Btwin My Bike is possibly the best cheapest bike you can buy, it's a really simple piece of machine. I have a Btwin Rockrider 5.0 and I've never regretted buying that. I suggest you also look at the Btwin 7s and also the entry level Btwin bikes, they are no longer called Rockrider so you can ask what their replacement models are called.

Also buy from a Decathlon store (The company store) for best prices and also you can just return the bike if you don't find it comfortable after a few days, they have the best return policy.

P.s- I am in no way related to Decathlon, It's the only place I love that makes me poorer every time I visit. :Cheering:

Hi all,

As an avid cyclist and a relatively active reader of all the posts here, I was surprised to learn that this thread existed and I actually missed it. So, I went back and read through a sampling of the posts.

Starting with the very first discussion thread that started it all, I started with a BSA SLR way back when I was 8. That remained my bike till I finished school. Thereafter, I joined NDA, and can I ever forget the three years that I rode my Hero Jet, or rather the times it rode me......

Once I started to earn my salary, my first mode of conveyance was an Atlas MTB, oversize 2000. That remained my only bicycle for 16 years. Then the bicycling bug bit me big time. Now I have a Tern Joe D24 folding hybrid, A BTWIN Triban5 2013 model and a Fuji Roubiax 1.3 2014 model.

I log in about 120-150Kms every week and just finished 5000kms for this year, today.

Are any of you on strava ?? It would be good to meet up there and compare rides, cadence, speeds and such stuff. My detail on strava is Arvindhan Ganesan, please do follow up.

I am basically a roadie, though looking to foray into MTBs too.

My biggest problem with bicycling is the carriage of the bikes. Are we having any discussions on that ?? I have a Xenon XT, 4x4, and looking for some help and guidance in getting a bike rack mounted to the rear nudge guard. something similar to the link below:

http://www.thule.com/en/in/products/...e-941-_-941000 or

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...d_i=B00BQUK4WC

regards
Arvindhan

Quote:

Originally Posted by kumar2007 (Post 3828360)

If your feet touch the ground when on the saddle, your saddle is too low. It's as simple as that, and you can ask any cyclist and he will tell you the same.

A BMX cylclist might not accept that assertion! :) Though in that case: (A) in competition, of course, your bum never touches the saddle; (B) In alternative U.S. urban ghetto use, cruising slow and knees riding up high, the rider will moreover be young enough to be a few decades away from worrying about any injuries; (C) those ghetto-riders determined to apply the correct "inseam" rule have been known to fit two-foot-long seat posts (we Americans are an "interesting" lot)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen (Post 3828053)

a standard bike tends to be a compromise on a few things. What is important is that you feel comfortable and safe.

Undoubtedly, as just about every mass-market item has compromises.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen (Post 3827560)

In the Netherlands you will see that just about everybody uses a bicycle to commute...even our prime minister rides to work on his bicycle. If you go to a fancy party at night, people would not even think twice to ride their bikes there too, dressed in a cocktail dress and or smart suit...Just because you ride a bicycle in the Netherlands doesn't mean anything specifically, it doesn't set you apart one way or the other because everybody does it and it is just very convenient.

Great insights on cycling and culture. I was deeply impressed on traveling to your country in the early 90's - indeed, every public parking was absolutely filled with cycles (interestingly, near-identical ones, to my eyes). The scene was very different back then, I'm told - there was apparently not much demand for "hundreds, if not thousands" of models at the time, and I can't remember in my weeks there (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Kroningen (sp?) ever seeing anything but the most standard of the standard styles of old european-style bikes (in the U.S. in the 70's, we called them "English bikes"): very conventional frames, full-fendered and probably mostly single-speed (the "flatness" of the land is literal, beyond the figurative socio-economic meaning provided), much along the lines of India's venerable Hero Royal!!! This at a time when the hobbyist/sport cycling (your assessment is largely correct) scene was already very well established in the U.S., and the abundance of styles/models in common usage testified to the more "enthusiast" leanings.

How it applies to the now-on-hold debate re: saddle height: My perception/observation was that in Holland at that time anyway, cycling was mostly done at a relatively leisurely pace, even when commuting. That and the lack of many hills probably reduced serious strains on the body for the overwhelming majority of riders, and precluded the prevalence of knee/other injuries of the type kumar2007 might be more justifiably concerned about in other contexts.

*************

The debate in this case might be voluntarily closed between the two parties, but I'm going to be looking into the question, since A) my knees aren't too great to begin with; and B) just bought a second-hand MTB with the intention of improving cardio-vascular and general strength (not overweight); and believe me, these hills will do that for you:

The Bicycles thread-wp_20151101_19_54_16_pro.jpg

Merida Matts 20 - seems a pretty decent device. Came with an air pump, under-seat tool bag (hex keys and puncture kit), head and tail lamps. Need a better bell/horn than what's on there. Only done a little test riding thus far; will need a chain and maybe sprockets, but otherwise tight. Only irritation is the sheer number of logos on the thing - I counted the word "Merida" pasted/stuck/painted/molded no less than 39 times all over the bike - UNBELIEVABLE! For me, free brand advertising / crass commercialism gets in the way of the ideal purpose of owning/riding a MTB - which for me would be to get deep enough into a more natural environment that you can escape it all (along with a lot of other sensory offenses). Bad decision and bad taste here on Merida's part, though their company is likely not the only offender here (eight on each rim/tyre combo??? You've got to be kidding...! In the photo, about ten logos (tyres/wheels/forks) have already been removed, and I'm thinking about what to do with about 16 others...

Main reason I got the bike pretty cheap is that the forks were totally seized up (besides a badly stretched chain). Former owner wasn't really interested in having shock action and had kept them locked out, so never noticed. Local bike shop (Mall Road, Manali) couldn't get them apart despite a couple days of Zorrik88 and considerable effort. Having bought it, I spent a couple hours myself and with several, eh, "creatively" applied tools (and non-tools) and almost certainly some divine assistance, finally got it done. Not easily, and in the face of considerable risk there (particularly of breaking the bridge). BAD, scaly rust/pitting in abundance, but managed to get it cleaned up some (phosphoric acid helps), and it'll work for now (big-time jugaad, I suppose). My guess is that the bike got into deep water (or dropped in it) at some point and it seeped in (probably less sealing/easier entry on the side with the lockout) and it just SAT in there for a few years...

The Bicycles thread-wp_20151031_21_41_12_pro.jpg

Greased up liberally, it rides well now. Despite the damage, not too much clearance / play there, and action is smooth.

-Eric

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringoism (Post 3838797)

The scene was very different back then, I'm told - there was apparently not much demand for "hundreds, if not thousands" of models at the time, and I can't remember in my weeks there (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Kroningen (sp?) ever seeing anything but the most standard of the standard styles of old european-style bikes (in the U.S. in the 70's, we called them "English bikes"): very conventional frames, full-fendered and probably mostly single-speed (the "flatness" of the land is literal, beyond the figurative socio-economic meaning provided), much along the lines of India's venerable Hero Royal!!! This at a time when the hobbyist/sport cycling (your assessment is largely correct) scene was already very well established in the U.S., and the abundance of styles/models in common usage testified to the more "enthusiast" leanings.

Thanks,
The Dutch have always been big on cycling, but as I pointed out and you experienced, a large part of it for day to day stuff, commute, shopping, going to the pub. These days you will see many, many different bikes. Although in large cities most bikes are likely to be old bangers as bikes get stolen all the time. A lot of Dutch people have at least two bicycles, one simple and old one to go into town and one fancy bike for leisure cycling, be it racing, off roading, cruising etc. So many different bikes. These days just every bicycle sold in the Netherlands has multiple gears. Also, these days E-bicycles are taking up a very large chunk of the new bikes sold.

The Netherlands are mostly, flat, whick is good. However, most of the Netherlands is also very open, which means wind. Paddling into the wind is akin to peddling in hills. Can be very strenuous on the knees.

Jeroen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen (Post 3838867)

.
The Netherlands are mostly, flat, whick is good. However, most of the Netherlands is also very open, which means wind. Paddling into the wind is akin to peddling in hills. Can be very strenuous on the knees.

Just to illustrate what wind can do.

Here a picture of my last bike trip in the Netherlands. Total distance of 105km, which is sort of average for me. Average speed around 18 km/h which is low for me, but look at the maximum speed, 50 km/h. All due to wind. Had the wind in my back for quite some time, easy to hit those speeds, but as soon as you turn into the wind speed drops dramatically and it can be as strenuous as riding up hill.

Below my bicycle. This is a typical Dutch leisure, cruiser, cycle, although admittedly mine is a pretty high end one. I dont do racing any more, just to uncomfortable on the back and my bum. I have replace the saddle with a proper Brooks Saddle. Love my Brooks saddle. I dont do any great distances anymore, just 100-150 km tours on average. Typical average speed for me would normally be 23-25 km/h, nothing strenuous. Stopping whenever and at whatever takes my fancy.

Jeroen

Quote:

Originally Posted by kumar2007 (Post 3838832)

Again, if you are riding in mountains, saddle length, and cadence are probably the two things that you don't want to get wrong at all.

Any hill-specific advice you can provide here would be helpful - in surfing the web for cycling-specific injury topics, excessive hill riding/training was mentioned in a couple places. I've seen a recommended cadence somewhere of 80-90rpm for efficiency - do the particular strains of hill riding alter this in any way (here we could be riding uphill easily for an hour or two at a time)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen (Post 3838896)

as soon as you turn into the wind speed drops dramatically and it can be as strenuous as riding up hill.

Below my bicycle. This is a typical Dutch leisure, cruiser, cycle... I have replace the saddle with a proper Brooks Saddle.... I dont do any great distances anymore, just 100-150 km tours on average. Typical average speed for me would normally be 23-25 km/h, nothing strenuous. Stopping whenever and at whatever takes my fancy.

Ahhh... hadn't thought of the wind - though now I remember experiencing it in some forays into the countryside.

Truly beautiful bike, and in my book pretty impressive numbers, too. I'm wondering about saddles myself, as the one on the Merida is really very skinny/hard and if it turns out to be as painful as it looks, it's going to have to go... I remember the Brooks name from way back - how wide is your saddle? Any other photo possible?

btw, found a useful article on bike sizing here: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/bike-fit.html (REI is one of the most popular outdoor/adventure outfitters in the U.S.)

No desire to stir things up, but will consider your earlier comments vindicated by some of the content there:

(sorry the Tbhp watermark covered the most significant bit there: "designed to allow the rider to put their feet flat on the ground when seated").

Many thanks to both of you, and other thread contributors, from a completely ignorant cycling newbie (as it concerns the current scene, that is; I commuted with an old-school Raleigh 10-speed in high-school, and did the daily BMX-road-riding thing in the early 1980's with a Reynolds 531 manganese-moly-framed Rampar R11XL (so on that point, I was not speaking theoretically! :) - though for me it was rural hill vs. urban ghetto riding).

I think I'd be in as much danger of my KNEES touching the ground while seated there... but beautifully simple, isn't it? With upgraded components, I doubt it would've weighed more than 8-10kgs (it was fully 30lbs. stock, with standard steel forks, cranks, handlebar, neck, seatpost, etc). And it was STRONG - I once successfully landed a jump from 8-10ft in the air! That bike, handed down to a cousin and then back to my brother (who seems to have "lost" (?) it during a move from apartment to house) is long gone; As is the BMX-specific Rampar brand, which was a Raleigh subsidiary at the time. But it was the enthusiasm and technical advances surrounding BMX that gave rise to well-known and later more diversified, long-running U.S. brands Mongoose and GT, perhaps among others, and which I suppose could be fairly said to have begun the evolution into the even more popular / accessible sport of mountain-biking.

-Eric

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringoism (Post 3839665)

A
Truly beautiful bike, and in my book pretty impressive numbers, too. I'm wondering about saddles myself, as the one on the Merida is really very skinny/hard and if it turns out to be as painful as it looks, it's going to have to go... I remember the Brooks name from way back - how wide is your saddle? Any other photo possible?

Thanks,
Here is a link to my Brooks saddle:

http://www.brooksengland.com/catalog...eavy+duty/B66/

Again, there will be many opinions about what would be the best saddle for which purpose, lots of rules of thumb. I just go for comfort. I have been using this same model Brooks saddle from very early on. It takes a while to break it in, because it needs to set to the shape of your bottom. You need to maintain it a bit, with some special potions. Its not cheap, but it is by far the most comfortable saddle I know. I prefer it to all these gel based saddles too.

People will tell you that your saddle needs to be slimmer, harder, especially when speed racing etc. I just go for comfort.

I rarely wear any special biking clothes. At best only those special trousers with the shammy leather inlay. That and a Brooks saddle will keep you happy for many, many miles.

If you go offloading or speed racing it might be worthwhile considering a different saddle and some more special clothing as well.

Although, to come back to your observation in the USA. I lived in Kansas City for three years prior to coming to Delhi. I took my bicycle to the USA. Yes, lots of Americans on bicycles in certain areas. Always kitted out as if they are getting ready for the Tour de France. Whereas in reality they did 20 miles at max. Getting dressed takes more time, then the actual cycling!

But hey, if it makes you enjoy your hobby/sport more why not?

Jeroen

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringoism (Post 3838797)

Just remembered a few things;

If you want to get a very good impression on how the Dutch use their bicycles on a given day in the city check out this link. It's hilarious and very true!

http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/

I also remembered I posted a while ago, in this very same thread a visit to a typical Dutch bicycle shop. Gives you some impression of the different kind of bicycles you can get these days:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post3380952

And finally, a picture of my Brooks saddle on my bicycle.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post3380958

Jeroen