National Bike Month!

I’m a little late to post this but better late than never…May is national bike month and bike-to-work week was last week and bike-to-work day was last Friday. Again, sorry for the late post.   However, there are lots of other events and rides all month! Check out the League of American Bicyclists (excerpt below) for more info.

May is National Bike Month

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 11-15 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 15. Need some ideas? Use the League’s step by step guide on how to get started promoting your event. Help us Count Cyclists In this May, and every month!

This is the official site for National Bike Month. Check the events section often to see what bike month and bike to work week events are going on in your community. If you would like to submit your event information to be posted on this site, email it to communication@bikeleague.org. Please make sure you write, “Bike Month Event” in the subject line of the email.

So get out and ride some this month and watch out for those that ARE riding if your having to drive.  I’ll be sure to post something about this again next year…a bit earlier!  Lastly, even if you’re not planning anything this month the League of American Bicyclists website is a very valuable source for all kinds of biking info (including local searches), check it out!

Fixed Gear Not Just for the Road

The road bike scene has been changing drastically over the past few years.  This is part of the reason it is more difficult to find used road bikes for cheap.  There is a whole new market for these bikes that keeps expanding and changing.  Bikes,  for a long time, have been for more than just transportation.  The video below is an example of how far it has come…

more about “Fixed 3 on Vimeo“, posted with vodpod

The reason I share this is because it helps show that there are a wide variety of uses for used road bikes other than just road based transportation.  And being a blog on used road bikes, it is only fair to cover any and all aspects. Also, knowing about the other uses of the bikes may help people to find one for themselves, which is the main topic of this blog.

I personally think that if a bike is being used and enjoyed, then it is of no concern how it is used.  Regardless, the many other uses of used road bikes stirs quite  a debate across different riding disciplines.  Feel free to share your thoughts and comments below!

Best Online Sources for Used Road Bikes

Although online isn’t necessarily the best or cheapest place to get a used road bike, it is the best alternative if you are having no luck finding one locally.  In this post I’ll list and describe the top sites I’ve had luck finding used road bikes on.   Most have a revolving inventory so if you don’t see anything right away keep checking back.  These sites are also listed from best to worst according to my experience with each.

First, is one I’ve mentioned before, which is Craigslist.  It’s really hit or miss.  But this one tends to have the most ‘inventory’ of bikes for sale, it’s just a matter of how much your willing to pay and how much you want to search.  You could really search any and all cities for used road bikes and if you find one you like ask the seller if they would be willing to ship it.  This would obviously cost more due to the shipping, but if the deals there it may be worth it.

Next, is Recycled Cyles.  They typically sell newer bikes and are often higher priced bikes.  Their bikes are decent deals, it’s again just a matter of whether you want to spend more to get a newer/nicer bike.

Last, is good ‘ol Ebay.  Ebay can produce good deals on occassion, but it could still take a while since there aren’t quite as many used road bikes on there as some other sources.  However, if you are diligent and again are willing to pay a bit more Ebay is a great source.  Also, if other people are bidding on it up to a certain point and you finally win you know you got the bike for very close to what it is actually worth.

That’s all for now!   If and/or when I find more I’ll be sure to add them to the list.  If you’ve had luck with any of these online sources for used road bikes or another not listed here, please share in the comments.

Make New Friends, Find Used Road Bikes!

Another way of finding used road bikes that I never thought of, because it is so obvious, is to get out to some races, rides, or communities and meet some other bike riders.  Not only is there a good chance they will have a bike you could use/buy/get parts from but they can also assist you in your search much better than anyone else.  Much like how I try help here but on a more local and personal level.  Most people who get addicted to bicycling end up with multiple bikes, many times of the same type (road bike for example).  So it’s a win-win for everyone.  You and others make new friends and find more people to ride with, you get a bike or advice or parts or whatever they can offer, and the other person gets to sell their bike or parts or help friends do the same.  There are lots of ways to find out who and where cyclists are and they meet.

Interwebs!

The first place, obviously, is the net.  There are many forums for all types of cycling.  I’ve listed the top few below, but feel free to do your own search.  Many of them are have regional sections but just getting on and posting you’ll start to see active users in your area.  Send them a message and ask if you can meet or if they know anyone with a bike or parts.  Also, do a search for local cycling events, it’s not uncommon for county parks and other recreation facilities to put together rides/races/events.  The other search you could perform is for local ride groups such as Faster Mustache (one of Atlanta’s better cycling sites).

Pinkbike.com

BikeForums.net

CyclingForums.com

Local Bike Shops

Local bikes shops are another place to ask and look for events and races where you could meet other riders.  They commonly have calenders of events and sometimes even a e-mail newsletter list you could subscribe to to stay up to date on events.  This includes the larger box stores such as REI.

I’m sure there’s other ways as well.  If you’ve done any of these or have your own tips to share please add them in the comments.

Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision Passes

FREE MONEY!!!

As part of the $700 billion rescue package passed by Congress you may now receive up to a $20 per month ($240 a year) tax credit (beginning December 31, 2008) for every month that you commute to work by bicycle. This reimbursement can be used for the purchase of a bicycle, bike parts, repair, and storage, if you regularly use the bike to commute between your home and work. Go green! Ride your bike to work and use the tax credit for becoming more sustainable.

So, yeah, the above pretty much says it all.  Great news for those who already ride and a small incentive to those that do not.  I did a little additional searching and found this clarification…

In a nutshell this will allow employers to offer a ‘fringe’ benefit reimbursement to an employee who regularly uses a bicycle for a substantial portion of their commute, up to an average of $20 per month, of reasonable expenses related to the purchase, improvement, repair, and storage of the bicycle, without requiring the employee to include the reimbursements in their income.  This benefit will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

So to claim this you’ll obviously need to talk with your employer and I’m sure there will be an application of some kind required in order to receive the credit.

And for anyone who wants it, the nity grity (see Section 211).

Happy New Year!

Where to shop for Christmas!

Since it’s nearing the holiday’s I figured I would give a plug to a few of the good online bicycle retailers.  And, although you may think it’s already too late, that’s not necessarly true.  Some are still guaranteeing delivery before Christmas!  Most sell all types of bike parts, but they have a great selection of road bike parts as well.  These are one’s I have ordered from in the past and have always had a pleasurable experience with.

JensonUSA.com – A well established online retailer, good website organization/design, great prices, and simple/smooth/secure checkout system.  It’s usually the first place I look for my road bike parts.

PricePoint.com – Another well established online retailer, great selection, decent website organization/design, excellent prices (especially when they have sales/specials), simple checkout.  I check here occasionally for deals or if I can’t find something elsewhere.

ICyclesUSA.com – Very simple site, but great selection, fair prices, smooth checkout system.

Nashbar.com – I’ve never actually used them, but many friends have and they swear by ‘em.  Great selection, good prices, same checkout as the rest.

Qbike.com- this is actually just a directory, but can come in handy if you can’t find something.

Many of the above sites are running super deals for the Christmas season so if you need anything, I highly recommend getting it before the end of the year.  Also, although online retailers are a great source, there is always the local bike shop that could use your support, plus you can get stuff from them up till closing time on Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays!

Replacement Pedals

I’ve been looking for new pedals for my used road bike and the more I look at all the variations and types the more I just want a basic plastic pedal.  Reason I say this is because I’ve got plastic on my other two bikes and they work great.  The ones I’m looking at aren’t no Walmart-bike plastic pedals thought.  The pedals I have on my other bikes are super light, super grippy, and super cheap (inexpensive).  For how I ride my road bike a set like what I have on my BMX bike will work perfectly.  The only reason I can see investing in clip-less pedals is if you are a racer or ride significant distances, where you would greatly benefit from the extra leg power.

These are the pedals I currently have on my BMX and I just ordered another set that I’m putting on my used road bike.  If you are interested in these or similar styles, check out Dan’s Competition for all the colors and sizes.  They have lots of fun colors and styles.  Almost all multi-piece cranks are 9/16″ pedal axle diameter.

Odyssey Twisted PC Plastic Pedal

My disclaimer is if you do lots of night riding you would likely want to get some reflective material to stick to these or some article of clothing, as they do not come with any type of reflector.

More on Finding Used Road Bikes…In the suburbs

I’ve noticed something rather interesting about finding used road bikes.  It is most apparent from the number of bikes that pop up at stores, such as Goodwill or flea markets.  What is interesting but not really surprising is that there seems to be more used road bikes available outside of cities.  I’ve got family that lives out in the suburbs of Atlanta, which is also where I used to live.  I’ve noticed from regularly checking various Goodwill stores that the ones in the suburbs tend to have more bikes, more often.  So, if you live in a major or semi-large city, one other tip to help you find used road bikes, would be to call stores or drive out to smaller surrounding cities.  It’s very possible that they will have more to choose from.  This also means that if you are using Craigslist or other online sources, try to search the smaller cities or surrounding areas.

Motivating Yourself to Ride

This week I discovered the best motivator to get someone to ride their bike. Take their car away! I was in a fender bender the other day, fortunately everyone was ok, but my truck got enough front end damage that it overheats if I drive it very far. So, I have turned to my bike to get everywhere. I could have and should have been riding my used road bike more places to begin with but it’s easy to come up with excuses when you’ve got a car in the garage. These excuses for me were usually something with the weather, it’s too hot, too cold, too wet, etc. After riding now for a few days I’ve realized that they really are just that…excuses! I feel better from the exercise and in Atlanta, you can keep up with traffic really well so the time it takes isn’t much longer than driving. I also started looking for other ways to use public transport and realized I have been under utilizing it big time. I’m still getting my truck fixed, but I’m planning on continuing to ride as much as I can when I’m just trying to get around town. Obviously, not having other forms of transportation is the strongest motivator to utilize the road bike but I’ve also been thinking what else might help motivate people. Some of them were discussed in previous posts but I’ll mention them again here.

Motivators:

- Cost – This was always my biggest motivator, bikes are extremely cheap when compared to a vehicle.

- Exercise/Health – This is more of a side benefit for me that I’m sure I’ll notice as I get older.

- No Car – When you have no car and you need to get somewhere you have got to find another way.

- Fostering Friendships – Getting rides from friends and meeting new people when you ride are both benefits that you likely don’t think about.

- Environment – The most natural and non-polluting form of transportation I know of other than walking is the bicycle.

- No Tickets (parking/speeding/DUI/etc) – I’ve heard stories of people getting tickets on bikes, but it’s definitely much more rare and very inexpensive if you do get one on a bike.

- Cross Training – This goes alone with the health aspect, but cycling is a very good cross training sport and building your abilities on a bike, will carry over to other sports/activities.

- Adreneline Rush – Depending on how and where you ride, it can be a very exhilarating experience to ride.

I’m sure there are many other things that motivate people to ride and I’d be glad to hear about them in the comments. These are just a few that resonate with me that I hope will also help others realize the benefits of riding used road bikes.

Gearing: Pros and Cons

From previous posts you now know how to covert your used road bikes from multiple speeds to a single speed. It is also possible to convert to from either of those to a fixed gear. I may show you how to do that at some point in the future, but this post will focus on the reasons for converting and the pros and cons of doing any type of conversion. Below is each type of bike setup with a quick definition and what this type of setup is typically used for and below each type are some of the pros and cons of using that type of gearing.

Multiple Speed

A multiple speed is any bike that has more than one gear ratio. Typically, it is accompanied by a shifting mechanism which allows the rider to decide the gearing ratio, depending on the conditions. This type of bike setup is optimal for long distance riding and multi speed bike racing. Since the rider can change gears this setup is also the easiest on the rider. If they get tired they can gear down, if they want to go really fast they can gear up slowly as they pedal, etc. There are also races that are much better suited for multi gear bikes, such as the Tour de Georgia.

Pros:

- Makes long distance riding easier/more efficient

- Allows you to accelerate quickly with less effort (by shifting up as you pedal)

- Efficiency in general

Cons:

- Adds weight

- Additional parts means there are more things that can potentially break or fail

- Rider can get somewhat distracted by the decisions required to change gears

- Typically more expensive

Single Speed

A single speed bike has just one gear ratio and has a freewheel or cassette that allows the rider to stop pedaling and coast.  This type is good for shorter distances and single speed bike racing.

Pros:

- Lighter (no need for a shifter or the extra gears)

- More reliable (less parts means less potential for part failure)

- More mechanically efficient (losing the detailer lets the chain rotate more smoothly)

- Builds strength (since there are no other gears the rider must make up for any changes in terrain)

- Less distractions (the rider can connect better to the bike and the road by not having the distraction of changing gears, it is hard to explain, you have to experience it to really understand)

- Rider can rest while riding (the freewheel or cassette allows the rider to rest while on down hills)

Cons:

- Takes more effort (rider cannot change gears as the conditions change)

- Freewheel or cassette are still moving parts that could break or fail

Fixed Gear

A fixed gear is a bike with a single gear ratio and a ‘locked’ drivetrain.  In other words, the pedals move with the wheel and thus the rider must always be pedaling when the rear wheel is rolling.  This type of bike is also used for shorter distances and typically track racing.

Pros:

- Even lighter (the single cog is lighter than a freewheel or cassette, and with a fixed gear it is possible to ride without brakes)

- More reliable (even less moving parts)

- An even better rider/bike/road connection

- Builds strength and endurance (since the rider cannot change gears or stop pedaling the rider must keep up with the movement of the bike)

- Better handing (since you essentially ‘feel’ the road through the bike, the rider can better handle wet/icy conditions as well as maneuver better through turns and over bumps or gravel covered roads)

Cons:

- Potentially dangerous (the ‘locked’ drive train will tear apart anything that gets caught in it from clothing to shoe laces to fingers; also, if you remove the brakes this could be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing)

- No coasting

- Typically requires a new hub or wheel

- May be difficult to convert to if you have vertical dropouts (no easy way to tension the chain)

- If you use the fixie skid method of stopping you can burn through tires

Any bike is more fun than no bike and as you go down the list above each seems to add a new level of funness to cycling.  There is increased commitment and responsibility for the rider as you progress from one type to the next as well.  The best thing in my opinion is to try it out, keep your old parts so you can go back if you decided you don’t like it but trying it is definitely the only way to get a real perspective.

I’m sure there are also a few other pros and cons that I forgot to mention but for most people this will give you a good idea of what to expect.  If you do have any thing to add or any other pros or cons, please mention them in the comments.