Comfortable Bikes

Paul Cassel

My daughter is now 15. She used to be a rather enthusiastic rider mostly
as a daddy / daughter activity. She even competed in a few criteria (?).
However around the time she turned 13, she faded away from riding and
more toward spending her time at the mall, etc. She remained a fantastic
walker thinking nothing of walking from home to her school 10 miles away.

We remained active in the local advocacy group especially manning the
yearly 'bike swap' event which is the group's main money raiser. This
year we were rolling out the bikes (the swap sells perhaps 400 bikes
during the 6 hour event) when I got, at random, an odd looking cruiser
bike. It was one of those comfort ones which Sheldon would smile upon if
he were physically (as opposed to metaphorically) at the swap.

On a whim, I got on it and rode it. What a revaluation. I've never been
on a bike which didn't demand special clothing and a rather contorted
position. This thick tired, step through bike sat me up comfortably and
felt right in my street clothes.

I asked my daughter to also give it a try. She was very skeptical but
did try. After a few turns around the parking lot, she decided to buy
the bike.

Since that time, she's not been off of it. She rides it everywhere even
though she has a learner's driving permit. Frex, a few days ago she
needed to go to her *driving school* for a lesson. I offered to ride
shotgun in the truck but she preferred riding her bicycle there. She's
enjoying the bike so much that she has faded away from wanting to drive
with me.

Just goes to show how neat a bicycle can be if they are comfortable to
ride instead of specialized exercise equipment. I think there is a
lesson here but I"m unsure what it is.

-paul

Derk

Paul Cassel wrote:
> I think there is a lesson here but I"m unsure what it is.
Dads around th eworld beware: don't buy a nice bike for your daughter, since
your daughter will be on that bike all the time and spend less time with
*YOU*.

Derk

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada

On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:19:22 +0200, Derk <nobody@invalid.org> wrote:

>Paul Cassel wrote:
>> I think there is a lesson here but I"m unsure what it is.
>Dads around th eworld beware: don't buy a nice bike for your daughter, since
>your daughter will be on that bike all the time and spend less time with
>*YOU*.
>
>Derk
No, just buy YOURSELF one too!!
Bicycling is to be ENJOYED, not ENDURED. The typical american bike if
the last 20 years is a 2 wheelrd torture rack.

I put north road bars and a decent saddle on anything I ride.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Ryan Cousineau

In article <MrWdndkxo8YehbrVnZ2dnUVZ_gidnZ2d@comcast.com>,
Paul Cassel <pcasselremove2@comremovecast.net> wrote:

> My daughter is now 15. She used to be a rather enthusiastic rider mostly
> as a daddy / daughter activity. She even competed in a few criteria (?).
> However around the time she turned 13, she faded away from riding and
> more toward spending her time at the mall, etc.

> during the 6 hour event) when I got, at random, an odd looking cruiser
> bike. It was one of those comfort ones which Sheldon would smile upon if
> he were physically (as opposed to metaphorically) at the swap.

Can you be more specific? Is this a feet-forward bike like some
Electras, or is it a full-on cruiser bike that looks like a
reincarnation of a 1950s creation?

> On a whim, I got on it and rode it. What a revaluation. I've never been
> on a bike which didn't demand special clothing and a rather contorted
> position. This thick tired, step through bike sat me up comfortably and
> felt right in my street clothes.
>
> I asked my daughter to also give it a try. She was very skeptical but
> did try. After a few turns around the parking lot, she decided to buy
> the bike.
>
> Since that time, she's not been off of it.

> Just goes to show how neat a bicycle can be if they are comfortable to
> ride instead of specialized exercise equipment. I think there is a
> lesson here but I"m unsure what it is.

I'm trying not to learn it! No, this is an interesting data point, and
please tell us more about this "comfy" bike.

When I'm convincing people to ride places, I usually try to get them on
something like a flat-bar 700c bike or rigid MTB as a first ride.

I'm going to make one wild guess and suggest that you live in a pretty
flat place, too.

--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@gmail.com http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

Lou Holtman

Paul Cassel wrote:
> My daughter is now 15. She used to be a rather enthusiastic rider mostly
> as a daddy / daughter activity. She even competed in a few criteria (?).
> However around the time she turned 13, she faded away from riding and
> more toward spending her time at the mall, etc. She remained a fantastic
> walker thinking nothing of walking from home to her school 10 miles away.
>
> We remained active in the local advocacy group especially manning the
> yearly 'bike swap' event which is the group's main money raiser. This
> year we were rolling out the bikes (the swap sells perhaps 400 bikes
> during the 6 hour event) when I got, at random, an odd looking cruiser
> bike. It was one of those comfort ones which Sheldon would smile upon if
> he were physically (as opposed to metaphorically) at the swap.
>
> On a whim, I got on it and rode it. What a revaluation. I've never been
> on a bike which didn't demand special clothing and a rather contorted
> position. This thick tired, step through bike sat me up comfortably and
> felt right in my street clothes.
>
> I asked my daughter to also give it a try. She was very skeptical but
> did try. After a few turns around the parking lot, she decided to buy
> the bike.
>
> Since that time, she's not been off of it. She rides it everywhere even
> though she has a learner's driving permit. Frex, a few days ago she
> needed to go to her *driving school* for a lesson. I offered to ride
> shotgun in the truck but she preferred riding her bicycle there. She's
> enjoying the bike so much that she has faded away from wanting to drive
> with me.
>
> Just goes to show how neat a bicycle can be if they are comfortable to
> ride instead of specialized exercise equipment. I think there is a
> lesson here but I"m unsure what it is.
>
> -paul


Here in The Netherlands the roads are swarmed with those comfortable
bikes especially this holiday weekend. The weather is fantastic for
riding bike. Live is good.

Lou

Paul Cassel

Ryan Cousineau wrote:

>
> Can you be more specific? Is this a feet-forward bike like some
> Electras, or is it a full-on cruiser bike that looks like a
> reincarnation of a 1950s creation?

Closest would be an Electra. The top of the headset is above the seat
level which gives it, to me, an awkward look. The seat post is suspended.

My wife and I rented single speeds in Key West which outwardly resembled
this bike, but the rentals were also coaster braked (a bad idea, IMO).
This bike is a 24 speed with decent components but mostly the frame is
done well enough that the bike rides ok. Also there are conventional
brakes.
>

>
>> Just goes to show how neat a bicycle can be if they are comfortable to
>> ride instead of specialized exercise equipment. I think there is a
>> lesson here but I"m unsure what it is.
>
> I'm trying not to learn it! No, this is an interesting data point, and
> please tell us more about this "comfy" bike.
>
> When I'm convincing people to ride places, I usually try to get them on
> something like a flat-bar 700c bike or rigid MTB as a first ride.
>
> I'm going to make one wild guess and suggest that you live in a pretty
> flat place, too.
>

That's the trick - we don't. We're in Albuquerque, NM and her riding
area is almost never flat but never very steep either. I'd estimate the
tires at maybe 36 mm.

The winning combination here is decent frame and decent components in a
comfortable arrangement. In the past, all the bikes of this profile I
encountered were 60 lb monstrosities with cast iron frames and crappy
components.

This bike is practical and fun to ride PLUS you can ride it in street
clothes. I was sort of hoping my daughter would tire of the bike and
then I'd ride it to work but my wife said she has first dibs if daughter
tires. We both currently ride in 'costume' making the changing, etc.
tedious.

-paul

Paul Cassel

Lou Holtman wrote:

>
> Here in The Netherlands the roads are swarmed with those comfortable
> bikes especially this holiday weekend. The weather is fantastic for
> riding bike. Live is good.
>

The bike looks like a typical bike ridden in the Netherlands. My
daughter is full of wonder that a bike which feels comfortable riding at
no more than about 10 mph can get places this rapidly. She's used the
head down 'racer' style where even 16 mph is slow.

I'm 10 miles (16 km) from work. If you factor in the time it takes me to
change clothes, I'd have a shorter commute on this bike than on my
'racer' style.

-paul

Martin Borsje

Paul Cassel has brought this to us :
> My daughter is now 15. She used to be a rather enthusiastic rider mostly as a
> daddy / daughter activity. She even competed in a few criteria (?). However
> around the time she turned 13, she faded away from riding and more toward
> spending her time at the mall, etc. She remained a fantastic walker thinking
> nothing of walking from home to her school 10 miles away.
>
> We remained active in the local advocacy group especially manning the yearly
> 'bike swap' event which is the group's main money raiser. This year we were
> rolling out the bikes (the swap sells perhaps 400 bikes during the 6 hour
> event) when I got, at random, an odd looking cruiser bike. It was one of
> those comfort ones which Sheldon would smile upon if he were physically (as
> opposed to metaphorically) at the swap.
>
> On a whim, I got on it and rode it. What a revaluation. I've never been on a
> bike which didn't demand special clothing and a rather contorted position.
> This thick tired, step through bike sat me up comfortably and felt right in
> my street clothes.
>
> I asked my daughter to also give it a try. She was very skeptical but did
> try. After a few turns around the parking lot, she decided to buy the bike.
>
> Since that time, she's not been off of it. She rides it everywhere even
> though she has a learner's driving permit. Frex, a few days ago she needed to
> go to her *driving school* for a lesson. I offered to ride shotgun in the
> truck but she preferred riding her bicycle there. She's enjoying the bike so
> much that she has faded away from wanting to drive with me.
>
> Just goes to show how neat a bicycle can be if they are comfortable to ride
> instead of specialized exercise equipment. I think there is a lesson here but
> I"m unsure what it is.
>
> -paul

Wish you luck with you daughter's attitude!

More A'cans should do that!

When my Boston based brother rode on his bike to the soccer field to
coach his team, guys asked repeatedly if his car was broken.....

Ryan Cousineau

In article <NpSdnYGaEeqSt7rVnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@comcast.com>,
Paul Cassel <pcasselremove2@comremovecast.net> wrote:

> Lou Holtman wrote:
>
> >
> > Here in The Netherlands the roads are swarmed with those comfortable
> > bikes especially this holiday weekend. The weather is fantastic for
> > riding bike. Live is good.
> >
>
> The bike looks like a typical bike ridden in the Netherlands. My
> daughter is full of wonder that a bike which feels comfortable riding at
> no more than about 10 mph can get places this rapidly. She's used the
> head down 'racer' style where even 16 mph is slow.
>
> I'm 10 miles (16 km) from work. If you factor in the time it takes me to
> change clothes, I'd have a shorter commute on this bike than on my
> 'racer' style.
>
> -paul

What pushes me into changing clothes for a commute is less about the
bike, and more about either sweating or wearing out the crotches of nice
pants.

The secondary consideration is comfort on rides of that distance.

--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@gmail.com http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

Nate Nagel

Paul Cassel wrote:
> Lou Holtman wrote:
>
>>
>> Here in The Netherlands the roads are swarmed with those comfortable
>> bikes especially this holiday weekend. The weather is fantastic for
>> riding bike. Live is good.
>>
>
> The bike looks like a typical bike ridden in the Netherlands. My
> daughter is full of wonder that a bike which feels comfortable riding at
> no more than about 10 mph can get places this rapidly. She's used the
> head down 'racer' style where even 16 mph is slow.

16 MPH *is* slow I guess that is why they make different kinds of
bikes for different kinds of people. I just like speed, plain and
simple. Some people enjoy a leisurely ride and that's OK too.

I do get your point, though - there are so many bikes on the market for
various racing purposes, but try to find a *quality* bike that is just a
good bike for tooling around. With few exceptions, you basically have
to buy a bike that is optimized for the kind of racing that sort-of
describes your riding style, and try to find one with the appropriate
braze-ons etc. for the crap you're going to want to add. I did
recommend a Schwinn Coffee for a friend's wife based on comments here
though, I hope I did not lead them astray (assuming that they're
actually going to go look at one, that is.)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

DougC

Paul Cassel wrote:
> Ryan Cousineau wrote:
>
>>
>> Can you be more specific? Is this a feet-forward bike like some
>> Electras, or is it a full-on cruiser bike that looks like a
>> reincarnation of a 1950s creation?
>
> Closest would be an Electra. The top of the headset is above the seat
> level which gives it, to me, an awkward look.
> ....

> ....
> The winning combination here is decent frame and decent components in a
> comfortable arrangement. In the past, all the bikes of this profile I
> encountered were 60 lb monstrosities with cast iron frames and crappy
> components.
>
> This bike is practical and fun to ride PLUS you can ride it in street
> clothes. I was sort of hoping my daughter would tire of the bike and
> then I'd ride it to work but my wife said she has first dibs if daughter
> tires. We both currently ride in 'costume' making the changing, etc.
> tedious.
>
> -paul

You should look at the RANS crank-forward bikes, specifically the "crank
forward" models. These are the bikes that Electra Townies wish they were
born as.
http://www.ransbikes.com/

I have a 2006 Fusion, specifically. It can be ridden in street clothes
but they're not ideal. I wear recumbent shorts that are lycra, but
without any padding.

A lot of non-bicycle-riders think it's perfect, but I would want to try
a Dynamik if I had to do it over again. The Fusion can be adjusted so
that you're sitting perfectly upright (which is very comfortable for
someone who does not ride regularly) but it's hard to ride at a fast
pace that way. To me, it always seems like my chest is catching a lot of
air. For casual riding it is great--much less seat pain, no hand
pressure or neck strain.
~

Nate Nagel

DougC wrote:

> I have a 2006 Fusion, specifically. It can be ridden in street clothes
> but they're not ideal. I wear recumbent shorts that are lycra, but
> without any padding.

Where do you find these? I have *one* pair that I bought maybe 10 years
ago that didn't get worn out/thrown out/whatever. Not being a hardcore
spandex-and-jersey guy, I usually ride in boxer briefs under cargo
shorts but the lycra feels nicer (less chafing.) I'm not a big fan of
the padding, even on a road/CX bike, I'm not sure how much it really
helps me (I don't often get a sore butt, at least not with the mileage
that I typically ride) and it's one more thing to get sweaty and nasty -
which is a real concern if you're a damnyankee forced to live near DC,
a.k.a. Our Nation's First Swamp.

nate

(80 degrees is hot. I don't care what you southerners say.)

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Paul Cassel

DougC wrote:
> Paul Cassel wrote:

>
> You should look at the RANS crank-forward bikes, specifically the "crank
> forward" models. These are the bikes that Electra Townies wish they were
> born as.
> http://www.ransbikes.com/

My friend has one and I've ridden it. Very impressive. The one my
daughter got isn't pedal forward and also is a lot less expensive. My
price on it (new) was U$250.

Paul Cassel

Ryan Cousineau wrote:

>
> What pushes me into changing clothes for a commute is less about the
> bike, and more about either sweating or wearing out the crotches of nice
> pants.
>
> The secondary consideration is comfort on rides of that distance.
>

I know now that part of the reason she didn't use her other bikes for
commuting was that she didn't want to dress up, dress down, carry
clothes. There is something mellow about this bike which makes the
effort to ride it about the same as walking. I'm content going maybe 10
mph or even less for all I know. I'm hoping to prise it from her to see
if I can commute on it in street clothes w/o the sweat issue.

I suppose I could ride my regular bikes in street clothes for short
distances by taking a few precautions, but the only time I tried I got a
cuff caught in a chainring ruining a pair of decent trousers.