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05-29-2017, 11:20 AM #1
fix mt bike or find used road bike?
cycling has never been my thing. i like it in theory, but i've had chronic back, neck, shoulder problems for decades and even when i was in my 20s, cycling was not physically comfortable. thought about a recumbent, but no funds. now, post -knee replacement, i need to be able to cycle. my knee gets sore regularly and stationary cycling always makes it feel better. unfortunately, the gym is not always a possibility and i would rather log miles outside anyway. on the other hand, i feel like i am taking my life in my hands every time i ride on the roads around pdx.
in any case, my dilemma is this: i have a 10 year old gt mountain bike. the components were low end when i bought it and a lot of parts rusted due to an unfortunate storage situation. the guys at performance did their best but it rides like shit and needs a wholesale component replacement. i don't see myself doing anything remotely challenging offroad because as noted, i am not skilled and the penalty with my new knee is too high.
so the question is whether i try to find funds to replace my components and ride mt bike like a road bike, or try to sell the mt. bike and buy a used roadbike.
thoughts?
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05-29-2017, 11:45 AM #2
Go ride, then decide. The more you ride the more you'll know about what you're going to want. The more you ride the more your taste, skills and habits will develop and you'll feel comfortable in different positions than when you first start. If the current bike fits, go ride it.
You can hurt yourself just as bad slipping on gravel as on some singletrack with no cars around. Ride where you're comfortable and your skills will improve. PM Mtngirl.
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05-29-2017, 12:15 PM #3
if you're ok driving to ride, you can get miles in on leif ericson or go out to banks/vernonia trail and avoid car traffic (for the ride anyway). west hills won't be forgiving anyway if you're rehabbing the knee
i will also say that, when you start riding, it's not all that comfortable so give it a chance. Your bike does need to fit right tho so go over that with someone knowledgeable.
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05-29-2017, 12:26 PM #4Registered User
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you got it so ride it then decide when you have more info
I see people who don't have a clue do fucked up things with seat position in terms of forward/backward/tilt/height so its no wonder some folks are uncomfortable on a bikeLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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05-29-2017, 12:35 PM #5
This! ^^^
I would add that it depends what type of conditions you have in your area. Are there plenty of good paved roads with wide shoulders safe enough for biking? If so, get a used road bike. Don't pay attention to the bike shop techies who will try and sell you a used Dura Ace tricked out ride for "JUST" $1200. You don't need it right now. Remember this: for roadie beginners, 105 or Ultegra is your friend!
If there isn't a lot of good safe paved roads, but there are a lot of safe gravel roads or gravel paths, go with either a 700 commuter bike which are fine on gravel and give you a lot of options in tire widths, or a mountain bike. A used 29er MTB gives you tons of options in terrain and equipment. Their larger diameter gives them decent speed on the road (although many factors make them not even close to road bike speeds!).
You may even be able to find a good fairly light Deore XTR equiped Stump Jumper for less than $100 on Craigslist. 26 inch tires but over all a great hardtail!
Most important: figure out what frame size is best for you. A bike shop will tell you for free.
A light, well-made, well-fitting, agile bike is pure joy.
Even a poorly fitted slug of a bike is a still quite fun.
The worst day on a bike, ANY bike is still better than the best day doing laundry...or cleaning house or changing diapers!!"The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity - it's envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it; a jealous, possesive love that grabs at what it can." by Yann Martel from Life of Pi
Posted by DJSapp:
"Squirrels are rats with good PR."
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05-29-2017, 01:05 PM #6
Find a PT in your area who works with/is a cyclist(s). Work with them to find a bike that will meet your needs and most importantly fit properly from the very beginning. Ill-fitting bikes will eventually cause more problems for your joints than they relieve.
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05-29-2017, 03:45 PM #7
To answer the OP's question, you'll probably spend more replacing components ala cart than getting a used bike off Craig's. For your needs a hybrid would be ideal - basically a road bike with mtn bike bars. Just make sure it fits!
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05-29-2017, 04:02 PM #8
I think something new (or used) might be a good idea. A hybrid bike can work, but some of them are pretty shitty and heavy. A front suspension fork on those is pretty much just useless dead weight so look for something more like this:
1x, hydro discs, rigid fork, good tire clearance, relatively light.
https://www.raleighusa.com/cadent-865
Absolutely do not buy something like this:
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05-29-2017, 04:04 PM #9
imho Rigid-fork-era mtb frames make really nice, sturdy city bikes if you add some 26x1.5 slicks...and they're cheap. Cheap and sturdy.
So in your consideration of getting a "road bike"....maybe think about older rigid-era mtbs. A cross check or lht is more or less the same thing as a 1989 rigid-fork mtb. Sometimes you can score those old mtbs on CL for very cheap.
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05-29-2017, 04:20 PM #10Registered User
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Buying used it's going to be a crapshoot finding something that's worth buying and fits well. Also because you're in PDX used bikes sell for more than most places so the value may not pan out the way you want it to. Stop into a shop and take a look at some flat bar road bikes if you think you're going to stick to pavement or something more playful and trail ready for $1k or so that fits well. The unfortunate reality about mt bikes though is if you think you're going to save a few bucks and get the $600 model it's going to be heavy and disappointing after not too long, don't cheat yourself. Don't worry about parts and builds and blah blah your primary issue is fit, most brands will be price competitive as far as parts spec.
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05-29-2017, 04:27 PM #11
fix mt bike or find used road bike?
Riding trails is so much more fun. Any trail. If I could only ride the road I probably wouldn't ride but that's just me
You could probably find the parts your looking for on here, especially for an older bike. Probably free or real cheap. You don't need the latest and greatest......yet.
I'd recommend concentrating on spinning the pedals on green trails and not pulling on the bars hard for the first 10 days of riding. Those pulling muscles will develop and you'll be less likely to pull something in your back. Warm up before ,slowly ,before you start cranking. Experts say stretching after exercise is the most effective but I like to stretch before to prevent pulling something. That goes part and parcel with the warm up. Safe stretching is crucial. Lots of people injure themselves stretching improperly , mostly by pulling with there upper body thru their back. I use my bike to stretch. Seat low. Throw my leg on the seat and stretch my hamstrings(no pulling with hands), then quads by bending the leg with front of foot on the seat and weight it to stretch the quad(again no pulling as you are using body weight to stretch the muscle), glutes by laying on my back and crossing a bent leg over and pulling(I do this after the hams and quads because I have to pull and I do it cautiously easing into the stretch and don't worry about a big stretch just as much/little as possible, just something) then usually hot shower for max loosening before I finish with back stretches(cats and dogs). First ten days of riding I only do 2 days before a rest/recover day. After day 15-20 you'll have a lot more freedom and be able to see what works. I get in trouble when I skip stretching, usually on those rest days if I get busy. Ski touring is the fountain of youth. If I ski tour enough in the winter my back needs considerably less maintenance throughout the summer. Stretch stretch stretch(safely), spin circles, move up to the nose of the seat on climbs and be careful pulling on the bars when not warm or tired.
General rule for getting back on dirt or just getting on dirt DONT GRAB THE FRONT BRAKE especially in corners
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05-29-2017, 06:01 PM #12?
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- Jul 2005
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- Verdi NV
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did you ever ride the bike pictured, even when new?
I don't know where you live and what terrain is available.
I live in a very bike friendly area. I ended up with a fairly nice Hard tail MTB and then did some upgrades.
the bike is now a 1X11 "Sort of"
It's geared pretty low so I can climb or putter with very little effort. The trade off is it's not very fast on paved roads. "But I don't care" I am not racing anyone.
So what am I saying?
I really like a nice Hard tail MTB. And a nice drive train makes riding easy, from puttering around anywhere, to getting your adrenaline up when the mood strikes. - easy seating position - smooth peddling. - Feels good to ride anytime. around the hood or 20 miles of dirt trails
I bought the bike Used 5 years ago and made some changes. Took off LT 3 sprocket front derailleur replaced with 1X11 XTR
As pictured app 1,600 $
Own your fail. ~Jer~
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05-30-2017, 07:28 AM #13
fix mt bike or find used road bike?
Listen to gravity lover. Ride what you have wherever you can (road, gravel, Forest Park, Syncline, whatever) for a bit to figure out what you don't like, then try to find something that fits. Don't bother fixing up or building up your current bike, there is really no benefit to that.
Used is okay if you have a trusted friend or shop tech to vet things out, but can be a huge crapshoot if you don't know what you are looking for ... and right now you are looking for the right fit._______________________________________________
"Strapping myself to a sitski built with 30lb of metal and fibreglass then trying to water ski in it sounds like a stupid idea to me.
I'll be there." ... Andy Campbell
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05-30-2017, 08:16 AM #14
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ is handy if you're going to do work and buy parts and whatnot.
Also worth the couple of hours it takes to read: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Ride-Rad...der_0761155589
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05-30-2017, 10:09 AM #15
I have 4 very different bikes and I ride them all. Get your current bike to fit, and go ride it in a place you feel comfortable or safe. It's about your knee, right? Spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin repeat.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
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05-30-2017, 10:23 AM #16
Get a comfort bike like this guy's: https://twitter.com/AwardsDarwin/sta...00218594242561
Is there a way to embed tweets?
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05-30-2017, 12:01 PM #17Registered User
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yeah if you can find a 15 or 20yr old up spec hardtail mtn bike they often still work great for touring or commuting with a tire change
I bought my kid a 500$ Kona Hahanna when he was 14, it had lower end components on a tig welded steel frame, so before he could fuck it up freeriding I liberated the bike and turned it into a touring bike/commuter that I can hang panniers from or ride dirt roads or whatever
The big decider being what tire I chose to put on it, for smooth road with no gravel 1.25 slicks, for dirt roads a treaded 1.9
Every component has been replaced but the tig welded steel frame still rides nice and junior is 30Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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05-30-2017, 01:38 PM #18
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05-30-2017, 02:06 PM #19
If this is really for knee-hab, then no contest get a fluid trainer or a full stationary set up at home to compliment for when you don't want to go the gym. Hate exercising inside? Well you are going to have to suck it up and treat your knee right so that when you DO want to go outside your knee will be ready.
Yeah I too would rather ride outside... but unfortunately its the consistency and repetition that really do the trick for knee rehab- no coasting downhill, no excessive mashing on the ups, which means mostly flat terrain until complete strength returns... which means mostly boring anyway. Definitely think about getting a new whip for outside riding too- but use it for fun rides as opposed for a means of rehab.
my 2C.Move upside and let the man go through...
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05-30-2017, 02:12 PM #20
Well, mofro's right.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
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05-30-2017, 02:27 PM #21
it is for "rehab" but more in the sense ongoing maintenance. i've snowboarded 8 times since spring break, so i'm pretty well rehabbed but you're right that i would not want to start pounding hillls at the beginning of the ride or maybe even at all for a while.
i have limited funds, so i have to make the best out of what i have but the current state of my mt bike is not ridable. i can't really afford a stationary bike and repairing my bike/buying a used road bike.
thanks for all the input everybody!
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05-30-2017, 02:44 PM #22
fix mt bike or find used road bike?
Full suspension is ez on the body. I'd love a hardtail and keep dreaming of a ti hardtail might take enough of the sting off but that's all it is. A dream. I think you're making the right choice by taking it outside. If you're enjoying it you'll do more "recovery" and you won't even notice that it's actual rehab. You'll just have fun and rehab is the by product. Millions of people sign up for the gym in Jan, you see them for a couple weeks, then seee them again the following January. Pick the right trail and the right people and go have fun on a trail I say. Spin low gears to start of course. Pretty sure you can find new or next to new 9 speed gears with front derailleur setup(omg the horror) and older discs(I just sold a complete set for $25 Canadian=75 cents usd). Lots of people have to hAve the latest and greatest and have new old stock just laying around
In summation , go do some wicked skids! Or go ride the road
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05-30-2017, 03:04 PM #23
fluid trainer holds your bike
http://www.performancebike.com/webap..._1111869_-1___
you can also search the OBRA list serve for someone's used fluid trainer
https://obra.org/mailing_lists/1/posts
you can sign up for free and then scout the used equipment posts
(it seems like the season for used trainers is winter, though)
don't get magnetic, even fluid can be loud once you're rolling plus a dvd or some tunes
or get rollers (note: they require a little practice, maybe not first choice right now)
http://www.performancebike.com/webap...45_-1___000000
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05-30-2017, 10:37 PM #24
fix mt bike or find used road bike?
You can always get a fork stand for the rollers.
Figure out the cheapest upgrades possible for your mountain bike to get it roadworthy and ride it.
I found some shit laying around the garage and started riding my old frame. Worked fine. Better than fine really, wicked fast, climbs like a cat.Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
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06-01-2017, 05:22 AM #25Registered User
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- Feb 2008
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This x 2. If you're replacing a whole drive train (and maybe suspension parts?), you'll come out ahead if you just buy a bike. There are some nice rides around here that don't involve too much traffic, but they tend to be hilly. Lots of resources for finding suggested routes though.
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