Biking Rants

Index

Bike Cost vs. Function (More $$$ Does Not Always Mean Better)
Single Speeds: The Ideal Bike
The Scoop on Local (West Michigan) Shops
Winter - The Off-Season???
Tandems & Kids (Getting Them Started Young)

Bike Cost vs. Function

(More $$$ Does Not Always Mean Better)

In the capitalist society in which we live, it's logical that a better product would command a higher price in the marketplace. I believe, however, that this relationship sometimes gets reversed in peoples' minds, in that they assume a higher-priced item will be a better product than a lower-priced one (this may or may not be the case). A lot of this mindset is formed through marketing.

I challenge this reasoning, as I have found a couple notable exceptions (in my opinion) within the biking industry. When contemplating a new bike or component purchase, I challenge you to set your emotions aside (as much as possible) and look past the marketing propaganda at the facts.

My experience(s)

I wanted the ultimate, timeless mountain bike. I "knew" that this meant that I would have to shell out big $$$ to get the best bike out there. I set my sights on a Seven Cycles Sola Ti. Titanium was the perfect choice...it's supposed to offer a very nice ride quality, it doesn't scratch and it doesn't break.

Wrong. I had built all of these arguments based on research I had done on the internet. The reality is that titanium is just metal.

Yes, many people rave about the ride quality of ti frames (but it all depends on the frame material, design, manufacturer and intended use). Titanium does, indeed, scratch. I learned this the first time I got chainsuck (after only a couple rides on my new Sola), and the chain took a healthy gouge of material out of the chainstay. Although it has a high strength/weight ratio, it can also bend/break. Another Seven Cycles customer learned this after crashing during a race. His frame received a substantial dent in the top tube. (This information was conveyed in a webpage linked to from Seven Cycles' own website).

On to my bike...I did get that "ultimate" mountain bike. Seven Cycles claims to select the tubing for their frames based on rider weight, riding style, etc. I was sized for the custom frame by a semi-local shop that we had been doing business with for a few years. After a Cannondale HeadShok headtube upcharge of $320, the frame cost totalled $2920 + tax. Ouch. That's OK, though, because this was the perfect mountain bike. I didn't feel "at home" on the first ride, however. I probably stopped a dozen times to make minor fit adjustments (saddle height, fore-aft adjustments, etc.). It also rode much stiffer than I had anticipated. I went with ti to provide a smoother ride than my Cannondale hardtail. It was a little smoother, but not substantially so.

That season, I spent more time making fit adjustments than I enjoyed riding. It never felt "right", which frustrated me. Continued back pain also forced me to re-think my original hardtail decision, and focus on the idea of a softtail. Eight months after I bought the Sola, I traded in the frame at the shop where I purchased it (I received an $1800 credit). The credit was applied to the cost of a new Seven Cycles Teres (titanium softtail). This time, the total cost came in at $3300. Surely, the Teres would fix all that was wrong in my biking world. I received the Teres and, once again, didn't initially feel "at home" on the custom-built frame. The softtail design also contributed to "whippy" handling characteristics. A few months after buying the Teres, I sold it for pennies on the dollar.

In all fairness to the manufacturer, I don't know how much of my dissatisfaction was due to the frame itself vs. the quality of the custom sizing performed by my bike shop. Either way, it was a disappointing experience for me.

In contrast to the whole Seven Cycles experience, I couldn't be happier with my steel Soulcraft Plowboy frame, which retails for $1100 (although I only paid $600 for mine used). The stock, "off-the-shelf" frame fits me better than both custom Sevens I owned, and the ride quality is incredible. It's everything I wanted the Sevens to be, at 1/5 the cost. Go figure!?!

Single Speeds: The Ideal Bike

Some people (including my regular riding partner) just don't get the single speed thing. In a world where technology has advanced bicycle gearing (i.e. - wider-range gearing, indexed shifting, SRAM's 1:1 cable actuation, etc.), a bike with only one gear, to many people, seems <fill in blank here: "retro", "limiting", "boring", "abnormal", "unnecessarily hard", "just plain dumb">. I didn't get it initially, either. However, the longer I ride a single speed, the more I appreciate what they're all about. Simplicity.

My single speed experience started when my old Cannondale developed a worn-out drivetrain. Since this was my old backup/Winter bike, I didn't want to sink a bunch of money into new rings, cassette, chain, shifters and rear derailleur. I removed the shifters, derailleurs and large/granny chainrings, and used a Surly Singleator to tension the chain. Eureka! A super low-maintenance bike for very little money (actually, I could have done it for free if I would have used the old derailleur to tension the chain). See my Biking Links page for "How-to" conversion references.

I eased into single speeding, riding the converted Cannondale when my other (geared) bike was out of adjustment or in the shop...it seemed like this was frequently the case. What I found was that the more I rode the single speed, the more evident it became that multiple gears were just a "crutch" for 95% of the riding I do.

An unforseen event - the possibility of a job lay-off in a weak economy - (among other bike fit issues) convinced me to sell my high-dollar custom titanium geared mountain bike and build up a much cheaper dedicated single speed. I decided on a Surly 1x1, and equipped it with pretty nice parts for a reasonable price. Within the first month of riding the Surly, I found myself riding the local singletrack faster than I ever had on a geared bike. How was this possible? My reasoning may sound somewhat cliche, as many single speeders state the same "effects" from riding with just one gear, but here's what I believe led to the additional speed:

• Laying off the brakes - On a SS, you learn to use the brakes less in order to carry your momentum into hills.
• Picking better lines - Especially on a rigid SS (which my Surly was), it tends to rattle your eyeballs in your skull if you don't pick the smoothest line on a trail. Essentially, it makes you focus more on the subtleties of the trail more than you would on a suspended bike.
• No worries as to whether you're in the right gear - How many times have you come off a fast descent only to spin like mad (gearing too low), mash too hard (gearing too high), or grind the gears under load on a subsequent hill? With a SS, your mind doesn't have to focus on this. It allows you to focus on powering up that hill using one gear and lots of "Body English". You'll be surprised how many hills you can get up with a 2:1 gear ratio.
• Lighter weight - It's not rocket science...remove a couple derailleurs, shifters, and 7-8 cogs in the back and the bike will be lighter than an equivalent geared bike.
• Better workouts/improved fitness - A SS forces you to push yourself beyond what you "believed" your limits were. Again, you have no choice but to churn through hills and other obstacles with only one gear. This makes your legs stronger, and gives you a better workout than what a geared bike would.

While I can adequately adjust derailleurs, I don't particularly enjoy spending time making these adjustments. I'd rather just ride. A single speed allows me to ride more, and worry less. After all, one of the main reasons I started mountain biking back in 1995 was to forget about my worries while I was on the trail.

Think about that old mountain bike in your garage or basement for a minute... wouldn't it make an ideal SS conversion? If you give single speeding a chance, it'll suck you in and won't let go. You'll love the feeling you get as you pass a geared bike on a tough climb, especially if that rider notices that you're on a single speed. Hey, it's a little about ego, too, right?

Answers to the question, "Why do you ride a single speed?"

(Excerpts from the MTBR Single Speed Forum)

1. It’s fashionable right now.
2. All those buttons, wires, derailleurs and gears – it’s all too confusing...
3. There’s meant to be more than one? (well worn, but still a good ‘un)
4. To mess with your head.
5. I lost the others, can I borrow some?
6. It’s all I could afford.
7. Beats being a pedestrian.
8. I usually ride with my thumb up my a$$, so shifters are no good to me.
9. I'm too lazy to maintain a bike with gears.
10. Chicks dig skinny pale guys w/ one gear!

The Scoop on Local (West Michigan) Shops

Ahhhh, my opinions on a number of the local West Michigan bike shops. While I haven't visited all of the shops in the area, I have spent a considerable amount of money in a variety of local shops. I have purchased at least one bike, as well as components and/or accessories at each of the shops listed below. Here's my $.02 on each of these shops.

Velo City Cycles - Holland, Michigan
Pros	Cons
Great brand coverage (bikes & components); always growing Excellent customer service Knowledgable owners/staff "Fit-Kit" Service available (the price for this service can be applied to the price of a new bicycle) Quality mechanics Lots of "fringe" (i.e. - fixed gear, single speed & tandem) biking expertise Involvement with/sponsorship of local events Mr. Tubbs...one cool shop cat!	Location (not close enough to my house : ) A little pricier than other shops on some items/services.

Alger Cycling & Fitness - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Pros	Cons
Good brand coverage (bikes & components) Good quality range coverage (low-, med- & high-end bikes) Knowledgable staff Quality mechanics Head mechanic (Mike Miller) has a lot of single speed expertise Good selection of small parts High probability of finding NOS parts (they have a HUGE basement full of retro stuff) Kara (my wife) is well taken care of when she stops into the shop for me Involvement with/sponsorship of local events	Sales floor is too small (product is crammed into the store)

Team Active Cycling & Fitness - Battle Creek, Michigan
Pros	Cons
Good brand coverage (bikes & components) Good quality range coverage (low-, med- & high-end bikes) Quality mechanics Tandem expertise Big store (doesn't feel too crowded when shopping)	Level of customer service seems to have decreased considerably over the past several years Limited faith in their custom-fitting process (I purchased two Seven Cycles frames {totaling $6170} that I was NOT happy with)

Village Bike Shop - Jenison, Michigan (and other locations)
Pros	Cons
Good brand coverage (bikes & components) Good quality range coverage (low-, med- & high-end bikes) Tandem experience Owner is very friendly & helpful Big store (doesn't feel too crowded when shopping)	Mediocre mechanics (experience based on mechanics I dealt with ~2 years ago; they may be better now) Young, part-time sales staff seems to lack industry knowledge

Winter - The Off-Season???

For a long time, I thought that Winter in Michigan meant a stop to the biking season. A few years ago, I discovered that this simply was not the case. I equipped my old Cannondale F700 with some old 2.1" WTB VelociRaptor tires (using extremely low tire pressure) and hit a local singletrack trail, which happens to be very flat. Without any kind of specialized Winter cycling gear (other than the proper clothing), I discovered that I am able to ride in snow up to 6" deep without much difficulty. Winter cycling does a lot for me, as I get INCREDIBLY bored on a stationary trainer in my basement...so bored, in fact, that I sold my trainer to a friend last Winter. I also believe that I suffer from Sesonal Affective Disorder, so getting outside during the snowy months helps.

While I just used an old bike/parts for a Winter ride, there are dedicated frames & products for this type of riding. Some of these bikes can accept 3" tires with double-wide rims and disc brakes for all-weather stopping. Nokian seems to be THE name in all-weather tires, offering standard or studded high-volume, low-pressure tires. The SnowCat rim was developed to cater to extreme Winter cycling. They were initially designed for and tested by Iditasport riders (the Iditasport is a 350-mile race across Alaska). Icebike has articles on winter biking, as well as product reviews.

For Winter clothing, I have been extremely pleased with Patagonia products. There is definitely a "system" to dressing for the cold weather, and the advanced materials used in these garments combined with a layering method provides good sweat-wicking characteristics and warmth with very little bulk.

Tandems & Kids

(Getting Them Started Young)

Kids are absolutely wonderful. The reality, though, is that once they come into your life, your cycling time (and other leisure time) plummets. Bigtime. Some people are fortunate enough to work in flexible jobs that allow them to continue a normal training schedule, but the average "working stiff" has to adapt to significantly less time in the saddle. This realization prompted me to start thinking early on about my options for cycling with our daughter, Mira (now 2 years old).

A Burley D'Lite trailer was an early purchase for us. Actually, we had the trailer long before Mira was born because we found a great deal on one. We started towing her behind our tandem when she was about 9 months old. Usually, she mumbled away happily or fell fast asleep while cruising along. The Burley allowed my wife Kara & I to ride more, but it was still a tradeoff, as we were more accustomed to riding offroad. With Mira in tow, we were limited to road riding and some smooth dirt trail riding.

Since kids seem to get that "monkey see, monkey do" syndrome, Mira started naming bike parts at an early age. "pedals" and "handlebars" were in her vocabulary when that vocabulary only consisted of about 20 words. Oh…I was proud. I saw her excitement as an opportunity to get her riding with me on the tandem (rather than just in the trailer) at a very early age.

I started researching and gathering child stoker items for our Cannondale tandem when Mira was about 19 months old (some of them were "turn-key", and some had to be adapted due to her small size). The end product consists of the following:

• Burley Child Stoker Kit - 1 1/4" model (for aluminum frames). A 1 1/8" model is also available for smaller-diameter steel framed tandems.
• Extra chain - Since Mira was less than 2 years old and child stoker kits are designed for kids as young as 3.5 years old and up (the Burley kit actually states a 5-year minimum age), the chain included in the kit wasn't nearly long enough.
• Norco (Adams) Back Rest - This backrest is actually designed for an Adams Trail-a-Bike, but was appropriate for this application, as well. It has two straps that secure Mira to the seat back, which somewhat resembles a recumbent seat.
• Kalloy 25.4mm seatpost (for compatibility with the Norco seat back), and seatpost shim (25.4mmè27.2mm)
• Children's saddle - Cannibalized from an old kid's bike
• 400mm Ritchey seatpost (27.2mm) /Bontrager 100mm x 15-degree stem - Since none of the "production" stoker stem extensions were long enough for a sub 2-year-old child, I used a long seatpost and attached a standard 1 1/8" threadless stem (using aluminum can shims to create a snug fit).
• Circa-1973 drop handlebars, reversed - I retaped a set of bars from an early-'70s 12-speed and mounted them in a reverse (upside-down) position.
• Platform pedals with toe clips/straps
• Pedal blocks - Even with the child stoker bottom bracket attached as high as it could mount on the seat tube of the tandem, Mira's feet still couldn't reach the pedals. A set of low-budget pedal blocks from a LBS is just what she needed.

Cannondale MT2000 with Child Stoker Kit installed

The total cost for all of these items was ~$300. The assembly was fairly straightforward, and the entire kit can be installed in about 20-25 minutes. Removing the kit and setting the bike back up for an adult stoker takes less than 15 minutes.

At 21 months, Mira completed her first offroad ride. OK, it was a fairly mellow cross-country ski trail (smooth surface and rolling hills). We ended up riding about 3.5 miles, and she loved it! After the ride, the "word of the day" was "again". I'll wait until she's around 4 or 5 years old before I hit the real singletrack. For now, I'm able to get out on the bike more and spend some quality time with my daughter. The comments from pedestrians and other cyclists are great too…everyone loves to see a child that young "helping daddy pedal".