Used cars of the bicycle world
Thread started by
bentstrider at 06.16.09 - 3:57 am
Is it just me, or do all those getting by seem to always get a hold of second-hand, mountain bikes?
Especially up here, I always see the cool kids and well-to-do folk on 700c-equipped, speed-racers.
Everytime I go to the Goodwill, or some other thrift-store, it's always the same story it's been for the last, 2-3 years; "Nah, sold that Schwinn Varsity two hours after it got here, but those fat-tires have been sitting here for two months now."
Just another observation of waste, or something.
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I wuv my mountain bike, and my dad is all about them too.
I think people start on them cause they're easy and durable, then move to something "faster" without realizing that you can get slicks or hybrids for MTBs to lighten them. Plus you never really see road bikes for sale at Target or w/e.
Also, most people never ride em in the dirt, I don't think, thus never realizing their full potential.
HappyLand06.16.09 - 7:11 am
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Another thing that seems to be the case is the over-abundance of them.
Whatever it is, I sure hope they won't be seen as exactly that.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by HappyLand
06.16.09 - 7:28 am
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You can buy carbon fiber road bikes at Wal Mart
Gav responding to a
comment by HappyLand
06.16.09 - 8:10 am
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I don't think I've ever been inside a Wal Mart! Come to think of it, I've never even seen one!
HappyLand responding to a
comment by Gav
06.16.09 - 8:14 am
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don't think you'd want one from one of these stores anyway. The cranks might fall off as you try to pedal to the LBS for a tune up.
Gav06.16.09 - 8:17 am
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Yeah, Wal-Marts are generally unknown within LA city-limits.
bentstrider06.16.09 - 8:24 am
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I love my mt. bike, but I live 10 miles away from the closest rideable dirt.
For some time now, my dirt bike has been my commuter ride. I even rode it (with slicks) on the first Dark Century.
Ever since I found my single speed road bike in a thrift shop, the previously much loved mt. bike has been collecting cob webs.
I need to do a Mountuaneerz ride soon.
Creative Thing06.16.09 - 8:24 am
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I knooow.... But only if you guys promise to be gentle....
HappyLand responding to a
comment by adamthelizard
06.16.09 - 8:39 am
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That's actually never what I say...except for MTBing...which left me deliciously bruised after my first attempt....
HappyLand responding to a
comment by bentstrider
06.16.09 - 8:55 am
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i loveeee my mountain bike as well.. i used to go on trails down in orange county and Palm springs. I miss taking it to ski resorts during the spring and summer time. but LA is pretty flat and the trails arnt so close :/
Thegirlinglass06.16.09 - 9:02 am
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Well, buy up these mountain/hybrid bikes if they are good quality...they are great to convert into an Urban Assault/touring/xtracycle/City bike.
alicestrong06.16.09 - 9:41 am
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A lot of mountainbikes will actually take 700 wheels. The geometry is very similar to an se lager, which is basically what people who ride trick bikes want anyhow. Throw a new fork and a fixie wheelset on a street stomper and voila you have a 30lb fixie. I imagine its only a matter of time before every perfectly good road bike on craigslist gets butchered into a singlespeed or fixie and these same hack entrepeneurs move on to destroying LA's supply of mountainbikes.
tortuga_veloce06.16.09 - 9:46 am
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this is all true except for frame spacing. its like trying to put normal "fixie" hubs on a keirin frame. it wont fit.
ruinedbyidiots responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
06.16.09 - 10:01 am
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Singlespeed MTBs are going to be the next big thing.
Building one is MUCH cheaper than converting a fixie, they look pretty kickass, and they take a ton of abuse.
JB responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
06.16.09 - 10:34 am
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where are they going to be the next big thing? ss mtbs require such low gear ratios, you will spin out while riding on the street. ROLLING RESISTANCE BAD, IMPRACTICALITY GOOD?
ruinedbyidiots responding to a
comment by JB
06.16.09 - 10:37 am
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I'm wondering if I could actually put a BB with a longer shaft onto my folder.
I seem to have outgrown the crankset I have on there as I tend to encounter the spin-out problem on clear days with no wind and whenever I'm going on a slight downhill.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
06.16.09 - 12:57 pm
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They don't "require" low gear ratios if you're riding them on the street, and the rolling resistance isn't that serious if you're using slicks and keeping them inflated.
Street gearing + more comfortable ride + durability + CHEAP = good.
JB responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
06.16.09 - 2:23 pm
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try pushing the same gearing on a mtb as a roadbike and tell me which gets you tired quicker. you wont.
ruinedbyidiots responding to a
comment by JB
06.16.09 - 2:43 pm
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I'm not saying they're going to be roadbike fast, but for something fun and cheap to get around town on, I can see singlespeed MTBs having a lot of appeal.
JB responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
06.16.09 - 3:08 pm
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Single speed and geared MTBs are the weapon of choice for some of the hardest ballers on the International Bike Polo scene. In the MTB world 29ers are what's taking over, and the coolest thing is that hipsters haven't got into yet. They're too busy arguing over what a track bike is!
JOKER responding to a
comment by JB
06.16.09 - 3:47 pm
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"Singlespeed MTBs are going to be the next big thing. "
They've been around for a while, it's a popular subculture within mountain biking. Just check out major mountain manufacturers, they all have a single speed offering.
A possible problem with converting a MTB to run 700 wheels will probably be the brakes.
sc_nomad responding to a
comment by JB
06.16.09 - 4:53 pm
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One thing I really hate about the local shop up here is how often they seem to tear on anything that doesn't have a derailleur.
Apparently, the shop owner drives everywhere and the other two guys that work with him have openly admitted that due to the wind and hill conditions of the desert, they would suffer horribly without their gears.
OTOH, the guy that ran another bike shop that closed in October, on the other side of town, rode this sweet lookin', carbon-fiber Trek mtb that he converted over to a flip-flop hub.
He says he saved the gears for the out-of-town adventures, in-town riding had too much other shit to be concerned for than say, a derailleur getting clobbered by something that fell off a junk-truck.
bentstrider06.16.09 - 4:59 pm
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my street stomper actually has a hole for a brake on the front. even then, you could easily swap out the fork and voila a fixie with a front brake!
the hub size effects any conversion, but you can just squeeze the rear stays together. the only difference between a light no-suspension mountainbike and a road bike is possibly the wheel clearance and the geometry. if a mtb can take a 700 with clearance, you have yourself a candidate.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by sc_nomad
06.16.09 - 6:01 pm
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I have a single speed mountain bike.
It says 'Mongoose'.
It weighs about 17 pounds soaking wet.
It is a fun ride.
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petemoss06.16.09 - 6:31 pm
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