Anyone into road biking here?

[hugh jass]

I was thinking of getting into road biking with a friend of mine for exercise and endurance training for motorcycle racing. I've always ridden bicycles, but have never been very serious about riding. I want to get into it without spending crazy amounts of money in case i don't really like it, so I was thinking of buying a used frame on ebay and building a bike around it. Does this sound crazy? I like the idea of building a bike and using components that I want and can buy on sale/used. Any tips on where to buy stuff or some good message boards? I'm 6'4" and 215 lbs so I'm going to need a very large frame.
Thanks.

[SchnellerVert]

Shop Craigslist. Should be tons of stuff out your way, there always is here in DC also. Avoid ebay as you can't touch it or play with the bike.

I also would go into a pro shop that offers a fit and get a measurement for the right size bike you need. Some shops sell used bikes or leftovers from the last couple of years and that will save you a few bucks.

[TwoJ's]

Definetly go get fitted for a bike. It makes all the difference to have a properly sized bike. In late July I went to Iowa for a ride called RAGBRAI. We rode all the way across the state, 480 miles in seven days. I really enjoyed it, and I think you'll like it. You have to go pretty long distances to get a good workout, but I really enjoy it.

[FredK]

I'd just get a complete bike. Buying a frame then building it up is almost always a losing proposition.

[SchnellerVert]

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/398226676.html very cheap. Tune up and true wheels and you have a training bike.

[FredK]

haha looks good SchnellerVert. That's probably like a 62cm frame too!

[uofom3]

I actually just bought a full carbon fiber Trek pilot 5.0 road bike in a 62cm frame. These things are a LOT of fun and fast. You're going to spend like 1800+ on a full CF bike... but some of the trek CF forked aluminum bikes start at like 600. My CF bike is seriously LWT, and I can now cruise at like 16-18 which is better than I could do. I hit 32 going downhill the other day (I did buy a speedo/odo/timer thing) which felt f'in fast on those skinny tires. the guys that ride Tour De France are nuts.

[FredK]

Well, even if the bike is a piece of shit, as long as it's geared OK and doesn't weigh 40 lbs, you can go 16-18 no problem on flat land.

I used to be ALL ABOUT the equipment when I first started cycling. Now I realize, equipment matters some, but it's mostly about the motor.

[ColdAccord]

32 is fast on a straight road, but downhill you can def get higher in the 30's.

I ride a Bianchi Reparto Corse for my geared bike and I just put together a fixed gear at the start of the summer. '01 black Bianchi pista frame, white bianchi cro mo fork, celeste velocity deep v wheels, 170mm sugino rd track crankset, sugino track bottom bracket, mks pedals and clips, 45 teeth up front 16 rear (and a flip flop hub w/a freewheel that I never use) and syntace bullhorns.

I never ride my geared bike anymore. I don't like it. I feel like my fixed gear is a way better workout. I ride it around the city too, and have had good luck so far. as long as you have clipless, or clipped pedals adjusted correctly, its not a big deal, you can brake pretty quickly.

my buddy jason disalvo races ama superbike factory yamaha. he used to roadbike a lot, but told me a horror story of hacking and spies riding out in colorado a few years back. hacking was drafting spies on some intense mountain roads, hit a rock, and broke both arms or wrists (i forget).

[Maluco]

Man, there about 15 - 20 or so inconsiderate retarded idiots that ride down a main 3 lane street during rush hour here in N. Dallas. WTF Seriously do these fucking retards think. Motherfuckers are constantly almost causing accidents. People are trying to get home and these fucks are actually riding 20 deep on a main street during rush hour. Even more to piss us off is there are plenty of streets that aren't high in traffic all around here. It's like they want to show off or something. I can't think of anything else.

Just yesterday a car was driving about 50 or so with one car following behind, the first car get's over just before reaching the pack-o-retards and the next car slammed on his breaks to avoid doing us all a favor (joke about doing us a favor but FUCK, seriosuly)

Ahh, I feel better....

[ColdAccord]

that could have been a critical mass ride. it is a nationwide group. mostly made up of hippies though, not roadbikers.

and for every inconsiderate roadbiker, i would imagine there are a lot more inconsiderate drivers. how many idiot drivers do I deal with every day. a shitload. so many people don't pay attention.

it's called a roadbike for a reason. road. bike. they are legally mandated to be on the streets. proper roadbikers will ride on the far right, in the shoulder where there is one (as long as its free of debris). they stop or at least slow down for traffic signals, proceeding if things are clear.

there are a number of people who wouldn't be joking about your "doing us all a favor" comment. if i ever witnessed such (not saying you, i know, im just saying in general) a malicious intent i would beat the shit out of the vehicle operator and report them to the police. there's nothing funny about killing people. and i mean really. to slow down a little and move out of the way of a roadbike (that is allowed and has the right to be there) takes maybe what. .25 seconds out of your day? maybe .35 seconds?

the world is a very inconsiderate place these days

[Maluco]

that could have been a critical mass ride. it is a nationwide group. mostly made up of hippies though, not roadbikers.

and for every inconsiderate roadbiker, i would imagine there are a lot more inconsiderate drivers. how many idiot drivers do I deal with every day. a shitload. so many people don't pay attention.

it's called a roadbike for a reason. road. bike. they are legally mandated to be on the streets. proper roadbikers will ride on the far right, in the shoulder where there is one (as long as its free of debris). they stop or at least slow down for traffic signals, proceeding if things are clear.

there are a number of people who wouldn't be joking about your "doing us all a favor" comment. if i ever witnessed such (not saying you, i know, im just saying in general) a malicious intent i would beat the shit out of the vehicle operator and report them to the police. there's nothing funny about killing people. and i mean really. to slow down a little and move out of the way of a roadbike (that is allowed and has the right to be there) takes maybe what. .25 seconds out of your day? maybe .35 seconds?

the world is a very inconsiderate place these days

I think you are missing the point... and those dumb ass drivers are something we all have to deal with. They can't go drive on a bike trail, they have to drive on the street. In my situation, the only inconsiderates are the cyclists...

(a) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: (1) obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, regardless of the means of creating the obstruction and whether the obstruction arises from his acts alone or from his acts and the acts of others; or (2) disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person the actor knows to be or is informed is a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises:
(A) to prevent obstruction of a highway or any of those areas mentioned in Subdivision (1); or (B) to maintain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or other hazard.
(b) For purposes of this section, "obstruct" means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous. (c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. [maximum fine is $2,000, or 180 days in jail, or both]

Is creating a mile or more of frustrated road raged rush hour want to get home quick drivers inconvenient? YES. It's very inconvenient and creates a hazard as in the situation I previously shared. Are the drivers driving above the speed limit? I won't even go on. These motherfuckers have no regard or consideration whatsoever. They are making a situation that's not all that great, worse.

And I seriously doubt you would talk like that if you dealt with this shit on an almost daily basis. Getting caught in reds cause the flow of rush hour can't stay fluid. Getting cut off cause some guy wants to get out from behind the pack-o-fucks. Missing a perfectly good yellow cause the pack-o-inconsiderates.

[hugh jass]

Can we please now continue talking about me? Thanks.

[FredK]

the world is a very inconsiderate place these days

Yeah it really is. I know that following a road biker for 30 s or 1 min on a narrow winding country road isn't going to add much time overall to my trip. But some people are driven hog wild by having to wait, and pass at extremely inopportune times--up a blind crest, around a blind turn, etc.

Ride a few bikes hugh jass, and pick one you like! Post up what you're looking at and we should be able to give you some feedback.

[hugh jass]

what about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190139765426&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009