It troubles me this year how I've been kind of slug like. Not working has made it worse because I'm not even walking to and from my car to go to work! After walking around Cedar Point yesterday and feeling shitty, I decided that I've had enough.
My classic problem is that I hate fitness for the sake of fitness. I have no desire to ever step foot in a gym, muscle tone serves no purpose to me and how I appear is only marginally important. So there are only two athletic endeavors that ever held my interest in any way. Volleyball is of course one of them, and while I miss coaching, I just don't know that I have the capacity for it right now. The other is cycling, which I haven't done in years, and I hate my old bike.
I first got the bike in high school, and it's about 20 years old. It was an early mountain bike, before anyone really bought mountain bikes. It's made of steel alloy, so it's heavy. It has 26" wheels and sub-optimal gearing for cruising speed. And it's heavy. I just feel like I outgrew that bike 15 years ago.
The obvious remedy to that was to simply buy a new bike. I almost bought one last year, and was ready to do it right. I was budgeting for something in the $1,500 to $2,000 range, carbon fiber, road bike... do it right. I never pulled the trigger because I wasn't sure that I would really commit, and that would be an expensive thing to not commit to.
Last night I started window shopping for bikes, and I was surprised to see the range of inexpensive hybrids, that fall somewhere between road and mountain bike. Initially I figured, you know, spending somewhere under $500 is something I could justify, even while not working. I went to Eddy's today to see what they had.
The really inexpensive bikes were a little on the heavy side and the components were a little on the cheap side. Probably not unworkable, but sloppy shifting is something I wanted to avoid. I also wanted aluminum and not steel. Trek, Specialized and Cannondale all had nice stuff in that range. After taking it for a spin, I settled on a Trek 7.3 FX. The frame was light enough, the shifting was solid and the braking was really responsive. At $579, it was a little more expensive than what I wanted to spend, but again, I didn't want cheap components.
It's not a tricked out road bike, but I think it's about the level that makes sense for the seriousness I'm willing to take. I haven't decided on any goals, but I think 750 miles for the year would be reasonable. Perhaps doing a metric century (100km, or 62 miles) would also be a good goal. I need to look around at the local bike clubs and see what they've got organized.
I did a quick spin around the neighborhood, 2.3 miles, and on one hand it felt good to ride, but it also made me realize how out of shape I am.
Neuski,
Can you sell your car? By not paying for insurance or gas, the bicycle pays for itself.
I live about 5 miles from work. Even when I only ride 3 times per week, I'm still logging 30 miles. It adds up quickly, as do the results. I'm healthier than I've ever been, I'm saving money and doing my part to reduce my carbon-based emissions. Best of all, it's a ton of fun. I actually look forward to my commute.
Of course, I recognize bike commuting may not be an option depending on where you live. It's a shame our country hasn't been built with more walkable, bike-friendly communities. Sadly some people are just stuck.
Jeff - congrats on the bike purchase.
I actually own the 7.3fx as well and am converting it to more of a work bike, full fenders, waterproof panniers and a rack. It's been a pretty good bike for me so far, even rode it on a 35 mile ride around Pittsburgh yesterday and it held up fine as far as comfort. I have out grown it though, I am actually buying a road specific steel single speed today to have fun on. The insurance reductions from not driving as much pay for a nice chunk of the new bike.
Some advice from one person who hates fitness for fitness sake to another, use it to go places. Maybe to the coffee shop to work, or to the grocery store. Just replace short drives with rides and if you like riding the bike the distances will get longer and driving will seem like a silly idea.
Tyler, riding in the snow and rain isn't as bad as you would think. It's not the greatest thing ever, but it's not as bad as you think.
Could somebody please explain the appeal of single speed fixed gear bike? I can't figure out why anybody would want one but they are becoming very popular with the urban hipster crowd around here. Do they accomplish more than helping somebody look like an urban hipster?
And I'll give you the rain, but snow? Blech. Especially when there is a nice patch of ice underneath it.
I don't think that's it. No one in the last fifty years has used non-geared bikes. I think it's a strange trendy thing, and the people at the bike shop seemed to agree. They're the same types who will buy a $500 Garmin bike computer... because they can and it maintains appearances. :)
The people who buy single speed bikes are the exact opposite of someone who would wear an expensive bike computer actually. The point of riding a single speed is that there is less to think about and less to maintain.
They are great bikes for an urban environment where you have to stop, go and maneuver around cars and pedestrians constantly. A fully geared road bike doesn't get you very far on a city street, by the time you get up to speed and into your biggest gear you have to shift down so you can start again. It would be nice to have an extra gear or two to get up hills but that just makes me lazy.
Not sure who the empty guy is, but I put cyclocross tires on my bike last winter and it's not bad over the snow and ice. I think I only fell once and that was because of a ice pot hole I should have walked around.
Adam's bike is a single speed (coaster brake). He just put a basket on the front and panniers on the back (or however you spell it). He rode it when he was a bike messenger and doesn't understand why people want all those gears. LOL! He rides it around town for errands and complains that Cleveland is nowhere near as bike-friendly as Pittsburgh was. No place to lock up your bike at the store, etc.
Congrats on the new wheels, Jeff! I'm a towpath/metroparks type of rider, myself. Yep, I put my bike inside my Jeep and drive it someplace to ride the bike. You can bitchslap me the next time we see each other!