I am looking to get into road cycling, but I cannot afford even the basic entry level bikes (with the Trek 1.1 running at $700 - and the others going on up in price). I found several old Peugeot bikes from the 70s and 80s on Craigslist in my area that are available for under $200. My question is would one of these old high quality bikes work or would I just be riding an albatross (so to speak)? I want to be able to keep up with my buddies if we ride together - so would I be too slow and/or worn out on an older bike? If people in the 70s could bike long distance on these things, why can't we today?
posted by cmp4Meta
on Apr 21, 2013 -
35 answers
Planning a vacation in California in May and was thinking I would like to do some cycling and see a bit of scenery. Sonoma and Yosemite seem attractive options, but where to stay and hire bikes? How many days should I set aside for this? I could be in the San Francisco area for ten days or so.
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posted by asok
on Mar 15, 2013 -
5 answers
Paint Removal/Solvent Experts: Looking for solvents/methods for removing paint (ink?) logos from semi-glossy aluminum bicycle parts, without damaging or changing the finish. Detailed pics inside.
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posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj
on Feb 20, 2013 -
13 answers
I've got a bike. I've got a compatible pump (two actually!). So why can't I seem to get the tires full enough to ride on? NB: I'm starting from completely flat tires (it's been a long time since I've ridden the bike). Is it not possible to hand pump bike tires all the way from flat?
posted by ocherdraco
on Jan 24, 2013 -
45 answers
What advice would you give beginning cyclists interested in getting exercise as a couple? Bonus points for Rhode Island specific recommendations!
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posted by LouMac
on Sep 10, 2012 -
10 answers
Please suggest bike routes in New England that meet some specific criteria. We took our son on a section of the East Bay Bike Path near Providence for his first bike ride last week and he loved it. He sits in an
iBert on Mom's bike. We are looking for similar routes. In looking for similar I articulate what specifically I think is good about this path for us in the extended explanation. We can ride weekdays in addition to weekends. Thanks.
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posted by safetyfork
on Jun 25, 2012 -
11 answers
If I wanted to make a paying hobby out of restoring and updating old bikes, what are some resources that would help me improve my skills, research the right bikes/components, and find the right places to buy them?
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posted by Scientist
on Jun 11, 2012 -
22 answers
You started biking later in life, and you did it in a big city. How did you become comfortable biking on roads with cars? I'm kind of freaked out by this.
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posted by showbiz_liz
on May 22, 2012 -
42 answers
What do I need in order to start commuting by bike? Assume that I currently have 1) a bike, 2) there is no 2.
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posted by Scientist
on May 17, 2012 -
51 answers
I'm signed up to do a century, a 100-mile bicycle ride, in a little over four weeks. Given the training that I've been doing, what are the best specific things I can do in the next month to get stronger and faster?
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posted by bluedaisy
on Apr 19, 2012 -
14 answers
Cheap men's synthetic underwear: nylon/spandex/polyester/etc. Would like approx 12 pair for bicycling. Flexible on style/aesthetics. Priority:
inexpensive.
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posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj
on Apr 12, 2012 -
8 answers
Is there free or cheap software for analysing GPS tracks in detail? I want to be able to take a track produced by something like My Tracks (from an android phone) and look at it on my desktop computer, where I would like to zoom in on particular sections of the route: how fast was I going here? How steep is that hill?
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posted by alloneword
on Jan 15, 2012 -
11 answers
Is it possible to do boris-biking for fun and exercise? I'm visiting the capital next week, and looking for recommendations of very quiet or ideally traffic-free routes in London - central enough to be able to do in a series of <30m boris-bike hires. Hyde Park and Regents Park are obvious options - are there any others?
posted by handee
on Sep 2, 2011 -
3 answers
I'm spending a couple of weeks in Hudson, NY and I brought my bike with me, hoping for some nice rides along some quiet country roads. However, after scouting the area by car, I'm having second thoughts - the traffic around here is quite heavy! Do you know of some good places for riding a bike around Hudson, Columbia County and vicinity?
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posted by gertzedek
on Aug 2, 2011 -
7 answers
I'd like to take my smartphone (HTC Hero) with me when I'm cycling and use it as a trip computer. Problem: I'm nervous that I'll be taking it home in pieces. Are there any smartphone bike mounts that will secure my Hero to the bike as well as protect it in the event that I crash?
posted by talkingmuffin
on Jul 21, 2011 -
6 answers
I just bought a racing bike. I know next to nothing about cycling. Where do I start?
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posted by wolfr
on May 28, 2011 -
16 answers
What should I look for in a mid-range commuter bike? And where should I buy one in Oxford, UK?
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posted by penguinliz
on Apr 7, 2011 -
3 answers
I'd like some clipless pedals and corresponding shoes that are moderately walkable, have some float, and are dual-sided. What pedal system and shoe do I want? The more specific, the better.
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posted by 0xFCAF
on Mar 22, 2011 -
18 answers
I'm starting a Twitter account to help promote Chicago/Midwest cycling events, mostly to messy bike kids who like to ride, drink, and have fun. Alleycats, bar nights, bar rides, cyclocross, fundraisers, Messenger Prom, Bicycle Film Festival, Cycle Messenger World Championship, trick jams, etc. Help me think of a @name!
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posted by Juliet Banana
on Mar 1, 2011 -
22 answers
Unbranded & weirdly branded road cycling clothing: About four years ago I came across a website that was a clearance center for major road cycling clothing manufacturers. It sold a lot of jerseys and shorts that appeared to be excess items from custom-design production runs printed for odd cat2/cat3 teams in different countries around the world, printed with sponsorships for things like Colombian soda-pop companies, German pneumatics firms, etc. They had a lot of jerseys that would normally be $75-100/ea going for around $30 a piece. I lost the URL and am not even sure if the company is still in business (iirc it was a Yahoo! storefront).
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posted by thewalrus
on Feb 7, 2011 -
3 answers
We try to use our bikes as our main mode of transportation. We just adopted a wonderful (small) dog, and we'd like to see if there's a solution for putting a dog safely on a bike without the use of an expensive doggie trailer.
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posted by two lights above the sea
on Sep 7, 2010 -
16 answers
I need help figuring out if a certain type of bike rack on the bus will be dangerous to use with my bike. Details inside.
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posted by bibliogrrl
on Sep 2, 2010 -
7 answers
BikeCommuteFilter: Shifting up to riding five days a week. But my legs already hurt from my twice-a-week routine!
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posted by zvs
on Aug 11, 2010 -
32 answers
I've bought a road bike frame, forks, seat post and headset. I'm a price level down from the Shimano 105 series. What's the best group set and bottom bracket for my needs?
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posted by Hiker
on Jul 21, 2010 -
20 answers
Me and my girlfriend are planning to embark upon a long adventure. We have never done it before and have some questions.
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posted by Sentus
on Jul 20, 2010 -
12 answers
My bike helmet leaves deep indentations on my forehead. The marks are really bad right when I get to work, and linger for most of the day. What can I do to get them to go away faster? How can I prevent them? I still get them when I use a head wrap in the winter, so a cap or a bandanna underneath probably won't help. My helmet fits comfortably and I'm usually well hydrated.
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posted by hydrophonic
on Jul 19, 2010 -
7 answers
I've drifted away from following the Tour de France over the last few years, and would like to get back into it this year. What's the best (web-based) way of doing this?
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posted by jontyjago
on Jul 3, 2010 -
8 answers
I'm looking for a t shirt I saw a while ago. The front had a person (cupid) riding a bicycle and drawing a bow. On the back panel, lower left, there was an upside-down car with arrows sticking out of its tires.
As a pro-biker in general, and an appreciator of design specifically, I really liked this shirt. Google has been fruitless, has anyone else seen this shirt?
posted by Alex McP
on Jun 17, 2010 -
1 answer
I'm looking for an affordable, 10 mile a day road bike for my dad for Father's day.
He doesn't want anything more expensive than a $500 USD bike, but I can't find it in my heart to buy him a $200 Schwinn from Walmart.
Can anyone suggest a road bike between $200-$500 for my dad?
He's about 6'1", 200 pounds, pants inseam 33".
Ordering online and having it delivered (USA) will work. I'm fairly handy with tools an can assemble it, but I'd rather order just 1 bike pre-packaged and not buy pieces individually and put them together myself (tires from one distributor, frame from another, etc.)
posted by WhereAmI
on Jun 7, 2010 -
19 answers
Bike/Cycling: Modern features + classic styling = fit problems. I want
this rack to fit on
this bike. Help me ponder modifications necessary to make it fit - or sadden me greatly and tell me I'm going to have to settle for something uglier.
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posted by brandoniain
on Jun 3, 2010 -
10 answers
I'm going to start commuting to work by bike soon (some of the time, anyway). Help me with a few specific questions and give me general advice on making my commute by bike the kind of thing I'll want to stick with.
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posted by ocherdraco
on Jun 2, 2010 -
44 answers
What kind of bicycle do I want? Purpose: to ride to the shops or the library, possibly working my way up to riding to work. I'm thinking more casual Copenhagen than speedy lycra-clad.
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posted by harriet vane
on Apr 27, 2010 -
28 answers
I want to go on a one day bike trip in upstate NY or VT-- less than a 2h drive from Montreal. Where should I go? Details about what I want inside.
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posted by jeather
on Apr 16, 2010 -
5 answers
I'd like some recommendations for hipster bike blogs. Think more fixies with hot pink sidewalls, Dutch designer bikes no American could afford, and bike messenger fetishism than athletics, racing, nitty-gritty commuting, etc.
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posted by Juliet Banana
on Feb 16, 2010 -
17 answers
Do you think it is rude for Alice (a commuter cyclist) to slipstream behind Bob (another commuter cyclist, who doesn't know Alice)?
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posted by Tapioca
on Nov 24, 2009 -
59 answers
