The Observation Deck

I know we've got alot of great cyclists here on the Deck so I'm looking for some advice.

I want to start riding more often but I'm not sure what to look for when buying a bike. Right now I have a cheap mountain bike I bought from Target a few years back so I really would like to trade up to something better.

Mainly I'd be doing road cycling, not really too into mountain biking (hence why I probably should replace my mountain bike ). What should I look for and any advice on a good store, maybe even one in Lakewood?

Spin. 14515 Madison Ave.

dl meckes wrote:Spin. 14515 Madison Ave.

Awesome, thanks dl. That's about a 5 min walk from me and I didn't even realize it was there.

Bike Lakewood is a good resource for Lakewood cyclists, and beginners too!

check out bikelakewood.org

Spin

Remember if you are not riding trails, do not get knobby tires. They only slow you down.

Disclaimer: I purchased a bicycle from Spin in the past.

Bryan-- Both Annie and I are members of BikeLakewood and hope you will join after you get set up with some wheels.
We had a meeting on Saturday and one of our board members is Brian Ryback who is an owner of Spin.
I described a problem that I was having with my pedals and he came up with a solution so I'm going to his shop this week to get some new pedals.
This is the kind of personalized, custom service you can expect from Spin.
Stan Austin

Bryan, I have two bikes because I ride for two pretty different reasons.

For recreational riding and commuting (longer rides) I have a lighter bike with 700c (bigger) wheels. I like somewhat wider tires though, thanks in part to Lakewood’s (not so great) streets. I’d get 33cc tires, maybe or even wider. I’m on 38cc today but when I replace them I’ll probably go a little narrower. Spend some bucks on a nice bike if you plan longer rides, but you don’t have to spend a fortune. Maybe $400 and up. A quality steel frame is probably better for longer rides because it isn’t as stiff as aluminum. For longer rides you really should consider drop bars. I like them because they offer a lot of hand positions, which helps avoid monotony/fatigue. There’s only one place for your hands on flat bars and that can get pretty tedious on longer rides. Spin is a great resource for a bike of this type.

For knocking around town, I have a cheaper bike that I bought used (for $75). I just don’t feel like I can leave an expensive bike out of sight for very long, even locked. Because the rides are short and Lakewood’s terrain is flat, having a lot of gears is not that important. You can go three-speed or even single-speed, with coaster brakes, and minimize the maintenance. My around-town bike has 26â€Â

Bryan,

There is little that I could add to Tim's great information. I was involved with bikes years ago. I would only suggest that there are many types of bikes out there, and that you try several models before settling on the one that you will take home.

The best bike is the one that you will use, of course. Some like narrow seats and dropped bars. Some prefer standard handlebars and wider seats. There are considerations with safety too. If you need to stop suddenly to dismount, you want to be able to control the bike, and get off safely.

Some types of alloy frames flex with the rider, while others can be stiff and unresponsive.

BikeLakewood is a great group of people. I'm sure you will be welcomed as a new rider.

Above all, be sure that you can control your vehicle well before getting out on busy highways. Know your signals and be sure traffic can see you.

It pays to be sure that your bike is in sound mechanical condition. Have it looked over before you ride it.

Best wishes with your new interest!

Wow, thanks everyone and especially Tim for all the great information. I'll check out the Bike Lakewood site and also try to get over to Spin in the next few days just to start looking around.

Bryan.

Like everybody else said, go to Spin.

Make sure they understand the intended purpose of the bikes use. Do not go for the bike with the most flash either. Go for the one that has the best components for the price range you are looking at. Nothing worse than a flashy looking bike with cheap components.

Who ever you buy a bike from make sure they fit you to it. If you buy clipless pedals and shoes, make sure those are adjusted properly too.

On top of all that Tim had to say, do not cheap out on a helmet. Buy the best helmet you can. A quality helmet that fits properly and does not make your head too hot is a helmet you are more likely to wear. I woke up in a hospital one day damn glad I had been wearing a helmet.

Joe
former Road and Criterium racer.
My record-one concussion, multiple broken ribs, lot of road rash, zero podiums

Definitely start at Spin, however, be sure you check around, especially if you're looking to buy a higher end bike. I actually found a good deal on a discontinued/older model at Century Cycle in Rocky River. I know I'll catch a lot of heat in this site for going outside the city limits, but I ended up saving about 100$.

However, part of the problem for me is that I am a larger person and required a much more sturdy bike to hold up to not only my weight but the weight of everything I have to carry when I use it to commute to and from work.

if you want a sturdy, light mountain bike go with a GT bike. My brother and I both have one, and a friend of ours races competitively with a GT. It's a solid bike, even though it's very light.

Always wear your helmet. Gloves are a must as well. I use a seat that has a cut out. It does make all the difference on longer rides. I prefer to use toe straps, that way you can get the most power per peddle. I would just like to add that to what has already been said.

We have always gone to B&K Bicycle in South Euclid.

http://www.bandkbike.com/

The guy that owns the store is passionate about bikes. He really does a good job and tries to get you into the best bike for you - not an expensive bike that wouldn't be appropriate.

My kids always had to take a class on safety and maintenance of their bikes. How to check them etc.

Bryan:

I often bike to Cleveland State (CSU) where I work. As some have noted, the terrain is relatively flat and thus the 8 mile each way to CSU is a relatively easy ride.

However, if you want to do the park or go further east - I biked to Lakeland Community College when I taught CSU courses there - some gears are necessary. You seldom need more than 10 or 12; what you want is some low gears for any major hills.

For general riding I would recommend a hybrid - a bike between a touring and mountain model. These have wider tires, straight handlebars, easy to shift gearing and yet a decent responsive frame. My wife has a nice Trek hybrid. These run around $350 to $500 new. Such a bike should suffice for general riding, both commuting/urban and recreational.

I ride a Schwinn Paramount - one of the last models made before Schwinn disappeared in its previous form. Mine has very narrow tires, drop bars, etc. It rides so easy and turns on a dime. However, it is overkill for my commuting but since I don't do much long distance cycling any longer I donated my used 10 speed Raleigh that I commuted with.

Traffic is not too bad if you stay out of commuting hours or away from "recreation areas" that depend on taverns, etc., at night. I would hope that Lakewood would transform some key streets, such as Lake Avenue, into more of a biking/skating multiuse thorofare. Interesting that Cleveland has made Lake Avenue a 3 lane street now from West Boulevard to West 117th Street. This has really improved the safety of my commute to CSU.

Others have provided very useful details. I also recommend Century Cycles in Rocky River as they carry excellent models of bikes. They also have impressive accessories, such as helmets - absolutely necessary - lights, and carriers. As most streets are well lit - actually Detroit Avenue thanks to funding for reducing crime - is brighter at night than it is during many days. Thus, you need lights that make you visible to other vehicles (bikes are vehicles under the Uniform Highway Act and that is why cyclists should always ride in the street as far to the right as praticable), not lights for actually lighting your route. I like the flashing red and white LED lights as these are very visible to motorists.

Welcome to the wonderful world of urban cycling and Best of Luck in your efforts.