"The Crit" A play in four acts. By Askel. Act I- The first few laps. Askel: "Golly gee, this is kinda swell!" Act II- The next couple laps. Askel: "Goddam, this is starting to hurt." Act III- The last couple laps. Askel: "HOLY FUCK MY WORLD IS PAIN!!!1!" Act IV- The End Askel: "Dear sweet merciful god in heaven, it's over!"
Act IV, why are you still smiling? Or is that a grimace? I always thought a crit was just a prelude to spewing... OK, maybe it was just me. Cool.
Performance bike had a sale this last weekend on all their bikes. Like always, the prices were about the same as always, just a higher listed "regular" price, with a bigger listed discount to the sale price. I checked the site during lunch today to see what they put them at now that the sale was over and was happy to see they lowered the regular price back to where it normally is and had a 25% off deal on them. Quite a bit cheaper than they can normally be had for. I counted on coming home and ordering me a new carbon road bike, but between lunch time and after work today, the deal disappeared and they are back to just having a 15% off everything coupon listed. I'm about ready to just say screw it and order something from bikes direct.
Went riding yesterday. 90 and no wind for once. I was sweating a ton. I found a new area to play in. I was turning around and heading back when I spotted this.
Had a chance to go out today for some riding at Winter Park Resort. We usually ride the open trails all over around here, but today we sprung for lift tickets and had some gravity assist at the on-resort trails... "Shy Ann" trail on my Yeti 575... Love the bike! After a few fairly mellow runs with the wife, I put on a bit more gear and hit the downhill race course. Tons of fun!
With that budget you have a couple of options. 1) Check Craigslist....a lot. Look at bikes in your price range, then research them online. Could be the "best" option if your CL sees a lot of bike action. 2) Start hitting your LBS and see what they got. Research online before buy. If the bike shop is a good one they will help fit the bike to you. A really good idea if you want to be comfortable on your bike and not hate the sight of it. 3) Buy a Redline Monocog 29er. I'm sure more will chime in with more/better options. Good luck.
How do you like it so far? I've been thinking of picking one up for almost a year now to replace my MTB as a commuter (hopefully it sits a bit more upright). With ~10k on it my Montague is showing its age. I['m thinking get the Marin for commuting and convert the Montague back into a trail bike that I can thrash without worry. Hard to beat a no nonsense steel frame 29er, decent price too.
What kind of terrain are you looking to ride? There's a couple different directions you can go at that price. That said, most any good bike shop should be able to set you up with something decent for that price. Brand doesn't really matter too much. And which model you get sort of depends on how much the bike shop might be willing to deal.
What kind of riding you planning on doing? If yer bombing around the neighborhood, $450 is the top of the range you wanna look in. If yer going mildy off-road, yer at the beginning of the range If yer gonna go ride it off-road seriously, look for something with at least LX on it. That means stretching yer budget tho. You CAN take a $450 bike pretty much everywhere you take a more expensive bike. It just doesn't work as well doing it. HTH M
Sixer, Where was that? That just looks fun. Also for the collective, a question: Anybody know anything about the Titus ML-1? Colorado Cyclist has the frame on sale, and after my recent gravity testing, my wife is open to the idea that a new bike might help me. Like better technology can make up for lack of skill...
In that price range, you probably won't find anything with discs without cutting some other corners. I'd just look for something with the mounting tabs for them on the frame and fork and upgrade later. (And if they're not on the fork, that's OK- you can upgrade that too. ) If you get really into trail riding, you'll be doing a lot of upgrading on a $450 bike in the near future. Seat quality is a highly personal standard. Spend the bucks on some shorts first. If you still don't like the stock seat- there are about 10 billion options out there at reasonable and not so reasonable costs.
we were out there last weekend... fun huh?? going again the 4th weekend to pre-run the following week race.
Go to a bike shop. Seriously, you're not gonna get anywhere buying a first bicycle without looking at, touching, and riding some around the store parking lot. My shop carries at least 3 models that are under $450 (Trek and Cannondale), I'm sure your local shop does too. They'll help you get one that fits as well.
I am, next race.... everybody told me I would be sandbaggin otherwise... b-b-b-ut I like the podium.... so here comes some interval training (starting tonight)!! 44 mile ride with (too) much interval crap!!! I was chatting with a pro friend of mine who refused to give me training advice if I did not move up a class
The trails are part of the Mile High Trail system that the City of Prescott has built. That part is located in the Granite Dells area. A lot of places to play back there. I'm trying to pitch a new bike to the wife.
Very cool. Maybe I'll be riding something new come Christmas when I get over to Mesa. with my low gears that set of trails looks like even a fat guy like me could get around in low-low gears.
I'm trying to get in all the trails I can because I'm moving back to the Los Angeles area and I'll have to travel farther to ride. Hah you'll have no problem if me, 266 pounds riding a SS, can ride the trails.