Ride July Fourth

[carlrf]

I would be up for a couple of hours or more in the saddle, depending on when we get started, if anyone is interested. I am in the phone book or contact me here.

[kchusky]

If I had seen this in time I would have been all for it.

[carlrf]

Haven't left yet. Trying to decide if i want to take the heat just to ride alone.

Carl

[troy]

So did you end up riding at all? I wanted to join you, but it just wasn't in the cards for me today.

Now I'm listening to thunder, watching lightening, and seeing rain fall. I guess God is giving us his own fireworks show now. We're not worthy!

[carlrf]

I managed to get in about 75 miles I guess. Yep , got wet and loved every minute.... well almost, except for the lightning. managed to dodge it for today! Ride really was fun, even if I was alone. The KLRs are heavy but they really fit the bill for my riding adventures, as limited as they may be. It's sad when I look forward to going south on 435 at 6:30 in the morning and get excited about Front street, through River Front park to Grand Blvd. I guess we are all doing what we can!

[kchusky]

Good to hear you decided to ride in the heat anyways. I ended up chosing to ride the pedal road bike today.

[carlrf]

Good to hear you decided to ride in the heat anyways. I ended up chosing to ride the pedal road bike today.

That's interesting. I have just this week decided to try cycling. I spent hour or two riding Liberty neighborhoods yesterday morning. I am trying to make it a habit as I really need some exercise. I am currently researching/shopping for a entry level mountain bike, don't really know what to go with. So many out there.?????

[tp_cracker]

Go to Dick's Sporting Goods. Sit on a few bikes to find out which one is more comfortable. If its in your price range, buy it. Unless your gonna do some really hard trails, about any mountain bike will do. I have one that has sat in my garage doing nothing since I got the KLR.

[kchusky]

If you are planning to ride off road mostly with your bike, than mountian bike is the way to go. If not a true road bike on the road is a much better choice. You will find all kinds of different levels of bikes out there along with price ranges. I chose to get a full down hill bike to use for mountain bike, a bit of over kill for most areas around here. But I like to keep the speeds up when I'm going down hill on rocky trails and jumping is kind of fun too!

[tp_cracker]

Here is a great group of people in the KC area who ride mountain bikes. They make and keep up existing trails throughout the kansas city metro area.

http://forums.earthriders.com/index.php

[carlrf]

Thanks, I will check it out.

[safiri]

Good to hear you decided to ride in the heat anyways. I ended up chosing to ride the pedal road bike today.

That's interesting. I have just this week decided to try cycling. I spent hour or two riding Liberty neighborhoods yesterday morning. I am trying to make it a habit as I really need some exercise. I am currently researching/shopping for a entry level mountain bike, don't really know what to go with. So many out there.?????

Don't limit yourself to Dick's; check out the local bike shops. You will pay more but you will get expert advice, support, and service. Taking pounds off of the bike will make your riding experience lots more enjoyable.

I have had good service from the Trek Store at SM Parkway, west of I-35. The other bike shops in JoCo have served me well too. I don't have any experience with the shops outside of my 'hood. Check with riders in your area to find out what their experiences are.

Test ride the bike(s) that you are interested in. With a Mt Bike this probably means grass lots, curbs, etc, as they don't want you crashing in the rocks on THEIR bike. The Trek store has a grass lot next door that has a few curbs and small (but steep) hills. When buying a MB in Dec a MBer friend and I spent over an hour riding and swapping between the bikes I was interested in. After each swap we would compare notes. Amazingly we had the same comments.

Check out used bikes from members of the local cycling clubs. Lots of folks upgrade every year to two and sell the used bike. Check joints for cracks and tubing for cracks (carbon) or dings (Al, Ti).

Here are some orgs in addition to EarthRiders. Most of these are road bike orgs, but members tend to ride MB's as well.
JCBC: http://www.jcbikeclub.org/
PVYC: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/pr ... yachtclub/
KCBC: http://kcbc.org/
Mo Bike Fed: http://mobikefed.org/

Just like a DS motorcycle, no bicycle does everything well. A cross bike will do the street ok and mild trails ok. (Check out cyclocross to see what a cross bike can do!). A MB will suck on the street (even with slicks) for any moderate or longer distance, a road bike will suck on the trails.

Personal observation from me and several riding friends in terms of components (shifters, etc): Getting the second best is worth the money. Getting the top tier components is usually a lot of money for very little bang. For instance, with Shimano road components:
http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content ... links.html
upgrading to Ultegra gives a lot of bang for the buck.
upgrading from Ultegra to DuraAce: lots of money, little bang. Good if you are racing.

Here is a link for MBs:
http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content ... n_101.html

Search the manufacturers sites as well. Trek and Gary Fisher have pretty good sites.

Good luck.

[troy]

Btw, notice that there is nothing motorcycle-specific about the domain name "rideforum.net". If there is enough interest, we could easily add bicycle specific forums to the system.

[tp_cracker]

Btw, notice that there is nothing motorcycle-specific about the domain name "rideforum.net". If there is enough interest, we could easily add bicycle specific forums to the system.

Just make sure its mountain bike specific, none of those street bike girly men in here.

[kchusky]

Just make sure its mountain bike specific, none of those street bike girly men in here.

Easy there tp_cracker!!!!

[carlrf]

Wow! Thanks for all the great information! Really helps, I think!

[iyeager]

Not sure what the name is, but there is a bike shop in the river market and it always has DS bikes out front (employees, owners???) Usually a KLR and sometimes a GSA. Might be a good place to start if you can easily make a connection with the employees.

Ian

[troy]

Not sure what the name is, but there is a bike shop in the river market and it always has DS bikes out front (employees, owners???) Usually a KLR and sometimes a GSA. Might be a good place to start if you can easily make a connection with the employees.

Ian

That's right..somebody told me those guys ride dualsports. Somebody go in there and tell them about RideForum.NET.

River Market Cyclery
315 E 3RD St
Kansas City, MO
64106-1001
Phone: (816) 842-2453

[safiri]

I just got a flyer from the Trek Store KC. Sale going on the next week or so on bikes. 2006 models (very few left) 20% off, 2007 are 15% off. IIRC, when you buy a bike from the Trek Store you get to spend 10% or so on accessories from the store.

No, I don't get any money from the referral.

[kchusky]

I'll recommend Leawood cycles on State. Small shop, but good prices. My son wanted to buy his own mountain bike. So I said we would check out bike shops. I'm pretty sure we hit up about 75% of the shop in the KC area. And Leawood was the cheapest. By the way it was a great morning to get out on the girly man street bike, sad part was no cute women out riding early today.