What can you tell me about push bikes?

[speeding_ant]

The point is to simply buy a suitable bike, Not to buy the wrong shit, spend extra money on it, and then to still have the wrong shit.


Fuck, I only do an 8km loop, and now I know better I'm fucked if I'd do it on a mtb.

Making shit hard is pointless, whether over 6km or 60km.

8km is fuck all on a mountain bike (or a road bike).

DISCLAIMER: Don't read the rest if you only want to spend $500.

Bosslady, at 5.8', presuming you're quite new to cycling, I'd be looking at spending around $1200 on a relatively light cross country bike with front suspension. I'm not against road bikes, but for a newbie their riding position is scary, and if you don't spend a lot of money they are REALLY uncomfortable on anything other than nicely paved roads. Road bikes are also too specific if you're just travelling that distance, so you may as well get an XC bike to enjoy off-road as well. If you really get into it, anything crap will quickly get on your nerves due to shite components.

Suspension: anything with anodised stanchions will be good enough and will last a relatively long time (just service them once a year or so). Chrome usually means cheap heavy suspension, and it rusts and pits within months. Usually crap dampening, leaving you with the equivalent of a 3 inch pogo stick. Rockshox are dependable at the cheaper end. Don't get Manitou cheapies. Fox will be too expensive. I've heard Suntour is upping their game too, but I don't think big brands OEM them yet.
Brakes: most hydraulic brakes these days will be by far good enough to do the job for a newbie.
Running gear: Shimano: Deore, SLX or above. SRAM: X7 or above.
Brands: if you're buying new, $1200 may get you a decent bike with the above components if you get a 50% off deal from Giant, Specialized or Kona.

Those are the most important bits. I'm speaking from experience, have played this game many times over 8 years or so. Don't listen to sales people either, get a really good idea on what you want to get first.

[duckonin]

You're a smart lass, now do the job properly. "Head to a bike shop" for the best advice, or maybe two/three for comparison.

You can spend a lot of time on TM finding what you may think is suitable. Then time and trouble to go to where bike is only to fine it is a heap of shit.
A good bike shop will size you up to your bike and that is very important. Re-sale of a bike second hand is 1/4 of what you paid for it new. Good makes include, Avante, Trek, Giant, these will last you a life time.

[Banditbandit]

Hmm I think I might have one of those already in the garage, hang on,..... yup sure do. It would be cheaper for me to buy a push bike and lose weight than it would be to buy a new pair of motorcycle pants as I'm really struggling to fit my lard ass in the ones I have and I'm not shelling out another 5 hundy for that! I seem to have gained more weight since I started Riding!

Damm .. and here I was thinking that you were going to make the stalkers happy with pictures of Bosslady in lycra ...

[bosslady]

Oh my gosh... just picked a bike up. Rode it down the driveway and have thus far figured out I have bloody awful balance!

[FJRider]

Oh my gosh... just picked a bike up. Rode it down the driveway and have thus far figured out I have bloody awful balance!

At low speed in confined areas ... it can be tricky. Just like on a motorbike.

Once you get the hang of the gears (and changing up and down) you'll feel more comfortable. You just have to remember to keep moving forward (read pedaling)to change gears ...

[Maha]

I look forward to the TM listing in approximately three months.

[SMOKEU]

Ride the push bike when you're pissed. Drunk cycling is awesome.

[rustyrobot]

Ride the push bike when you're pissed. Drunk cycling is awesome.

And keeps the ambos busy. In the 3 years I was a volunteer for St. Johns I attended 1 motorcycle accident and more drunken bicycling accidents than I could count. Broken collar bones were a favourite. Drunken cyclist vs kerb the most common cause.

[SMOKEU]

And keeps the ambos busy. In the 3 years I was a volunteer for St. Johns I attended 1 motorcycle accident and more drunken bicycling accidents than I could count. Broken collar bones were a favourite. Drunken cyclist vs kerb the most common cause.

I've been riding push bikes very drunk for many years almost every weekend, and have never binned a push bike when pissed. I do quite a bit of cycling though so I know how to handle a push bike. It's all about riding to your buzz.

[FJRider]

Oh my gosh... just picked a bike up. Rode it down the driveway and have thus far figured out I have bloody awful balance!

Post a pic of said machine ...

[rustyrobot]

I've been riding push bikes very drunk for many years almost every weekend, and have never binned a push bike when pissed. I do quite a bit of cycling though so I know how to handle a push bike. It's all about riding to your buzz.

I know this is controversial, and I seriously do NOT condone drunk driving, but I think that the more you do something (eg. ride a bike) in a certain state the better you are IN THAT STATE. So if you never drive your car stoned, for example, and then you do one time it's going to be a nervous first drive. If you have done it lots of times then you will be more in control than someone who is only doing it for the first time.

Having said that - cars, trucks, tanks and motorbikes are deadly weapons when used incorrectly and no one should ever get behind the wheel/throttle if they are: over emotional, over-tried, over-hungry, drunk, stoned or otherwise impaired.

[Yamahardman]

my bomber 55's are still mint and they're chrome, haha.
I go with the idea of having a budget, and then buying yesteryears expensive technology as opposed to todays cheaper technology.
Example- I own a gt xcr1000 from the mid to late 90's. Got the frame for free, brought some forks, converted some stuff from my hardtail.
cost all up= $600.
you'll be paying well over $1500 for any kind of frame that actively manages pedal bob and has suspension and frame that can handle the national downhill track in rotorua.

the downside to my bike though, is that its heavy... 18kg to be exact.

[SMOKEU]

I know this is controversial, and I seriously do NOT condone drunk driving, but I think that the more you do something (eg. ride a bike) in a certain state the better you are IN THAT STATE. So if you never drive your car stoned, for example, and then you do one time it's going to be a nervous first drive. If you have done it lots of times then you will be more in control than someone who is only doing it for the first time.

Having said that - cars, trucks, tanks and motorbikes are deadly weapons when used incorrectly and no one should ever get behind the wheel/throttle if they are: over emotional, over-tried, over-hungry, drunk, stoned or otherwise impaired.

Exactly. I'm against drink driving and riding (motorbikes), so the push bike is the most sensible way of getting around when I'm pissed. After so much experience riding a push bike absolutely shitfaced, I'm quite safe to ride (a pushbike) in that state.

[FJRider]

Exactly. I'm against drink driving and riding (motorbikes), so the push bike is the most sensible way of getting around when I'm pissed. After so much experience riding a push bike absolutely shitfaced, I'm quite safe to ride (a pushbike) in that state.

The legal definition of a bicycle is .. a vehicle. And is actually an offense to be "In charge" of a vehicle while intoxicated. It is even an offense to ride a bicycle on o footpath (as an adult) without appropriate legislation in place to allow it (As Postie's have).

Regardless of the fact that no license is required to "operate" it ...

[SMOKEU]

The legal definition of a bicycle is .. a vehicle. And is actually an offense to be "In charge" of a vehicle while intoxicated. It is even an offense to ride a bicycle on o footpath (as an adult) without appropriate legislation in place to allow it (As Postie's have).

Regardless of the fact that no license is required to "operate" it ...

I'm yet to hear of a single verified case of anyone being charged with EBA on a push bike, or the equivalent. I've heard plenty of stories about "my mates uncles friend got busted DIC on a push bike" (even though there's no such thing as DIC in NZ), yet each time I ask which specific charges were laid, I get told a bunch of bullshit that has no basis in fact whatsoever.

The fact remains, that as long as the cyclist is obeying the majority of the basic road rules, such as giving way and stopping at intersections when required, wearing an approved helmet (or one that looks like it), and has the appropriate lights in hours of darkness, the cops really don't give a fuck about cyclists unless they're doing something really dumb like swerving all over the road or riding in an obviously dangerous manner, or if they're wanted for another crime. I've been stopped by police many times when either operating a motor vehicle or being an occupant of a motor vehicle, yet I've never had any attention from cops on a push bike. I've been waved right through alcohol checkpoints even when I'm pissed as fuck, and I've showed up to the skids on my push bike, and when the cops busted it they checked all the cars over but let me right through. Moral of the story? Ride a push bike sensibly when drunk and the cops really don't care.