Motorless bikes. Wotz da drill?

[Gremlin]

If you just want something to get you to the pub and back, I would just get a 2nd hand 10 speed (road bike type thing, like they used to have in the 80's).

For someone looking to start on a bicycle as such, they are not recommended. Your seating position means a sore back, hands, wrists, for those not used to the position on the bike.

I broke an old 12 speed... the spokes weren't up to my cycling... I kept snapping them when I pushed down hard... Mountain type bikes (as opposed to road/race bikes) are more durable for a little bit of abuse.

[Ixion]

Well, thanks to the good offices of Messrs Trademe, I have now acquired, for relatively small outlay , an Avanti Montari, which should be adequate for my simple needs (ie, getting me to the nearest pub)

And I will never again criticise the seating arrangments of sprotsbikes. Apart from being as hard as a rock, the seat seems specifically designed so as to ensure that one's uh, "masculine accessories" are compressed painfully between seat and thigh. I do not remember this problem when I last rode bicycles as a school boy. I suppose the said accessories were smaller then.

A question for the pushie types. Apart from the lack of a clutch being damn confusing (every time I change gear, I end up locking the wheel up.), it is doubly confusing because the brakes are on the wrong side. The front brake is where the clutch should be , the rear brake where the front brake should be . Is this normal? And is there any reason why I should not change them?

And as for those derailleur gears!. Deranged gears would be a more accurate term! The result of a crazed collaboration bewteen a senile Heath Robinson and a manic depressive chimpanzee.

For those that are not familiar with the things, gear changes are effected by a small bent bit of metal being forced against the side of the chain until the chain is pushed off the sprocket. And (hopefully) falls onto a smaller sproket alongside! Or not, as the case may be. Upward changes are even worse, the chain is forced against the sprocket side in the hope that it will eventually ride up and catch (literally) on a larger sprocket! I used to own a 1923 James, which, compared with this , was a masterpiece of advanced engineering design!

Never mind. It will serve it's purpose.

[Motu]

So are you taking it down to Hamilton tomorrow night...will you go via SH22?

[Ixion]

Wel, I could tuck it into the BMW saddlebags. Sort of like a tender on a big yacht. As to SH22, well , it does have knobbly tyres (quite aggressive ones, actually)

[dveus]

A question for the pushie types. Apart from the lack of a clutch being damn confusing (every time I change gear, I end up locking the wheel up.), it is doubly confusing because the brakes are on the wrong side. The front brake is where the clutch should be , the rear brake where the front brake should be . Is this normal? And is there any reason why I should not change them?

I had to go check that one, no matter how much I thought about it I couldn't figure out which way mine were, suppose it becomes a habit after a while so hadn't thought about it in a long time. To answer your question, thats the opposite way to both of my pushbikes. Rear brake is on the "clutch" side.

[Gremlin]

On the handlebar, right lever is the front brake (same as motorcycles I have come across) but the left is the rear brake (why you lock it up). All bicycles I have come across have the front brake on the right.

You MUST keep pedalling when changing gears, thats how the shifter is able to move the chain. It is also nice not to change gears while sitting still. While the derailleur will not actually switch the chain across, it will place additional strain on it (kinda like kwaka not being able to select 2nd while in neutral, or stationary).

[twinkle]

And is there any reason why I should not change them?

None at all. It should take you about 10mins.

[Wolf]

doubly confusing because the brakes are on the wrong side. The front brake is where the clutch should be , the rear brake where the front brake should be . Is this normal? And is there any reason why I should not change them?

Sounds like a previous owner did change them, every pushie I've seen with brakes fitted has the lever for the front on the right and the rear on the left.

[WRT]

I used to have an avanti montari, way back in the day. The brakes were the wrong way round, mine came from the factory that way.

[Flyingpony]

And if you ride through wet grass - N O B R A K E S ! ! ! ! (unless it's one of those fancy ones with disk brakes)

Best to keep the chain in a straight as possible line between front & rear cogs.

To help stop it from locking up when you change gears, don't put power to the pedal when doing it, always pedal forewards, best to only change one or two gears at a time, and only change when the cycle is moving forward.

[Sniper]

I went and bought a Bike today for the purpose of getting fit and such nonsense. Shouldnt really be on a bike for another 2 weeks, but doctors have no idea what they are talking about. besides, Im sure I heard him say, "But its up to you"

Last time I rode a bike was when I was 15, and this feels like a stupid, stupid question, but do you usually sit with your seat higher than the bars? :slap:

[bungbung]

depends on the bike and how tall you are. I'm 6'4" and my seat has always been higher than the bars. Modern mtbs with long travel front suspension have the handlebars a lot higher up than traditionally.

It doesn't really matter, as long as it's comfortable for you. You can raise the bars up if you need, by fitting a high rise stem and/or riser bars.

[Sniper]

Thanks mate. Mine is a mountainbike with front suspension and disc brakes. Interesting bloody thing.

[Flyingpony]

The front brake is where the clutch should be , the rear brake where the front brake should be.

Maybe I should laugh so much because my mountain bike has the same arrangement, has done since I bought it over 10yrs ago. It is quite handy when carrying something heavy (like a shopping bag) with your right hand, at least the front brake can still be activated ...

[Motu]

I have one of these infernal contraptions now too.....I have trouble turning down feebees.Are these things a major cause of prostrate problems and heart attacks? Is it a female activity?

Some Avanty 12 speed mountain bike with road tyres.I don't have a helmet yet (everything is shut!) so I took it around the lake today....even if I can't ride a motorcycle at the moment I can still get 2 wheels on gravel.I usually walk around in 45 minutes,and it takes just 10 minutes on the bike,but seems to take just as much energy,so did a couple of laps.So I'll do 2 or 3 laps on the bike depending if I ride the 3 km to the lake or take the bike in the Pajero.It's nearly 20 years since I used to ride a pushbike regually - when I lived on Waiheke Island I used to ride my 10 speed to work,and it's a very hilly place.But when I shifted to a gravel road I couldn't use my delicate light weight road bike,and found mountain bikes not worth the effort on the steep gravel hills.So good to be back with pedals in a flat town - this will be my commuter to work now.

There is always some activity at Late Hakanoa,and this Easter they are doing model power boat racing,3 days so far.Aaah,the smell of castor oil and screaming 2 strokes....some of those boats are seriously fast - and no one gets hurt!