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1-2-3-4 Never Scrub the Bathroom Anymore
One of everyone's least favorite chores is
cleaning the bath- room. You put it off ... and put it off... until it
takes nothing short of an atomic bomb to get it clean. It doesn't have to
be that way. 4 steps, about 2-3 minutes a day- and...
Become a Shark – Pool Tips for a Fish out of Water!
So it’s Friday night, and you’re out on the town with your mates. You’re well dressed and you’ve had a few drinks. Isn’t life grand? You puff away on your cigarette, sipping a pint, and round the pool table considering your next shot. You are...
Exploring Uncharted Territory: Your Family Vacation
(NC)—Picture it – your minivan is stopped at a rest area. Your partner sits at the wheel while you are buried under a mess of unfolded maps. You feel tense as you debate over directions while your jumpy kids in the back seat are spreading...
Fun, good drink, great food, interesting places, pretty ladies - on a
A great place to go: Plovdiv! Once you're here, just follow the
crowds and you'll find yourself in the midst of great convivial
Bulgarian hospitality ... excellent food and drinks, lively music,
beautiful girls and ... well, you get the idea....
Hire A Magician? Definitions And Tips
For a lot of people the last time they wanted a magician at their party was when they were 8 years old but magicians don’t just work for children. Adults have always been a great audience for magic because they have defined critical thinking. They...
Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking
Are you wondering if you have the time to bake homemade Christmas cookies this year? Every year at about this time we all start to get a little panicked that the holidays are coming up fast and we're not really ready yet. Here are a few...
Omega-3's and the benefits of high-dose Fish oil
An overview of the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids, dha and epa, and pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
Omega-3's and the benefits of high-dose Fish oil By Aaron Wilmot, editor of Fish Oil Forever The miracle of high dose fish oil: According to...
Poker popularity for beginners
The game of poker is cherished since a long time. It has caught a lot of publicity and fanfare in past few decades. Now there are many poker tournaments across the world and even online. Poker lovers all over the world are glued to their television...
See the amazing eco friendly surfacing product
MOSAIC HAS COME A LONG WAY
From ancient times staining glass has challenged the abilities
and imaginations of the great alchemists. From East to West the
sheer beauty of stained glass won the hearts of Kings, emperors,
sultans and nobles....
View From My Island: The Grand Outing Of The Kitchen
When I was growing up as a child in the sixties, kitchens were
always a hidden affair. If it was not separated by a wall from
the other rooms in the house, then a divider had to be installed
to hide it from the rest of the world. Inviting friends...
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Road Bike Selection and Purchase 101
Road bikes will range in price from $500 to over $5000, and vary greatly in design, materials, and performance. The first decision you need to make is road bike or tri set up. What type of riding are you going to be doing? Are you purchasing the bike for multi-sport competition or strictly for road riding, training, and / or racing? A tri bike is used in triathlons and other multi sport events, has aero bars and a more forward (less comfortable) position, can be slightly heavier than a road bike, and is generally less comfortable. The position puts your body more forward over the front wheel and has your torso almost parallel to the ground. The more forward position makes the bike less stable and harder to handle. On some tri handlebars your hands are far from the brakes, and the handling is quick and less controllable. I do not recommend this type of bike for beginner riders. You may sacrifice a bit of weight for aerodynamics, but unless you are moving pretty quickly, the aerodynamics will not pay off much... About 80% of your resistance while cycling comes from the air around you, but you must be moving above 20 mph to gain the full advantage. If you are a slower beginning cyclist the more aerodynamic position is not as much of a factor. I would start off with a road bike.
Second decision; recreation or competition? This is really more about your budget and how competitive you are. A $500 road bike can actually be pretty reliable, but is heavier, requires more maintenance, is not as ergonomic, and the parts wear out faster. There is a trickle down in technology from top of the line road bikes, and an entry level bike can be of surprisingly good quality. Furthermore some entry level bikes can be easily upgraded to make them perform better. An example of an upgrade would be switching to a better wheel set, which perhaps will have the biggest effect on increased speed. Competition level bikes usually start at around $1000. Competition level bikes usually start with a Shimano 105 component group or better. Shimano 105 has all the features of the more expensive groups (Ultegra and Durace), is fully race able and durable, but is a little heavier. Campagnolo also makes excellent bicycle components, but they are usually found on more expensive European models. I have had 105 bikes and full race Durace bikes. The differences are definitely there, but will not be significant to the newer rider. If you are just getting into the sport, an entry level bike may be good enough for you. But if you think you are going to stick with it, and want to be competitive, you should spend the extra money.
Third decision; frame type and material. I believe your best value is aluminum. Aluminum is extremely light, stiff, and relatively inexpensive compared with titanium and carbon fiber. Some complain that aluminum transmits road vibration more than other materials, but manufacturers have gotten much better with this. Carbon fiber is more expensive, but will dampen road vibration over long rides. Titanium is even more expensive, and is no longer the lightest most exotic material. If you buy a ti frame you are buying a long
term investment. I prefer the latest technology (I buy a bike every 2 years). Aluminum is going to give you the most bang for the buck. Manufacturers are starting to use a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber in their frame sets. Another consideration is geometry- compact or traditional. The industry has moved towards (sometimes) lighter compact frames. These frames have a sloping top tube and look smaller. There advantage is quicker more precise handling, but you do not want to take your hands off the bars. The disadvantage can be that they often do not come in as many sizes, and can be more challenging to fit. My preference is a compact, but I am a smaller rider and I find a good fit with these bikes.
New or used? Buying a new bike is like buying a new car. As soon as you drive it off the showroom you are out considerable money, but there is nothing like that new bike feel. If you are not handy, it is going to need regular maintenance (I recommend you learn the basics). Some shops offer a free lifetime maintenance policy. This is a good deal; a full adjustment can run $40+ a pop. If you buy a used bike off of Ebay or from an individual, you may get a lot more bike for the money or you may get a piece of junk. If you want to pair the price down, go used, but don't go cheap. If you are not sure if you are going to stick with cycling this may be the way to go. Either way I highly recommend you get professionally sized, and that does not necessarily mean the sales guy at the shop. An expert will spend a good hour with you examining every aspect of the bikes fit (as many as ten different aspects).
I believe you get your best value with large manufacturers such as Giant, Trek, and Cannondale to name a few. The bikes are mass produced, but are generally very high quality and offer the highest component level for the price. Think of them as the Hondas'. The European models generally have more "panache" with custom colors and even custom fitting. The Porshes' can run up to $8000 but are beautifully hand crafted works of art. A personal recommendation of mine; the Giant TCR2 which I think is one of the best bike values. I believe they are going for around $1300. This puts a world class, extremely light bike in your hands for not a lot of money considering the weight and features. The fall is a great time to buy a bicycle because shops are clearing out the old models to make room for the next years and the Christmas rush. You are also going to need shoes, helmet, water bottle cages, computer, a good pump, flat kit, padded shorts, perhaps a rack, and tool kit. Be prepared, this is not a cheap sport even for the beginner, and there is an initial investment. You can find good prices online for accessories at Nashbar.com, Performancebike.com, or Sportsbasement.com.
About the Author
Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt has coached athletes for CTS (Carmicheal Training Systems), is an Ultrafit Associate. Visit www.thesportfactory.com for more information.
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