Cycling Thread

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by cral12

Anyone have this product?

Tacx Sirius Mag Trainer ($350)
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...ag-trainer.jsp

If so, how do you like it? Better alternatives?

I soon to have to have ACL surgery and thinking about rehab in advance.

Thanks

In my opinion, magnetic trainers suck. I tried about 10 trainers in total when I bought mine a couple of years ago and ended up with one very similar to this one:

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...lu-trainer.jsp

It's fairly quiet, let's you shift with your own gears, and is about as close to riding outside as you can, without actually having to go outside. I know the Kurt Kinetic trainers are very popular, and I've been on them twice while getting bike fittings, but I don't think they are that much different than what I bought, and not worth the extra money.

If I was to do it over again I think I'd go with a spin bike instead. If I was to buy a trainer, I'd pick the one I bought again.

[bossy22]

Go with a fluid trainer. I have a cycleops fluid pro. Works great. I had a magnetic trainer prior to this and I much prefer the fluid. I like the idea of a high quality spin bike with a power meter built in, but I can't take it with me places. I like to join the club once in a while for Wednesday night spin sessions. For spin videos I highly recommend sufferfest. Note, They're downloads only. I've have spinerval DVDs as well as cts (Carmichael) DVDs. My favorite is the sufferfest.

[cral12]

Thanks squiggs96 & bossy22 - almost picked up the TACX one. Glad I asked!

[Coys1882]

Every couple of weeks I look at this bike and ALMOST pull the trigger:
http://www.jensonusa.com/Road-Bikes/...t-Road-Bike-12

[pylon]

Thats a heck of a deal. A similar Trek/Specialized/Cannondale will run you arounf $1400 or so. And 105 is bullet proof. How much to ship it here?

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by cral12

Thanks squiggs96 & bossy22 - almost picked up the TACX one. Glad I asked!

I wish there was a you're welcome button.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Every couple of weeks I look at this bike and ALMOST pull the trigger:
http://www.jensonusa.com/Road-Bikes/...t-Road-Bike-12

is it just me and my glass eyes, or does that top tube have a sweet little arc to it?

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by pylon

Thats a heck of a deal. A similar Trek/Specialized/Cannondale will run you arounf $1400 or so. And 105 is bullet proof. How much to ship it here?

$144.00 everything included - no extra fees.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

$144.00 everything included - no extra fees.

Wow, can't beat that.

The only thing I would be careful of, is the weight. Sportchek sells those Jamis road bikes for cheap, and they look pretty awesome for the price. But when you pick them up though, they are ridiculously heavy and you understand why they are so cheap. However, if that bike actually weighs what it is listed as, 21 lbs, that is pretty much in line with the majority of the big name Aluminum road bikes. My Trek 2.1 was 20.5 lbs w/o pedals in a 56 cm, and it was more than light enough. I have my commuter down to 21.5, and most people think it seems ridiculously light when they pick it up.

[#22]

If this is your first foray into road biking and you have your heart set on new, I would say pull that trigger, you're not going to find a better bike for that price new. If you're ok with used, you can find something a bit higher end for the same money locally fairly regularly.

[Coys1882]

Pulled the trigger and ordered the bike - hopefully having a bike shipped here won't prove to much hassle.

Really can't wait until spring now!!

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Pulled the trigger and ordered the bike - hopefully having a bike shipped here won't prove to much hassle.

Really can't wait until spring now!!

Let us know how it goes, Coys1882.

[bossy22]

Bowcycle is having their blue light sale. Lots of good deals to be had.
Cycleops fluid 2 trainers are for $250

http://www.bowcycle.com/bc12/blue-light-special-sale/

[core_upt]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Pulled the trigger and ordered the bike - hopefully having a bike shipped here won't prove to much hassle.

Really can't wait until spring now!!

I bought a roadie through Jensen last year. Bike shipped quickly ans very securely and I was able to finish the assembly in about an hour or two. Congrats!

[Northendzone]

anyone bought from bike nashbar? i am toying with buying this bad boy:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...14_-1___202593

BN's website suggests free shipping to canada, eh; however, i have not read the fine print - yet!! I want to buy a 4 bike unit as the kids finally are both riding two wheelers, so hopefully we can do some mtn biking (i.e. the paved trail in k-country)

took a look at racks ulimited and they have a similar swagman unit for ~$350, looked on kijiji and it lists one swagman for about $100; however, it looks a little rough.

might also use this opportunity to buy myself a bike repair stand - and I think I am going to buy new shorts and a shirt from Chain Reaction.

I may have finally talked the wife into allowing me to fund a new bike purcahse; however, I am feeling guilty about dropping $2,000 on myself - when my current bikes works fine, it is just 10 yrs old and I'd like a new suspension rig, with disk brakes.

[bossy22]

I have the swagman version. It's ok. It works, but can be a royal pain when using a variety of bikes. If we go on a trip with road bikes, the mountain bikes, 29er or downhill, lining everything up so they fit and aren't rubbing can take time. Then of course the next trip, I'm taking different bikes, so I have to shift everything around. It frustrates me. There are better designs out there, but of course, you pay $1000 for those. I'm looking at getting a Kuat this summer.

A buddy loosens his headset and turns his handlebars and removes his seats...that seems to make life easier, but then you're messing with that at the trailhead.

[Coys1882]

Got the bike today - got it put together in about 45 mins but really need to go over it before my first ride.

Looks sweet and is crazy light compared to my hybrid. What a great service this jensenusa seems to be. The only downside seems to be UPS - ding dong, open the door to a box on the steps and the truck pulling away. Good thing I was home I guess.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Bowcycle is having their blue light sale. Lots of good deals to be had.
Cycleops fluid 2 trainers are for $250

http://www.bowcycle.com/bc12/blue-light-special-sale/

Picked one up yesterday - Bossy22 should get a commission!

[Northendzone]

I bought a new bike today, a Rocky Mountain altitude 730.

I will post pictures of it later on this week. Too busy with hockey this weekend......

[JonDuke]

Looking for some advice on buying a new bike...

Last summer, I used a buddy's full suspension, downhill mountain bike that weighed about 50 pounds. I used it as a long distance (for me) road bike. Fell in love with cycling, but don't want to drag that clunker around again this summer, so I'm in the market.

With a budget of about $800+/-, what's a great brand to be looking at?

If I can sidebar for a sec, and compare bikes to watches...

I'm a watch nut. Used to fix them for quite a few years and think I have an above average knowledge base than most people about them. If you ask me about Rolex, I would say, for the money, they are garbage. For half that price, a Tag Heuer or Omega is a superior watch, that you are paying more for whats on the inside than the name of the outside. For a under $1000 watch there is almost no beating a Seiko. They are solid timepieces with decent movements. No hype about the name and they last ages.

So, although I would LOVE the Omega of road bikes, I think I'm looking for more of a Seiko bike. Any advice on what brands to look at?

Is that Diamond Back that's posted above really a great deal?

What about buying second hand? What's the cons to that? And last but not least...where's the best places locally/online to buy, other than Bow Cycle and JensonUSA, which I can also see posted here?