Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Arne** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:57 am

There is a new type of bike out, called 'comfort bike'.. that is not a brand name, but a type of bike with a bigger seat....It really depends on what you are and what you expect from your bike.

I have 2 recumbents, which I really like. I can't sit on a normal bike anymore.... everything hurts.

My rans vivo is dual suspension. The only time I feel any loss to suspension is when I pedal with a lot of force going up a big hill... otherwise, it is great... The other is a easy racers gold rush.... a faster bike with a tiny bit of suspension in the rear...

http://www.bentrideronline.com/reviews/vivo.htm

Both are exceptionally comfortable.... on a short ride (less than 10 miles), I'll take the vivo. It is like riding on a cloud... it absorbs potholes and cracks extremely well.... On longer, more serious rides, I use the gold rush.... I can average about 16 mph on it unless the lay of the land gets real hilly.

by **anonymous2** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:14 pm

Ok ,you never stated what you wanted to spend on a bike. A good quality bike will run about $400-900. My wife has a Cannondale Daytripper comfort bike that is an absolute great ride. Front suspension ,seat has gel isometric suspension,and really big and comfortable. Only has 7 speeds but geared for just about any condition. Seat,handlebars,are multi adjustable,and has high pressure tires.Even has a cup holder{not a bottle holder}. Rides very nice in an upright position. Price $650 I have a Gary Fisher Utopia 27 speed hybrid{leaning toward mountain} hard tail . Has a suspension seat post & front adjustable suspension with disc brakes{ I think a must if you weigh over 200lbs.} Has trigger shifters that are very precise,and quick.Price $800 The recumbent trike the wife & I both fight over is a Whiz Wheels 3.6. It has 27 speeds,and is as comfortable as a recliner chair. Can do unbelievable speeds on the flat.{no wind resistance}Disc brakes can launch you out of the seat. Price $2400. And my only cheap bike is a Kustom Kruiser Slick Daddy. It is a stretched cruiser bike ,3 speed with disc F/coaster R brakes. I have a set of custom made rams horn bars made for it,and the neighbor kids are jealous,and want to ride it . Price $500 Depending where we go and if there are bike trails determines what bikes/trike we take. Our most favorite ride is at Assateaque Island MD. in the winter. Miles of totally flat riding,ocean view,ponies,wildlife,and no one is there. good luck on your bike search. Just one word of advise,stay away from department store bikes. Parts & components,are very cheap,and who do you have fix them. Bike shop bikes cost more but have better components,and they carry parts for them,and have great advise.

Some of our rides{no picture of Daytripper,and KK has old bars on yet}
http://community.webshots.com/photo/524 ... 6027ePbAFU

New bar pic on KK
http://community.webshots.com/photo/524 ... 6027RAtnhQ

pateardropper

by **elmo** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:26 pm

I guess the thing I would do when I was helping people is ask the main questions. How and where are you going to ride? How far? How often do you plan on riding?

If you go to a good bike shop they should be doing the same. Also they shouldn't be trying to up sell you. If you get a bicycle/or whatever and you get home and you feel like you paid to much you aren't going to be happy with your purchase and/or the shop you bought it from. There has been alot of times I switch to a lower priced bike because they told me this was going to be ridden once a week.

Also be reasonable. I don't know how many times I heard, "I can get this bike cheaper at Wally World!" Not really! Because a good bicycle shop stands behind there product. The people are trained at assembly. The parts aren't as good and a bike shop bike will outlast a dept. store bike by many, many, many years. Alot of shops won't work on dept. store bikes so when it breaks it will end up dumpster food. Overall price may be cheaper up front, but in the long run you will be doing alot more reliable miles. Sorry in advance if I offended anyone!

Also a good bike shop will let you ride before you buy. Don't just do a lap around the parking lot, go at least a couple miles. Also try a couple different brands and models.

About 12 years ago I started on a Sears bicycle (since I was a kid anyway) and then went and got a Giant Rincon and then a Cannondale SV 900 and then a Specialized road bike and just kept getting worse. Right now I have 15 family bikes in the basement with a full bicycle repair shop. I am a stay at home dad and do repairs in the basement for fun! And hang out on this site to much.

Have a Happy 4th everyone.

Elmer out

by **Arne** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:55 pm

For the use a bike gets, it is one of the best bargins ever.... I could still be riding my 25 year old Raleigh if I wanted to... I paid $250 for it at the time... that's 10 bucks a year...

If you take care of a bike, it will last you a lifetime.... Every year I own my recumbents, they cost me less per year... other than some routine maintenance, they are my most trouble free posessions...

by **asianflava** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:43 am

I bought a Marin mountain bike about 15 years ago. I dug it out and cleared the dust off of it. I took it in for a tune up and a new chain, the price was pretty reasonable. Now when I hit the brakes it doesn't go squeak squeak squeak anymore.

When I went to pick it up, I told the guy there that it's not as sophisticated as the full suspension bikes of today but it works for me. He said that some people are going back to hard-tails and that it is nice to see one of the old higher end bikes come thru. I had to tell him that it was one of the lower end models of that year.

by **Boodro** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:48 am

Hey Arne , I agree with you on the recumbents. I have almost 500 miles on mine in its first year , I know thats not a lot for a hardcore rider ,but for me its not too bad!

Mine is a EZ1 -S & I love riding it! I can ride at least twice as far on my recumbent than I can on my wedgie bike & be half as tired.
I also get a LOT of looks & comments & questions when I ride. Its like camping in my teardrop! So many people want to talk to you. I have only seen 2 other bents around here, so I guess its a rarity. Good riding! :applause:

by **Arne** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:52 am

Yes, recumbents are similar to teardrop trailers... need to be a little off the middle of the bell curve to own one. I'm not a hard core rider, but do it for relaxation.. I also do some kayaking and swimming....

Good thing. did something really stupid yesterday.. CT river is in flood. went down to my favorite cool-off spot by the river, a rip-rap breakwater turned sand bar. Saw a standing wave about 50 feet off the end of the spit and decided to walk out. Turned out, it was not a standing wave over a shallow sandbar, it was a wave over a pile of rip-rap about 5 feet under... as soon as I waded to it and felt the current, I was reminded of my old whitewater kayak days when my level ot stupidity comes to mind as reality set in. I was 150 feet from shore and got swept off my feet... on top of it, had dog with me... finally had to let go of dog, who beat me to shore... took me about 2 minutes of decent swimming to get out of current...... it wasn't like doing laps at the pool.. In this pic, the spit is on the right and was about 1/2 submerged and walkable... what I did not figure on was the flood water coming down was diverted around the end and was probably running about 5 mph.... I'm not going to do that again. Never underestimate the power of flowing water.

Second pic is when I decided to take my 'walk'..

by **JunkMan** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:56 pm

David Grason wrote:
asianflava wrote:For the most part, all bikes are made offshore (even domestic brands).

WHATTAYOUTALKINABOUT?!! My Harley Davidson was made right here in the good ole USA!

I'm so embarrassed!

You would be surprised how many of those "American Made" parts come from across the pond. Harleys may be American Assembled, but definatly not all American made anymore. Even my 85 FLH has a bunch of imported parts on it.

by **hammer & tongs** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:57 am

I have a Schwinn Mt bike that I have used for 3-4 years now..no problems yet...but then, I am no Lance Armstrong...
I just ride for exercise and pleasure..

Yes one can get a much lighter bike by paying quite a bit more...but if our main thrust for biking is EXERCISE...why worry if it is a bit heavier (better exercise, as I see it)

Someone told me recewntly that VW makes Trek bikes...true or false ?

by **asianflava** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:24 am

hammer & tongs wrote: Someone told me recewntly that VW makes Trek bikes...true or false ?

For a brief time, it was popular for car companies to bundle something with a car and call it a special edition. Lexus had a Coach Edition ES300 which came with a set of Coach luggage. Ford had a Focus they called a Kona which came with a Kona Mt bike. VW had a Trek edition Golf that came a roof rack and a Trek bike.

VW offered that package but I don't think VW makes the bikes.

by **elmo** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:21 am

asianflava wrote:
hammer & tongs wrote: Someone told me recewntly that VW makes Trek bikes...true or false ?

For a brief time, it was popular for car companies to bundle something with a car and call it a special edition. Lexus had a Coach Edition ES300 which came with a set of Coach luggage. Ford had a Focus they called a Kona which came with a Kona Mt bike. VW had a Trek edition Golf that came a roof rack and a Trek bike.

VW offered that package but I don't think VW makes the bikes.

Morning!

Correct Asianflava

Trek is a Waterloo, Wisconsin based company that owns Trek, Gary Fisher, and Lemond.

Most of the higher-end stuff is Made here in the good U.S.A.! Lower end stuff is made in China. It use to be $500-600 and below. I'm not sure about now, that use to be the rule anyway. I think it might be more model type now.

They made bikes for the car companies. You can even find Leinenkugel Beer bicycles! :beer:

Have a great morning everyone! I'll be back soon I am going for a bicycle ride before the wife leaves for work!

Elmer out

by **bledsoe3** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:48 pm

Doesn't Waterloo make just about all toolboxes (Snap-on/Mac/Craftsman)? I think they just make different grades and label them different.

by **asianflava** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:58 am

Waterloo made my Craftsman box I found the tag in the bottom. My first experience with Waterloo was at a trade show.

My roomate and I had an opportunity to buy some toolboxes when we were in school, but being in school, we had no money. We went to a trade show and there was a Waterloo rep there. He knew that we were from the University so he offered his boxes for sale at 1/2 wholesale. He said that it was cheaper to sell them from the show than to ship them from show to show. I had no money but one guy in my class bought one of those wide ball bearing roll cabs (probably 48in) for $750! That sounds high compared to consumer toolboxes but believe me, that is cheap. A comparable Snap-On box would probably cost about 3K or 4K off the truck.

by **wolfix** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:34 am

asianflava wrote:Waterloo made my Craftsman box I found the tag in the bottom. My first experience with Waterloo was at a trade show.

My roomate and I had an opportunity to buy some toolboxes when we were in school, but being in school, we had no money. We went to a trade show and there was a Waterloo rep there. He knew that we were from the University so he offered his boxes for sale at 1/2 wholesale. He said that it was cheaper to sell them from the show than to ship them from show to show. I had no money but one guy in my class bought one of those wide ball bearing roll cabs (probably 48in) for $750! That sounds high compared to consumer toolboxes but believe me, that is cheap. A comparable Snap-On box would probably cost about 3K or 4K off the truck.

Waterloo Industries made the toolbox in Waterloo, Iowa. Trek is made in Waterloo, Wisconsin..... Funny thing is that I worked in a bike shop in Waterloo Iowa that sold Trek made in Waterloo, Wisconsin for a short time right down the street from Waterloo Industries that made Waterloo Toolboxes......

Confused? I am. The reason that TD's are my next project is for a way I can travel cheap to places around the country to ride my bike.

I grew up with Schwinns. I spent time in the Chicago plant in the 70's when they were going strong. But , I'm sad to report that Schwinn went the way of Taiwanese products. Today it is a department store bike that does not do it justice.
You cannot go wrong with Trek.

by **ARKPAT** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:45 am

I bought a used Trek 4100 ( Aluminum frame ) lite that you could pick it up with your index finger. I have ridden it many miles in town and trail riding ( novice ). I paid $300 for the bike used from a local bike shop. It was a trade-in for a newer bike for someone. It just my thoughts maybe used instead of new???

:thinking:

Pat

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

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