Poll: What kind of bicycle do you ride?

[Hashime]

What kind of bicycle do you ride? I could break this down in a very detailed fashion, but most people are not that into bikes, so knowing the difference between a flip-flop and a coaster hub is lost an many.
Here are the categories:
Mountain Bike: Notarized by a heavy frame, 1.5' or larger tires, and suspension. If you are unsure look at the gears, a mountain bike will have much lower gear ratios.

Road / Racing Bike: These have thin tires, usually less than an inch, also they have larger rims, usually 700+mm. A racing bike is also characterized by bent down handle bars. They will also have very high gear ratios, and normally have no suspension.

Hybrid: These bikes are sort of a combination of the above two. They will have a heavier frame but thinner tires (7/8 to 1.5"). They usually have higher gear ratios, and no suspension.

Specialty: For those that know bikes the above 3 categories is not enough. If you have a fixed wheel, free-wheeler, velodrome, flip-flop, reclined, vintage, coaster, bmx, or specialty mountain style bike (like a snow-floater) post it here and give a description.

If you have more than one post the type you are using right now.

I am also curious how many ice bikers are out there, and I can answer any bike questions you have.
DAMN POLL DID NOT WORK GRRRR

 

[Marter]

I think it's a mountain bike. I don't know, I haven't really paid much attention to what type it is. It's good at going up hills, that's all I know.

 

[Nimcha]

A rusty old one with bits and pieces falling off. But that's a good thing, means there's less chance it'll be stolen.

 

[Lilani]

A really old Huffy hybrid. It's not quite a mountain bike, but not quite a racing bike, either.

Oh, and it's supposed to be a 12 speed, but only 9 or 10 of the gears work.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

A Giant Roam some number hybrid bike, which actually (and thankfully) does feature front wheel suspension. I <3 that thing...

 

[Hashime]

I my winter bike is a Trek Antelope 830. It is a mountain bike, a climber. It has no suspension which I prefer due to greater control on ice. 27-speed, 26' rims with knobby tires for snow.

My summer bike is a vintage 10-speed. Probably late 1970's. I can get it up to about 50km/h easily.

 

[Hashime]

A Giant Roam some number hybrid bike, which actually (and thankfully) does feature front wheel suspension. I <3 that thing...

I am not actually a fan of suspension, I find it is easier to control a fixed frame in wet conditions.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

A Giant Roam some number hybrid bike, which actually (and thankfully) does feature front wheel suspension. I <3 that thing...

I am not actually a fan of suspension, I find it is easier to control a fixed frame in wet conditions.

We don't get a lot of rain here, at least this time of the year, but a storm last summer has left my favourite trail resembling a field of boulders and loose gravel. I've never appreciated suspension quite so much before...

 

[loc978]

Mountain bike with full suspension at the moment. My hardtailed hybrid is in need of a rear derailleur mount... damn pot metal broke on me.

 

[Hashime]

Mountain bike with full suspension at the moment. My hardtailed hybrid is in need of a rear derailleur mount... damn pot metal broke on me.

The vibration does not bother me anymore, so I am cool with it.
I also find scaving parts to be a good source. Assuming it is a Shimano parts should not be hard to find. Just go to your nearest university an you will find some abandoned bikes.

 

[loc978]

Unfortunately, my broken bike is an old HM with an odd-shaped three-hole mount... I've taken it to a couple of shops where they just scratch their heads an offer to sell me a new bike, but I'm not having it, that piece of crap took me all over Germany, parts of Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria. It finally gave out on me three miles from home back here in the states... so I feel some sort of irrational loyalty to it. I'll get that part if I have to fabricate it myself.

 

[TehCookie]

I don't know how people can ride bikes up mountain. I tried going up a steep hill on my mountain bike and I just slid back down (I blame the pine needles), it does work great with misshapen trails though.

 

[Hashime]

Unfortunately, my broken bike is an old HM with an odd-shaped three-hole mount... I've taken it to a couple of shops where they just scratch their heads an offer to sell me a new bike, but I'm not having it, that piece of crap took me all over Germany, parts of Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria. It finally gave out on me three miles from home back here in the states... so I feel some sort of irrational loyalty to it. I'll get that part if I have to fabricate it myself.

Well, that will be tough. I have had to do that before, but I have access to a full shop. Just remember to use stainless steel and get the threads right.

 

[TeeBs]

I ghetto rigged my mountain bike to have no handle bars, because I dont need them to ride my bike.

 

[Hashime]

I ghetto rigged my mountain bike to have no handle bars, because I dont need them to ride my bike.

cool, how do you power up hills?

 

[Hashime]

The one I've been riding recently - usually, I drive my Volkswagen Golf - is an 18-speed hybrid. I don't like cycling. I don't like to know that my body red-lines at 20mph when that's a slow cruise for a car.

Also, fuck fixed-wheel bicycles. Mechanical conveyances developed multiple gears for a damn good reason.

Well, fixed gear bikes are good for advanced riders who are on relatively flat terrain. The advantage is less friction due to the chain being in a straight line, and less weight. A front and rear gear system can weight 5lbs.
A fixed gear rider will not always have perfect gear ratio, but if chosen well the gear ratio will give the rider an advantage.
Free-wheelers have the ability to coast, there is the one way only mechanism.
Fixed-wheelers require pedaling to move, not coasting. In a flat area this can be advantageous because you can ditch brakes, and you get a little more efficiency. This in not a good setup if there are ant real hills in the area.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Uh. I usually ride a mountain bike, but recently I've been riding a tiny little shitty racer.
I got it as a loan from a friend. It is terrifying to ride that thing.
I can feel every jostle in my soul.

 

[Hashime]

Uh. I usually ride a mountain bike, but recently I've been riding a tiny little shitty racer.
I got it as a loan from a friend. It is terrifying to ride that thing.
I can feel every jostle in my soul.

Tip: Never put your full weight down on the seat while riding a racer, you will pop a tire. The best position to ride from is where you skim the seat but have all your weight on the pedals, the bike can then move independently of you.