TNL Bicycles Volume I: Wild And Wacky Action Bike

[Nomi]

700x32c, 60tpi.

[MarkRyan]

I used to do a lot of bicycling, 100+ miles a week when I was riding back and forth to school. Barely done any cycling since I moved to SF, though. Last time I tried a serious ride (just to work and back) I was pretty discouraged--it was a tough ride and was the first time I really felt my bike was inadequate.

I currently have a Giant Iguana mountain bike that's too small for me. I got it small 'cause I like the control off road, but on city streets it just sucks. I'm wanting to get something more suited for the road, though I'm not sure I want to go 100% road. I'd like something I can still ride on a dirt path or across some old man's lawn, even if I never do.

I have not looked much into this, but I guess the cyclocross genre of bikes is what I'm looking for? A quick look on the website of a local shop showed this bike, a Giant TCX 2, which looks awesome.

Any opinions? Is there a significant road compromise with a bike like this over a pure road bike? I really like that the TCX 2 is advertised to be able to "tackle nall obstacles."

[Tones]

Well, a thicker tire will always have more rolling resistance, but it would probably be a pinch to switch to road tires on a cyclecross bike. You usually can't change over a standard road bike to cyclecross tires; there just isn't the clearance. It will probably be a bit heavier than a pure road bike, but that will still be a lot lighter than a mountain bike.

[Shooting Love]

yeah, nice ride Nomi!

Our first Friday rides are always memorable, but this month will take the cake.
We did about 27 miles from 8pm-1am, along with 4 six packs, 22s of Colt-45, and a flask of Jagermeister.
With all the melting and refreezing of the snow cover, ruts and black ice caused more than a few spills.
Of 6 of us, only two didn't wreck. Some really memorable wrecks. No injuries besides bruises, thankfully.

With temps in the low 20s we warmed to a little fire at one of the beer stops.

[Nomi]

Whoooa that looks like fun. I really want to go on a social bike ride sometime.

I got love-tapped by a car this weekend. My bike and I are fine (landed in snow bank) but it shook me up. Jackass started to turn and didn't look before pulling up. I was at a crosswalk with the right of way (the city cops all tell the cyclists to use the crosswalk there since it's craaaazy traffic, there's a sign that even says "watch for" with a picture of a bike and then pedestrians.

[Kidnemo]

Sweet story shooting love. I still have a nice GT bmx bike which is totally "gummed up" from mud/water from like five years ago from going on the first ride of the year.

It was a great ride, but my bike payed the price. I still need to break it down totally, clean it, and put it back together.

Nomi - totally shitty. I would like to get a road bike, but basically screw riding in the city because your story is all too common. Luckily you made it out (reasonably) unscathed.

[NGEFreek]

I got home from WalMart with a $30 special.

Its some piece of shit Razor BMX bike. It came with a free helmet and I will post pictures tomorrow or whenever its light enough to take pictures. I can't wait to get a real bike, but this will do to go to and from work.

[Vasteel]

Any opinions? Is there a significant road compromise with a bike like this over a pure road bike? I really like that the TCX 2 is advertised to be able to "tackle nall obstacles."

I'm with you on preferring the control a smaller frame provides, but for commuting any distance you really need to be sized properly, and your knees and back will thank you for it.

Anyway, my opinion is that the only major reason to go 'cross over straight road is durability and if you're gonna go for an aluminum frame, that point becomes moot. So I'd say go straight road unless you're gonna frequently be carrying weight (groceries, etc.) where the thicker tires will be beneficial or you're just really uncomfortable riding on blades.

Whoooa that looks like fun. I really want to go on a social bike ride sometime.

I got love-tapped by a car this weekend. My bike and I are fine (landed in snow bank) but it shook me up.

Glad you're okay. I have some pretty gnarly shit happen and it still shakes me up, but so far I've been okay and back in the saddle. A couple of weeks ago I'm bombing down a pretty major road, in the bike lane, and some old lady managed to clip my jacket sleeve with her side mirror. I was absolutely fine, but it scared the piss out of me and the ancient dingbat didn't even realize what she'd done.

I got home from WalMart with a $30 special.

Its some piece of shit Razor BMX bike. It came with a free helmet and I will post pictures tomorrow or whenever its light enough to take pictures. I can't wait to get a real bike, but this will do to go to and from work.

Well, on the one hand you've got a piece of junk, but on the other, $30 is a good price for a helmet alone, and that's essential. I'd like to take a minute to remind you all for the love of all that's good, always wear a helmet. Always.

[Shooting Love]

I still have a nice GT bmx bike which is "gummed up" from mud/water from like five years ago from going on the first ride of the year.

Am I reading that right; you haven't ridden it in 5 years?
What's keeping you, get out there and do some wheelies!
(I can't wheelievery well.)

Nomi - totally shitty. I would like to get a road bike, but basically screw riding in the city because your story is all too common. Luckily you made it out (reasonably) unscathed.

It is all to common.fuckers.
Glad your ok Nomi.

I'd like to take a minute to remind you all for the love of all that's good, always wear a helmet. Always.

Agreed.
There is a lot of random shit that can take you out while biking. Plus, being perched up on top of that wheeled frame does wonders for throwing you into the ground in a manner that your reflexes can not recover.

Honestly, I never wore a helmet, until faceplanting last month during a night trail ride. While looking over my shoulder for the guy behind me, a petrified mangled tree stump (that I knew was there) hooked my front wheel, the bike flipped 90 degrees in a blink of an eye, and I was kissing dirt.
A standard helmet wouldn't have saved my teeth had there been rocks, but the concept that I'm not 18, nor capable of rolling or diving out of anything, became crystal clear.

Whoooa that looks like fun. I really want to go on a social bike ride sometime.

It is good fun, and something I now look forward to every month.
I don't have any idea how you go about finding a good group to ride with...
I literally just ran into these guys on the trial one night.

The local bike shops around here have a few group rides every season, but they're usually fund raisers of some sort where you have to get pledges or make donations or something.

Seems like a riding club would be a reasonable thing to find at a college campus, but I've never known of one.
You should start one!

[Kidnemo]

Am I reading that right; you haven't ridden it in 5 years?
What's keeping you, get out there and do some wheelies!
(I can't wheelievery well.)

Nah, that's just my bmx bike.

I have a specialized mountain bike that I haven't ridden (other than a couple of times) in two years haha.