Le bike de cheap (Comments: 4)

4 comments to “Le bike de cheap”

Steve, July 30th, 2007 at 12:30 pm:

• Jason, thanks for the link, and thanks for the comments. I’ve been surprised at the interest expressed in my blog. A lot of people seem to ride their cheapo bikes in secret, or at least don’t admit to it; I think there’s some voyeuristic satisfaction to be had in reading about somebody who advertises the fact he’s riding a POS bike (or BSO, as CommuteByBike calls them). Another fellow test riding the same bike is The Dude at Maple Leaf Test Rides ( mlc-to.blogspot.com ). I can only watch in admiration and awe as he rides his bike into the ground.

  Steve

Jason, July 30th, 2007 at 2:10 pm:

• I love any experiment that involves spitting in the eye of expectations. We’re all taught that the only useful tool is an expensive one, and Bike of Doom is proving that normal folks with normal means can ride bikes, too.

Jack, July 30th, 2007 at 4:03 pm:

• The points about cheapos/beaters/POSs are well taken. But watch out for some drawbacks (I’m not sure if these have been mentioned already): Chrome steel rims, which are common on junk bikes, especially those of a certain age, are a safety hazard in wet conditions, not just while it’s raining but anytime you go through water (or snow, slush, etc.) on the road. Problem is, when wet these steel rims provide almost no braking friction, and that’s obviously a serious problem in traffic, going downhill, you name it. Apart from mountain bikers, most casual cyclists, like motorists, pay great attention to their engines and drivetrains but neglect the really critical element, stopping power. Brake adjustment also is critical. Anyway, all things considered, I favor what’s commonly called “entry-level” gear – high quality but not terrifically more expensive than crap, especially when amortized over the expected operating life of decent gear, which runs to decades. (My old Miyata 618GT touring bike, now 20 years old, and still with most of the original components, rides like a dream, and it’s cost me very little per year.)

Steve, July 30th, 2007 at 9:09 pm:

• I agree with all of that. I do own good bikes as well as the cheapo commuter. There is no comparison in quality of ride, or joy of riding. One of my primary reasons for buying the bike was that I didn’t want to worry about it when I parked it outside at work, or took it to the store. I have felt a remarkable degree of freedom in taking the bike anywhere, locking it up and leaving it. I mean, really, who would want it? Your points about safety are all dead on. I have replaced the brake pads and tires all within 1,000 miles. The rims are some kind of alloy (sorry, don’t know more than that) and I have ridden in a lot of rain this year, and downhill, without problem. I should also point out that one of the unexpected byproducts of owning a really cheap bike is that you learn bike maintenance and repair skills very quickly! Still, when it’s time for a fun ride, I dig out my good bikes.