New bike itch
Writing about web page http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/jake/jake.php
Hmm,
starting to get that ‘new bike’ itch. Now that winter is hard upon us the road bike just doesn’t look that tempting at the moment, what with having to clean every inch if you don’t want it to fall apart in this weather.
And so thoughts turn to purchasing a winter training bike and my eye is caught by this one:
http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/jake/jake.php
Why? Well, it’s rugged and tough, simply built and with tyres able to handle the crud that lines the roads around me at this time of year. Plus, you can take it off road and it has points for a rack if I want to cart luggage and it may even be able to drag along a trailer when Sam is old enough. It looks like it will be quicker on the road than a mountain bike, which is where I spend most of my time.
So all I need now is £650 or there abouts?
Gah!
03 Dec 2007 15:27
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[Skip to the latest comment]Steve Rumsby
What’s your road bike made from then? Hard to imagine it is made from anything more corrosion-prone than the above. Or am I missing something?
03 Dec 2007, 15:39
well, overstated perhaps but it’s not really a winter bike. Whilst the frame is solid enough the components are probably not really built to withstand so much rain, dirt, and related crappitude. Note that most of my cycling takes place on country lanes covered in muck and grit, not nice tarmac. Fine in the summer, not so hot in the winter.
Also, it’s not really a lugging bike. Doesn’t have points for luggage.
03 Dec 2007, 15:52
Also, note subtle attempt to justify buying a new bike. Please don’t undermine careful case building exercise!
03 Dec 2007, 15:53
Steve Rumsby
But aren’t the components on the Jake pretty much road components? They’re all Tiagra or Deore bits, aren’t they? Are they going to be any more tolerant of general road rubbish than what’s on your current bike. The wheels might be a bit more sturdy. Or maybe not – with so few spokes, those have got to be pretty strong rims, I’d have thought.
03 Dec 2007, 15:59
Steve Rumsby
Oh, oh, sorry. I suddenly understand. You can’t possibly ride your current bike in the winter weather. You are right. I’m sure I remember reading somewhere that they make the more expensive components out of water-soluble materials. Saves weight, you know.
:-)
03 Dec 2007, 16:02
It’s a more versatile frame, according to reviewers, and whilst the components are essentially road there are differences in the brakes, bottom bracket clearance and a few other areas.
But most importantly you aren’t getting the ‘i want a new bike’ vibe here are you….
Also, I would not like to start loading the Trek with stuff whereas the Jake can probably take a greater degree of loading.
03 Dec 2007, 16:07
Ah – post 6 written at the same time as post 5 – you get it!
03 Dec 2007, 16:08
Steve Rumsby
Fatter tyres would certainly be more comfortable, even if run at high pressure. And lugging stuff about is sooooooo much easier with a rack. In fact, that’s about all I use my old bike for these days – chucking stuff in panniers.
What confused me was the combination of “I want a new bike” and “cheaper bike”. “I want a new bike” and “more expensive bike” would have made instant sense.
03 Dec 2007, 16:25
Chris May
I say, go for it, and here’s why…
(a) You don’t need to find £650; That nice Mr. Brown at no. 10 will go halves with you . He’s just bought 40% of a Specialized Langster for me, I’m sure he’d extend you the favour too :-)
(b) Winter frames (that will take mudguards and racks) are definitely the way to go now that the season of crud and salty spray is upon us. Proper full-length mudguards make an enormous difference to the lifespan of your drivetrain, IME.
(c) Riding a cyclocross bike on “proper” off road is not easy, but it is an absolutely hilarious way to spend an hour or two on a wet saturday. On more gentle offroad trails they’re great, although no-one else will be able to keep up with you. The cotswolds are one of the best parts of the UK for cyclocross (in my limited experience!); if you start training now you should be in shape for HONC in the spring :-)
(d) They’re not that great with tag-alongs and trailers though; too twitchy-handling. Get a cheap mountain bike for that.
03 Dec 2007, 16:48
Sue
When you do get your new bike, Tom can you do us all a favour and get on it and not bother coming back.
03 Dec 2007, 19:39
Such anger Sue. I hope one day you find the happiness you are looking for.
03 Dec 2007, 21:24
Sue
I think I’m happier than most people, I certainly have my fair share of happiness although I probably don’t always appreciate it too the full. But I had bad news today which I’m now beginning to get into perspective because nobody has died or been injured in any way. I can’t say I didn’t mean what I said but I thought it must be some sort of wind-up – surely nobody can like bikes that much and your incessant talk about them just really gets on my wick.
03 Dec 2007, 21:39
Anna Davies
I think it looks
prettyfit. Which is obviously a good reason for getting it. If somewhat girly. Chris May’s right-cycle schemes are the way forward!And mudguards are a necesssity unless you want to look like you’ve suffered an unfortunate accident :S
03 Dec 2007, 21:46
Sue
Yes, I think you’re right, Anna, I was just being a bit of a bitch. Every cloud has a silver lining.
03 Dec 2007, 23:45
“surely nobody can like bikes that much and your incessant talk about them just really gets on my wick.”
That may be the case but you don’t have to read the posts or wade in with rather nasty comments thankyou very much. There are plenty of things on blogs that get up my nose but I have the courtesy to recognise that what may not float my boat can be something very interesting to others.
04 Dec 2007, 09:25
Sue
There was nothing discourteous about what I said. Another thing that gets up my nose is people who say “thank you very much” when they obviously don’t really mean it. What’s the point, why not speak the truth? I don’t like the idea of your young son going round on the back of your bike with all the mud and grit flying around either, that’s probably what got my back up originally.
04 Dec 2007, 13:09
Steve Rumsby
A trailer probably wouldn’t be too bad. Because they attach to the chainstay the extra weight is all low down, and they don’t wobble. I’d hate a tagalong on anything vaguely roady, though. They attach to the seatpost, so you feel every single wobble. I’ve tried it and unless the passenger can avoid any sort of wobbling (unlikely unless they can ride well enough that they should be riding themselves), it isn’t a pleasant experience.
I did once cycle both of our kids in the one trailer and it was very heavy, and I was glad of the stupidly low gears on my hybrid (Shinamo 34T “megarange” freewheel & 28T granny ring:-) for getting that up anything even vaguely resembling a hill. Another reason not to try it with a road bike. Small people are heavier than they look!!!
Bike trailers have raincovers that keep all the unpleasant stuff on the outside. No danger at all from mud and grit:
04 Dec 2007, 13:30
Chris May
My young (just-turned-4) son loves riding the tag-along on “proper” offroad stuff, where flying mud and grit are too be sought out rather than avoided. Obviously, a helmet and glasses are mandatory to protect him from the bigger bits, but I think he’d be mightily disappointed if I told him we couldn’t go to Cannock Chase any more because “Sue” disapproved.
04 Dec 2007, 14:00
Steve Rumsby
Typical boy then. Both of you:-)
04 Dec 2007, 15:09
oooh – the Kona looked nice but for £50 more there’s a version of this which just looks…. fabulous…
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Crosslight.htm
04 Dec 2007, 15:38
Sue
I still don’t think it’s a safe way to transport children but I do apologise Tom, after re-reading what I said I realise it wasn’t very pleasant. Life’s to short for bike arguments.
04 Dec 2007, 15:49
Sue
Several other things occur to me apart from the safety aspect of trailing a child on the back which I’m not sure about, it just appears that the child would very vulnerable in that position. But another thing is that the child seems to be very isolated in that position, I would have thought almost incognito so the communication aspect is something that concerns me. In answer to Chris, I wouldn’t have thought your son would be any more disappointed not to be going to Cannock Chase this weeked because “Sue” disapproved any more than if “Tom” disapproved, Sue is my name, there’s no need for the inverted commas.
On the plus side, I realise that cycling is more environmentally sound than going by car and although I have my reservations, these are mainly reserved for cycling on main roads and with children in tow, I enjoy cycling myself when it’s off-road, it’s also very nice in France.
Here’s a poem about cycling by Judith Nicholls:-
Fingers grip
toes curl;
head down,
wheels whirl.
Hair streams,
fields race;
ears sting,
winds chase.
Breathe deep,
troubles gone;
just feel
windsong.
05 Dec 2007, 07:34
anonymous
Did you mean incommunicado, Sue?
09 Dec 2007, 11:36
James Taylor
mental note – make next blog entry “University Only”.
18 Dec 2007, 09:25
‘mental note’ – ha, that’s funnier than I think you meant it to be.
18 Dec 2007, 09:43
Martin
“My young (just-turned-4) son loves riding the tag-along on “proper” offroad stuff, where flying mud and grit are too be sought out rather than avoided. Obviously, a helmet and glasses are mandatory to protect him from the bigger bits”
This is my plan once mylad turns 4, i will take my rig 29er (single speed) out with a tag along, ive seen people attactch a crud cathcer to the frames of the tag along too, and obviosly i will be selective where i ride (no monkey trailing on the tag along!) but otherwise i htink it will be a great way to spend a saturday afternoon in the spring with the lil un keeping me fit and letting him get into biking at the same time.
Also re the cross bike im on themarket for one at the moment and am looking at the focus cross expert on wiggle. lot of bang for buck there although the giant Xtc? is tempting e as i can buy it from Swinnertons and they always take good care of me
22 Mar 2008, 10:50
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