Seeking a good hybrid bicycle for < $500 (cross bike, BMX, best)

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by fisher33

i need a new saddle now...my butt hurts.

Without scrolling back, I think I warned you that you will probably need a new saddle. Stock saddles are not known for comfort. Make sure you try as many as you can before settling on one particular saddle. I tried, just now counting at least seven. Some were from performance that were easily returned. The rest were from RBM, which had a pretty lenient return policy, so it didn't rally cost me anything to try-out all the saddles.


BTW, yesterday I went on the 6:30 REI ride and did ok. My knees fared pretty well. I eventually dropped to the back and took a shorter route back to REI, but all in all, I should be ok for the HHH, just have to start getting some real miles in. Cardio-wise, with all this down time, I almost feel like I am starting over.

[fisher33]

i think i remember you suggesting it. you should have said - GET a new saddle. haha. i think we've tweaked everything else as much as possible and my butt just hates me so it has to be done. i will check out a bunch of different ones. our spinning coach and a triathlete in our class swore by their saddles - one was a crx (maybe?) and the other was the terry firefly seat or something like that. any experience with those? what kind do you have?

be careful getting back into full gear. my husband's teacher, dr. wakefield does hhh and says that 1 or 2 people die in it every year! i know you're a pro, but be careful!

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by fisher33

i think i remember you suggesting it. you should have said - GET a new saddle. haha.

I found it. LOL
http://www.city-data.com/forum/4291727-post53.html

Well, I didn't want to scare you away from cycling. I also said "The more higher-end you are considering, you will find yourself spending more time trying to find the right bicycle and test riding than when you look for a new car." Did this hold true?

I think we've tweaked everything else as much as possible and my butt just hates me so it has to be done. I will check out a bunch of different ones. our spinning coach and a triathlete in our class swore by their saddles - one was a crx (maybe?) and the other was the terry firefly seat or something like that. any experience with those? what kind do you have?

I'll swear by mine, but that is only for me. I use the Selle San Marco Aspide Arrowhead (believe it was a $100+ saddle). It just fit me best. I told a friend about it, he bought a couple for his tandem, ended up not liking it after a while. He sold both of them to me for $20 each and I threw in a couple of practically brand new "stock" saddles that I still had from other bikes I had in the past. I made out pretty good, I was able to put those saddles on all my bikes. I hear the Terry Fly is popular with the girls. Don't know about the other. My GF likes her Selle Italia Lady gelflow.

Be careful getting back into full gear. my husband's teacher, dr. wakefield does hhh and says that 1 or 2 people die in it every year! i know you're a pro, but be careful!

Thanks, I only plan on doing the 100k. I won't be ready for the full route. That way I can finish before it reaches 100 degrees. I was there the years people died, they all had heart conditions with doctor's orders not to ride.

[beowulf7]

Originally Posted by fisher33

beo! glad to hear you'll get some riding in soon and you got your bike rack.

i'm not sure about the cycling, here's the nbc page, but i don't know if this means it will be on tv or not...2008 Beijing Summer Olympics - Cycling | Athlete Profiles, Blogs, Videos & Photos | NBC Olympics (http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/ - broken link).

still waiting on those photos too!

i need a new saddle now...my butt hurts.

Thanks for the link - I'll check it out tonight.

Yes, I need to post some pics. Ironically, thanks to the Olympics, I haven't gotten on line much at night. By the time the "live" portion of the events are over, it's about midnight here Central Timezone land and I'm getting ready for bed. At latest, I'll post pics by this weekend.

Sorry to hear your seat is a PITA. I assume you have good bike pants? You can also try seat covers that provide some extra padding.

[beowulf7]

Originally Posted by PanTerra

...

BTW, yesterday I went on the 6:30 REI ride and did ok. My knees fared pretty well. I eventually dropped to the back and took a shorter route back to REI, but all in all, I should be ok for the HHH, just have to start getting some real miles in. Cardio-wise, with all this down time, I almost feel like I am starting over.

Congrats on riding again after the injury. Good luck w/ the Triple H.

Speaking of bike events, is anyone in the D/FW area doing the Diabetes Tour de Cure at TMS in Fort Worth? It's on 10/18/08. I'd like to do it, but I may be out of town that weekend (niece's 1st b-day).

[drjones96]

Originally Posted by fisher33

i think i remember you suggesting it. you should have said - GET a new saddle. haha. i think we've tweaked everything else as much as possible and my butt just hates me so it has to be done. i will check out a bunch of different ones. our spinning coach and a triathlete in our class swore by their saddles - one was a crx (maybe?) and the other was the terry firefly seat or something like that. any experience with those? what kind do you have?

be careful getting back into full gear. my husband's teacher, dr. wakefield does hhh and says that 1 or 2 people die in it every year! i know you're a pro, but be careful!

Saddles are sort of like Putters in golf. Try lots. Find one that works. And then stick with it forever.

After trying a couple of silly gimmikie saddles I eventually settled on the classic Selle Italia Flight; Relatively cheap, Light, Durable, and the shape and firmness suits me.

What works for you may not be the 'latest and greatest' 'in thing' saddle.

[fisher33]

what do we think about this one? Saddles: Butterfly Tri Gel Saddle the bike shop ordered this one for me to try out first. let's hope i like it so i don't have to try out a ton.

also, did you get your helmet right the first time? no matter how much i try to situate mine, it always falls back during my ride and then it messes up my sunglasses and the whole time i'm trying to get my helmet back on the front of my head. it's so frustrating. i might need to try a different one.

fell off my bike again today going around white rock. this time i didn't forget to unclip, i clipped in (kind of by accident) at a stop sign when starting back up and i was going up a little hill and fell over - like an idiot - i was embarrassed even though no one saw me. and i bent my shifter pretty good, so alas, back to the bike shop.

hope you're all having a good riding weekend. it was beautiful today.

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by fisher33

what do we think about this one? Saddles: Butterfly Tri Gel Saddle the bike shop ordered this one for me to try out first. let's hope i like it so i don't have to try out a ton.

also, did you get your helmet right the first time? no matter how much i try to situate mine, it always falls back during my ride and then it messes up my sunglasses and the whole time i'm trying to get my helmet back on the front of my head. it's so frustrating. i might need to try a different one.

You don't want your melmet to sit on the back part of your head like a bonnet. It sounds like your straps need adjusting. The front straps shold be a little shorter. That keeps the front just above your eyebrows. Have your LBS adjust it.

I fell off my bike again today going around white rock. this time i didn't forget to unclip, i clipped in (kind of by accident) at a stop sign when starting back up and i was going up a little hill and fell over - like an idiot - i was embarrassed even though no one saw me. and i bent my shifter pretty good, so alas, back to the bike shop.

hope you're all having a good riding weekend. it was beautiful today.

Was that you on the orange bike? JK, I did the Airport ride, got in 53 miles, and felt ok. I should be ready for the HHH Saturday. I'll do the Sunday Roll - 30 miles, Tuesday REI - 22 miles, Thursday - 33 miles. Then 62 at HHH.

[fisher33]

Yes! that was me! And you didn't stop why? haha, just kidding. A lot of people asked if I was okay and I said yes, I was just afraid to ride the rest if something was wrong w/ my bike but it was fine. I rode it back to the car, my shifter is just all crooked and needs straightening out.

I was more embarrassed than anything!

[beowulf7]

Hello, everyone! PanTerra, nice riding; looks like you're set for HHH.

fisher, whoa, you fell again?! At least you didn't get hurt.

I assembled my XPORT bike rack over the weekend and tested it out in my car. I hand-tightened the bolt onto my 1.25" receiver hitch. I need to get a 3/4" wrench to more securely tighten before I actually take the car out w/ my bike on it.

I rode a couple miles around my neighborhood today and then it started to drizzle, so I packed it in. I plan to ride this coming weekend; hopefully the weather will continue to be sub-100.

fisher, here's a pic of my bike. It's a little old since it doesn't show my new water bottle, headlight, and taillight. But you get the point.