Peep Jousters: The Original Peep Warriors (Page 13)

chikopiakomak - 2008-03-06 10:06 AM UMMMMM - well now you'all get to see how super remedial i am with the whole tech/blog thing - it took me forever to get my avatar up... and I had to get help from Lynne! BTW thanks! and I'm the cute one , it's going to be hell swimming with all that fur! So i clicked on the link Nicole sent – was that right? At work I just call the IT guy and ask him to put a shortcut on my desktop for whatever I need to get to – true confessions – this is my first time blogging – and it feels SO GOOD~!!!! Anyway, maybe a link would be best for me…. Especially since it’s really hard to type with those big paws Thanks.

LOL....great job Karen....before long we will be coming to you with IT questions! and so right about being cute! I was just on your site....you are doing great! KIU! you have a great support team here on BT...make sure to ask any and all questions...someone here will probably know and if not...we can send you in the right direction....KIU GIRL!!!

lyssa-gator - 2008-03-06 12:04 PM so i just sent in my application to be on team javelin. NOW i'm excited! i think it's awesome! also, seems like there was something else i was going to say, but i got all excited about the javelin thing, so it's all gone now. ooh!! something shiney!! *runs away*

hey....I am going to apply too! we can have our northern pacific girly team! YAY~ oh, plus CHR15 of course...!

lyssa-gator - 2008-03-07 10:21 AM ok, julie, i found a bike that i'm looking at, but i don't know how to figure out what size i need. it starts out at 50 CM and goes to 64 cm i have NO idea what i'm measuring. i THOUGHT i was measuring from my.....um.....stuff to the floor, but that was like 75 cm so i don't think that's it. LOL anyway, it's a trek 1.5 triple (is that good?? it looks better that what i'm driving now, and it's not a bad price, but i really dont even know what i'm looking for)

Lyssa - have you got an LBS that sells Trek? Its really best if they measure you up!

Im a 5'2 woman and I ride a 50cm Trek frame... but I fit the mens bikes, the womens trek bikes do NOT fit me comofortable...

Also I have a trek mountain bike which I think (if I remember correctly) is actually a different frame size to my roadie...

I realise this is no help at all...

Edited to say: Trek is a pretty good reliable brand and you should have no trouble if yuo have isssues wit hthe bike... what is the componentry on it? Id say aim for 105 if you can afford it...

Oh and the triple should help with all those hills!

Great!!! Tell them you are interested in the Trek 1.5 bike, they can figure out the size! Ask them about the details like:

- Can you test ride it (either on the road or in the shop on a trainer because if its not comfy dont get it) For the test ride they will have to size up your frame, make sure you wear your cycle shorts while riding to get a feel for it

- Ask them if they do bike fits and tell them how you are going to be riding it (if you get fitted take EVERYTHING you normally wear when riding with you so it is fit to how you ride)

- Dont let them talk you into too many extras... you will probably want bottle cages, a pump/little tool bag for carrying spare tubes (youll want some of these) and tools on the bike, lights (if you are going to be riding in the dark), pedals and bike shoes (if you dont already have them).

As a beginner I would say leave the aerobars, bento box and other tri goodies until you are used to riding on the bike!

- One other item: Saddle.... finding the right one can be hard depending on what your behind is like... ask if they will swap out the current saddle (if you find it uncomrfortable) and let you trial a few (possibly on the trainer in the shop but you will need to ride for a little while to figure out whats comfortable_

- Componentry... Id suggest getting 105 if you can afford it as the minimum

- Finally: If you want to look after your bike ask if someone can show you the basics like how to change a flat tire, clean the bike etc...  they should be happy to show you!

Then... just ask any other questions that come to mind! Its a BIG purchase so they should be more than happy to answer anything for you

You'd be fine either way Lyssa!!!

FWIW - most local bike shops need repeat business to stay alive. They need you to like them so yuo will come back from tubes, upgrades, servicing etc. Its like any loyal retail shop... they need YOU to stay alive...

So hopefully they will treat you well and give yuo lots of time. If you can go into the shop when they arent super busy (avoid weekends if possible) then you will likely get lots of time with them talking to you...

If you do make a decision on the bike call them up in advance and tell them you will be coming in on x day and time to 'test ride' the bike because they will probably need advance warning to build the bike up for you, and to make sure someone is there to set the bike up for you...

When I got my bike I knew NOTHING much about them... I ended up buying from the Trek dealer because they took the time and effort with me and that made all the difference!

As long as yuo enjoy riding it, Id say it doesnt really matter what you ride!

I'd rather have this

ScotinSeattle - 2008-03-07 12:34 PM

I'd rather have this

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thats pretty.... so many bikes Id love to have.... De Rosa, Bianchi, Pinarello, Colnago... Tomassini....

Thats before even talking TT bikes

lyssa-gator - 2008-03-07 2:49 PM LOL i don't even know what any of that means!! well, dh said perhaps we'd go down to oregon so we don't have to pay sales tax. he likes giant, i saw a cannondale that i super liked (no idea what it was, just saw a guy riding it, and thought-yeah, that's looking super good!!-nothing WHATSOEVER about the rider!!LOL) it'll probably be a while, since we're trying to move and all, so i'm going to have to make due at least for another month, which means getting my arse on my mt bike. (which TOTALLY makes my arse look big lynne, just wait'll you see!!) so i'm heading up to seattle tomorrow to see my sister (dh has a confrence, so i'm staying at my sisters house while he's there) maybe i'll make a run to speedy reedy, or bikes west or whatever, just to look around, and oogle stuff!! LOL any other great stores i should hit?? maybe REI? something like that, i'm up for anything. now i gotta get me a drink of irish cream (after i get the kiddies to bed-well, after DH gets the kiddies to bed LOL) then cuddle up with dh and watch a movie. (or wrestle, or have a vs modeling show, you know, or whatever LOL) ETA-well GREAT!!! now i can NEVER post again!! or i'm going to lose ALL my pretty stars!!! oh MAN!!!

Lyssa -any well known brand should be fine in terms of a bike... just make sure you are happy with it and WANT to ride it!!!

If its fit well, comfortable and YOU like it... you will be great!

(As for that list above... they are just European bike brands)

As for the stars... that part of the fun... you loose some but then you get more and more and more again....

<--------- I recently lost a whole lot of mine but I know they will come back... they always seem to eventually!

lyssa-gator - 2008-03-06 7:49 PM LOL i don't even know what any of that means!! well, dh said perhaps we'd go down to oregon so we don't have to pay sales tax. he likes giant, i saw a cannondale that i super liked (no idea what it was, just saw a guy riding it, and thought-yeah, that's looking super good!!-nothing WHATSOEVER about the rider!!LOL) it'll probably be a while, since we're trying to move and all, so i'm going to have to make due at least for another month, which means getting my arse on my mt bike. (which TOTALLY makes my arse look big lynne, just wait'll you see!!) so i'm heading up to seattle tomorrow to see my sister (dh has a confrence, so i'm staying at my sisters house while he's there) maybe i'll make a run to speedy reedy, or bikes west or whatever, just to look around, and oogle stuff!! LOL any other great stores i should hit?? maybe REI? something like that, i'm up for anything. now i gotta get me a drink of irish cream (after i get the kiddies to bed-well, after DH gets the kiddies to bed LOL) then cuddle up with dh and watch a movie. (or wrestle, or have a vs modeling show, you know, or whatever LOL) ETA-well GREAT!!! now i can NEVER post again!! or i'm going to lose ALL my pretty stars!!! oh MAN!!!

Well Lyssa. I just thought of something. If you guys had time you could hit the bike expo at QWest even center this weekend! I'm planning to go on Sunday. We should meet up! 

lyssa-gator - 2008-03-06 3:21 PM ok, julie, i found a bike that i'm looking at, but i don't know how to figure out what size i need. it starts out at 50 CM and goes to 64 cm i have NO idea what i'm measuring. i THOUGHT i was measuring from my.....um.....stuff to the floor, but that was like 75 cm so i don't think that's it. LOL anyway, it's a trek 1.5 triple (is that good?? it looks better that what i'm driving now, and it's not a bad price, but i really dont even know what i'm looking for)

LOL....THEN LOL LOUDER!

The following rules of thumb should be applied when you try a bike for size:

Racing Bikes: Standing flat footed on the ground, you should have a minimum of 1" clearance between yourself and the top tube of the frame

Mountain Bikes: Standing flat footed on the ground, you should have a minimum of 3" clearance between yourself and the top tube of the frame.

A simple calculation can be used to estimate your required frame size if you are not able to sit astride a bike to measure:

Measure your inside leg measurement to the floor, subtract 3" (for mountain bikes, or 1" for road bikes) then subtract 10" (the average distance from the bottom bracket to the ground). This will give you the maximum frame size that you will need.

But buying a bike of the correct size is not just about the height from the ground. As bikes get bigger height-wise, they also get longer. The distance from the saddle to the handle bars increases by on average 1" for every 2" increment in frame size. So you must also make sure that though you may be able to stand astride a bigger framed bike, that you can still comfortably reach the handlebars and manage all the controls. Remember that the saddles on all bikes are adjustable by between 4" and 10" so any bike can be tailored to fit you perfectly.

The main thing to remember is that a bike which is too big can be difficult to control - this can be very dangerous.

Hope that helps! love the um...measurements you took....did the DH help?

kaqphin - 2008-03-06 3:46 PM

lyssa-gator - 2008-03-07 10:21 AM ok, julie, i found a bike that i'm looking at, but i don't know how to figure out what size i need. it starts out at 50 CM and goes to 64 cm i have NO idea what i'm measuring. i THOUGHT i was measuring from my.....um.....stuff to the floor, but that was like 75 cm so i don't think that's it. LOL anyway, it's a trek 1.5 triple (is that good?? it looks better that what i'm driving now, and it's not a bad price, but i really dont even know what i'm looking for)

Lyssa - have you got an LBS that sells Trek? Its really best if they measure you up!

Im a 5'2 woman and I ride a 50cm Trek frame... but I fit the mens bikes, the womens trek bikes do NOT fit me comofortable...

Also I have a trek mountain bike which I think (if I remember correctly) is actually a different frame size to my roadie...

I realise this is no help at all...

 

Edited to say: Trek is a pretty good reliable brand and you should have no trouble if yuo have isssues wit hthe bike... what is the componentry on it? Id say aim for 105 if you can afford it...

Oh and the triple should help with all those hills!

BUMP

x2

We just bought our DD a Trek and she loves it!

Oh I just got bumped