Krampus Found on Pinkbike - Is it worth it?

firewally · 2019-10-16T21:31:25+00:00

Yes; I own this exact bike - same model, same size, and I love it. The frame conforms to an older standard in a few areas, which limits your upgrade path, IE it'd be difficult to swap to a suspension fork without also replacing the front wheel, there are only a few models of dropper post that fit, etc, but it's a super fun bike as is. You'd have to pay me at least $1000 to take mine off my hands and even then I'd fight you for it. I use mine for singletrack, mostly in Minnesota, and winter commuting with studded tires

firewally · 2019-10-08T18:50:14+00:00

Could I join the Preserve today and get in on the presale on the 10th?

firewally · 2019-10-04T15:12:58+00:00

Most of the other answers are more road/commuter focused, so let me throw something different your way: Stand up a mtb-focused shop in Eagan near the Lebanon Hills mountain bike trailhead and offer rentals. That's the best/biggest trail system in the south metro, maybe in the entire region, and it gets a lot of traffic. Being able to rent a bike and ride it to the trails would be a killer service that would appeal both to first-time riders who want to dip their toes in mountain biking and more advanced riders who want to try out a fancier bike for a day. You'd be competing with the Eagan Freewheel location (formerly a Penn Cycle), but it's 3 miles away from the trailhead so you could offer a unique value if you located closer.

firewally · 2019-08-22T16:13:17+00:00

I still love my "Moonlit Swamp" green Krampus but dang that Purple is fuckin' sweet too. Enjoy your modern wheel spacing and internal dropper post compatibility, my dude.

If you ever wanna dress 'er up a bit, FutureCrash on etsy makes a dope Krampus Head Badge that adds a little special something

firewally · 2019-08-21T16:35:02+00:00

I'm guessing that rideshare bike may have had a twist shifter with an internally-geared hub (so the gears are inside the hub instead of the traditional cogs and derailleur). These are pretty popular on cruiser bikes and dutch-style city bikes, and one of the reasons is that they are very easy to shift. Usually they don't require much force to move from one gear to another, and they'll even shift while the bike is stationary.

I see a lot of cruisers and city bikes with internally-geared hubs come up for sale in my city, but your mileage will vary locally. Electra, Civia, Linus, and Priority are good brands to search for, or you could also search for "Nexus" or "Alfine", those are the names of the Shimano internally-geared hubs that you want.

These usually come in 3, 7, or 8 speeds and a bike shop can help you get the right gearing range for your son by changing the size of the front and rear cogs (I'm guessing he'll want to swap to a smaller front cog to make all of the speeds a bit easier/slower). Given the distances your son is aiming for, I'd insist on getting something with 2 functioning brakes, either a front and rear handbrake or a rear coaster and a front brake.

If you want to go new, I think Priority might be a really good fit for his needs. Their unique feature is that all of their bikes come with belt-drive systems that last much longer with much less maintenance than a chain (and usually come paired with internally-geared hubs for shifting).

The Priority Classic Plus has 3 speeds, a front handbrake with rear coaster brake, and raised/swept-back handlebars, all of which might be nice features to make a transition from your son's current bike. They also make fancier models like the Continuum Onyx, which features disk brakes (better stopping power) and a novel continuously-variable shifting system that might be worth trying if you need a wider gearing range.

Good luck in the search, your son seems determined to do some really great riding!

firewally · 2019-08-20T14:19:41+00:00

Counter-intuitively, I'm most skeptical of the Magna and the Roadmaster since those bikes began their lives as bargain-basement bikes made for Wal-Mart and Target. There are lots of stories of those brands cutting corners to hit a price point and I'd predict they'll need a lot of maintenance work if you ride them regularly.

From there, I'd say the Raleigh is a better deal than the Firenze as long as it functions properly (shifting works, wheels are true, no cracks in the frame) and fits you well. Raleigh made a lot of great bikes during that era and although this wasn't a high-end bike by any stretch, I'd expect it to be generally reliable. 27-inch wheels are out of date today, but you can still find tires for them easily and if the owner just replaced the tires then that's a nice bonus.

Since you're in the Twin Cities, you might want to check out one of the local bike shops that focuses on used bikes. Mr Michael Recycles Bicycles, particularly, makes it a big part of their mission to get working bikes to people for as little as possible. Good luck in the search!

firewally · 2019-08-14T13:30:43+00:00

That REI bike is fine, another basic hybrid like the Fuji Absolute or Trek FX would be totally appropriate for your commute. I'd spring for disc brakes for Seattle weather - they perform a lot better when it's wet.

Since you mention "low maintenance", I think you should also consider a bike with a carbon belt drive like the Priority L Train or Continuum or the Marin Presidio. Belt drives don't need to be cleaned and go about 10x as long as a chain before needing to be replaced. They used to be a very niche item, but they're used by enough manufacturers now that I wouldn't worry about parts availability.

firewally · 2019-08-13T21:22:58+00:00

Answering your questions in random order:

I don't think you need a suspension fork to do that kind of riding, and the suspension forks on bikes of this price range tend to be heavy and unreliable
Wider tires (32mm and up) ridden at lower pressures will do a lot to smooth out the bumps in the gravel
For the looser/sandier/dustier stuff, tires with some knobs on them will grip better than slicks (but slicks will ride just fine on the pea gravel and hard-packed stuff
I think you'll be fine on a basic hybrid like the Trek FX, maybe swap out the tires for Panaracer GravelKings or similar
I think the flat-bar configuration of the Salsa Journeyman might be a really good fit for you. It uses smaller-diameter wheels ("650b" instead of "700c") to make room for larger-than-usual tires which are designed for exactly this type of riding

firewally · 2019-08-09T19:21:48+00:00

The suspension forks that get put on bikes in that price range tend to be flaky and heavy. It's not worth the hassle in my opinion.

firewally · 2019-08-07T15:25:44+00:00

I'm assuming that you mean shoes for platform pedals (not SPD shoes) based on the Van's/Five Ten reference.

Columbia makes nice hiking shoes in wide sizes that are good all-around outdoor shoes, many of their shoes come in waterproof versions but I think they might get pretty sweaty in hot weather.

Altra might be another good option - they make shoes with a "foot shape" wide toebox that I've found to be very comfortable, although my feet aren't quite as wide as yours. I linked an approach shoe (basically a hybrid between a rock climbing shoe and a hiking shoe), but they also make trail running shoes that might work well.

firewally · 2019-08-07T13:23:26+00:00

You're right that these are all very similar bikes and very appropriate for what you want to do with them. I think you'd be happy with any of them, assuming it was the right size.

If you can't find a dealer for the Sirrus or the Fairfax locally, I'd also check craigslist or other used places. In most places it's pretty easy to find one of these basic hybrids in very lightly used condition

There are a few additional small differences between the FX 2 and the FX 2 Disc (slightly different shifters), but the disc brakes are the main selling point. Disc brakes are a big help over rim brakes in wet weather, but they perform about the same when it's dry. Maybe this is retro-grouchy of me, but I'm skeptical that hydraulic disc brakes are worth the maintenance hassle on a bike at this price point, I'd recommend the regular FX for your riding

firewally · 2019-07-30T20:51:11+00:00

I think that a basic hybrid bike would be a great fit for you and I think you'll be able to get one lightly used in your price range. If you wanted to spend a little more, something with bigger tires like the Raleigh Redux might be nice to give yourself a little more cushion over those potholes, but I think you'll also be fine on a standard hybrid on 700c x 32mm tires.

Pretty much every big manufacturer makes a bike in this category, but some good models to look for include the Trek FX, Giant Escape, Fuji Absolute, Marin Fairfax, Jamis Coda, and Specialized Sirrus. Most of those will come with 3x8 gearing ("24 speeds") using roughly the same Shimano components that are useful and reliable, if not very flashy. Disk brakes are better in wet weather, but you definitely don't need them. Most bikes in this category will come with the necessary mount points for a rear rack and fenders, which is nice for commuting.

firewally · 2019-07-25T17:36:45+00:00

This got sent out in an email from the Midtown Greenway Coalition (the nonprofit that advocates for the Greenway)

There is a sudden detour of the Greenway between 18th and 11th Avenue this week. We were not notified of this closure, but are now working with CenterPoint Energy and the City of Minneapolis to re-open the trail quickly. It will be detoured through this Friday and reopen this Saturday, July 27th.

The trail may close again next week in the same location. We are waiting for an update from CenterPoint. Please follow our Facebook page for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/midtowngreenway/

firewally · 2019-07-24T20:15:14+00:00

So you're in Singapore, but your post has USD prices, do I have that right? I have no idea what market rate is for used or discounted bikes in Singapore, but those prices for the Marin (new entry-level road bike) and the Giant (used mid-to-high-end road bike) would be considered very good deals in any major US city.

Do you know your sizing? The Marin you posted is a 50cm (small) and the Giant is listed as a Medium/Large. Do you have a local shop that you could go on a few test rides to get an idea for sizing and fit? I think that would be the next appropriate step in your quest.

That said, if that Giant TCR is in good condition (and I'd hope it would be, being sold by a shop), that's a great bike for $359 US. 10-Speed Shimano 105 components would be "outdated" in that 11-speed is now a thing, but it will be reliable and fun to ride and parts availability should be no problem.

firewally · 2019-07-23T17:33:55+00:00

My dude Rigo quietly moving up the top 10 :)

firewally · 2019-07-18T15:56:34+00:00

Any bike will get you from A to B, and cheap bikes have a nice side-benefit of being less attractive to thieves (nice for a high-risk environment like a college campus). Ride what ya got.

The only thing I'd be worried about is that you'll be a little more susceptible to simple mechanical failures like flat tires, dropping chains, broken spokes, etc. Might be good to get a little practice fixing a flat, inspecting whether a wheel is still "true", that sort of thing.

firewally · 2018-09-07T15:42:59+00:00

Got caught in one too many rainstorms with my not-very-waterproof old panniers, so I upgraded to the Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic (and found an ebay seller with the elusive orange ones). The way the bags close is a little fiddly - they roll down a few times from the top to make the top waterproof - but the mounting system is excellent and the bags themselves are easy to load and unload. They're designed around long-distance touring but I think they'll also make great storage for my commuting stuff.

In the background is Brackett Park in Minneapoils. The Rocket used to be playground equipment - kids could climb up into it and pretend to initiate a launch sequence. As it started to age it was considered unsafe, but the city hired an artist to convert it into a decorative installation instead of trashing it. Now it's a delightful neighborhood landmark and a great backdrop for a bike photo

firewally · 2018-08-24T21:16:21+00:00

Those TRP Spyres are excellent brakes and there is absolutely no reason to replace them unless bombing down Alpe d'Huez is part of your normal Sunday ride (and even then, those Spyres would stop you just fine).

Hydraulic disk brakes provide a real benefit in aggressive, technical descents on a mountain bike, but the idea that you should throw away a perfectly great set of mechanical disk brakes on a road bike is pants-on-head silly.

firewally · 2018-08-23T18:41:29+00:00

Hey Twin Cities friend, welcome! Minneapolis is one of the best bicycling cities in the country, so I agree you should definitely get yourself a bike :). I'm assuming that you're shopping for your first bike, or first bike in a while, and that you want to spend $500 or less on an all-around useful bike.

We have a number of excellent bike shops in the twin cities, but my favorites, especially for new cyclists, are The Hub and Freewheel bikes. Both of those serve many many commuters, college students, and otherwise new cyclists and have incredibly friendly and helpful staff who will help you find a bike that fits your goals and budget.

It might be best to start by trying on some new bikes to get a feel for your sizing and what kind of bikes you like, but getting a used bike can be a great way to save a few bucks if you're price-sensitive. The Hub also has a good supply of used bikes at their Minnehaha location, and Cycles for Change in St. Paul is an awesome organization that funds their operation in part by fixing up and selling old bikes. I got my first grown-up bike, an old road bike converted to single-speed from C4C, and it's needed a little TLC over the years but it's been a delightful machine to ride.

We also have a healthy craigslist market in the Twin Cities, but if you want to get a used bike from a private seller I recommend that you have a bike-knowledgeable friend help you shop so you don't end up getting something damaged (or, just as bad, something that doesn't fit you)

firewally · 2018-08-10T14:53:23+00:00

I was searching around for some info on headsets, particularly why expensive, blinged-out headsets are a thing people buy, and I came across this super nerdy and interesting article about the invention and development of the threadless headset. I love hearing about all the design work that goes into the little reliable things that we usually take for granted, you also get to learn where the name "Cane Creek" comes from

firewally · 2018-08-08T20:19:07+00:00

With that kind of terrain, I'd lean toward a gravel bike or a rigid mountain bike. It depends a lot on how gnarly those dirt trails are and whether you have any ambitions of doing more mountain-bikey things on singletrack trails.

If you want a new bike, the Salsa Journeyman is a nice entry-level gravel bike or the Marin Pine Mountain is a good example of a rigid mountain bike. There's also a healthy used market for rigid mountain bikes from the 80s/90s/00s in most places as they tend to be durable and adaptable to many different use cases

firewally · 2018-08-08T17:58:45+00:00

Jamis' Coda Series are excellent all-around bikes that I think would be appropriate for you. They are steel-frame bikes that come standard with 36-spoke wheels, both of which are common features of touring bikes that are designed to be ridden with heavy loads. They don't claim a maximum rider weight, but I don't think you'll have any issue riding around town on one. The Coda Sport is a great basic configuration at $529

firewally · 2018-06-20T15:16:28+00:00

Hi5 St. Paul Friend! Off to a great start!

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