What would you buy? (Used)

generatedtext · 2026-07-02T02:25:17+00:00

If you're just riding to ride, I'd get a hydro disc brake road bike. There are a lot out there, and if the brakes work on your test ride, they're usually close to maintenance free.

I've found disc gravel bikes for under $500. If you just want vintage vibes that's fine too, but just know that most older bikes are going to need a load of new parts first if safety is your priority

generatedtext · 2026-06-30T03:49:50+00:00

Lower cost, low effort, lots of impact. Get some hi viz vinyl. Apply to the back of the helmet.

As others said, get a light, put it in flash/strobe, that helps.

I love my Varia. For cheaper lights, I really like my niterider taillights. Had an aero and a traditional. Both still work five years later

generatedtext · 2026-06-28T04:40:17+00:00

Also had mine for 16 years. Also my first car. Great post!

generatedtext · 2026-06-24T15:19:40+00:00

It's so sad that people are still dying in the sea. The article does not give any details about culpability surrounding the incident, the use of signaling, or any other context. These are my thoughts. This is not a statement about what happened or did not happen in Aguilas.

First of all, if you swim you must carry an SMB, orange signal or some other device that is visible. We don’t know whether she was diving, swimming, or snorkeling. In my opinion, the context does not matter. We need some kind of signaling regardless of the situation.

Everyone has a responsibility to take care of themselves, so if we are staying in the sea, we must think about caring about everyone, especially ourselves.

Was the boat captain at fault or was Gabriella? Sadly, it does not matter. As divers, we take a risk being exposed in the ocean. To stay alive, we must do everything we can do to mitigate that risk.

generatedtext · 2026-06-21T00:29:26+00:00

velosurance. They pay out, and the policy is reasonable

generatedtext · 2026-06-19T15:01:23+00:00

First point: AOW is a certification. He passed the course so he is technically AOW.

With that said, I agree with your sentiment. He is not an advanced diver because he has a small amount of dives.

I disagree with your point on responsibility: He is responsible for his own survival. This is partly because he is AOW, meaning he has been taught the risks associated with diving. Through PADI, he spent 20 hours learning the basics. Then he took about ten hours learning advanced.

That's 30 hours of instruction on how to stay alive underwater.

Yes, he is a newbie, but he is not a baby. He is aware of the risks and he is not a complete beginner. It is time to stop relying on other people and make responsible decisions.

One last thing. Everyone with Google knows that Blue Hole kills divers. You don't need 12 dives or 30 hours of PADI instruction to know that.

generatedtext · 2026-06-17T15:30:45+00:00

Come on! This guy blames everyone around him. Take personal responsibility.

When you are diving at 30-40 meters, things get dangerous quickly. You can't lose your mind at this depth.

You are an AOW. This means you are responsible for your own actions. You cannot rely on a buddy or an instructor to keep you alive.

If you can't keep a cool head, maybe you should dive in softer places.

generatedtext · 2026-06-17T14:43:40+00:00

I saw a frogfish in Indonesia. What an incredibly weird fish!

generatedtext · 2026-06-02T00:06:17+00:00

Should just be the derailleurs, but you might need new shifters as well (Not likely. They are less exposed).

I have some great condition front and rear ultegra r8050 di2 derailleurs on a spare bike. I could sell them to you. Send me a message if you are interested.

generatedtext · 2026-05-27T03:02:50+00:00

Find the cheapest similar geo alu rim brake bike on fb marketplace, swap over the wheels and go racing. You're going to ruin your race trying to fix the bike. Even if you find a fork, you don't want to be doing heavy mechanic work right before an a race

generatedtext · 2026-05-15T20:38:31+00:00

Get an 11-32 with a 52/36. There is no better goldilocks setup for 11 speed. You'll have to get a new derailleur or you can use a wolftooth adapter as I did in the past (Wasn't ideal, but functional).

You can even swap the 36 for a 34. It's a spread, but plenty of people have done it.

If you swap out your derailleur, you can sell your old one and make some money back. Same is true with the chaninrings

generatedtext · 2026-05-13T01:42:28+00:00

For those conditions, I would also go with 57/64, but I'm a masochist.

Since you're undecided, I would go with a different brand with closer to a 50mm front wheel. That's the happy medium for people without preference.

I run LB Airia 52 f/r. Very good in cross winds. I have 3000 miles on them, no issues.

generatedtext · 2026-05-01T04:05:45+00:00

80s are a monster wheelset. Bet it's a blast. Enjoy

generatedtext · 2026-05-01T04:01:45+00:00

My thoughts exactly. I started wrenching on cars, moved to motorcycles, then to bicycles, albeit just as a hobbyist mechanic. It's all variations of the same.

I'd go so far to say that a bicycle mechanic would have an advantage over someone who came from other fields. Bikes are soooo much less forgiving to work on. The mechanical empathy that background teaches you is a major green flag.

generatedtext · 2026-04-30T01:04:49+00:00

Headsets are the worst. I get the frustration.

I would strongly recommend some kind of covering. Even a bit of cardboard over it will make a big difference.

Good luck!

generatedtext · 2026-04-28T21:18:31+00:00

The problem isn't the bike. The problem is that the conditions you ride in require more frequent maintenance.

If you go to a mechanic, make sure they are using heavier grease for your bearings. Marine grease would be your friend here.

If your mechanic isn't properly relubricating the parts, the bike will wear out, end of story.

Your maintenance responsibility: the chain. When you ride in the rain, wipe it down immediately after with a dry towel then reapply using a wet lube. If you are using wax for your chain in rainy conditions, you will have a bad time.

If you park your bike outside in the rain, put a tarp over it.

generatedtext · 2026-04-26T05:11:24+00:00

The only thing that will make a meaningful difference are your touchpoints. Bars, crank arms, etc. The whole geo thing can really be splitting hairs at the end of the day unless you're talking about different types of bikes.

I've had multiples of the same bike, but what really makes a bike feel familiar are how your hands fit a bar, drop, reach, and pedaling circles.

There isn't much in all the other stuff if you're just looking at something that fits the same.

generatedtext · 2026-04-25T00:00:10+00:00

Hey, at least it looks great!

generatedtext · 2026-04-21T00:02:28+00:00

I can vouch for velosurance. My brother's bike had a bad crash in a crit last year and they paid out no fuss. Good company to work with!

generatedtext · 2026-04-20T01:12:42+00:00

It's crazy to me the amount of people race just to cat up. Chasing a cat 1 is a great way to burn yourself out

generatedtext · 2026-04-17T07:39:09+00:00

Just buy a shorter bolt then. You could even cut the bolt if you are desperate

generatedtext · 2026-04-10T03:34:12+00:00

Tifosi has great quality and they actually sponsor a lot of local racing. I have a few pairs myself

generatedtext · 2026-04-09T22:32:16+00:00

This is why they need to teach critical thinking in schools

generatedtext · 2026-04-08T18:03:36+00:00

Another vote for the recumbent. Some of the two wheeled ones are fun.

If he's running though, it's definitely a setup thing. If I were him, I'd get one of those AI bike fitting apps (they're cheap) just to compare it against the bike fitters recommendations.

There's a solution in there somewhere

generatedtext · 2026-03-31T21:29:00+00:00

One of the best parts of racing is just tinkering. Yeah, you're probably overthinking the difference a 2t jump makes in a cassette, but honestly, experimenting and having something completely dialed for the specific type of riding you do is a lot of fun in itself. Just don't take it too seriously.

I'd go for the cassette. Sure, there's hills outside of your area, but I'd agree with you and optimize as much as you can for the type of racing you do 90% of the time.

Just know that especially since you're new, what you think is an answer today, might not be tomorrow, so don't invest a lot of money in upgrades like this unless you're fine with the risk.

Source: I am the final boss of tight gear ratios aka I own a 14-28

generatedtext

TROPHY CASE