I hate my ScanGauge!!!

[2TonJellyBean]

Well okay, I'm shooting the messenger but I hate seeing that I'm slurping back gas at the rate of 18 - 20 LHK coming home from the train station - 2? mile trip. That's 11.7 - 13 MPG and about twice the consumption of what I can do with a fully warmed up engine in a 50 KPH speed zone.

Winter sucks!!!

[2TonJellyBean]

It's sad/pathetic... I'm an avid cyclist that can't effectively work cycling into my commute!

[Erdrick]

... which is why I say that everyone gets a Wii. Move around while gaming. Well, for some games anyways.

I have already seen my mpgs starting to fall off, and I just see my changes tank to tank. When I put on my obligatory studless tires I will be sure to experience drastic drops in FE. If there was no such thing as snow, then winter would be the most worthless season ever.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Originally Posted by theclencher

yeah i need to fix up a mountain bike for winter

Sand too. There's a speed hit compared to slicks but it's better than walking the bike.

[Erdrick]

See, I hate mountain bikes. To me they are the SUV of the bike world. Seriously, think about it. Who actually rides their mountain bike in the mountains? Who actually does a lot of off-side-walking on their mountain bike? Not a whole lot of people. Who REALLY needs 38 (or however many they have now) gears? Just more things to break if you ask me.

Now you have Japanese bikes. Perfect shape to where you are sitting up straight and there is no fatigue like when you are hunched over on a mountain bike. Oh, and get this, they have SPLASH GUARDS BUILT IN! I paid a lot of money for some back in America, to add to my old Schwinn, and damn those pieces of plastic are expensive. Oh, and they don't even work worth a damn!! You still get wet with the things. Riding a Japanese bike through standing water, the only thing you will notice is that your speed takes a hit. No water flying up to greet you. Oh, and can we talk about utility? Great shaped baskets for your groceries are built into the bike. Trust me, these things come in handy ALL THE TIME. When night time comes, your mountain bike isn't going to help light the way... but you guessed it, a Japanese bike will! Almost all bikes (as in about 98%) come with a light attached to the wheel, and the friction between them makes light. Genius. Crappy mountain bike seats that go up your arse hole are a thing of the past when you get onto your nice Japanese bike. I am probably forgetting some things, but you get the overall picture. Oh, the icing on the cake is that a Japanese bike will cost you about $100 out the door. I laugh at people who spend five and six hundred dollars on their mountain bikes.

[oneinchsidehop]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

See, I hate mountain bikes. To me they are the SUV of the bike world. Seriously, think about it. Who actually rides their mountain bike in the mountains? Who actually does a lot of off-side-walking on their mountain bike? Not a whole lot of people. Who REALLY needs 38 (or however many they have now) gears? Just more things to break if you ask me.

Now you have Japanese bikes. Perfect shape to where you are sitting up straight and there is no fatigue like when you are hunched over on a mountain bike. Oh, and get this, they have SPLASH GUARDS BUILT IN! I paid a lot of money for some back in America, to add to my old Schwinn, and damn those pieces of plastic are expensive. Oh, and they don't even work worth a damn!! You still get wet with the things. Riding a Japanese bike through standing water, the only thing you will notice is that your speed takes a hit. No water flying up to greet you. Oh, and can we talk about utility? Great shaped baskets for your groceries are built into the bike. Trust me, these things come in handy ALL THE TIME. When night time comes, your mountain bike isn't going to help light the way... but you guessed it, a Japanese bike will! Almost all bikes (as in about 98%) come with a light attached to the wheel, and the friction between them makes light. Genius. Crappy mountain bike seats that go up your arse hole are a thing of the past when you get onto your nice Japanese bike. I am probably forgetting some things, but you get the overall picture. Oh, the icing on the cake is that a Japanese bike will cost you about $100 out the door. I laugh at people who spend five and six hundred dollars on their mountain bikes.

Me! Riding off road and especially bike trials (one inch side hop, get it?) are one of my great loves. I commuted to work (at Colorado Cyclist, cork sniffer bikes sold to Doctors and Lawyers who have a titanium fetish) on and off road, year round, when I was in Colorado Springs. Long before that I was a bike messenger. For aggressive riders (read: maniacs) Mountain bikes are a God send. I love 'em.

The Japanese bikes your describing are AWSOME. They are the best townies ever, and I love townies.

You really want to understand the importance of tire pressure? Ride a mountain bike on the road with soft tires for 10-20 miles. Then stop at a small locally owned bike shop , and have them put on set of these at about 80psi.

You will feel like someone put jetfuel in your feed bag.

[GasSavers_BIBI]

Bike and snow, hum maybe in city where the snowplower is making this possible, but you aint gonna make it far in 30inch of snow in rural zone...

[2TonJellyBean]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

See, I hate mountain bikes. To me they are the SUV of the bike world. Seriously, think about it. Who actually rides their mountain bike in the mountains? Who actually does a lot of off-side-walking on their mountain bike? Not a whole lot of people. Who REALLY needs 38 (or however many they have now) gears? Just more things to break if you ask me.

All things on a bike can break, so by that logic should we walk instead? A bike is all about comfort, convenience and mechanical advantage. If it's not flat and you don't like riding fixed gear, gears make life better and you more energy efficient. I really wish mountain bikes would have existed when I was a kid - 10 speeds in hilly rural areas on gravel roads really sucked.

There are no bad bikes, some just don't fit their rider or mission very well, but they are the greatest machine ever invented, even mountain bikes that don't ever get near mountains.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

See, I hate mountain bikes. To me they are the SUV of the bike world. Not a whole lot of people. Who REALLY needs 38 (or however many they have now) gears? Just more things to break if you ask me.

Well you know... more gears equals a better transmission

Who actually does a lot of off-side-walking on their mountain bike? Seriously, think about it. Who actually rides their mountain bike in the mountains?

Riding on the sidewalk is both dangerous and illegal A friend of mine rides off road - no mountains here though

------


^^ Is that the type of bike you're talking about? These are awesome If I wasn't in the market for a 'bent (and still looking to buy a bike), I'd be getting a commuter - something like this I have a thing for bikes, and I ride the road worthy ones often

Here's my SUV of bikes (old picture though) <-- as seen on the Japan Make Magazine Blog (and the not Japan blog too ).



-------
As for winter gas..... The only FE hit I get is from cooler temps No winter gas here AFAIK

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

See, I hate mountain bikes. To me they are the SUV of the bike world. Seriously, think about it. Who actually rides their mountain bike in the mountains? Who actually does a lot of off-side-walking on their mountain bike? Not a whole lot of people. Who REALLY needs 38 (or however many they have now) gears? Just more things to break if you ask me.

Me does.