Yeah I like those Co-Op bikes.
So, can I be one of the cool kids now?
I used to bike a lot but haven't for well over a decade now because of my family's health issues, but I am finally in a place where I am getting out again. I've done some hikes and decided to get back into biking again.
It's an entry-level city bike from REI to ease me back in. (And I'm older now, too. :D), but the guy said this would be good for gravel and most of the bike trails around the city.
And we have a surprising number of nice trails around us, for being in a major city. I did eight miles yesterday on the Noonday Creek trail near me just to break it in.
https://www.bikemap.net/en/r/1265784...
I want to take it over to the Silver Comet trail. That's a 61-mile trail that runs from Atlanta to the Alabama state line.
And we have the Beltline, which is a 22-mile loop around downtown.
Now, I just need to get the GoPro mount sorted out.
Edit: This is it, btw...
https://www.rei.com/product/121596/c...
I saw your profile says you are ATL OTP. Where abouts? I'm in Forsyth County and looking for more walking trails than biking. I own a reasonable bike but feel like I'm too clumsy to ride it at my age. 
I don't know your area much but heard Sweetwater was a nice area to visit.
Marietta, on Power's Ferry. A bit north of thr Battery.
The Chattahoochee Recreation Area is near me with miles of walking/biking trails.
Very nice! We lived in Woodstock for a year when we moved to GA in 2014. Kennesaw Mountain was great to hike, as well as Rope Mill park. Now the closest thing to me is Sawnee Mountain. It's quite a hike to the top for me but it feels good when you do get to the top!
I get free basic maintenance for a year.
I would highly recommend still doing some very basic cleaning and maintenance on your own, but you may already know that. Just putting it out there. Check tire pressure before riding, wipe down the chain after, lube it if it's noisy - nothing you wouldn't do for other things as a matter of course.
Bib shorts.
I've finally worn a hole in my Pearl Izumi bibs I got like a decade, maybe more, ago and am looking for a new pair of bib shorts. I have fallen down the hole of reading reviews about bib shorts toward the budget end of the price spectrum, and now I'm concerned I'll buy the wrong thing.
I'm of course looking at some from The Black Bibs, but have read fairly polarized reviews/reflections on them, as in "They feel like I'm wearing diapers!" or "They're better than $6,000 bibs tru fax!" I'm considering getting their Ultimate Adventure Bibs.
I've also looked at some of these below, and checked around various places for sales, but I just don't know.
- Heavy Pedal: https://theheavypedal.com/
- Twin Six: https://www.twinsix.com/
- Steep and Cheap: https://www.steepandcheap.com/bike
Do any of you wear bib shorts and have a good pair to recommend that's not $200?
I didn't realize Steep and Cheap still existed. I'd like to know the answer to your question, too. I bought an Oakley pair on clearance and they've seemed good except the strap for the snaps to hold the chamois have frayed. I have no idea what would be considered good.
Well I decided I was tired of hemming and hawing, so I just ordered some Black Bibs Ultimate Adventure Bibs. I'll post my impressions when I get 'em.
In not surprising news, I am still commuting on an ebike, and it is still a brilliant machine. I've gotten a 2022 BESV TRS 1.3 Urban Euro-style trekking bike. It's feature-complete for commuting and bike touring out of the box.
Full suspension
Large battery
Mid drive assist
Built in lights
Rear rack
Stiff aluminum fenders
Hydraulic 4 pot brakes
It's as near as I've gotten to a bike that I just hop on and go on lengthier commutes on regular lanes with busy motor traffic.
Well, thanks to injuries and some severe depression, my biking has suffered for most of the last few years, but I'm getting my routine (and fitness) back. Here's some pics from a recent ride
And now, since it's become something of a tradition for me here, I upgraded my Garmin 1030 a while back and should sell it. Anyone interested? @fuzzyslug, you still around 
Good to see you back LiquidMantis. And damn nice full squish rig you got there. Interesting side note: I hadn’t really heard of Golden, CO before seeing your posts here, years ago now. But as I type this my son is in his second year on the Mines campus an hour south of us.
Loving the eMountain bike.
How do you like the Oso?
And, if you do the FB/Instagram thing, you should post the old truck lean to, Look at My Bike Leaning on Stuff.
And now, since it's become something of a tradition for me here, I upgraded my Garmin 1030 a while back and should sell it. Anyone interested? @fuzzyslug, you still around :D
Bah, like two weeks to late. Just bought a garmin.
Also, on Sunday I was participating in a century ride and hit a speed bump I didn’t notice. It knocked me off and I landed on my right hand side.
I’m missing a bunch of skin all over the place and can’t really put any weight on my elbow at the moment.
Good to see you back LiquidMantis. And damn nice full squish rig you got there. Interesting side note: I hadn’t really heard of Golden, CO before seeing your posts here, years ago now. But as I type this my son is in his second year on the Mines campus an hour south of us.
Awesome! Meaning you're an hour north of Golden? Or another Mines location? CO Mines doesn't have a great ratio, but it's a beautiful campus in a beautiful area.
Yeah, it's been a while since I was really around. The tone here got a bit contentious for a bit. Now I'm effectively an empty nester and need a tribe. Great to see so many familiar fac-- uh, pseudonyms!
Loving the eMountain bike.
Thanks!
How do you like the Oso?
In short, it's great! The only thing I don't like is that they did a massive pricecut a few months after I bought it. Those were expensive early miles...
But yeah, I've been really struggling for a few years, and my fitness has basically flatlined, and my weight... is not my peak riding weight. So the Oso was a splurge to remotivate me and start my comeback. The trails here are no joke and the alternative was doing fitness grinds on the one or two basic trails. The eMTB lets me put in longer saddle time and I can dial in the minimal assist until I'm wiped out and rely on the "get me home" boost
My main bike is the OG Ripmo, and this really feels like a [heavier] Ripmo so it's a great ride. The extra low-slung weight also makes for a stable ride to just plow downhill. I'm getting used to it and learning how to throw it around. Should make for some improvements once I get back on my lighter burrito-powered bike.
And, if you do the FB/Instagram thing, you should post the old truck lean to, Look at My Bike Leaning on Stuff.
Ha! Yeah, I'm guilty of the BLAS trope, but it sets context! Plus who doesn't like looking at bikes?
Also, on Sunday I was participating in a century ride and hit a speed bump I didn’t notice. It knocked me off and I landed on my right hand side.
I’m missing a bunch of skin all over the place and can’t really put any weight on my elbow at the moment.
Damn! Heal quick!
muraii wrote:Good to see you back LiquidMantis. And damn nice full squish rig you got there. Interesting side note: I hadn’t really heard of Golden, CO before seeing your posts here, years ago now. But as I type this my son is in his second year on the Mines campus an hour south of us.
Awesome! Meaning you're an hour north of Golden? Or another Mines location? CO Mines doesn't have a great ratio, but it's a beautiful campus in a beautiful area.
Yeah, it's been a while since I was really around. The tone here got a bit contentious for a bit. Now I'm effectively an empty nester and need a tribe. Great to see so many familiar fac-- uh, pseudonyms!
Yeah, my boy's in Golden and we're in Loveland/Johnstown. Even if we're missing some things, it's a great upgrade from Ohio.
Not me but pretty cool! Imagine running into Obama like this.
Very cool!
We honeymooned in the Torridon area ages ago, and now that I've taken up mountain biking, I really want to go back, so I was already familiar with Andrew's channel.
vent
I have to say, it is not straightforward to get a custom workout plan onto a Wahoo device without subscribing to someone's service. The least expensive option I can find that actually does what I'm looking for is to sign up for a $4/monthly TrainerRoad plan, push a workout I like to a free TrainingPeaks account, and sync from there to my Wahoo Bolt for use with my Wahoo Kickr Snap. I can build a plan right in TrainingPeaks for free, which is probably what I'm going to do, but I found something I thought would be perfect on TrainerRoad.
Like, I don't want to train based on FTP or heart rate or what have you. I just want some kinda rolling hills, simulated road resistance, so I can kinda feel like I'm actually riding my bike inside. Totally casual. I'm not trying to race; I'm just trying to get time on a bike probably while watching something stupid on Netflix.
/vent
ETA:
Turns out TrainingPeak is about perfect for my needs, if slightly fiddly.
Hi all!
I'm looking to buy my first bike in more than 20 years. My usage is 95% commuting and casual riding on flat terrain. But, I commute all winter, which can include snow/ice in South Bend, IN.
I'm considering a mountain bike or a gravel bike. For the last 20 years or so, I've been riding a hybrid that runs closer to a road bike during good weather and a beat-up old mountain bike with crappy everything in the winter. The ride with the mountain bike is so much more comfortable, and my 6 mile round-trip commute doesn't require a huge amount of efficiency. Plus, I do like the ability to take a bike to the local state parks.
Okay, all that said, I'm mostly considering a Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 mountain bike (on sale for $650) and perhaps one of the Poseidon bikes, notably the X Ambition gravel bike ($650). My concerns on the Trek are that I really don't feel I need a front suspension, and the potential maintenance headaches of that put me off a bit (though I have no experience). My concerns with the Poseidon...I have no experience with them or that bike. The price is about right. I might apply their $100 off coupon to upgraded brakes (mechanical to mechanical/hydraulic hybrid).
I'm writing to see if anyone has any feedback. Does anyone have any experience with the Poseidon that they can share?
I was in the same exact boat exactly a month ago having come from a 25yo Trek and looking for a cross-country MTB primarily for commuting purposes.
At the same non-sale price ($749), you can get a Polygon Xtrada 6, which is a better spec’d bike than the Trek. Myself, I went with a slightly cheaper ($499) Xtrada 5 and have slowly been upgrading the components to my personal preference - mainly to lose unnecessary weight and reduce drag. Regardless, I absolutely love this bike; far more than any of the Treks or GTs that preceded it. Both the Xtrada 5 and 6 have been getting rave reviews as the best budget MTBs under $1000 for the last couple years.
My own Xtrada 5 is a model from a couple years ago before they changed from a 2-ring front sprocket to a single ring. Once I learned about the benefits of that, I decided to go for it as it only cost me about $15 and 30 mins of my time while improving shifting and dropping a few lbs. I followed that up with tires that reduce drag/increase speed, while maintaining most of the off-road capability of the “stock” tires. That was another $40. I also replaced the stock pedals ($25) and saddle ($40) - both of which I would have likely replaced no matter what bike I purchased or how much I paid.
I got back into riding about two months ago and realized how much more dangerous things had gotten on even slow residential roads now that drivers have smartphones and social media. It pretty much forced me to go out and get a mountain bike. I am also pushing 60, so I ended up going full suspension after testing a few hardtails.
I ended up going with the Salsa Blackthorn which was on sale at REI for 20% off its already massively reduced MSRP. It's a $3500 bike I managed to get for just over half off ($1760). I have had it out half a dozen times and it is nothing like I remember mountain biking in the mid 1990's. 29" wheels with massive 2.6" diameter tires make clearing obstacles trivial. 160mm of front suspension and 140 in the rear feels more like a motorcycle than a bike. Hydraulic disc brakes stop with confidence. But what I find most notable is how much leverage I have going uphill even in areas with really rough terrain. I am clearing 8" logs going up 9% climbs without concern. I am not particularly fast doing it, but I am not bailing like I would have with my old 26" Fat Chance.
The only downside I am seeing is how the long wheelbase makes it more difficult to pick through terrain and navigate switchbacks. I am sure I will manage with a bit of practice, but it is something to get used to.
I have a three-year-old Poseidon Redwood and love it. I’ve taken it on a 40-mile race on dirt/gravel roads in Colorado mountains, and just out on front range dirt roads around where I live. I think the 2.35” tires are overkill but I still really like having them.
My concerns on the Trek are that I really don't feel I need a front suspension, and the potential maintenance headaches of that put me off a bit (though I have no experience).
On any entry level hardtail (Trek/Polygon and the like) you will get a coil shock, which usually needs less frequent maintenance than more high end air forks. Additionally, servicing your suspension is supposedly a pretty doable home service, though I haven't worked up to that myself yet. My bike shop charged me 60ish for a fork and shock service, which I was happy to pay.
In different biking news, here I am finishing my first MTB race last month. Technically, I wasn't last among the men because one guy DNF'd.
I'll be back next year, and even without factoring in better fitness, I know where I can shave off 20 or 30 minutes.
In different biking news, here I am finishing my first MTB race last month. Technically, I wasn't last among the men because one guy DNF'd. :)
That's excellent. That race I mention above, I finished last behind a 72-year-old cyclist and ahead of two DNFs. It's just about finishing when we're starting. Keep on truckin'!
Am I a masochist? I actually prefer the pump of a long hill climb to the thrill of a fast downhill. This is particularly the case with my new Blackthorn which has an amazing amount of traction and leverage.
Hi all!
I'm looking to buy my first bike in more than 20 years. My usage is 95% commuting and casual riding on flat terrain. But, I commute all winter, which can include snow/ice in South Bend, IN.
I'm considering a mountain bike or a gravel bike. For the last 20 years or so, I've been riding a hybrid that runs closer to a road bike during good weather and a beat-up old mountain bike with crappy everything in the winter. The ride with the mountain bike is so much more comfortable, and my 6 mile round-trip commute doesn't require a huge amount of efficiency. Plus, I do like the ability to take a bike to the local state parks.
Okay, all that said, I'm mostly considering a Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 mountain bike (on sale for $650) and perhaps one of the Poseidon bikes, notably the X Ambition gravel bike ($650). My concerns on the Trek are that I really don't feel I need a front suspension, and the potential maintenance headaches of that put me off a bit (though I have no experience). My concerns with the Poseidon...I have no experience with them or that bike. The price is about right. I might apply their $100 off coupon to upgraded brakes (mechanical to mechanical/hydraulic hybrid).
I'm writing to see if anyone has any feedback. Does anyone have any experience with the Poseidon that they can share?
The Poseidon bikes are decent bikes. Generally they get decent reviews. The flat bar bike you linked is a decent bike but has a few shortcomings. First, the brakes aren't very good. Mechanical brakes aren't terrible in and of themselves but those are no-name tektro's and a common complaint from reviewers. Second is the tire clearance. The bike comes with 700x40C which is decent for a gravel bike but will be a lot less than the mountain bike you are used to. I have seen someone say they put 43C tires on theirs but can't verify the max size. It would be nice if you had the choice of 650B or 700C wheels as 650B will give you a wider tire. Third, the bike seems to have QR wheels rather than Thru-axles. QR isn't bad but it's outdated technology. Tires and rims are not tubeless compatible. Tubeless tires can be run at lower pressure while still rolling faster and can self-seal most small holes (nail holes for example).
None of these issues make it a don't buy at the price and most other bikes at similar prices have at least some of these issues.
I do like that it comes with a carbon fork and the advent x drivetrain is very good for the price. The bike should ride well and is fairly light at 25lbs. The crank is 38 tooth which should have a decent top end and the cassette is 11-48 so low end should still be good. If you want to take it on green trails it should be fine. You'll probably miss the shock if it's not a smooth trail and may miss the width of the tires of it's wet/muddy/icy. Honestly, it's a solid bike that will do you well.
I don't know how much the upgraded brakes cost but you can get a set of Shimano MT201s for $60 on Amazon and have a local bike shop put them on. These are full hydraulic brakes. I have two sets of them and they've been great. Haven't serviced them (other than new pads) in years. They should be lower maintenance and better brakes than hybrid brakes. Plus if you got the X Ambition you could see how the brakes are before spending the extra on upgrades.
Other bikes to consider are the Kona Dew Plus and Salsa Journeyer. These have some better components and are available at a local bike shop if you want to test ride. They do cost a little more (Dew Plus is $699 but comes with hydraulic brakes and 650B wheels with 47C tires). Neither has tubeless tires but the rims should be able to go tubeless (though they don't specifically state they are).
The Trek is overpriced and has outdated technology (Schrader valves in 2024?). It does come with a Shimano 4100/5100 drive train which is pretty good. But it only has a 30 tooth chainring which limits your top speed. It comes with hydraulic brakes. Paint job will be very nice (but only if you get the black to red fade).
If you go more mountain bike I would look for a used marlin or Specialized Rockhopper. I wouldn't pay what Trek is asking for any of the Marlins. Even at the discounted price of $649 that Marlin 6 is overpriced.
Other bikes to consider if you want more of a mountain bike are the Polygon Xtrada 5 and 6 that vypre mentioned. The 5 is better than the Marlin 6 IMO. The only place the Marlin edges it out is the paint job. It is a 1x rather than 2x as well. The Xtrada 6 at $750 is better than the Trek in every way.
Finally, for something in between (yeah, it's a hybrid) the Polygon Heist X5 is a very nice bike for $699. It has 700x45C tires, a decent shock, and a good drivetrain.
I have a Polygon Siskiu D6 and I can say they make solid bikes. Mine is a 2021 that I bought used from someone who used it to race cross country and it's held up to that and to my less than ideal body weight very well.
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