I'm gonna need better brakes.. (Page 2/3)
Patrick JUN 20, 02:59 PM

quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

You should be able to lock up the back wheel at least.



...and not that you'd want to to squeeze 'em that hard, but wouldn't properly functioning front disc brakes be able to flip the bike?


quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

Weight, speed, inertia play into it.



Better stay off a tandem bike. I've been piloting one for the last couple of years, with a blind friend in the stoker's (rear) seat. This is an older tandem bike with old-fashioned center-pull brakes. With the combined weight of riders and bike being around 450 lbs, this bike is a total hazard when going down steep hills. I do not allow the bike to reach anywhere near maximum speed when going down mountain-side roads, as this bike will definitely not stop within a reasonable distance. Heck, it barely even slows down!

This is the bike, and yeah, the route along the water that day was rather level... but see those mountains on the other side of the inlet...

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-21-2022).]

Jake_Dragon JUN 20, 06:47 PM
The front brakes should not lock the tire, its a safety issue if it does.
But the rear breaks should be able to apply enough pressure to lock the wheel.
Patrick JUN 20, 07:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

The front brakes should not lock the tire, its a safety issue if it does.



Agreed, but there needs to be a happy compromise between locking the front wheel and screaming through intersections.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-20-2022).]

MidEngineManiac JUN 20, 08:14 PM

quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

The front brakes should not lock the tire, its a safety issue if it does.



Exactly.

Thats what the stick is for.
ls3mach JUN 21, 12:51 PM
I've been wanting to get a bike but refuse to spend any real money until I know what I want and if I'll enjoy and stick with it.

From what I've seen disc brakes are a real game changer. I assume they can be fit to most any bike.
Jake_Dragon JUN 21, 02:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by ls3mach:
I've been wanting to get a bike but refuse to spend any real money until I know what I want and if I'll enjoy and stick with it.
From what I've seen disc brakes are a real game changer. I assume they can be fit to most any bike.



Not to side track Don.

It really depends on what you plan on doing on it. Cross country, trails or just around the block on paved streets.
The kind of surface you are ridding on will dictate what you want to start with. A trail bike is not a good choice to ride around the neighborhood, unless you live in the woods
Small narrow tires take less effort and will allow you to go faster but limit what kind of surface you can ride on.
Knobby tires are not good for paved streets and will wear quickly
I always enjoyed riding my beach bomber, large balloon tires and handle bars that let you sit up on the over sized seat.
The large tires make the bike comfortable and they do well on paved and packed dirt. The large padded tractor seat keeps the boys safe.
But I have spent a lot of time on a 10 speed touring bike, built for speed and going up and down hills.
Brakes are important and setup. Front brakes should be installed but most of the time you should be using your rear brake as its easy to control the bike during braking.
Get the proper sized bike too, you need to get a bike that fits your legs not how tall you are.
cvxjet JUN 21, 02:20 PM
I am planning on going up to Mt. Lassen and riding my bike downhill from the (Road) summit (8500') to the Devastated area (1915 eruption (Check out pics online)......12-16 miles (Maybe) and 25-3000 feet elevation lose. I can't go uphill anymore because of my Lupus. I have a new Schwinn bike with disc brakes- will let you know if I survive...or not!
maryjane JUN 21, 03:22 PM
I hope your Schwinn is way better than my wife's is.
They are definitely not the brand they once were. Her's, the cables all deteriorated within 8 months, the seat didn't have much adjustment and the handlebars simply won't stay centered no matter how tight I get the bolt.
Bought it, the same day I bought mine but my 29" is not a Schwinn.
ls3mach JUN 21, 03:46 PM
Don, if you already have disc brakes I have no other knowledge and I am sure you're easily more handy than I've ever thought about being.



quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:


Not to side track Don.

It really depends on what you plan on doing on it. Cross country, trails or just around the block on paved streets.
The kind of surface you are ridding on will dictate what you want to start with. A trail bike is not a good choice to ride around the neighborhood, unless you live in the woods
Small narrow tires take less effort and will allow you to go faster but limit what kind of surface you can ride on.
Knobby tires are not good for paved streets and will wear quickly
I always enjoyed riding my beach bomber, large balloon tires and handle bars that let you sit up on the over sized seat.
The large tires make the bike comfortable and they do well on paved and packed dirt. The large padded tractor seat keeps the boys safe.
But I have spent a lot of time on a 10 speed touring bike, built for speed and going up and down hills.
Brakes are important and setup. Front brakes should be installed but most of the time you should be using your rear brake as its easy to control the bike during braking.
Get the proper sized bike too, you need to get a bike that fits your legs not how tall you are.



I started a thread trying to delve into this and exercise and weight loss in general, but it gained no traction and the guy that wanted to talk privately kind of disappeared. I really want a full suspension or something like a 90s mountain bike that I pined over as a child (we were poor). I also as Don bought, want a 29er. Though I am only 5'10". I kind of was thinking I'd buy something that you see at a big box store for $200-500 range that you have to assemble yourself. Figured I'd buy one that someone put together shoddily for super cheap and fix it. Start riding and see what I was into and what I liked and didn't like. I also always loved BMX bikes and the cool stunts especially flat land. I was not athletic enough then and we couldn't afford it. Now that I could possibly do things like that, I know better and have 0 interest. Those bikes are still cool as heck though. Probably just street user and maybe a little trails There are nice riding trails not far from me. My partner broke his collarbone bad riding around Oklahoma City's Lake Heffner. He had to have major surgery. Was a real pain at work because he couldn't lift anything and metal is kind of heavy. So I am for sure going to do nothing like that, but would gladly ride the trails and that would be probably as intense as I get. Think the big fat tire bikes are neato. Always think more gears are better in a vehicle, but when I was a kid I was always searching for the right one. I would skip from the lowest gear rungs right up to the top ones, so I think that is just me wanting something I won't use. Any thoughts from that random spewing?
Jake_Dragon JUN 21, 04:35 PM
Most of the time I spent was in 7th gear. For just riding around a 10 speed is a must.

For trails I would probably stay away from anything with a complicated gear system. More parts more to break.
Most fun bike I had was a single speed, big tires and the soft seat. Rear brake in the hub.
I have tried a couple of three speeds but they ended up stuck in one gear.

Not sure where you are but here you can go down to the beach and rent a bike.
I would look up a local shop that sells used bikes and not get one at a large chain store.

Get something you are comfortable on, sitting upright with a low center of gravity. Its not going to win any races but if you are not comfortable then you wont ride it.