Saturday I was riding to work, and a car didn't see me at the roundabout, until it was literally on me.

It is the second time the same scenario happens, and if it was not for the previous trauma I had, and the fact that I anticipated the scene and turned 90 deg when I completely understood the car was gonna hit me hard (it was a big Range Rover), I might have had it way worse, under the car, maybe dead. Not sure. My bike is completely broken and gone. But I got by without any bad injury, just my legs full of bruises and a bit of backpain.

After it happened I bursted in tears. Even if inside I almost fell "normal", my body response was so tragic and emotional.

I arrived at work, and when a colleague asked me "are you okay?" I bursted in tears again, it was such an emotional turmoil I couldn't handle it, which is not very typical of mine. The whole Saturday I felt somehow down, and yesterday I felt almost depressed, which is unusual. I was bed ridden, not even the energy to take a shower, or cook, barely eaten, and some intrusive thoughts. I called some friends to keep myself busy, but I can still feel this shit is affecting me.

I am wondering if other people experienced the same. I feel like others that went through this reacted way better, and I am not usually a dramatic person. So I somehow would like to know others experiences.

Ps: the woman that hit me was super nice. She hugged me and offered to bring me to work and buy me a bicycle whenever I feel ready to. She gave me her number and even sent me the pictures of the accident with her car+tag and my bike under it. So at least it was nice of her. And I can replace my shitty bike with something nicer. She was extra rich

Hi everyone!

I'm posting because the 5 other threads I looked at had a lot of comments (that were usually hilarious) but that weren't really covering the situation I want something for

I don't want a device that's for the "hey I'm a bike passing you" for the common pedesterian

I want a device for the "hey this person is looking down at her phone with headphones on and stepped into the bike lane without looking up and we're about to collide" situation

Or the "Hey this oncoming person on an e-bike is looking down at their phone and has headphones on and they're drifting into my "lane" and I need to get their attention and shouting isn't working"

These aren't situations that are like "oh just go slower" (I'm already going slow in these situations, like ~5mph) or "I recommend you don't hit pedestrians" 🙄🙄 (obviously, duh, that's the priority)
It's the "almost collision" situations I'm looking for a sound device for that others have found to work well
Amendment: I'm looking for an additional sound I can use in supplement to my yelling
Yes I understand about evasive maneuvers? Duh? If I'm yelling, then I do have time to also simultaneously ring a bell, and that's the thing I'm asking about. 😑🫠

thank you!

(another amendment: removed my side question)

Just got my new bike built and out for the maiden voyage! State Bicycle Carbon Road, Sram Rival Axs, Zipp Firecrest 404

Howdy! I've recently gotten a new job around 5 miles away from where I live. It's very low-paying- it'd take a year of pay or more to buy a car, let alone maintain it - so I'm considering biking instead. However, my parents are very worried about the safety of it, especially since plenty of my shifts will be ending after dark.

I live in a fairly suburban area without sidewalks, a bit closer on the spectrum to rural than urban. They're fairly sheltered folk, so I'm taking their caution with a side of salt, but I want to make sure I keep safe. Aside from the obvious (front/tail lights, reflective gear, mirror for visibility, doing research on the specific route), what should I look out for when preparing? Is this even a good idea, or should I take their advice and just buy a car?

I'd appreciate any help or advice on the matter. Thank you!

EDIT: Thank you, everyone, for the help! But sadly, I can't exactly move forward with this. My father started screaming about how bad of an idea it is when I brought up being dropped off at the local bike shop, before threatening to not drive me to work. So, I don't believe I can pursue this right now for my own safety. Still, I greatly appreciate the help.

Hi everyone, its been a hard decision for me to get a bike and finally start to do any real activities besides bed-rotting and doomscrolling. I have gained a lot of weight and my big af belly is a serious problem for me personally. I am only 23 years old and I feel like a rusty volkswagen from grandfathers's garage. The time to change has finally come. I got myself a 200$ bike to get myself through this.

I was cycling with no target. Just pedalling the wheels through the cold wind. I am so proud of myself lmao, but the hardest part is to keep pushing forward this way. Im planning on completing a 40 miles ride in the next season.

I just feel so great and much better. Like I'm a different person. I have almost forgotten how person can feel after a nice training session.

Just wanted to share my experience with someone and to tell everyone to have a great time!

Just got my new bike built and out for the maiden voyage! State Bicycle Carbon Road, Sram Rival Axs, Zipp Firecrest 404

Got em down to $500.

I am thinking this is a deal I will not find often, especially at my smaller frame (im 5'6").

Even like the color.

Also looking at a salsa journeyman circa 2017 for $300 that needs some work but the seller hasn't responded in a week.

What do think? Roubaix sl4 comp with ultegra set. Have new slick tyres, frame looks pristine. Around 8kgs. what should be the right price for this in the UK?

The dropper post cable keeps hitting the rear tire. Should I just pull it at the front and add a zip tie or is there a proper way to adjust it?

Christmas is coming and I'm going to ask for a bike box/case to fly my bike to various destinations. There are plenty to choose from online as well as the LBS. What have you found that worked well to protect your bike without costing a fortune?

(Although, I'd rather pay more for a good box/case than reach my destination with a broken bike.) Preferably one that doesn't require me to completely disassemble the bike.

Thanks for your input.

Looking at the Electra townie and the priority coast. I am in Sacramento, on the grid, nothing crazy with hills, but wanted something comfortable for grocery getting and short trips on the grid. Any other bike I should be considering? Thanks

I came across this Marinoni 52 cm road bike on Marketplace and would appreciate a second opinion. It was serviced and tuned up recently, and everything is supposedly working. The seller is asking $550 CAD, and I'm not sure what it's really worth.

I'm new to vintage bikes and looking for something that will stand the test of time. Any expertise would be greatly appreciated!

Specs:

Columbus SL tubing
Mavic Ksyrium wheelset
Campagnolo 10spd cassette
Campagnolo 2x crankset
Campagnolo Athena Derailleurs
Campagnolo Centaur brake/shifters
Campagnolo Seatpost

Brand new michelin dynamic rear tire
Less than 50km vittoria randonneur front tire

I have been toying with the idea of slowely replacing my vehical with a bicycle for several years now but am not sure where to start. My reasons are for financial, environmental as well as health. I plan to slowely replace my work commute and back and forths to the grocery store with a bike and eventually retier my vehical or keep it and only use in emergency situations. Does anyone have good bike recommendations for me?

Hello everyone!

I am looking for a bike and have some specific criteria.

I want a bike to just ride around the neighborhood with my kids. So, i would say comfort type/city bike, if I understand types properly.

I also want to have disc breaks, and the bike must be up to 300lbs. I'm on my way loosing weight, but I want to have margins haha.

Budget is up to $500.

The bike on the picture is exactly what I want. But it has a limit of 250lbs, and I am afraid I could be to much for it? Otherwise I'd get it, unless you'd suggest otherwise if this is a bad bike.

Here is the link to it this bike

I would really appreciate any advice! Again - bike i shared is the look/type I want, disx break appearance etc.

Thanks in advance!

Purchased 2 of these specialized roll bikes for 250 a piece, and got the hamax trailer for 60. Everything feels super smooth and the bikes are very clean! Haven’t rode in about 10 years so we are excited to start riding again, kids are very excited too!

I have Shimano 105 12 speed with 170s on my Domane and I’m interested in trying some 160 cranks. I’ve only seeing them on aliexpress but I’m a little hesitant in fear they aren’t true Shimano. Anybody have any experience ordering Shimano parts through Ali or thoughts on other options for getting some 160s?

After owning my Trek 7.2fx since new in 2007 I’m on the hunt for a new bike.

I’ve settled on gravel bikes since I ride like 70/30 pavement/unpaved trails and roads.

So far I’ve looked at a Felt Broam 60 and a Trek Checkpoint ALR. I liked them both but the Trek just looks better. I’m looking to stay in the $1500-$2000 range. Nothing carbon.

What are your thoughts?
How did you decide on your bike when it was new?
Did you sit on a tons of bikes before you picked one?

My wife wants me to goto every single bike shop in town and sit on every single bike.
I would like to get something locally, southern Wisconsin, so I can sit on it. So buying directly online isn’t for me. Also I’m looking for new so I have a warranty etc. so no Facebook bikes.

My bike has the Tektro. They work, nothing to write home about. Anyone compare to Gran Cru? The GC are expensive, but I'd go for them if there's a substantial difference. Save my hands on long downhills.

I'd like to share my experience with you. I don't claim to know what's right - feel free to correct me :)

I only started riding a couple of months ago (and I was sick for 2 weeks). I’m almost 40, I work remotely, and I rarely go outside. After two years of sitting at home and gaining weight up to 114 kg, I decided I needed to make a change. Although, to be honest, that’s actually been my usual weight for a long time - I’d lost weight down to 78 kg, but then, because of family stuff, I quit all sports and my weight went back up.

So, I bought myself a cool carbon bike and… rode 5 km, and it was so hard, haha. In just a couple of months, I’ve increased my rides from 5 km, and by Saturday I was already easily riding 30 km, and on Sunday 50 km - half of which was against a strong headwind and rain at 10 degrees Celsius and I only took a half-hour break the whole time, when I stopped to drink some water and eat a piece of jelly, lol. All in all, my results are improving much faster than I thought. I think that if the weather’s good, I’ll already be able to ride 70 km.

Here’s what caught my attention:

- Cycling shorts are a must-have - they’re definitely the number one purchase. I just wear them under my Adidas sweatpants :)

- It’s important to monitor your heart rate, especially at first. I’m starting to get a feel for how far I can ride at different heart rates. Maybe some people can gauge it based on how they feel, but I can’t - especially considering I weigh 111 kg (yes, I’ve already lost 3 kg)

- A bike computer with navigation is very useful, unless, of course, you know your entire city and region by heart. When you’re riding 20-30 km, it’s not that crucial, but after 40-50 km, it starts to become a problem :) Also, checking your heart rate on a watch is very inconvenient while riding. You can also set up your phone for this purpose.

- Consistency is key. I try to ride for at least 6 hours a week. At first, I recommend not worrying about the distance you cover, but focusing on the time you spend in the saddle. You’ll be able to increase that to 5-6 hours a week fairly quickly.

- Proper cycling attire is important. I’m not talking about expensive professional gear. But your clothes should be comfortable so you don’t have to worry about them. Wear several layers so you can adjust as needed. Protect yourself from the wind when necessary. Cycling glasses, even the cheapest ones (a mosquito flying into your eye can ruin the whole ride - true story. Not to mention windy weather when dust and cold wind blow into your eyes, and you wake up the next morning with red eyes). Don't forget to protect yourself from the rain and pick up an inexpensive rain cover for your helmet. Riding in the rain is fun too in proper clothes.

- jelly! I never thought that eating during long trips was so important. Seriously, read up on it. Fruit jelly candies will be your best friend.

- Expensive electronics and gear won't really give you anything compared to cheaper ones. Since I'm already around 40, I can afford to try out different things (go ahead and judge me, haha). A carbon bike won’t really give you anything at the start of your journey - except for a nice feeling :) I have a Garmin Enduro 3 and a Garmin Edge 540 bike computer. Garmin metrics are cool, but all you’ll see is that you’re the worst of the bunch and your fitness level is on par with that of your elderly, grumpy neighbor and it’ll take you a very long time to get out of that rut. Although metrics like the Endurance Score might motivate you to try harder for a while, there’s a chance that at some point, constantly being in the red zone (which reminds you every day that you’re bad) will start to demoralize you more than it motivates you. But I did like the bike radar, especially on rough roads where there aren’t many cars, but there are still some. It adds a bit of peace of mind, so I don’t have to ride constantly on the rough shoulder. So far, the radar hasn’t let me down once. Right now I want to buy pedals with a power meter (you’ll ask why, and I won’t be able to answer - probably just to confirm that my FTP is worse than that of the local old man who’s spent half his life biking to the store for beer). But seriously, I think that in bad weather, it’s better to ride based on power than on heart rate.

- I always thought that real guys needed a mountain bike, haha. Anyway, you don’t need a mountain bike unless you’re riding over roots at high speeds. I’d never ridden a gravel bike before, but I fell in love with it. I never thought a bike with a rigid fork could be so comfortable, even on rides in the woods. In fact, a road endurance bike that fits 35-40 mm tires might even work for you. And gravel/road handlebars will give you a lot of comfort on long rides. Only then did I realize just how wrong I was. Who would've thought you need an MTB for MTB, haha. I have nothing against MTBs. It's just that if your riding conditions are different, choose a bike that suits your conditions.

Basically, make the ride comfortable for your butt and enjoy the trip - the rest will fall into place on its own.

Couldn’t have asked for better weather. Really starting to get into this hobby

I've been using flat pedals on my MTB and SPD-SL's on my road bike for the last 15 years. I started riding the road(ish) bike on some dirt trails and the SL's felt way out of their element. So I swapped out some Shimano R-8000 SPD-SL pedals for Shimano XT M8120 SPD dual side platform pedals.

I live in the hills and like to sprint on the short/steep climbs and wanted as much pedal/shoe contact as i could get. The shoes where the biggest issue, It looks like a stiff gravel shoe doesn't have the sole of a MTB shoe and would not have much contact with the larger pedal. So i went with the Specialized MTB Recon 3.0's.

I have to say it works extremely well, met my expectations and is probably overkill. My Mavic Cosmic Ultimate SL road shoes are very light and stiff (100/100 Mavic rating). The replacement Specialized Recon 3.0 are stiff but not so light (10/13 Specialized rating).

After a few rides on my short routes, 20 miles/1700' of climbing i think I will be keeping these on the bike unless i'm doing a much, much longer ride. The only down side is the weight. The outgoing SPD-SL/Mavic combo (with mounting hardware/cleats) weighs 756 grams. The SPD's with Recon 3.0's (and cleats/hardware) weigh 1,224 grams.

I think the additional pound of weight is offset by the ease of clipping in and out plus the increased stiffness of the shoe pedal/combination. Being able to clip into either side of the pedal on steep hills is a big plus to me. FWIW, I also think my preference is for platform pedals. My Stamp 7 and Five Ten shoes weigh 1,077 grams. More than the SL's but less than the SPD's.

Hi Bikies!

How do you clean the parts of your bike that get stained with grease, street dirt dark stain (obviously, without ruining the paint) like near your front crank and derailleur? I have tried with Clean Green and all that, and do not want to put mineral spirits or degreaser on my paint, unless there is some technique to do this safely?

Thanks!

Just posting my Iq-xl light. Quite a bit bigger and heavier than the Iq-x it replaces.