I got a bike! I got a bike!

[LeftyMom]

I've had bad luck with bikes lately. Two summers ago my bike and I lost a fight with a Dodge, I was just scraped up but the bike was mangled beyond repair (and I got a ticket! but that's a story for another day) last year my replacement bike got stolen out of my back yard.

So money's tight, and I'm a funny size, so I've had a heck of a time finding something I liked and could afford, but I found a Giant hybrid (I guess that's what you'd call it, it's like a mountain bike but a bit lighter with narrower but knoby tires and a sort of curved handlebar) that fits me nicely for $18 at the thrift store, so I'm back in business! :D

I came home and replaced the tubes, ordered new tires because the current ones are dry rotted and generally in sad shape, cleaned it and my trailer up and took my son for a ride.

Did I mention I'm out of shape? I only did about a mile and a half gettting it adjusted and three miles with the trailer but my legs are *on fire.*

So I have some questions for the bike gurus:
-Can anybody recommend a good seat for a short female rider who prefers to ride upright to halfway inclined? I prefer a seat that's wide in the rear and narrow up front, and I need a non-leather material. Maybe one of those gel seats?

-If I were to invest in a nicer trailer would it be significantly easier to pull, or do I just need to tough it out and get stronger or invest in a lighter kid?


Thanks!
LM

PS I'll try to remember to post pics in the morning, as long as nobody laughs at the day glo pink paint scheme. ;)

[happyslug]

1. Go with a Terry

She has had the most experience in designing seats for women
http://www.terrybicycles.com/

As to a trailer, go with a better one, but since you only paid $18 for the bike, look around you might see one for sale.

I have hauled a trailer with my bike (No kid,just a trailer) and it is easier than using panniers.

Key to a trailer is the wheels, should be as good as the wheel on your bike.

[LeftyMom]

2. That's probably the problem, the wheels on this thing are crap

they're plastic rims and very small. I'll keep my eye out for something better. I saw a Burley trailer at a different thrift store (are we noticing a theme here? I'm so cheap.) but it was a few days before payday and when I went back to get it it was gone. Maybe I'll find another someplace so I can tear this one down to the frame and build a cargo box for groceries on it like I want to do.

[BiggJawn]

3. I second that!

If you don't want leather (blaspemy!) :-) Get a Terry.

Great find! I've been having a thrift store DROUGHT this season. Nothing. Just a Univega 3-speed, and that one was in the dumpster because the chrome had surface rust!

What size are the wheels on the trailer? You can improve them by servicing the hubs to make sure the grease is fresh and nothing's binding, then look into finding some skinny high-pressure tyres in that size.
Thank the Recumbent crowd and their 20" front wheels for creating a market for HP small tyres.

Looking forward to seeing pix of your rig!

[Fovea]

5. I second the 20" (406iso) tire upgrade...

Primo Comets have the best rolling resistance in some tests.
They are also not horribly pricey.

[LeftyMom]

4. Here's the pics

Here's the bike:


and the trailer, which I picked up a couple years ago at a rummage sale over at the UU church.

[Fovea]

6. On the trailer, those look like 16" tires.

I think comets also come in 16" (305iso).

Try the Hostel Shoppe online for starters.
You should also try for better wheels.

[happyslug]

7. Here is my trailer

Here is my trailer (Expensive Trailer)

http://www.cycletote.com/doggy_tote.html

Traileron has hitches to hitch wagons to your bike ($19.95 for the Hitch):
http://traileron.com/products.html

I would recommend getting rid of those wheels, if possible (and within your budget)

[fortyfeetunder]

8. You did really well!

And I won't laugh at the color, actually I like that.

Giant bikes are nice. I found an old Giant Prodigy (another hybrid) a couple of years ago. The spouse got jealous because now the kid and I now have bikes, so I bought him a Giant Cypress for his birthday last year.

I found seats at REI; they have a seat fitting showroom. Don't know if there is one local to you but settled for a gel seat cover. Ahhhh. Comfort.

[LeftyMom]

12. I'll go take a look at REI

we have one really close, and I'm right there all the time since they share a parking lot with our local Costco.

Glad to know somebody likes the color. ;) Personally, I'm thinking a few bumperstickers and a different water bottle cage should break up the unrelieved pinkness. I'm really not a pink person.

[BiggJawn]

9. Nice rig!

You done good!

I'm guessing you're about 5'2", maybe 5'3"? If you're taller, I think you'll be amazed at the diference raising the seat a bit will make in the ease of pedalling.

I'm 6'4" and my saddle is 33" above the center of the crank spindle.

Consider investing in some lighter-weight tyres, too. if you're not going to be riding on dirt paths, you really don't need to be carrying the weight of all those rubber knobs around with you.

Pump the tyres on that trailer up fairly firm. that'll halp cut some of the rolling resitance, too.

I like that colour, BTW!

[LeftyMom]

10. Yep, all of I'm 5'2" and short legged at that

I might bump the seat up an inch or so, but any more than that and I'd be sitting too high and have a hard time putting my feet down if I need to.

I'm bidding on some new tires on ebay, and having read the earlier tire thread I picked out a nice road tire instead of something knobby. :) I had to get a new set quickly anyhow, I don't know if you can tell in the pics, but those tires are really badly dryrotted and spiderwebbed with cracks all over the sidewalls.

I'll check the pressure on the trailer, maybe if I can reduce the rolling resistance a bit I'll live with it until I find something nicer.

I looked at trailers on ebay today, the Burleys are going for $200ish! Plus shipping! :wow: If I'd realized that I would've begged or borrowed to get the one I saw at the thrift store last month for $50. Suddenly trying to scrounge up a nicer set of wheels and tires looks like a much more attractive option, at least as a stopgap, especially if I can put larger, but thinner and smoother wheels on there to get a less bouncy ride for LK and to make less work for me. I'm going to go take a look and see how they hook on there tomorrow, to see if I can do that with the existing axle or if I'm going to have to put more effort in.

[BiggJawn]

11. Ah, you learn quickly, Grasshopper!

You're gonna do just great!

[Kolesar]

13. I like my new Tricosports "ultralounge" saddle

Sheldon Brown, the highly regarded cycling writer, said "unless you compete, get a saddle with springs". It performs better than a suspension seatpost.

I found this saddle at Nashbar.com. It does not use steel springs, but has a suspension system based on "gel shock technology". I spent a weekend riding on unpaved trails and loved it. It is definitely heavy, but I am there for the views, not to make time.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=5130&sku=8772&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

I also found someone selling these on ebay at an "ebay store". They have several in stock for much cheaper. Check under "cycling" at ebay. I also recommend padded bike shorts to anybody. Note that the gel-pad ones are not very breathable, and you may not like that. You can buy breathable pads.

[mike_c]

14. hey leftymom-- I know you said non-leather...

...but you REALLY ought to look at a Brooks leather saddle. They're the most comfortable bike seats made, bar none, and they make a wide variety of styles.

Here's their website: http://www.brookssaddles.com/

I order mine from Harris Cyclery; http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles.html