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Oh, Shitibike, the $120 WalMart Wonder. You gave me three years of good and faithful service, upon the rough and rutted roads of Hoboken and New York City.
I remember when you were a newcomer to the stable, so red and shiny and full of promise, taking your place humbly among the veterans in the hallway of my tiny tenement apartment.
You stood so proudly there against the Manhattan skyline; fresh, clean and full of promise, with your Banjo Bros. luggage proudly mounted, wearing your indestructible Michelin Pilot tires.
And yet, you were meant to be a stopgap, a mode of temporary transportation until a more expensive urban bicycle took your place. Many nights did I dream of disc brakes, belt drive, and an internally geared hub. But you made for yourself a place in my heart, and taught me to see the value in that to which the gearfags turn a blindly condescending eye.
Countless were the loads you carried, and thankless the task. So many grocery sacks heaved into your now-removed baskets. So many oversized items bungeed to your feeble rack. And yet not once did you complain, not once did you leave me stranded. Nary a flat tire nor a pulled spoke nor an irreparable chain-throw did you suffer.
And countless were the hills you climbed and the steps you descended, as we explored the vast expanse of the five boroughs just for the thrill of discovery. On trains we rode, down seldom-traveled paths we braved, so many laps of Central Park we took, always in the shadow of the Armstrongs with their gram-weighted carbon fiber frames, but never discouraged from pressing on.
You were truly a most good and faithful servant, and for a more dependable steed could no man ask.
Your colors are faded now, and the rust of the city winter has taken its toll. I wish that I could offer you a more fitting dirge. But as was our relationship in life, so it must be now.
I abandoned you on a sidewalk in Manhattan's upper east side, your cogs and bearing races too worn to contemplate further repair, your spoke nipples finally seized and able to turn no further.
Our parting was brief, and without sorrowful tears. I walked down to the river to smoke a cigar and watch the tugboats and barges pass by; an oasis of serenity in an insane world.
I drank in deeply the poor minstrel with his saxophone. I listened to the lovers' patter, the blare of taxi horns, and the howl of a distant dog. I gazed through the ever-present haze at the few visible stars, and my eyes fall back to the reflections upon the water.
I watched as other bicycles passed by, and my thoughts turned back to you.
An hour later I returned, to find that you had already gone; absorbed into the seedy infrastructure of NYC bicycle theft as is the fate of so many which tread upon this magical ground. May your few remaining serviceable components find new life in the black market.
Fare well, Shitibike. You have been succeeded, but you will never be replaced.
Got a proper shot of the Emonda, really happy with the purchase. Took a 45 mile ride yesterday and despite the bars being lower than on the Fondo, I found myself more comfortable throughout the ride, and after as well. Only on stock wheels and 23c tires but I was literally aiming for potholes and cracks in the road because it soaks all of that up so well, it's really shocking.
Before the ride, actually ended up bringing the seat up a good bit more as well as we made stops.
I was going to make fun of your saddle bag, but then i see you have it to fit in.
PFW century this saturday, going?
Saturday I work :(. Don't make fun of my saddle bag, I keep all my things in it and I get a lot of compliments on it . I tried sticking stuff in my pockets too, but by the time I load up a tube, levers, allen keys, co2, some cash, my phone, keys, it just doesn't feel comfortable and the keys jingling in my pocket drives me nuts.
Originally Posted by mgeoffriau
So who was riding the flat bar Trek with the spoke protector?
Someone else, it was on the rack when we all stopped for lunch.
You will figure out how to make everything fit neatly in your jersey pockets the moment that thing falls off in the middle of a group ride, which it inevitably will. I have a soft folding pouch which fits a tube, one lever, two CO2s, inflator, Lezye SV7, ID/cash, glueless patch kit, alcohol wipes, and house/car key. That goes in the center pocket and I don't notice it until I try to sit down at the coffee shop. Right pocket carries my cell phone, credit card, health insurance card in a Ziploc baggie. Left pocket is for clip covers, arm warmers, food,
Nothing says "pro" like climbing 1/4 mile up a 10% climb you just finished descending to search for your spares bag.
You will figure out how to make everything fit neatly in your jersey pockets the moment that thing falls off in the middle of a group ride, which it inevitably will. I have a soft folding pouch which fits a tube, one lever, two CO2s, inflator, Lezye SV7, ID/cash, glueless patch kit, alcohol wipes, and house/car key. That goes in the center pocket and I don't notice it until I try to sit down at the coffee shop. Right pocket carries my cell phone, credit card, health insurance card in a Ziploc baggie. Left pocket is for clip covers, arm warmers, food,
Nothing says "pro" like climbing 1/4 mile up a 10% climb you just finished descending to search for your spares bag.
How would it fall off? It's got one velcro strap around the seatpost, and one around each of the seat rails, and the ones around the seat rails have like 2" of contact velcro per side. Does it loosen up over time somehow?
I've tried using the pockets, just feels odd to me.
Saddle bag makes a lot of sense, it does. But it's not allowed.
I use this after seeing what Hustler uses.
Inside I fit, with a good amount of room (not difficult to zip up, corners still soft enough to not gouge into your back):
2 tire levers
small crankbros multitool
1 CO2
CO2 inflater attachment
old ID & insurance card
Cash
Tube
Slime "scabs" glueless patchs
I've never lost a seat bag. Have left it's zipper open many times, however. My present one has a latch, like on kiddie seat, that secures the through-the-seat-rail straps together. Not relying on velcro for retention.
Saddle bag makes a lot of sense, it does. But it's not allowed.
I use this after seeing what Hustler uses.
Inside I fit, with a good amount of room (not difficult to zip up, corners still soft enough to not gouge into your back):
2 tire levers
small crankbros multitool
1 CO2
CO2 inflater attachment
old ID & insurance card
Cash
Tube
Slime "scabs" glueless patchs
Not allowed by who lol. Personally I'd rather be more comfortable on the bike than stuff everything into my pockets to get more "aero" with no saddle bag. Maybe when mine actually falls off, I'll re-consider, but it's just a more comfortable way to haul my stuff around.
Some people are saying that instead of paying $4-5 for each 16g cartridge, they buy 12g ones from Dick's, Walmart, etc. (for bb guns) and put a nickel in the bottom of the dispenser to help it engage the 12g cartridge. I'm probably going to at least give it a try, but has anyone had experience with the 12g cartridges? How much psi can I expect to get into my tire with one of them? I suppose I could just buy a 5-pack for $6 and try it out.
Last edited by Mazdaspeeder; 08-03-2016 at 02:24 PM.
Hmm, that does look much more compact than the one I have. Will need to research more, but no intentions to stuff all my junk into my pockets either way.
Saturday I work :(. Don't make fun of my saddle bag, I keep all my things in it and I get a lot of compliments on it . I tried sticking stuff in my pockets too, but by the time I load up a tube, levers, allen keys, co2, some cash, my phone, keys, it just doesn't feel comfortable and the keys jingling in my pocket drives me nuts.
Someone else, it was on the rack when we all stopped for lunch.
Originally Posted by Savington
Saddle bag needs a TSA-approved lock.
You will figure out how to make everything fit neatly in your jersey pockets the moment that thing falls off in the middle of a group ride, which it inevitably will. I have a soft folding pouch which fits a tube, one lever, two CO2s, inflator, Lezye SV7, ID/cash, glueless patch kit, alcohol wipes, and house/car key. That goes in the center pocket and I don't notice it until I try to sit down at the coffee shop. Right pocket carries my cell phone, credit card, health insurance card in a Ziploc baggie. Left pocket is for clip covers, arm warmers, food,
Nothing says "pro" like climbing 1/4 mile up a 10% climb you just finished descending to search for your spares bag.
This has been covered many times before... It really doesn't matter how you choose to carry your spares/tools/food/etc. The "pro" thing to do is to be self sufficient, whether it's a saddle bag or jersey pocket(s). The main thing I've found is to keep everything as small/light as possible. So, I use a small frame mounted pump and a small saddle bag that tucks up under the seat to hold my spare tubes, levers, and multi-tool. Money and phone go in the back pocket. There's nothing wrong with either method.
So about 2.5 weeks ago I managed to go down pretty hard while doing some jumping practice. Cracked 2 ribs... ow. I've got about 3-4 more weeks of recovery left. I haven't broken or cracked ribs since I was a little kid, not recommended.
This has been covered many times before... It really doesn't matter how you choose to carry your spares/tools/food/etc. The "pro" thing to do is to be self sufficient, whether it's a saddle bag or jersey pocket(s). The main thing I've found is to keep everything as small/light as possible. So, I use a small frame mounted pump and a small saddle bag that tucks up under the seat to hold my spare tubes, levers, and multi-tool. Money and phone go in the back pocket. There's nothing wrong with either method.
For further research
And:
Almost everyone I see riding has a saddle bag of some kind so I really don't feel self concious about it....pretty hard to get upset over that when I'm wearing a bib in traffic lol
08-02-2016, 10:30 PM
2
. I tried sticking stuff in my pockets too, but by the time I load up a tube, levers, allen keys, co2, some cash, my phone, keys, it just doesn't feel comfortable and the keys jingling in my pocket drives me nuts. 
