It's about time for a bicycle/mtn bike thread!

[ezzpete]

has anyone ridden on any of the dirt roads around Mormon Rocks? to the south of 138 there is one that looks like it goes somewhat along the RR tracks.

one day during the heavy rains i was in the  15 and there was an awesome looking waterfall up there.it looks like the dirt road goes near there.

[SteelCommuter]

Actually, I take my original statement back. I don't have the $97 tire, I have the $50 version with the fewer studs ... but probably still good enough.

Looks like I'll be up this coming weekend - but I will have to spend some time to get the $*%#@&# snowblower down the hill for repairs. Maybe we could go riding the fire roads by Blue Ridge or Jackson Lake with the new tires?

I'm up for a ride, but I don't have studded tires yet.

I'm about to take the dog out for his run and my ride up at Table Mtn, I think.  I'll look at the conditions of those trails while I'm out.

[SteelCommuter]

has anyone ridden on any of the dirt roads around Mormon Rocks? to the south of 138 there is one that looks like it goes somewhat along the RR tracks.

one day during the heavy rains i was in the 15 and there was an awesome looking waterfall up there.it looks like the dirt road goes near there.

I haven't tried anything there before.  It might be worth a shot.

Ezzpete, there are other studded tires out there, including some $30-$40 models by Nashbar and Schwalbe. 

[Wrightwood]

During the Runway Fire I drove my truck back in that area and it's definitely an interesting place. Looking over the topo map it does indicate that much of that area is a private road and/or belongs to the railroad. Check it out close so you don't end up with someone chasing you with a shotgun 

[Chuck]

SteelCommuter,
Just like going in the ocean or other potentially dangerous place it is always a good idea to go in two's (or more).  Taking a cell phone would be very important also.

I would hate to think of someone falling on ice/snow with no help around.

Since ice is so hard, Helmets are a must!!!

I think of you as a son!

[SteelCommuter]

BTW, if anyone is in the bike market, I've been doing some looking around and I've seen a lot of good deals for mtn bikes, touring bikes, road and tandems that I simply cannot take advantage of.  I'd be glad to let people know about them, if interested.

[dlux]

been on my indoor trainer, missing the outdoor rides.  I know, bundle up, but I think I'll at least wait until the sun comes out.

[Matt]

Hey, do you guys have any bike dealership reccomendations?  I'm in the market for a MTB right now, and Sport Chalet just isn't cutting it  :-[

So any suggestions would be great !

[dlux]

Don's Bikes in Rialto.  Tell them you are from Wrightwood.  They've got some good customers up here.

[BikingBrian]

The Victor Valley Bicycle Club website has been updated and has a new address:

http://www.vvbc.us/

There's some information on a couple of bike shops in the Victorville area.

[SteelCommuter]

I have been unimpressed with Victorville bike shops so far.  But most bike shops leave me cold.

I walked into an Orange County shop once, I believe it was Switchback Cyclery.  They seemed to be friendly, and knowledgeable.  But the general problem is that every kind of yahoo may be working at a bike shop, and often gives you inappropriate advice, tries to sell you on the newest, baddest gear, and is interested only a teeny bit in hearing what you will be doing with the bike.  Brian, if I'm being too harsh, go ahead and say so, but I wouldn't be surprised if you agree.

If I was going to look for the Standard TM aluminum hardtail with Deore or LX parts, then most places have this.  REI is not a bad place to go to, but if you want to patronize a small shop I hear the Path and Switchback in OC are good shops.  You can check out reviews and directions to shops on mybikesite.com in the So Cal section.  There is one shop in Pasadena I want to visit some time, because the guy appeared to have some very good New Old Stock frames that he could build up for a decent price.

There are a few things I'd look for.  A bike, especially a mtn bike, needs to be comfortable, but many shop guys will try to put you on a bike too small for you.  I remember I bought my first bike from Sport Chalet (they still source Marin bikes, which are good bikes, but I would never buy from them now) and the employee tried to put me on a 19" frame, and my friend with me thought I should get it.  But I tried the 21" (which had plenty of standover clearance) and it felt better, much better.  The employee, who later became a roommate, oddly enough, couldn't imagine anyone but a giant riding it.  I now know that he was operating on received opinions, mostly from people who race full-time, and hadn't been properly trained.  Well, I bought the 21" bike and rode the hell out of it in Wrightwood, everyday, for a whole summer on any trail I could find, including the ski slopes.  I used it for years at a campus bike, and now my brother rides it everyday everywhere.  I know many people who buy a mtn bike a size too small, and ride it for a while and that's it.  They feel squeezed, and uncomfortable, but they don't know why.  So it gets abandoned, sold, and handed down to someone else.

The second thing that matters to me is the parts and how to maintain them.  I've had every kind of brake out there, and despite some great rides with disc brakes (in Moab, among others) I think they're a pain to adjust and unnecessary.  I prefer brakes that are easy to set up and inexpensive to maintain, like cantilevers and v-brakes.  I prefer a 8 speed cassette because of the thicker chain and better shifting IMO (although 9 can be set up very well, I know).  The handlebar is overlooked by most customers, but different handlebars make such a huge difference.  Most mtn bikes sold today have suspension forks, and I'd prefer a heavier, maintenance-free fork versus some light wunderkind that has a zillion parts to maintain.

There's a ton of other long-term considerations, but the standard, aluminum hardtail is pretty much built in the same factory in Taiwan, sometimes with minor differences, and sold with different brand names in almost every shop with mtn bikes.

BTW: My wife has a Jamis Exile, normally $900 but Performance regularly discounts it to $500 around now, and it is a screaming good deal.  It is well thought out.

IF you're doing your research, Dirtragmag.com has the best reviews of bikes for a magazine, and I like the user reviews on mtbr.com

[SteelCommuter]

Hatebiscuit,

I don't know what size you are or anything, but I have a few bikes you could try to see what you're interested in.  It wouldn't be a big deal.

[dlux]

anybody been on their mtn bike in WW lately?  I've been strictly on the road and I'm hoping for some mtn bike time soon.  How are the trails?

[BikingBrian]

No, not me, I've been fighting this same cold for about six weeks!

[Wrightwood]

What's up with the proposed $7 fee on every new bicycle sold.

I have issues with this pending legislation. The recycling laws are starting to get out of hand. What recycling laws will come next?
How about putting the effort towards education?

February 25, 2005

SACRAMENTO ? A $7 fee would be charged on every new bicycle sold in California to promote a statewide recycling program, under recently introduced legislation.

Buyers would receive $3 back when they turned their bikes in to a certified recycler or community group that refurbishes or reuses the popular mode of transportation.

"Our landfills are jammed. Why not recycle parts of bicycles?" said Assemblywoman Betty Karnette, D-Long Beach, who is carrying the measure, AB 1103. "We can put bikes together and sell them cheaply or give them to people who can't afford bikes."

For years, California has charged a deposit on cans and bottles to fund recycling programs. More recently, the state has started collecting $6 to $10 on every new television and computer monitor sold to offset disposal costs.

But the new legislation has sparked a debate in the bicycling community over whether the fee would lead to more users by providing affordable bikes or if higher prices would hurt independent dealers who actively promote cycling through rides and education.

In Oakland, the nonprofit group Cycles of Change works with schools to offer bicycle safety and maintenance programs for 800 students. Those who complete the course can take home a bike.

"It would be very helpful," said Maya Carson, the program's co-director. "It would mean we could continue in the future and keep up with demand."

Demand also is booming at an innovative bicycle lending program in Arcata, home to Humboldt State University. Residents check out bicycles much like books. For a refundable $20 deposit, they can use the bikes for six months.

"It's a simple way to get people to use bicycles," said Bill Burton, who oversees the Arcata Library Bike project.

But not all bicycling enthusiasts embrace the idea of paying $7 more when they are ready for a new one.

"Anytime you add a fee to a new product, it's almost like an additional tax. Taxes for consumers are unfriendly, to say the least," said Brian Cox, vice president of Jax Bicycle Center, a five-store chain in Southern California.

Cox said there may be better alternatives that the biking community could explore with Karnette since her goals ? reducing landfill waste, encouraging more riders and helping those who can't afford a new bike ? are laudable.

Justin Fanslau, a lobbyist for the California Bicycle Coalition, said cyclists and retailers would be more interested in participating in voluntary recycling and reuse programs.

"I would imagine folks who purchase bikes in their own community, if given the option, would want to benefit their community," Fanslau said.

Fred Clements, executive director of a Costa Mesa-based national coalition of specialty bicycle dealers, fears higher fees would drive away business.

"A $7 charge would be difficult for them to handle," he said. "There's not a lot of profit. It's a business of passion."

Clements said lawmakers could find better targets for a redemption program.

"There are things thrown away that seem to be more onerous than bicycles," he said. "Bicycle riding should be encouraged, not discouraged."

Californians buy between 3 million and 4 million bicycles a year. Most pay under $100 at discount department stores, according to industry figures.

California landfills take in an estimated 250,000 bicycles a year, Karnette said.

"We're going to have to do something," she said. "This is a beginning."

[dlux]

bicycles range in price from $35 to Thousands of dollars each.  From what I've seen, bicycles are not the problem at landfills.  There's a lot of stuff filling up the dumps.  I don't think I've ever seen a bicycle there.  I'm sure they are there, but its much more common to see wheels, shelving, lamps, broken toys, furnitutre, etc....  Isn't that what dump fees are for?

[BikingBrian]

What's up with the proposed $7 fee on every new bicycle sold.

I have issues with this pending legislation. The recycling laws are starting getting out of hand. What recycling laws will come next?
How about putting the effort towards education?

I couldn't agree more.

If a used bike is truly in good enough condition to reuse, then someone will sell it at a garage sale or donate it.  Otherwise it is probably in bad enough condition, and it really does belong in a landfill.

I also fail to see the connection between charging a fee on new bikes and the recycling of old ones.  But then I looked at the bill and found out that they're using the fee on new bikes to cover the administration of the recycling program.

As far as I know, none of us who are active in bicycling advocacy were consulted before this bill was proposed, and not very many support it.

[SteelCommuter]

What's up with the proposed $7 fee on every new bicycle sold.

I have issues with this pending legislation. The recycling laws are starting to get out of hand. What recycling laws will come next?
How about putting the effort towards education?

I read this a few days ago, and have been giving it some consideration.  I don't mind recycling taxes, as long as they are structured in a way that merely brings the price of a product closer to its true cost.  After all, the true cost of a car is much more than the purchase price.  I don't mean insurance costs, fuel, etc.  It's just that the infrastructure necessary for so many people to use private cars for every kind of trip has all kinds of costs, often bourne by everyone, regardless of whether they use a car or not. 

But this tax doesn't seem to work that way.  It first assumes that every bike will at some point be given up by its owner, with either the intent to throw it away (and end up in a landfill) or perhaps stored and not sold to someone who will use it.  It is also a regressive tax, because for lower-income people who might want a new, inexpensive bicycle, the $7 represents a much larger proportion of the total price of a cheap new bike than a $2000-5000 bike bought by a wealthier person.  Whereas the sales tax is a percentage of the price, the $7 is a fixed tax.  Ironically, it could (not necessarily) have the net effect of discouraging the purchase of the bike by a poorer person, even though (1) arguably that poorer person might be more likely to use than bike for commuting and (2) the potential savings and benefits of encouraging someone to commute by bike rather than car far, far exceed $7.

Additionally, the $7 doesn't really encourage the wealthier buyer to recycle their bike.  After all, I imagine that most will either buy a more expensive bike that they will either keep or sell again, or if they have some cheapie for themselves or their kid, they are just as likely to throw it away with or without this $7.  So perhaps the $7 pays for some of the landfill or other costs, but it doesn't really resolve the actual problem of landfill capacity, recycling habits, or other issues being addressed by the tax.

Just thinking on the quick, I would guess the government (and society) have more to gain from some sort of incentive for people to buy used bikes for commuting or to borrow a bike from a bike library.  Use other tax revenue, say from cars or gasoline, to help fund cooperative, non-profit bike libraries with a small staff.  The more someone uses a bike, the less burden they will have on national health costs, road maintenance, increasing levels of carbon in the atmosphere, etc.  Some of these costs are easily calculable, some are more difficult, but all are much greater than some $7 short-term tax.

Just some thoughts.

[dlux]

Very good post!

[SteelCommuter]

The last week I've seen quite a few people out riding.  Mostly mountain bikes, but also BMX, a cruiser, and a road bike (well, that was mine).

Anyone up for a ride club?  I'm pretty sure most people here only have mountain bikes, so off-road rides are a good idea.  But until June, many of my favorite trails have lots of snow on them, which can really slow you down a bit.  In early January, I rode from town up the 2 and then down Big Pines to Jackson Lake, and back.  It was a beautiful day, and I had a great time, so I'm thinking about doing it again this weekend.

By the way, I'm selling a handmade 1970s Holdsworth Professional, a British racing frame that was the Brit's choice for the TdF.  It's in fine condition, nothing wrong with it, I just need to sell it to justify previous purchases.  Own a classic racing bike.

I noticed that ezzpete is selling a Redline Monocog frameset and some parts on the classifieds.  If anyone wants to scratch their singlespeed itch, it seems like a smoking deal.