Yeah, I think its about time for me to smarten up. Last season of riding at Holiday Valley and not wearing a helmet kind of made me sketched… lol This year will definitely be more different. Thing that bugs me is when you tell a friend to smarten up as well, and they refuse still after going over the handlebars last year and having the bike hit them in the head.
Whats good for a helmet. I hear Giro (spelling might be wrong) and Fox are some nice makes.
Giro and Bell are the two biggest bike helmet makers. Pretty much all Fox stuff is way overpriced for its quality, except their suspension components.
It’s just plain stupid to not wear a helmet… Seriously, it’s not an inconvenience at all. If you’re worried about your appearance when you’re riding, then you’re a fucking idiot.
http://www.nyspeed.com/showthread.php?165197-Zong&highlight=zong
There are tons of helmet brands. Just go to your local bike shop and try them on. Pick something that fits well and is in your price range. Helmets expire after a few years so be mindful of buying one used.
I had an incident where I was standing to climb, my left shoe popped out, and I want over the bars and landed on the left side of my head. So there I am, on the shoulder of route 75, blacked out for a bit, and came to when some motorists stopped as they thought I was hit by a car. I got a concussion out of the deal as I’d be in a meeting at work, and after it, have NO CLUE what transpired in said meeting. I’d get really pissed out of nowhere, bad stuff. Worst thing about that-I ruined my BRAND NEW Dura Ace shifters.
If I were clipped in to a bike is where I think I would draw the helmet line.
99.9% of my riding is in Tonawanda, 1-4 miles at a time and @ 10mph maybe. My logic probably stems from riding 20" bikes all my life. I was
always good at falling off those. The closed I have had to a fall on the MTB was bashing my knees and nuts on the bars after trying to hop on the front tire 
I’m not discounting helmets or making light of brain injuries, I have my own perceptions about where the danger line is, and riding sidewalks with the fam, is not on it.
It changes for everyone with time and experience and maybe someday I will see a helmet as a must have to ride around town.
I’m also very particular about my hair. I really hate messing it up.
Where’s a good place to shop online for bikes? I’m considering buying something fairly mid / low-end this year to get back into the sport with. I went to a dedicated bike shop and found I fit a 21" frame, and I’m looking at something like a Specialized Crosstrail.
I ponied up and got fitted at a loca bike shop on a Cannondale HT 29’er. It was great to be able to ride the bike, get fitted, and make sure everything was all set in the store, but I certainly paid for it.
What is your budget? The more people I talk to about www.bikesdirect.com, the more good things I hear. You can essentially get a very nice bike at a fraction of what it would cost in a local store. All the bikes use name brand higher end components but the frame itself is from my understanding a chinese knockoff. Regardless, the components are where the money is at and the frames themselves are still really nice. Customer service and shipping reviews from friends also all came back positive. This is where I will most likely buy my next bike.
I wouldn’t buy a chinese knockoff. Instead, get yourself a used bike on craigslist. Then take it to your local shop and get a full tune-up done.
Seriously, you need a lot of confidence in your bike when your riding, so get something solid.
Only the frame itself is Chinese made, which is most likely where most brand named frames come from anyways. The components are top notch.
My Trek is Made in the USA
Components aren’t everything. Adjustments on the components, frame durability, fit all come into play as well.
Or message Gus on here…I think he might still be doing tune ups on the side. He worked at Red Door and has worked on everything from Huffys to the high end racing bikes.
Here is my sweet ride. Pretty simple mountain bike that I bought in 1997. It is now in full old lady mode with lights and flashers, fenders and the trailer for the little guy. He loves it and is usually good for about 10 miles.
Why not just buy the bike that you went and found at your local bike shop? Unless you are saving hundreds of dollars (which I doubt on a low/mid bike), buy local. Also, when it ships to your door in a box someone has to assemble and tune it. That’s not free.
I’m considering it. But since I’m just starting to look, I want to broaden my horizons a bit.
…and I bought local. '12 Raleigh Misceo 1.0 “hybrid” from Park Ave. Bikes in Henrietta. These guys were great, I asked a lot of questions and they had a lot of solid answers. They even swapped out components for me to get the fit just right. I rode this and a Specialized back to back.
I hope I did ok, NYSpeed bike gods 
First ride of the season. Nothing amazing… but went to the Niagara Falls Gorge and took the bikes to the bottom. Gets better around 4:30. We took it pretty slow because of the area, and not being comfy on the bikes yet.
I went to the “bike club” meeting at work…
They say you need a helmet and do not condone wheelies.
Anyone want to buy a road bike seat?
Have a virtually new Prologo seat that I’m looking to get rid of. Just not wide enough for me.
Is it the white one with the cut out for your choad?
Just get out and turn the pedals, thats the most important thing:tup:
