Hello from West Los Angeles!
05-26-19, 02:10 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Hello from West Los Angeles!
Happy Memorial Day Weekend for those of you in the USA!
Just getting back into biking now in my 40s. Hadn't really ridden since high school. My roommate has an old beater bike (likely a Target $100 from 10 years ago) so I decided to try it out. Yes it's probably a 40lbs monstrosity and it was unwieldy, but now I'm living proof of the "it's like riding a bike" saying. even though it has likely been 25 years since I was last on one, after a shaky first 5 minutes just going around the block, it suddenly started to come back to me.
Went to my LBS and bought one, slated to arrive mid-June, riding a loaner. Plan to ride to/from work, and on weekends to all the local (i.e. 5 miles or less) places that I used to drive to. Dual benefit of saving gas while also getting some cardio work in (West L.A. has a lot of hills and inclined roads).
Happy to have found this community, and I'll be peppering the forums with questions as a newbie rider!
Just getting back into biking now in my 40s. Hadn't really ridden since high school. My roommate has an old beater bike (likely a Target $100 from 10 years ago) so I decided to try it out. Yes it's probably a 40lbs monstrosity and it was unwieldy, but now I'm living proof of the "it's like riding a bike" saying. even though it has likely been 25 years since I was last on one, after a shaky first 5 minutes just going around the block, it suddenly started to come back to me.
Went to my LBS and bought one, slated to arrive mid-June, riding a loaner. Plan to ride to/from work, and on weekends to all the local (i.e. 5 miles or less) places that I used to drive to. Dual benefit of saving gas while also getting some cardio work in (West L.A. has a lot of hills and inclined roads).
Happy to have found this community, and I'll be peppering the forums with questions as a newbie rider!
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05-26-19, 04:08 PM
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Seal Beach Ca. On the right , next to Long Beach
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Hi , glad you are having a good time with all this . What did you buy ?
05-26-19, 04:15 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Trek FX Sport 6. Yeah. That might put me in the more money than sense category for someone who just picked up riding again in two and a half decades.
I was set to to buy an FX 3 disc but that wasn’t much cheaper than a FX S4 which comes with disc brakes. So while I was test riding the 4 my LBS said I might want to try the 5. Once I felt the difference that carbon fiber frame made I couldn’t go back. With Trek’s current holiday sale, plus a kind discount from my LBS, the price between the 5 and 6 was under $100. At that point if I was going to get a 5...it made no sense not to spring the little bit more for a 6.
Unfortunately they had to order it, versus I could’ve rode the 5 home. So I have to wait until mid June.
I was set to to buy an FX 3 disc but that wasn’t much cheaper than a FX S4 which comes with disc brakes. So while I was test riding the 4 my LBS said I might want to try the 5. Once I felt the difference that carbon fiber frame made I couldn’t go back. With Trek’s current holiday sale, plus a kind discount from my LBS, the price between the 5 and 6 was under $100. At that point if I was going to get a 5...it made no sense not to spring the little bit more for a 6.
Unfortunately they had to order it, versus I could’ve rode the 5 home. So I have to wait until mid June.
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05-26-19, 04:38 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
That’s the one! Now my wait is gonna seem even longer 
I purchased a helmet, flat kit, pump, lights and water bottle kit. Also a more comfortable seat since I’ll be doing mostly city riding and the stock seat was a bit too hard for my liking. I’m also debating about an iPhone holder but not sure yet of the usefulness of that. I pretty much know my area...at least anywhere within riding distance for me, so I’m not sure I’d need it for GPS.
I purchased a helmet, flat kit, pump, lights and water bottle kit. Also a more comfortable seat since I’ll be doing mostly city riding and the stock seat was a bit too hard for my liking. I’m also debating about an iPhone holder but not sure yet of the usefulness of that. I pretty much know my area...at least anywhere within riding distance for me, so I’m not sure I’d need it for GPS.
05-26-19, 05:13 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Seal Beach Ca. On the right , next to Long Beach
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All sounds good . I'd get a lock and a Insurance policy too .
05-26-19, 05:24 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the lock and chain: Bontrager elite folding lock for frame and rear wheel + a chain to lock front wheel to bike. I will be storing it in house and when I ride to work it's locked in my office. When I go out and about on weekends I will generally keep it in my sight at all times (still locked up of course). Anything requiring me to stay for a long time I'll likely just drive to. I would get paranoid leaving a 2K bike outside for a prolonged period of time no matter how good of a lock I had on it.
I'll look into insurance, I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if I can just add it to my renter's insurance.
I'll look into insurance, I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if I can just add it to my renter's insurance.
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05-26-19, 08:40 PM
#8
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Welcome from San Diego!
