Comments on: Racing or Commuter Bike Shop? http://googlemapsbikethere.org/2008/05/07/racing-or-commuter-bike-shop/ ...for a safer, healthier, happier world. :-) Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:29:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: dr2chase http://googlemapsbikethere.org/2008/05/07/racing-or-commuter-bike-shop/#comment-1444 dr2chase Sat, 10 May 2008 14:34:28 +0000 http://googlemapsbikethere.org/?p=168#comment-1444 I think they need to push fat tires, not fixed gears. Fat, slick, thin-wall tires are a little pricey, but they roll well, take care of bumps, and (because they don't fall into cracks) are safer around storm grates and roads that have been patched after utilities work. They also do reasonably well on sand and mud, because they tend to ride on top of it, not underneath. Also just returned from trips to NYC and SF, and of the many bikes I saw, far less than a majority were fixed-gear. The two major attractions of fixed gear are that there is less to break, and less to steal if the bike is left out. Cargo bikes deserve a plug, too -- either an xtracycle, or Yuba Mundo, or Kona Ute, or (when they are back in stock) a Surly Big Dummy. Backpacks get old, especially in the Texas heat, and sometimes you need to carry a heavy load. I think they need to push fat tires, not fixed gears. Fat, slick, thin-wall tires are a little pricey, but they roll well, take care of bumps, and (because they don’t fall into cracks) are safer around storm grates and roads that have been patched after utilities work. They also do reasonably well on sand and mud, because they tend to ride on top of it, not underneath.

Also just returned from trips to NYC and SF, and of the many bikes I saw, far less than a majority were fixed-gear. The two major attractions of fixed gear are that there is less to break, and less to steal if the bike is left out.

Cargo bikes deserve a plug, too — either an xtracycle, or Yuba Mundo, or Kona Ute, or (when they are back in stock) a Surly Big Dummy. Backpacks get old, especially in the Texas heat, and sometimes you need to carry a heavy load.

]]> By: Peter Smith http://googlemapsbikethere.org/2008/05/07/racing-or-commuter-bike-shop/#comment-1440 Peter Smith Thu, 08 May 2008 19:47:49 +0000 http://googlemapsbikethere.org/?p=168#comment-1440 Awesome, Amy! Thanks for the update. I hope they have the latest copy when they open on Saturday. :) Awesome, Amy!

Thanks for the update. I hope they have the latest copy when they open on Saturday.

:)

]]> By: Amy Walker http://googlemapsbikethere.org/2008/05/07/racing-or-commuter-bike-shop/#comment-1439 Amy Walker Thu, 08 May 2008 18:40:48 +0000 http://googlemapsbikethere.org/?p=168#comment-1439 Hi - thanks for the mention. Just wanted to send a note that Mellow Johnny's bought a subscription to Momentum even before we talked to them about the story. I was impressed with this because they had heard about the magazine and thought it would be of interest to their customers. We are clearly NOT a racing magazine - and we're not that big (yet!) so receiving a call from them let me know that they were genuinely interested in transportation biking and researching (and supporting) bike culture. Amy Walker Publisher Momentum Magazine Hi - thanks for the mention.

Just wanted to send a note that Mellow Johnny’s bought a subscription to Momentum even before we talked to them about the story.

I was impressed with this because they had heard about the magazine and thought it would be of interest to their customers. We are clearly NOT a racing magazine - and we’re not that big (yet!) so receiving a call from them let me know that they were genuinely interested in transportation biking and researching (and supporting) bike culture.

Amy Walker
Publisher
Momentum Magazine

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