Considering how saturated the used bike market is with 1-2 year old bikes this is definitely the case . At the moment , the more expensive the bike the better deal you'll find as people were purchasing $5000 bikes during covid to only ride them 75 miles 👍 that they'll let go for $2,000 due to too many bikes for sale .
Tinker, tinker and more tinker. Start with a cheap 80's or 90's mtb (as they make great "all rounders"), watch UA-cam tutorials, strip the whole thing down and re-lube, refresh, replace whats needed. Not only are you now invested in your bike, you can take pride that you can do your own maintenance. The hobby is that much sweeter when you do your own build and repairs
The best advice for a new cyclist is to first purchase a used bike for no more than $500 ,to then get into shape before compulsively purchasing a new bike as many people think they want to be a bicyclist but don't have the patience to develop leg strength and endurance to only give up after 2 weeks . But for those that randomly purchased a $3000+ bicycle to only ride it 50 miles , thank you as you created a highly saturated used bike market resulting in driving down used bike prices 👍
Great advice. I would also add that you cannot even get a good fit until your body develops cycling muscles and at least a decent cycling posture. I think you made this point in a slightly different way.
This is the first comment I read but can I say your arrogance is astonishing. But you're not unique by any means. Pretty much representative of nearly all sports or recreational "bicyclists". So what am I, apparently not a cyclist or a bicyclist. I ride my €500 hybrid as a commuter and utilitarian workhorse. It's a full car replacement. I have racks and bags and baskets for every purpose. I have a couple of trailers I can and have carried 70kg of shopping cargo, a full sized lawnmower or 50 litres of tractor diesel and much more besides. My bike has so many accessories it's literally an extension of myself. But always from the roadies and mtb'ers and such there is the statement that everyone who isn't what they are isn't a cyclist. Or a bicyclist. I'm just someone who rides a bike for some other mysterious reason. I mean, what the serious feck? It just pi5535 me off. Everyone who rides a bike to school or work or to go to the post office or anything else is a cyclist. You don't have to be a lycra clad gimp to be a "cyclist". And yes, I'm being just as deliberately judgemental back.
@K1989L I get this 100% , but as a contractor and cyclist thats worked on many homes, I've witnessed many bikes over the years that are basically brand new just sitting around collecting dust due to compulsive purchases in people's garages. It's very similar to how a treadmill often ends up being a $2500 clothes hanger after a month 👍
On a side note one of my bikes is a 1991 KONA Hei Hei that I ride almost daily " about 50-70 miles per week " as my adult urban BMX /gravel bike as it kicks ass . It's the bike that does it all for me as I can open my front door and head out to the city . Its old with 26 inch wheels and old geometry but its titanium , incredibly rare /valuable and cool looking as I found it at a thrift store for $50 🤣🤣 . Granted the last bloke who owned it swapped out every original component with cheap early 2000's bike store parts which is a shame as the Hei Hei had the best of the best components for 1991 . I've replaced every component with high end stuff as it's an awesome bike now. Don't knock an old bike as this thing is very quick , light and nimble , also the old Kona geometry was better than most bikes MTB's of this time period . To me it's the equivalence of owning a 1969 Dodge Charger and not driving it because modern cars drive better .
For me, who had 0 cycling friends, UA-cam was and is the best source to find maintainence tutorials. And to learn about the "long tail", like alternative, classic stuff besides the latest marketing campaign of bike manufactures.
It’s funny listening to the “shoulda, coulda, woulda” answers Vs the philosophical answers. Adam’s last comment nailed it: we’ll help you do you. What any great builder should do.
100% agree with Poppi. Got my first mtb in 1990 but learnt how to set up correctly the cantilever brakes only more than 20 years later only thanks to Jan Heine and a Bicycle Quarterly article.
Great question, so many different answers to be had. I’m surprised not one mentioned getting a proper bike fitting. I completed a 12,000 mile in 12 month challenge in 2016. I was unable to find the perfect bike seat setting. Turns out one leg is slightly longer. Took a fitting to figure that one out.
My hill requirement at the top is I have to be able to pedal through the next gear and get started on the gear after that in order to be "over" the hill.
There's actually some really really good Cantilever brakes out there. I got a set of CX cantilevers on my randonneur and these are so easy to set up and super stiff under braking load and they just stop so well paired with Campagnolo brifters.
Great format for a large get together. Coverage of these events is kind of predictable. These questions are refreshing. Hope the editing is easy - keep up the good work. Also, that person representing Schon Studio is on point in every clip I've seen from their booth. Btchn' gets my nomination for creative ideas from a one person builder.
great video. II have a Giant MTB hardtail & a Giant gravel bike and placing things ON the bikes vs ON MY BACK has been nothing short of amazing. im a casual non-competitive rider so the weight isnt that important to me right now.
My intitial response is: "buy every Shimano 600/Deore long cage derailleur you can put your hands on and get a bunch of those Suntour bar-end shifters too".
I wish I had known what bike I wanted instead of going from fixed, to x-cross, to gravel to my now ATB steel stead that I love more than anything. I think new cyclists need to think of long-term bikes, rather than trends and don't fall into the instagram hype algorithm.
Path Less Pedaled . Your channel is a breath of fresh air that speaks to the keep it simple , it's just a bike ! If it has 2 wheels , 2 pedals and it's road / trail ready , Go Ride !!🚴🏜️ Bikes are way cheaper than therapy or Prozac 🍻
Take the time to help your signifant other, wife in my case, learn how to ride a bike. Yes you will have to back off your own training for a year or two. Push or sling her up hills until her legs and mind are able to climb and ride against the wind! Teach her how to use the gears, brakes. breaks, and where she should shift to keep her rpm up. Do not cheap out on her bike, accessories, parts, and clothing. Think per pound body weight as yourself. Do not put her in dangerous or stressful situation until she can handle it. Just add a little bit at a time. Have fun be safe!!
#1 “learn to ride a wheelie as a kid” #2 “it’s ok to do bikes how you want to do bikes and just do what’s fun for you” Two very solid pieces of advice.
Importance of getting the right tyre for your needs. Not just running Schwalbe marathon plus just because you don’t like punctures. The wonder that is Japanese tyres.
My advice: If it's comfortable for you, don't change it. On the other hand, I changed the size of my mtb tires because I was using it only for city rides. Now I have arisun metro cruiser.
I wish I had learned to countersteer much earlier. I had to learn to ride a motorcycle to have it explained to me; then I was able to take tighter, cleaner turns on my bicycle. Every Motorcycle Safety Foundation novice rider course teaches countersteering from the beginning. On any weekend, a bunch of MC newbies are consciously practicing it. "Look right, press right, go right". Meanwhile, people on bikes are swinging wide on turns, into traffic, because they have never learned to countersteer.
I'm 66 and just getting back into cycling after 45+ years. It seems there are no bikes made for older 'new' cyclist. And for that matter no videos either. I made a mistake and bought a 3 x 8 37.5 pound bike. It said lightweight, lol. The Trek fx 1 is a 2 x 8 and about 12 pounds lighter but 2 x 8 does not sound like a step up. The Trek fx 2 is 2 x 9 and it might be what I need but I don't really know. The Trek fx 3 at first glance looks fantastic but it is only 1 x 10. I was screaming at Trek through my monitor, "why in hades would you put fewer gears on a higher spec bike". If it was a 2 x 10 I would have taken a chance and bought one. If I did buy one could I convert it to a 2 x 10? My next unanswered question is about endurance bikes. Would I really be able to set up straight enough to be comfortable at my age? Or is it just hype? My dream bike if I knew what I was talking about. . 20 lbs or less (no more than 25 lbs, hard limit) . 28 to 32 mm fast road tires. Should I upgrade to carbon wheels at some point? . drop handlebars for the different positions but upright posture enough for me. Otherwise just flat bars will do. . 2 x 11 gearing (105) with low enough gears for my 66 year old legs . no more than about $1500.00 There are no flat roads here. It's almost all either uphill or downhill where I live. Just road, no gravel. I want to do 50 mile round trips. I already did 21 miles on my 37.5 pound bike. It about killed me. On a flat large parking lot I can do laps for 2 miles at avg 10.5 mph, 6 miles at avg 9.6 (maybe later today I'll try 8 miles) What bike is right for me? Or should I build. No videos that I have seen so far have answered these questions.
1. When you're ready, get a good bike, new or used. Don't keep riding an inappropriate or cheapo bike. 2. Try different kinds of cycling. 3. Incorporate bicycles into your everyday life.
Mountain bikes -- ha - no! I completely skipped over that phase and I don't regret it. To each his own, absolutely! It's great that there are so many different types of bikes and ways to ride, there's something for everyone!
A ride buddy and good friend feels very conflicted about riding his mountain bike but avoiding mountain bike trails. I told him that he should be able to not feel guilty about riding his mtb and hating mtb-ing... so we're just happy chillin on green mtb trails.
Get a used bike for around £200-300, refurbish it with the help of UA-cam videos. I.e. replace all the brake and gear cables, replace the chain if necessary, straighten the wheels if they wobble, put new grips on handlebars, replace the saddle if worn. Buy replacement parts in fun colours, you can even colour match :) And you'll end up with a cheap, reliable, unique looking bike. None of that crazy expensive hipster fashion nonsense that they sell in this video, but something you've done with your hands, and no one else has
Don't be a weight-weeny! If you are a competitive racer, then fine - weight is important to your competitiveness. For me (and most of you) worrying about component weight is stupid. I have 15-20 lbs of extra weight around my middle. Once I get rid of that THEN I can worry about shaving grams off my gear. Until then I will continue to ride with 3-5 bags on my bike filled with whatever I need, and that's just fine!
To the guy who said, if you ride a wheelie as a kid you will have it all your life. Oh, no. Wheelies are a thing for kids. I used to ride a wheelie on any bike and could hold it forever. That was then. This is now. I can’t even pop a decent wheelie now.
Oh man, properly setting up cantilever brakes! We lived in dark times before helpful youtube videos. Little folded up paper technical directions with line drawings, plus whatever info could be gleaned from magazines and your buddies, with lots of endless futzing.
I wish I had learned to ride BMX or MTB as a kid. The people I know that did are just naturally talented when it comes to getting air and riding trails. I can barely do a bunny hop. Thankfully there are other ways to enjoy cycling, but I do get a little FOMO watching my friends getting rad on the jumps.
Dont obsess over having the best components, or the exact model or brand, especially if your poor buy used do research, find someone experienced to aid you, cut out the outrageous bike shop fees and get you a good set of tools. Dont ride Walmart bikes, ide really rather walk, its a waste of a few hundred dollars supporting a garbage industry
Todays bike community is the same as when “high wheelers” dissed “comfort bikes” which are now virtually all bikes. E bikes are here and they’re not queer. 😄
A $600 used bike is better than a $600 new bike.
Considering how saturated the used bike market is with 1-2 year old bikes this is definitely the case . At the moment , the more expensive the bike the better deal you'll find as people were purchasing $5000 bikes during covid to only ride them 75 miles 👍 that they'll let go for $2,000 due to too many bikes for sale .
"it's ok to do bikes how you wanna do bikes" hell yeah.
Tinker, tinker and more tinker. Start with a cheap 80's or 90's mtb (as they make great "all rounders"), watch UA-cam tutorials, strip the whole thing down and re-lube, refresh, replace whats needed. Not only are you now invested in your bike, you can take pride that you can do your own maintenance. The hobby is that much sweeter when you do your own build and repairs
The best advice for a new cyclist is to first purchase a used bike for no more than $500 ,to then get into shape before compulsively purchasing a new bike as many people think they want to be a bicyclist but don't have the patience to develop leg strength and endurance to only give up after 2 weeks . But for those that randomly purchased a $3000+ bicycle to only ride it 50 miles , thank you as you created a highly saturated used bike market resulting in driving down used bike prices 👍
Great advice. I would also add that you cannot even get a good fit until your body develops cycling muscles and at least a decent cycling posture. I think you made this point in a slightly different way.
This is the first comment I read but can I say your arrogance is astonishing.
But you're not unique by any means. Pretty much representative of nearly all sports or recreational "bicyclists".
So what am I, apparently not a cyclist or a bicyclist.
I ride my €500 hybrid as a commuter and utilitarian workhorse.
It's a full car replacement. I have racks and bags and baskets for every purpose. I have a couple of trailers I can and have carried 70kg of shopping cargo, a full sized lawnmower or 50 litres of tractor diesel and much more besides. My bike has so many accessories it's literally an extension of myself.
But always from the roadies and mtb'ers and such there is the statement that everyone who isn't what they are isn't a cyclist. Or a bicyclist.
I'm just someone who rides a bike for some other mysterious reason.
I mean, what the serious feck?
It just pi5535 me off.
Everyone who rides a bike to school or work or to go to the post office or anything else is a cyclist.
You don't have to be a lycra clad gimp to be a "cyclist".
And yes, I'm being just as deliberately judgemental back.
@K1989L I get this 100% , but as a contractor and cyclist thats worked on many homes, I've witnessed many bikes over the years that are basically brand new just sitting around collecting dust due to compulsive purchases in people's garages. It's very similar to how a treadmill often ends up being a $2500 clothes hanger after a month 👍
On a side note one of my bikes is a 1991 KONA Hei Hei that I ride almost daily " about 50-70 miles per week " as my adult urban BMX /gravel bike as it kicks ass . It's the bike that does it all for me as I can open my front door and head out to the city . Its old with 26 inch wheels and old geometry but its titanium , incredibly rare /valuable and cool looking as I found it at a thrift store for $50 🤣🤣 .
Granted the last bloke who owned it swapped out every original component with cheap early 2000's bike store parts which is a shame as the Hei Hei had the best of the best components for 1991 . I've replaced every component with high end stuff as it's an awesome bike now. Don't knock an old bike as this thing is very quick , light and nimble , also the old Kona geometry was better than most bikes MTB's of this time period .
To me it's the equivalence of owning a 1969 Dodge Charger and not driving it because modern cars drive better .
For me, who had 0 cycling friends, UA-cam was and is the best source to find maintainence tutorials. And to learn about the "long tail", like alternative, classic stuff besides the latest marketing campaign of bike manufactures.
I hear you , at 47 years old most of my mountain bike or cycling friends gave up the sport many years ago .
Great interview. That's what makes you a great interviewer, asking the personal questions about each vendor instead of the marketing buzz.
Single speed gravel bike. I wish I had discovered from the start that it is what I really want
It’s funny listening to the “shoulda, coulda, woulda” answers Vs the philosophical answers. Adam’s last comment nailed it: we’ll help you do you. What any great builder should do.
100% agree with Poppi. Got my first mtb in 1990 but learnt how to set up correctly the cantilever brakes only more than 20 years later only thanks to Jan Heine and a Bicycle Quarterly article.
Riding wheelies! Hell yeah! It's too late for me now at 62 with new hips - it should be taught in elementary school.
A lot of bike wisdom here, very nice people !
Great question, so many different answers to be had. I’m surprised not one mentioned getting a proper bike fitting. I completed a 12,000 mile in 12 month challenge in 2016. I was unable to find the perfect bike seat setting. Turns out one leg is slightly longer. Took a fitting to figure that one out.
There are many advantages to owning only one bike.
My hill requirement at the top is I have to be able to pedal through the next gear and get started on the gear after that in order to be "over" the hill.
Great topic and nice series of videos from Made. Hopefully this show grows and grows.
There's actually some really really good Cantilever brakes out there. I got a set of CX cantilevers on my randonneur and these are so easy to set up and super stiff under braking load and they just stop so well paired with Campagnolo brifters.
Great format for a large get together. Coverage of these events is kind of predictable. These questions are refreshing. Hope the editing is easy - keep up the good work. Also, that person representing Schon Studio is on point in every clip I've seen from their booth. Btchn' gets my nomination for creative ideas from a one person builder.
The best coverage. Really inspired!
great video. II have a Giant MTB hardtail & a Giant gravel bike and placing things ON the bikes vs ON MY BACK has been nothing short of amazing.
im a casual non-competitive rider so the weight isnt that important to me right now.
Always great content
+1 for bike vs back carry
Top knotch answer, these are really helpful for the a lot of bikers.
My intitial response is: "buy every Shimano 600/Deore long cage derailleur you can put your hands on and get a bunch of those Suntour bar-end shifters too".
I wish I had known what bike I wanted instead of going from fixed, to x-cross, to gravel to my now ATB steel stead that I love more than anything. I think new cyclists need to think of long-term bikes, rather than trends and don't fall into the instagram hype algorithm.
Path Less Pedaled . Your channel is a breath of fresh air that speaks to the keep it simple , it's just a bike ! If it has 2 wheels , 2 pedals and it's road / trail ready , Go Ride !!🚴🏜️
Bikes are way cheaper than therapy or Prozac 🍻
2:30 just figured this out recently, great advice
Take the time to help your signifant other, wife in my case, learn how to ride a bike. Yes you will have to back off your own training for a year or two. Push or sling her up hills until her legs and mind are able to climb and ride against the wind! Teach her how to use the gears, brakes. breaks, and where she should shift to keep her rpm up. Do not cheap out on her bike, accessories, parts, and clothing. Think per pound body weight as yourself. Do not put her in dangerous or stressful situation until she can handle it. Just add a little bit at a time. Have fun be safe!!
#1 “learn to ride a wheelie as a kid”
#2 “it’s ok to do bikes how you want to do bikes and just do what’s fun for you”
Two very solid pieces of advice.
Importance of getting the right tyre for your needs. Not just running Schwalbe marathon plus just because you don’t like punctures. The wonder that is Japanese tyres.
Should get the guy from Wren Sports to do a video with you about where the weight should be on a bike!
Happy to oblige 🎉
I wish i knew my rear derailleur hanger could break and i can buy to carry as extra.
I do enjoy Ronnie's Romance character but I enjoy him genuinely talking and being funny with Russ way more.
My advice: If it's comfortable for you, don't change it.
On the other hand, I changed the size of my mtb tires because I was using it only for city rides. Now I have arisun metro cruiser.
Ignore electronic shifting. In fact most things with a battery… shifting, power meters, cadence sensors, radars, electronic pumps. Seriously.
Never waste $$ on a lock. Take it into establishment. if a bike is “needed” to be left outside, the establishment, isn’t worth visiting.
if i followed this advice i’d starve 😹 am i meant to ride around town all day checking and getting rejected from grocery stores?
I wish I had learned to countersteer much earlier. I had to learn to ride a motorcycle to have it explained to me; then I was able to take tighter, cleaner turns on my bicycle. Every Motorcycle Safety Foundation novice rider course teaches countersteering from the beginning. On any weekend, a bunch of MC newbies are consciously practicing it. "Look right, press right, go right". Meanwhile, people on bikes are swinging wide on turns, into traffic, because they have never learned to countersteer.
If you're riding and in a situation and you don't know what to do, stop.
is this an episode of Portlandia? : )
Haven’t heard that one before
it was like an open goal, couldn't resist :) @@PathLessPedaledTV
Don’t pigeon hole yourself as a certain type of rider. Try all kinds of bikes if you can.
ATB, short crank, supple tires, hydraulic disc brakes
Low gear,and slow u overcome all the hills,and compfy first;)
4:36 I’ve watched all 3 (?) of Russ’ bike show vids. The guy from Btchn Cycles wins ‘best fashion ensemble’ every time! 😁
I'm 66 and just getting back into cycling after 45+ years. It seems there are no bikes made for older 'new' cyclist. And for that matter no videos either. I made a mistake and bought a 3 x 8 37.5 pound bike. It said lightweight, lol. The Trek fx 1 is a 2 x 8 and about 12 pounds lighter but 2 x 8 does not sound like a step up. The Trek fx 2 is 2 x 9 and it might be what I need but I don't really know. The Trek fx 3 at first glance looks fantastic but it is only 1 x 10. I was screaming at Trek through my monitor, "why in hades would you put fewer gears on a higher spec bike". If it was a 2 x 10 I would have taken a chance and bought one. If I did buy one could I convert it to a 2 x 10? My next unanswered question is about endurance bikes. Would I really be able to set up straight enough to be comfortable at my age? Or is it just hype?
My dream bike if I knew what I was talking about.
. 20 lbs or less (no more than 25 lbs, hard limit)
. 28 to 32 mm fast road tires. Should I upgrade to carbon wheels at some point?
. drop handlebars for the different positions but upright posture enough for me. Otherwise just flat bars will do.
. 2 x 11 gearing (105) with low enough gears for my 66 year old legs
. no more than about $1500.00
There are no flat roads here. It's almost all either uphill or downhill where I live. Just road, no gravel.
I want to do 50 mile round trips. I already did 21 miles on my 37.5 pound bike. It about killed me.
On a flat large parking lot I can do laps for 2 miles at avg 10.5 mph, 6 miles at avg 9.6 (maybe later today I'll try 8 miles)
What bike is right for me?
Or should I build.
No videos that I have seen so far have answered these questions.
Just get a gravel bike.
@@PathLessPedaledTV And swap the tires for road tires? Ok, thanks.
Great video.
What’s up with the upgraded brakes coming onto the market ?
1. When you're ready, get a good bike, new or used. Don't keep riding an inappropriate or cheapo bike.
2. Try different kinds of cycling.
3. Incorporate bicycles into your everyday life.
Love it! ❤ 🚲
Mountain bikes -- ha - no! I completely skipped over that phase and I don't regret it. To each his own, absolutely! It's great that there are so many different types of bikes and ways to ride, there's something for everyone!
A ride buddy and good friend feels very conflicted about riding his mountain bike but avoiding mountain bike trails. I told him that he should be able to not feel guilty about riding his mtb and hating mtb-ing... so we're just happy chillin on green mtb trails.
You don't have to spend a ton to have fun on a bike.
so many sweethearts sharing from the heart here😊
I love how the guy slaps the microphone while explaining how you need to be aware of your surroundings 5:05 :-)
I wish I knew the bigger the wheel the better
I got to meet Russ and Laura! 🥳 It's not every day you meet a celebrity 😎
Get a used bike for around £200-300, refurbish it with the help of UA-cam videos. I.e. replace all the brake and gear cables, replace the chain if necessary, straighten the wheels if they wobble, put new grips on handlebars, replace the saddle if worn. Buy replacement parts in fun colours, you can even colour match :) And you'll end up with a cheap, reliable, unique looking bike. None of that crazy expensive hipster fashion nonsense that they sell in this video, but something you've done with your hands, and no one else has
Emotionally strong climber....I like that.
Don't be a weight-weeny! If you are a competitive racer, then fine - weight is important to your competitiveness. For me (and most of you) worrying about component weight is stupid. I have 15-20 lbs of extra weight around my middle. Once I get rid of that THEN I can worry about shaving grams off my gear. Until then I will continue to ride with 3-5 bags on my bike filled with whatever I need, and that's just fine!
You can also walk your bike up a hill. Don't let a small part of a trip ruin the whole trip
wholesome
To the guy who said, if you ride a wheelie as a kid you will have it all your life. Oh, no. Wheelies are a thing for kids. I used to ride a wheelie on any bike and could hold it forever. That was then. This is now. I can’t even pop a decent wheelie now.
Oh man, properly setting up cantilever brakes! We lived in dark times before helpful youtube videos. Little folded up paper technical directions with line drawings, plus whatever info could be gleaned from magazines and your buddies, with lots of endless futzing.
I wish I had learned to ride BMX or MTB as a kid. The people I know that did are just naturally talented when it comes to getting air and riding trails. I can barely do a bunny hop. Thankfully there are other ways to enjoy cycling, but I do get a little FOMO watching my friends getting rad on the jumps.
By a used bike and have fun
What is "Type 2 fun?"
Type 2 fun is something that sucks at the time but you can laugh about afterwards and makes a good story.
@@Weepecket Ah - my gravel ride on my birthday when I was hoping to call in a rescue helicopter but didn't even have any cell service...
Of course Russ has met Ronnie
ride your happy pace, if there are diks out there, they are still diks at 25mph or at 2
Ultraromance!
maybe it is better to suffer with pain then suffer with poor taste in (corporate mandated) fashion.
🎉
Dont obsess over having the best components, or the exact model or brand, especially if your poor buy used do research, find someone experienced to aid you, cut out the outrageous bike shop fees and get you a good set of tools. Dont ride Walmart bikes, ide really rather walk, its a waste of a few hundred dollars supporting a garbage industry
I have the shitty shimano cantilevers on my bike. I can skid the front wheel quite easily. Best brakes I've ever had. Silent and powerful.
Todays bike community is the same as when “high wheelers” dissed “comfort bikes” which are now virtually all bikes. E bikes are here and they’re not queer. 😄