BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

if no one comes through with a bike FS, there are a lot of decent commuter bikes out there that don't cost so much that i'm sure people will be happy to recommend.

Craigslist usually has some options, and there is also FreeRide.

Can you tell us a bit about your commute? From (roughly) where to where, hilly or flat, road or trails?

That will help us (at a minimum) give you an idea of what to look for in a bike.

What do you consider "cheap"?

Sounds like Dbacklover? He started out with a $90 wal-mart bike that he rode until the wheels (and the pounds) fell off, didn't he?

Whoohoo! do it!

I don't know anything about this bike and can't vouch for it's condition, but just found it with a real quick look on craigslist. Something like this Parkway, for instance, would work for you:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/2223667766.html

You'll still need another $100+- for a helmet, blinkie light, and a lock.

What area do you live in?

yeah, it'd help to know what kind of area you're riding in. if you're on a flat, you don't need much. a single speed can get you where you need to go with barely any money spent.

if you're on the hills, that's where the money starts coming in!

myddrin - I don't live in the city so where to where won't help ya much. But as for the commute, it is mostly downhill one way and the other is basically all uphill as a result. It will be on roads, my only concern though is three bends on these roads where I could see a cyclist easily getting hit if they aren't booking it.

BradQ - I'm hoping to not spend more than 150 on the bike itself because anything more than that and it will be summer vacation before I save it up.

edmonds59 - I won't need a lock because the bike can and will be kept inside both my home and my work. Benefit of working in a bus garage is there is plenty of places in the repair bays to stash things. As for a helmet, I think I have an old motorcycle one sitting around here somewhere.

As for the general area, I live by Hempfield Area High School if any of you are familiar with that.

i'm not sure what your helmet's like, but i would personally hate using a motorcycle helmet on a bicycle. my field of vision is too important to me, and i would be loathe to reduce it by any amount.

besides, helmets are pretty inexpensive. and the cheap ones work just as well.

i think you may find you'll want a lock at some point, though, because biking for errands is way too fun and easy.

also: someone mentioned a blinky earlier, but in my opinion, a headlight is considerably more important. a car is far less likely to see you from your front than with its lights shining on your reflector from behind.

150 bucks should be plenty to get you started on the bike, though.

Looking at the terrain map of that area, it looks like there are some decent but not insane hills.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't want a single speed in that area. (I'm not in bad shape, but I'm all about the gears....) But the good news is that you shouldn't need a crazy ultra-light-therefore-expensive bike with tons and tons of gears. Given an 8 mile commute in that terrain, an old 10 speed would certainly do the trick and @AtLeastMyKidsLoveMe's idea of a $99 walmart bike would certainly work.

I know when I started cycling again, back in 2008 I spent $300 (new) on a Schwinn Mtb bike. It was pretty heavy, but it was serviceable for my skills and needs at the time.

In fact, I probably spent a good deal more than I needed to, and I was in a similar place (weighing in around 300 pounds, trying to loose weight/get in shape).

That being said, if I had to do it over again I would get a decent (50-150) used hybrid or road bike off of craigslist or the FS/WTB board here on bike-pgh. Just make sure that it rides and changes gears well and seems put together well.

And of course blinky light, helmet and probably fenders (since I ride in the rain. ).

Greenman -- we cover a pretty big area. I am certain there is someone on this board who knows Westmoreland County well enough to help you with routing, if you want to expore a route option that avoids those three curves you mentioned.

But, don't rely on a motorcylcle helmet to protect you on the bike. It will be heavy, and hot, and you won't wear it. Studies have shown that there is little difference in effectiveness between a cheap bike helmet and a good one. Spend the $25 or so to get a bike helmet.

Congratulations and best of luck on taking on this new biking to work stuff.

I know where Hempfield is! If you're anywhere near the Five Star Trail, I'm wicked jealous - it looks totally awesome for getting in/out of greensburg by bike.

Don't let the grocery list worry you - just prioritize and plan:

Used bike for your price is doable, CL is a good place to look until Free Ride opens. I'd pick one out and run it by the people here to make sure it's worth the price and not something like 'that guy that tries to sell that same bike for more than it's worth every month'. People on this board keep an eye on CL, they can help.

Lights - front and rear lights (not headlight for seeing, but light for being seen) you can pick up for 10-15$ each. Make sure they won't fall off over bumps or anything, and you're good, any sporting goods store or bike shop will have what you're looking for. Spend the gas money you save on better gear later (if you want).

Helmet - if you're over 12 years old, it's your call (you're legal without, though you'll get more grief from drivers and other cyclists). If the motorcycle helmet is comfortable to you, and you feel safer with it, go for it. In time, cheap/safe bike helmets are available anywhere they sell sports gear, do what you need to do to be happy/feel safe.

Fenders - totally awesome. You can get a cheap pair for $20, but if your budget is tight and you have a place to dry off/change after the ride, you can always get some later (or never). You can get really nice ones for $40 (the difference between really nice accessories and super cheap accessories in the biking world is not like in the car world).

Blind Curves - I bike in Penn Hills, Monroevill, and Plum a lot, they're made of blind curves on hills. When I'm on the inside of a blind curve (right hand curve, I guess), if the shoulder isn't wide enough to make me comfortable (or people drive over it normally), I edge towards the middle of the road - the sight lines improve when you get out of the curve. I can't control where the drivers are or how fast they are going, but I can try and get them to see me by being in their line of sight. You'll figure out what works for you - a longer route when you're biking in the dark maybe, play with it and see.

No matter what, remember these two vitally important things:

1. You can totally do this.

2. You are awesome for trying

I lived in New Stanton for eight years, so know the area around Hempfield HS pretty well, or at least what it looked like in 1990. There are two primary concerns, and there's nothing that special about PA136 that makes it all that different: Visibility and traffic. Hills are a given.

I ride in the suburbs a lot, and go out of my way to be visible, usually wearing an orange vest and at least one rear blinky. Said blinky is attached to the back of the helmet, which is another reason to go with a decent ($30ish) bicycle helmet, which will have a strap to hang said blinky on, that the m/c helmet will not.

Traffic you just have to learn how to handle. Be not afraid to take the lane when it would be less safe for you NOT to do so. Get really good at knowing what's behind you, how far away, and how fast. Some recommend a mirror; I don't use one but only because I've been biking on rural roads since I was in early elementary school. YMMV.

One particularly nasty curve on PA136 is a little ways west of HAHS. I would definitely make sure I make sure anyone behind me knows damn well I'm there. They have to slow down to about 15 to 20 to go around that corner safely anyway. The law says to stay "as far to the right as practicable", but sometimes that means to GET LEFT. Kids have been killing themselves for decades flying around that corner.

Bottom line, it's the drivers' fault for not seeing you, not yours for being there. There is more than a shred of possibility that the majority of drivers out there think something to the contrary. That may also include the PA State Police. Stand your ground, should the topic arise. Be calm but firm. You are traffic.

Four miles should be very doable. At 10 MPH –which is not much faster than waking speed- it should take you about a half an hour. And don’t worry about the hill. If you have to walk it at first, so be it. Just keep thinking of the free coasting you’ll get going down the other side. As you’re legs get stronger you’ll be able to go farther and farther up the hill before walking, and before you know it you’ll be pedaling the whole way up.

Two rules for riding in traffic are 1) be visible and 2) be predictable. Most new cyclist pedal way too far to the right when they start riding in traffic. It’s understandable that you want to be as far away from fast moving cars as possible, but this is usually wrong. There is glass, rocks and other debris on the side of the road, and when you ride there this causes you to swerve back and forth (i.e. become unpredictable). Learn to ride where you can maintain a straight predictable line. And don’t feel that you have to pedal really fast either, your speed doesn’t matter. Most cars are going ten over the speed limit anyhow so you going 10 MPH or 20MPH doesn’t make much difference to them; either speed is way slower than they are going. What’s important is to make sure cars know you are there (lights, reflective vest, etc.), and that they know what you are going to do next (not weaving, hand signals for turns, etc.).

Relax and have fun.

Thank you for all the tips, I will look around on craiglist, here and walmart while I'm saving up the cash. When I have some prospects I will post to see what you all think.

That particular bend you posted is the one that I am most concerned about because I know you should slow down to 20 to go around it but you can do it at 40 easily. Some people mentioned an old railway bed that runs along the road but that would involve riding on peoples private property.

If you have a 4 mile commute, walking is always an option, at least until you figure out what bike to get. The only issue is the amount of time and getting used to it. Casual walking is about 3mph; if you work on your stride you can get to 4mph with only a reasonable effort (based on my experience).

I would definitely check out the rail bed. It's likely part of a railbank and won't belong to individuals along the way. The upside is no cars and a civilized grade, the downside is missing or derelict bridges. Also brush, depending on how long it's been abandoned. But maybe the local ATVers have beaten down a path.

You didn't hear it here, but a handmade sign that says "Slow The F*** Down" nailed it to a handy fencepost about 150 feet from that curve may help you. If nothing else, the underground shitstorm that will result from it being there 2 or 3 days until someone yanks it down, or is ordered to yank it down, will raise just enough awareness that your cause will be helped. The same will also be accomplished the next time someone gets killed there, but a sign is a lot cheaper than a casket.

Pardon my cynicism, but like I said, I lived there 8 years. Also a good friend survived a crash at that very spot but got a broken spine. 45+ mph in an airborne Camaro, as I recall. Nasty little spot, that.

Railbanks: Swalfoort, this is the rail line running east-west through the boros of Arona and Herminie. Status?

Interesting. Looks like he's talking about the Little Sewickley Creek trail. It's called a trail, and seems to be available for public use (listed as prime birdwatching, etc), but ownership is unclear. There is a Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, which is rehabbing the stream itself, but there is no mention on their website of a trail, at least that I could see in a quick look. Westmoreland County Parks and Rec has a plan for park and trail development (future) that includes this corridor.

For Greenman, I'd suggest that you watch to see if other people are using the trail, and then use it if it seems "public." If a landowner questions you apologize nicely and then stop using it.

You could also contact the Watershed Association - their website is www.sewickleycreek.com

One more suggestion. The route that you would bike does not have to be the one you drive in your car. Assuming, based on what has been written here, that you are heading to the HAHS area from the vicinity of Arona, you could look at alternate routing. A northerly option would take you behind the HS, then use local roads (Millersdale Laskosi and Beaver) to rejoin 136 west of a couple of the big curves. A southerly option would take you down Middletown then Main Street to Arona. Each are slightly longer than taking 136 the whole way, but only by a mile or two, and the elevation profile doesn't change all that much. On a bike, a pleasant ride of 5 or 6 miles can be a lot more enjoyable than a 4 mile ride of terror. And, if weight loss is part of your goal, the extra 10 minutes on a bike won't be a bad thing.

GMS-

Sent you a PM. I may have something that works for you.

As an update, the railbed looks like it might have a few missing bridges. Once everything dries up out here I'm going to head down and walk it to see if the bridges are gone or just overgrown.