Kona Ute are awesome. Root beer color? Mmm. Seems like a excellent decision. Seems great for the boy also. Have fun!
2011-07-25 21:30:50
21
New rider in Friendship (long, sorry!)
Hello, all! I've been lurking for some time. This board is a great resource.
I recently turned 39 and bought the first bike I've owned since high school, a Kona Ute. "Why?" you may ask. I wanted something to ride to the grocery store, and to also take my son who is 4.5 out for some trail rides. He can't ride without training wheels yet and I was a little concerned about his stamina on a longer ride. I looked into a trail-a-bike, but something made me hesitate; they seem more appropriate for older kids. So, I kept coming back to the Ute. I looked at one at Trek Shadyside, and since it was an older model they offered what I thought was a pretty good deal. I couldn't resist.
So far I am loving it. I haven't taken my son out yet (I'm currently working on a stoker bar, deckpad, and footrests for him. If anyone knows where I can get a stoker stem on the cheap, please let me know!), but he is excited to go out with me. Some elements of urban cycling make me nervous, so I would love it if some of my fellow East Enders could tell/show me the best ways to get around.
I'd also love to do some group rides. I'm thinking about the Flock ride on the 29th. I'd be willing to load up the Ute with drinks, music, or whatever. (Maybe not pull the trailer, until I get more comfortable riding on the streets.)
Is it silly to have such a heavy bike be your only ride? I figure if I decide I need something lighter, I'll do an Earn-a-bike at FreeRide and learn something in the process. I did one of the Drop In classes and will probably go back for more.
Hmmm. I didn't mean to be so longwinded. I hope someone took the time to read my post!
2011-07-25 21:11:07
When I used to ride through Friendship I would take Coral as an alternative to Penn or Friendship Aves. Much quieter.
Hit the Flock of Cycles ride for sure. You'll enjoy it.
2011-07-25 21:32:38
definitely Flock. Flock early, flock often. That will help you so much with getting comfortable on the road, and you can totally get tons of tips and info from the riders around you, it is awesome. Flock is heaven on wheels.
Don't worry too much about having a heavy bike (it's not that bad, is it?). Chances are your kid or groceries will weigh more, right? A heavier bike will just help you get stronger faster, and you will feel like superman if you ever swap out to a lighter bike (at least I did switching from an old Diamondback to a Specialized Sirus or however it's spelled)
Just make sure you secure/store your sweet new ride properly (see any thread on here about locking up), and get out and RIDE. 
2011-07-25 22:45:16
Welcome, and wow, that bike looks epic! Did it come with panniers, or is that just to dress up the photo on the site. I could probably haul my art on that thing. (I have horrible bike lust btw.)
2011-07-25 23:40:28
Flock rides are your way to go, great great way to meet new people.I've yet to meet anyone on a ride that wasnt extremely friendly and like-minded.They grow every week too! I just moved to Friendship in June and enjoy it quite a bit.I ride a blue Masi road bike, tattoos on my arms.I try to make every ride,work and schedule permitting.Feel free to introduce yourself and we can ride to rides together sometime if we can!
2011-07-26 00:45:18
Keep in mind that I'm new to the Pittsburgh biking scene proper, but what's a Flock ride? Is it like a CM? I figure that now 90% of my riding is done in town (up from the 10% it was 3 weeks ago), I should get to know the lingo.
2011-07-26 00:59:17
I recently turned 39 and bought the first bike I've owned since high school, a Kona Ute. "Why?" you may ask.
i may ask "why don't i own a kona ute yet?" seriously love that bike.
and while there might be better rides for short trips around town (say, a ride to the bank), any bike you ride is amazing until you try another bike. then, if you're like me, you just want every one.
but if you are married or have a significant other, and they aren't into bikes, maybe it's not the best time to start riding other bikes. i have a hybrid and a versatile road bike, but goodness would i love a 1) fixed gear, fat tired, retro-grouch commuter, b) a kona ute or similar hauler, iii) an elegant touring bike, with a long wheel base and low gears but still a comfortable road sensibility, and D) a fancy and light racing bike.
yeah, if you find your one bike sufficient, it is. but once you get the bug, it doesn't stop.
oh man, i want a "smugness flotilla" so bad!
2011-07-26 02:21:31
Flock ride = Flock of Cycles http://flockofcycles.org/
"The idea behind Flock of Cycles was born out of Critical Mass, but with road safety in mind."
2011-07-26 02:32:52
@HiddenVariable yeah, if you find your one bike sufficient, it is. but once you get the bug, it doesn't stop.
It's GAS. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). Buying more would only make it worse.
2011-07-26 02:43:03
+1 on using Coral as alternative to Penn & Friendship.
2011-07-26 02:44:21
I've come close to buying that brown Ute they have sitting in the middle of the store more than once - is that the one you got? I was just there on Sunday and I thought I saw it.
Anyways, congrats and welcome! I know how it is to take a long break from cycling - I did pretty much the same thing. I've been riding almost every day for the past two years and have no idea why I ever stopped.
2011-07-26 02:52:54
Thanks ck!
2011-07-26 03:44:13
Seems like there could be a sub-group for cargo bikes - Ute-R-Us.
Or not.
2011-07-26 03:45:55
@humblesage: The panniers shown on the Kona site are the 3rd generation. Mine (1st gen) aren't nearly as nice and they are half the size. I've read that the newest Xtracycle Freeloaders will work on the Ute, so I may look into that someday.
@Salty: I bought mine the first week of July. The girl said that they had received 15 and there were 3 left after mine. If you are thinking about buying one, be aware that it is an '08, even though the root beer color made me think it was an '09. The '08 doesn't have the two-legged center kickstand, nor doesn't it have a place to mount one. The existing kickstand is integrated into the frame and is kind of a joke. Poor design that they corrected with the next model year. I added a Greenfield rear stabilizer stand and that seems to be working for me.
2011-07-26 14:33:02
xtracycle makes me drool. I have no idea why, but I get all giddy thinking about all the stuff I could haul around on a bike.
I know a guy who lives in Portland who hauled 4 (new) toilets on a trailer he built for his bike from the airport to his home (a couple miles). He's my hero in many aspects, but that just makes me think that quite literally anything is possible with a bicycle if given enough planning and preparation.
2011-07-26 14:52:14
Ute rocks! As far as speed, you'll quickly learn that a bike is only as fast as the rider and there are plenty of people here who will prove that over and over. Besides, you can always change the tire to something thinner and smoother rolling if need be. You can always change out the front crankset/chain rings to something bigger than the 36 big ring that is currently on it (I'm pretty sure I'd switch with a 48-38-26t triple if I were riding the Ute and not really pulling a lot of weight with it).
2011-07-26 16:32:25
the toilets were just in for a visit then?
2011-07-26 16:33:50
Tabby - HA!
he'd bought some kind of swedish or swiss toilet, and since they're not available here and was already paying for some decent fees, he found some friends who wanted one too and were willing to pick them up at his house. low-flow/graywater friendly sort, maybe had an incorporated sink on top, I don't remember.
edited to correct/add: composting toilet maybe. I had hippy toilet envy, whatever it was.
2011-07-26 16:59:29
+1 for ute-r-us
2011-07-26 21:59:01
@rzod: Aw... Those huge panniers on the site looked pretty epic for stock. I suppose any panniers makes a win though these days. 
2011-07-26 22:49:48