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Control Box: Racer noob

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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeFeb 20th 2008
     
    Ok, look. I've got very little experience riding racers. I'm just a big noob (who got a messenger job today -woo!-) who was brought up on mountain bikes.

    So it seems pretty clear I need to get off the Tank (as it's become affectionately known amongst my cycling peers) and onto a decent bike, so I've been looking at second-hand racers on ebay. The thing is, and here's the noobish part, that most of the brakes seem to be on the front/angled part of the drop handlebars (at a 90 degree angle to what I'm used to), so would I be wrong thinking that you have to be in a pretty hunched-over (typical racing) stance to ride them? It doesnt seem practical to ride in traffic like that, not for me anyway.

    Should I be looking for one with the brakes mounted in (what I consider to be) the usual place, parallel to the horizontal bar, or am I getting all confused about nothing? Or perhaps I shouldn't be looking for a racer... I just want something light and fast which is going to get me ahead in the circuit.

    You guys know this shit better than me, a little guidance would be great :)
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    For the first few weeks/months in your first ever courier job it doesn't really matter what you ride.

    It wont make any difference to your earnings as you'll be getting routes dialed, learning regular account locations and just general road craft etc etc.

    Watch other messengers and commuters on road bikes and you'll see how their positioning works in traffic.
    There is nothing to stop you riding flat bars on a road bike (many do).
    If you are comfortable (a vital requirement of any messenger bike) at the moment stick with what you've got.

    Save your money for now and maybe get some 26 inch narrow slick tyres for your current bike (if the rims will take them).
    They'll make a big difference as you'll be able to get them up to a higher pressure and save a lot of weight where it matters. all adding to faster ride.

    Road bike Bargains occur on ebay, but you may well pay over the odds for certain machines due to the whole fix up phenomenon of late. You'd be best buying with the aid of those that know.

    Wait and get to know lots of messengers and see if you can get a bike from them

    Hope some of this helps
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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2008
     
    Thanks mate.

    I'm thinking I'll probably go for a new bike, and save up. Spent far too much now on shitty bikes. Yup, am pretty comfortable on what I'm on now, but it's not called the Tank for nothing... it weighs a ton! Got some pretty thin road wheels on it, has helped lots, and I'm comfortable and confident on it. Too many times now I haven't been able to fit through gaps that others have squeezed through though, so really looking forward to getting a thinner bike. And a thinner body :rasta:

    Anyway, begin on monday at Churchills *ducks*, going to pace it, but am well excited... Hope to meet some of you soon. Look out for the noob in the blue Altura and dreadlocks down to the waist, riding a big fat tank.

    Take it easy,

    Alex
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      CommentAuthorwinston
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2008
     
    cut the bars down....then you'll be a real courier....
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    Flat bars? If that's what you are comfortable with, then go with it.
    • CommentAuthorsleepy
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2008
     
    "ook out for the noob in the blue Altura and dreadlocks down to the waist,"

    and i was thinking that you might have a 'fro

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