Seattle Bike Blog is not a bike reviews site, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have opinions.
Many people are searching for a bike right now, which can be both exciting and daunting. There are so many options, and it’s a lot to take in for a new rider. While I don’t necessarily have all the answers, I figured I would make a video talking through my bike and why I chose different components and accessories. This isn’t the perfect bike for everybody, but it is the perfect bike for me.
My advice is for people who want to bike around town, run errands and maybe go on some bike camping trips. All of my bike mechanic experience comes from trying to keep my bike rolling on Seattle streets over the past 13 years. If you have aspirations to race or do significant off-roading, then definitely seek advice elsewhere. My bike knowledge and style is about being practical, reliable and fun. A recurring theme in this video is, “It doesn’t really matter,” which is maybe unhelpful. If you are looking for actual advice on bike styles and components, I recommend watching The Path Less Pedaled.
But there’s just a lot of marketing and overly-complicated bike advice out there. What matters most is that you feel good when riding it and don’t want to stop.
Comments
2 responses to “Watch: My bike”
Thanks for sharing your bike on the blog. I could watch videos all day on people talking about their bikes.
Fun stuff. Always interesting to see how folks accessorize their bikes. I love my feedbag that straps to the handlebar and stem. It holds a water bottle at a more convenient height while riding and mesh side pockets hold keys, snacks, etc. I’m with you on handlebars; I can’t do drops due to neck pain and stiffness. I wish there were more prebuilt bike options with swept back bars; in the US you really only see retro styled beach cruisers with them. It would be great to normalize comfortable bikes that you can still climb a hill and commute on.
I have hydraulic disc brakes on my primary bike and I absolutely love them. Being able to brake hard with a light pull of a single finger is magical. The rim brakes on my other bike are good, but not in the same league. I do have to remember to be careful with the disc to avoid damaging it when locking the bike up, something that isn’t a problem with rim brakes.
I’m still searching for a saddle that I can ride for more than a couple of hours on. I’m totally fine until I’m not and then every mile is misery.