N8YX
04-02-2011, 11:58 AM
Share your stories, gear tips and tricks, favorite rides and trails.
When I first met 'DSG she was in the process of taking possession of a new GT Timberline comfort bike. (This is essentially a trail model - hardtail - with a minimally sprung fork and seat plunger.) She hasn't ridden the thing at all, and the few times I had it out were uncomfortable. It's a medium size and...well...I really wasn't sure of what size to get, except that Timberline was way too small for me. Over the years I checked out a variety of offerings from Cannondale, Trek, Giant and the like. I really had my mind set on an iDrive 2.0.
Fast forward to last year, when we joined a gym which has a lot of cardio equipment - stationary bikes, ellipticals, etc. I love working out but absolutely detest sitting on a friggin' exercise bike, listening to all the other members kvetch about what assholes their husbands and boyfriends are. A mountain bike began to look better and better as an alternative. Yesterday I spent a bit of time online looking at bikes, reviews and whatnot...and really wanted to check out the offerings at Eddy's in Stow - which happens to be right down the road from a fellow ham. In particular, a Specialized Stumpjumper was the bike which consistently garnered favorable reviews.
Eddy's didn't have one of those in a XL - which is what ultimately fit me - but they did have this nice Specialized FSR Camber which rode better (IMHO) than a $2600 Trek. A bar, seat and pedal swap later, we're ready to roll. Add lights, a Topeak rear rack (along with a trunk bag/pannier set) and long-distance stuff which mandates carrying rain gear won't be a problem.
Yes, there will be a radio attached. :lol: I have an Arkon mount which can be modified to accept a belt clip for our VX-6/VX-7 HTs, and 'DSG's Droid can be mounted on her GT with the same base mount.
What really spurred this effort on is the fact that we live about 200yds from a bike path which connects darn near half of the state together:
4057
http://www.ohioeriecanal.org/trailupdate.html
Ride down our drive, right turn, two lefts and a right...across the railroad tracks and onto the trail. Eventually one could take this route all the way to Dover. As of today, you can reach Cleveland riding north. Restaurants, bike shops, places to stay and a lot of parks can be found alongside. There are enough wooded places throughout that a mountain bike can be put to effective use, ergo the Camber.
When I first met 'DSG she was in the process of taking possession of a new GT Timberline comfort bike. (This is essentially a trail model - hardtail - with a minimally sprung fork and seat plunger.) She hasn't ridden the thing at all, and the few times I had it out were uncomfortable. It's a medium size and...well...I really wasn't sure of what size to get, except that Timberline was way too small for me. Over the years I checked out a variety of offerings from Cannondale, Trek, Giant and the like. I really had my mind set on an iDrive 2.0.
Fast forward to last year, when we joined a gym which has a lot of cardio equipment - stationary bikes, ellipticals, etc. I love working out but absolutely detest sitting on a friggin' exercise bike, listening to all the other members kvetch about what assholes their husbands and boyfriends are. A mountain bike began to look better and better as an alternative. Yesterday I spent a bit of time online looking at bikes, reviews and whatnot...and really wanted to check out the offerings at Eddy's in Stow - which happens to be right down the road from a fellow ham. In particular, a Specialized Stumpjumper was the bike which consistently garnered favorable reviews.
Eddy's didn't have one of those in a XL - which is what ultimately fit me - but they did have this nice Specialized FSR Camber which rode better (IMHO) than a $2600 Trek. A bar, seat and pedal swap later, we're ready to roll. Add lights, a Topeak rear rack (along with a trunk bag/pannier set) and long-distance stuff which mandates carrying rain gear won't be a problem.
Yes, there will be a radio attached. :lol: I have an Arkon mount which can be modified to accept a belt clip for our VX-6/VX-7 HTs, and 'DSG's Droid can be mounted on her GT with the same base mount.
What really spurred this effort on is the fact that we live about 200yds from a bike path which connects darn near half of the state together:
4057
http://www.ohioeriecanal.org/trailupdate.html
Ride down our drive, right turn, two lefts and a right...across the railroad tracks and onto the trail. Eventually one could take this route all the way to Dover. As of today, you can reach Cleveland riding north. Restaurants, bike shops, places to stay and a lot of parks can be found alongside. There are enough wooded places throughout that a mountain bike can be put to effective use, ergo the Camber.