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Car free for about the past two years - maybe more. Gas will soon be $5.00 a gallon anyway. I'll ride my bicycle(s). Thank you very much.
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Recent Activity: This page outlines the stuff you've done at Giantnerd® most recently. To see older posts, just scroll down the page. You can even select a category tab below to find more specific posts!
Jun 05
Rack Compatible? P-Clamps are your friends. Google that word-for word.
Posted 06.05.12
Apr 07
Weight and size The Schwinn Le Tour Elite will probably weigh a little less. However…there’s one thing to remember about steel. It gives you (the rider) a more forgiving ride. Also, the slightly wider tires will absorb road vibrations & bumps a little better. The Le Tour Elite will be a faster ride. This one (the Le Tour Classic) will most likely give a smoother ride. As the owner of my local bike shop says, “Steel is REAL!”
You would most likely need the small frame size.
Posted 04.07.12
Jun 05
Uploading photo How does one upload a photo correctly? Tried twice. Both failed. :( :(
Posted 06.05.12
Apr 19
In Response to Atari King
Go to Masi Bikes.com & look up the 2012 Strada. Same or similar Shimano Sora components. Same weight – 24 lbs. And shifters on the down tube to boot. Price? $895. Oh yeah…steel frame too. Some of the fastest & lightest bikes in the world are steel. A Masi “Fixed Drop” fixed gear bike is also made from steel. And it comes in at 22 lbs. and $765.
With my Giant Nerd credits, this bike cost me a tad over $400 with shipping. Over-priced? Don’t think so. Approving nods from fellow cyclists? Not today. They were drooling. And this was from bike shop salespersons I met today on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail.
Posted 04.19.12
Apr 17
Slight Amendment
Slight amendment to 1st review. The word should be “steel”, not “steal”. My bad. Brain freeze!!!
Posted 04.17.12
Apr 16
Steal is REAL!
Three words… Steal is REAL! Everyone seems to want aluminum or aluminum with carbon fiber forks or straight all carbon fiber road bikes today. Let’s face facts…are you going racing or do you just need a nice around town road bike? If it’s the latter of the two – this is the bike to get.
Steal framed bicycles aren’t necessarily all that much heavier than aluminum either. This one in the “medium” frame size comes in at just over 24 lbs. stripped down. With reflectors, Avenir Ultralight Pedals with Toe Clips and Straps, water bottle cage, under-the-seat bag with spare tube, tire levers, hex head folding tool, cable clock, Topeak Road Morph “G” frame pump and kickstand – 28.4 lbs. Exclamation point! How do I know? I weighed it. Steal has a much more forgiving feel to it across bumpy & pot-hole filled streets. The tires are not as advertised. They are Continental Ultra Sport 700x25C, not 700X28C.
Another point… Did you notice the paint job & the attention to detail on this bike? It’s like comparing a Lincoln Town Car to a Ford Focus. There is no comparison. I guarantee if you pull up on this bike around a bunch of true cycling enthusiasts – you’ll get a few approving nods. Why Schwinn only made this exact model for only 2 years (2010 & 2011) is beyond me.
Frame sizing: Look VERY closely at the frame sizing before you order. It may not be as shown on the chart. Example: The “medium” shows for riders from 5’7” to 5’10” tall. It has a 786mm “stand over” height. That’s 30.9”. I’m 5’10” tall & the bike is a good fit. If you’re shorter than that – measure from the ground to your crotch (snugly) and go from there. You need about an inch of clearance. You may not fit on a “medium” unless you have long legs.
Is it super fast? Nope…not with this old, arthritic kneed man on it. Is it super smoooooth? You betcha! Again…steal is REAL!
Posted 04.16.12
Mar 16
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
First of all, I hate that term “beginner” road bike. Don’t ever consider me a “beginner”. No car. I’ve been without one for at least two years. 99% of my transportation needs are met on a bicycle. Buy a bicycle based upon what you need, not want. At my age, weight & physical condition, I NEEDED a bike with 32 spokes per wheel, strong hubs & I dislike carbon fiber. One good fall or scrape or crack & carbon fiber is toast…history.
In reverse order…the Ugly. Although aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the white handlebar wrap will soon be a thing of the past. It’s already getting smudged & blackened from my leather cycling gloves.
The Bad… I’ve never seen a road bike with only two hex-head bolts holding the handlebar onto the stem. Somehow I missed that on the photos. It may last, or I may wind up replacing it with a more durable stem. If not sure how to assemble and TUNE-UP a bicycle properly, have a local shop do it for you or order the “Genius Build”. Mine had a rear wheel so out-of-true it was hard to believe…possibly in the shipping process.
The Good… Speaking of the stem, as most are today, it’s reversible (up or down) either to achieve a flat aerodynamic race profile or flip it over to raise the handlebar up for a more relaxed (upright) ride. The sizing chart from Giant Nerd was dead on the money – at least for me. I always consider the best way to choose a bicycle is TRY B4 you BUY; an extensive test ride. But…with the money back guarantee – a person really can’t go wrong. The Sunrace R-80 Series shifters are different than Shimano 2300 shifters. It may take some getting used to. There’s good & bad points to both. The angle on the front fork is sloped to absorb & distribute road vibrations. A straight fork would be more nimble – but also more vibrations shooting up my already weak back with degenerative disc disease. The triple crankset up front means lower gears & greater hill climbing power for these arthritic knees too. Choose carefully. A compact or double crankset my suit you better – or it may not.
Again…buy a bicycle based upon what you NEED – not want.
Posted 03.16.12
Apr 16
Old Hippie
Schwinn Le Tour arrived. Super smooooooth. Again - this in no "beginner" road bike.
Posted 04.16.12
Apr 13
Old Hippie
Eagerly awaiting arrival Schwinn Le Tour Classic. And this is no "beginner" road bike.
Posted 04.13.12
Jun 05
Rack Compatible? P-Clamps are your friends. Google that word-for word.
Posted 06.05.12
Uploading photo How does one upload a photo correctly? Tried twice. Both failed. :( :(
Posted 06.05.12
Apr 19
In Response to Atari King
Go to Masi Bikes.com & look up the 2012 Strada. Same or similar Shimano Sora components. Same weight – 24 lbs. And shifters on the down tube to boot. Price? $895. Oh yeah…steel frame too. Some of the fastest & lightest bikes in the world are steel. A Masi “Fixed Drop” fixed gear bike is also made from steel. And it comes in at 22 lbs. and $765.
With my Giant Nerd credits, this bike cost me a tad over $400 with shipping. Over-priced? Don’t think so. Approving nods from fellow cyclists? Not today. They were drooling. And this was from bike shop salespersons I met today on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail.
Posted 04.19.12
Apr 17
Slight Amendment
Slight amendment to 1st review. The word should be “steel”, not “steal”. My bad. Brain freeze!!!
Posted 04.17.12
Apr 16
Old Hippie
Schwinn Le Tour arrived. Super smooooooth. Again - this in no "beginner" road bike.
Posted 04.16.12
Steal is REAL!
Three words… Steal is REAL! Everyone seems to want aluminum or aluminum with carbon fiber forks or straight all carbon fiber road bikes today. Let’s face facts…are you going racing or do you just need a nice around town road bike? If it’s the latter of the two – this is the bike to get.
Steal framed bicycles aren’t necessarily all that much heavier than aluminum either. This one in the “medium” frame size comes in at just over 24 lbs. stripped down. With reflectors, Avenir Ultralight Pedals with Toe Clips and Straps, water bottle cage, under-the-seat bag with spare tube, tire levers, hex head folding tool, cable clock, Topeak Road Morph “G” frame pump and kickstand – 28.4 lbs. Exclamation point! How do I know? I weighed it. Steal has a much more forgiving feel to it across bumpy & pot-hole filled streets. The tires are not as advertised. They are Continental Ultra Sport 700x25C, not 700X28C.
Another point… Did you notice the paint job & the attention to detail on this bike? It’s like comparing a Lincoln Town Car to a Ford Focus. There is no comparison. I guarantee if you pull up on this bike around a bunch of true cycling enthusiasts – you’ll get a few approving nods. Why Schwinn only made this exact model for only 2 years (2010 & 2011) is beyond me.
Frame sizing: Look VERY closely at the frame sizing before you order. It may not be as shown on the chart. Example: The “medium” shows for riders from 5’7” to 5’10” tall. It has a 786mm “stand over” height. That’s 30.9”. I’m 5’10” tall & the bike is a good fit. If you’re shorter than that – measure from the ground to your crotch (snugly) and go from there. You need about an inch of clearance. You may not fit on a “medium” unless you have long legs.
Is it super fast? Nope…not with this old, arthritic kneed man on it. Is it super smoooooth? You betcha! Again…steal is REAL!
Posted 04.16.12
Apr 13
Old Hippie
Eagerly awaiting arrival Schwinn Le Tour Classic. And this is no "beginner" road bike.
Posted 04.13.12
Apr 07
Weight and size The Schwinn Le Tour Elite will probably weigh a little less. However…there’s one thing to remember about steel. It gives you (the rider) a more forgiving ride. Also, the slightly wider tires will absorb road vibrations & bumps a little better. The Le Tour Elite will be a faster ride. This one (the Le Tour Classic) will most likely give a smoother ride. As the owner of my local bike shop says, “Steel is REAL!”
You would most likely need the small frame size.
Posted 04.07.12
Mar 16
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
First of all, I hate that term “beginner” road bike. Don’t ever consider me a “beginner”. No car. I’ve been without one for at least two years. 99% of my transportation needs are met on a bicycle. Buy a bicycle based upon what you need, not want. At my age, weight & physical condition, I NEEDED a bike with 32 spokes per wheel, strong hubs & I dislike carbon fiber. One good fall or scrape or crack & carbon fiber is toast…history.
In reverse order…the Ugly. Although aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the white handlebar wrap will soon be a thing of the past. It’s already getting smudged & blackened from my leather cycling gloves.
The Bad… I’ve never seen a road bike with only two hex-head bolts holding the handlebar onto the stem. Somehow I missed that on the photos. It may last, or I may wind up replacing it with a more durable stem. If not sure how to assemble and TUNE-UP a bicycle properly, have a local shop do it for you or order the “Genius Build”. Mine had a rear wheel so out-of-true it was hard to believe…possibly in the shipping process.
The Good… Speaking of the stem, as most are today, it’s reversible (up or down) either to achieve a flat aerodynamic race profile or flip it over to raise the handlebar up for a more relaxed (upright) ride. The sizing chart from Giant Nerd was dead on the money – at least for me. I always consider the best way to choose a bicycle is TRY B4 you BUY; an extensive test ride. But…with the money back guarantee – a person really can’t go wrong. The Sunrace R-80 Series shifters are different than Shimano 2300 shifters. It may take some getting used to. There’s good & bad points to both. The angle on the front fork is sloped to absorb & distribute road vibrations. A straight fork would be more nimble – but also more vibrations shooting up my already weak back with degenerative disc disease. The triple crankset up front means lower gears & greater hill climbing power for these arthritic knees too. Choose carefully. A compact or double crankset my suit you better – or it may not.
Again…buy a bicycle based upon what you NEED – not want.
Posted 03.16.12
Mar 13
Bike Trip
Got a good "touring road bike"? You never want to load a bunch of stuff onto a regular road bike. You need the stronger frame, wheels & hubs of a touring road bike to accomplish a trip like this carrying your own gear. If you have a support vehicle carrying all the needed supplies - a regular road bike should be no problem.
Start training NOW! Good articles on Bicycling.com. You NEED to be able to do 45-50 miles per day.
Added 03.13.12
Mar 12
Tommaso better then other brands?
There is no one "best" or "better" brand - period. Within the same price range (from a bicycle shop) they will ALL be of similar or exact quality. They will ALL use similar if not exact same components, such as gears, derailleurs & shifters. The “best” bicycle is the one that best fits the rider and his/her own style of riding.
That’s why I’m hoping the Tommaso Imola sizing charts are accurate. I’m awaiting delivery. The specs are comparable to those found in bike shops costing about $700. The best bicycle in the world ain’t worth spit if it doesn’t FIT!
Added 03.12.12
