I just realized that been “fair weather” biking for about 12 years on and off, but I consider myself a beginner still. I bought this bike used in Seattle in 2010 ish, and I’ve hauled it all over the country (currently in IL). I currently have a pretty short commute, and I bike as long as the weather is nice. Over this time I’ve learned that comfort is the key to get me to bike. I take the long way because it’s safer and has nice scenery, comfortable seat, panniers vs backpack etc. I got some upgrades last year such as the rack, fenders, new grips, and it really made a difference. Do you have any tips for making bumps and uneven surfaces more comfortable? Maybe different tires? I feel like my brain is rattling around sometimes. I take my bike to a shop for yearly maintenance and they can usually do whatever I want, but sometimes it’s hard to know what to ask for without taking up a lot of their time. Any other tips/tricks/items that might make biking even more comfortable? Thank you all!
by naravia9
4 Comments
Larger volume tires at lower pressures will help smooth out some bumps.
If comfort is the key, then that saddle has to go.
As Zach noted, wider tires. What tires do you have now?
If you read the reviews and opinions for “supple” tires, they focus in on a pretty much narrow range that you can select from.
You might also consider seat post suspension like a Thudbuster (either LT of ST; meaning long travel or short travel)
ETA: if comfort is key, pogies/bar mitts helped extend that comfort season for me and are easy to add and remove as the seasons change.
nice bike!