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Total Newbie-type of bike? Mountain,Road,Comfort
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Will from Moberly Mo on 4/21/2012 6:47:01 PM:
First time biking the entire trail. I have found a mountain bike im thinking about buying but am worrying a little about the comfort level. Im 6ft4 and have some back and knee issues that pop up but am determined to do this. Ive read about the tire width and using kevlar but wanting everyones opinion on what bike is the best for the trail
 
Almost Retired from Ohio on 4/21/2012 7:26:19 PM:
I ride a mountain comfort bike, sitting upright & wider tire. No pressure on the shoulders, & stability on the crushed limestone. I see lots of hybrids, they seem to go faster, but I'm almost retired" Need to slow down. I just bought kevlar & still got a thorn. Not sure it was worth $20 for the strips
 
Tom from Baton Rouge on 4/21/2012 10:16:04 PM:
Wife & I have Electra Coaster 7 speed. Great if you have back or shoulder issues. Due to the seat tube angle it is easier to to put both feet on the ground while still sitting on seat. Down side is that you aren't directly above pedals which diminishes your pedaling power & puts more strain on thigh muscles. They are awesome bikes but not for extremely hilly or off road rides. We rode from Rocheport to Hartsburg and back over two days - 50 mile round trip and did fine. Very comfortable but not a "performance" type bike. Saw lots of hybrid bikes which would probably deliver more performance but a little less comfort.
 
Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 5/2/2012 9:31:32 AM:
Best $2 mod: water pipe insulation. That grey foam stuff with the slit down the side. Wrap some on your handlebars. Get some handlebar extensions like you'd use for mountain biking - and put some foam on those too. It is amazing how much it helps - it dampens trail vibrations and raises your head/neck by an inch. Gives you more riding position options. I swear by it on end-to-end rides now! And when you don't want to use it, just stick it on your bike frame out of the way...
 
Anonymous on 5/2/2012 1:03:52 PM:
Foam pipe insulation works well to prevent scratches from bike racks while enroute to the Katy also. Slip a piece over the bike frame where it contacts the rack, or in locations when one bike may rub another. Like Brett said, it's inexpensive and works great.
 
Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 5/10/2012 1:42:12 PM:
Will - Let us know how the trip goes and which bike you ended up going with. The last few times I did the trail end-to-end, I rented a recumbent bike from Trailside Cafe. It was money well spent - finished the trip with no sore neck or wrists or... well, you get the idea... Needless to say, if comfort is your number 1 goal - don't overlook the idea of possibly renting a recumbent.
 
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