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What sort of riding do you do ?

Commuting, Road Cycling

Where in Melbourne or nearby do you live ?

Richmond

Now tell us about your bicycles ...

Looking to buy a new one...seeking feedback and reviews

What is the best thing about riding?

Freedom and speed; friendships and fun

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 10:05pm on March 26, 2009, ChrisS said…: Hi Mark,

Welcome to Melb Cyclist, if you haven't been welcomed yet. ;)

cheers,
ChrisS

At 11:16am on February 12, 2009, RobE said…

Hi Mark,

I guess I'm the Kennedy rider, ( Ive got three JK's 2 x road, 1 x track) )... I needed a custom frame because of my size (189cm and 85kg) , JK now does Ti as well as AL and Steel, and can get carbon frames made to spec as well... personallyon yur budget range, I would avoid carbon and go Titanium, unless you can carry accident insurance and know that after every bingle you get a new frame and carbon bits....as they don't show the post accident stress weak points at all well and can fail catastophically after appearing OK. ( sorry about that)
I know every one has their wish list, mine's Ti, and fortunately Ti isnt so expensive these days :)

I guess what really matters for everyone is :
*what you want from a bike and
*how you will use it when you get it...
* how you will cope with any pain or discomfort likely to come from a bike that doesnt fit you?

some just want "bling" and think that if they buy a pro-tour bike from one of the sponsoring marketers ( note I say marketers as few bike companies actually "make" their bikes, rather they use generic stuff from one or two Asian sources ( just go to the Taiwan bike show and get a shock)...
anyway.. most modern bikes also are spec'd to replicate something to look like a design that was ridden in some race that got some press and the "marketer" thinks the bike won the race, when in fact it was the "engine" and that engine probably would have won it on a tri-cycle... and would have won much easier as well if the bike actually fitted the rider....
what I am saying is if you want a bike that fits you, your budget and your needs and will give you a good length of safe, comfortable riding, then dont get overawed by the "fashionistas" of bike marketing...
* know what your body's needs are ( by getting a proper fit),
* know what will suit your budget ( by shopping around and resisting the "buy now, we are doing a deal today, buy or you will miss it pitch!), and
* know your budget and if you buy a standard model of the floor, know that you will probably have to change everything on it and make compromises to get it to fit your body and riding style. (stem, seat post, saddle, cranklength, bars width and drop and reach, and Groupset, as some people cannot reach Shimano groupsets (made for big USA hands) and might have to get a specific bar to suit, or go Campagnolo instead... also know that one persons perfect wheels are another person's broken spokes nightmare, and some tires are blingy and useless and puncture god fodder, and some cheaper tires are impregnable, ride well, race well and wear well...

so , know what you want, do the research, check out everything, dont be a retailer's dream and buy the first deal that looks good, resist, be hard to get and you will get what you want, what you can afford and what suits you and will give your pleasure...

and good luck... If you want to meet for a cup of coffee and talk to Kennedy, give me a PM note and I will gladly shout you a cup of java and a danish at Kennedy's coffee cafe in their bike shop... they run rides, have commonsense approaches to cycling and dont get too caught up in the brand wars because usually most popele who come in to get their blingy bikes fitted to them find out that the bikes will never fit them...sadly that is what happens in "marketing" and the thousands of horror stories are repeated everyday...you can also meet Brigid Farrell and John Donnelly the friendly "wrenches" .