Good Bikes

I have a trio of really great bikes on which I do most of my riding. Not long ago riding one of these bikes, I thought, “Huh. All my bikes kick butt.” There are commonalities that I appreciate.

Efficiency. This is feeling the bike moves forward when you push on the pedals. I think this feeling is the combination of a few other attributes, but it is an over-arching sensation that sits somewhere between taking my breath away and making me happy to be riding.

Quiet. All three bikes have nice, clean, well-lubricated drivetrains. I’m around a lot of squeaky bikes, and I just can’t believe how much more soothing it is to ride a quiet bike. Chain lube is great stuff!

Nice wheels. I am a sucker for nice wheels. Or am I? Nothing makes a bike feel sporty and fun like a set of light wheels, and quality hubs are the icing on the cake.

Ergonomics matter. Years ago I spent a lot of time trying to get, for instance, my road and cross bikes to fit nearly identically. These days I’m less fussy about absolute measurements, but there are things that I appreciate. I like a fair amount of weight on my hands; it makes me feel more connected to the bike. I appreciate good handlebars. I like fat grips on my mountain bike and a flat, level platform from bar to hood on my drop-bar bikes.

Tight. All three bikes have that solid “of-a-piece” feeling. When I stomp on the pedals, there’s no creaking. When I crank on the handlebars, there’s no noise. When I case the tabletop (my signature move), there’s no drama. I hit a good-sized pothole (in Michigan? Really?) the other day, and the only sound was the “Oooof” that burst out of me.

As is so often the case, I started thinking about this stuff. Then I started writing it down. Then it occurred to me that most bikes can be made to exhibit these attributes. I thought this thing was going to be an ode to the awesomeness of modern bikes. And modern bikes are awesome! But your bike is also probably awesome.