SMART move by a local bike shop -- others should pay attention

[Lizzie Poppet]

38. Point-by-point:

Hmmm...

1) Quick release tires are worthless on mountain bikes since you can't get the fucking tire through the brake pads without deflating it. - Pull the "noodle" (the little bent tube the cable goes through right at the brake caliper) outward while pulling the caliper inward...that caliper "half" can then detach from the cable and the two halves move farther apart. Takes about half a second...

2) The kickstand thing. Most riders seldom leave their bikes unlocked (to a rack or suchlike). A kickstand is extraneous.

3) Non-round frame parts look cool, but accessories don't fit well on them. Agreed. If you're going to accessorize, it's not a bad idea to look for a bike with round frame tubes. You'll have more accessory options

4) Why the hell don't they make mirrors that let you see behind you? There are a bunch of mirror options on the market.

5) No fucking fenders. What the HELL is up with that? Very few bikes won't take fenders. Even full-on racebiles can use Raceblades. They don't come stock on a lot of bikes because so many riders are "fair weather" riders. I live in Portland, so my day-to-day bike has 'em, for sure!

6) Fuck clip-shoe pedals. If I want to be locked into a bike I'll use duct tape like in "Breaking Away". Flat pedals have their place (BMX, casual riding, etc.), but once you learn to pedal in a full circle rather than in alternating downward motions, you never go back. Clip shoes/pedals are way, way more comfortable than toe straps.

7) Skinny little ball splitter seats are useless. I want to sit on my ass, not my gonads. Those wide "comfort" seats are only comfortable for pretty short rides. Beyond that, well...chafing. In the inner thigh. Need I say more? A seat really only needs to be as wide as your "sit bones" to be comfortable.