Anybody own or even test ride a "Lime" bike?

[RAV TUX]

I am looking to buy a bike and these Lime (http://www2.trekbikes.com/lime/) bikes look pretty cool.

[FuturePilot]

Those do look pretty cool:D

[tehbeermang]

If my rides were less than 10 miles, I would own something like that.

[Chilli Bob]

I HATE websites like that. Imagine what it would be like for dial-up peeps. Just show the damn bike, dammit!

That said, they seem to be an offshoot of Trek, so they should be reasonable bikes.

[mips]

I HATE websites like that. Imagine what it would be like for dial-up peeps. Just show the damn bike, dammit!


Agreed, slow on adsl as well.

[lyceum]

That does look cool. I check some sites near where i live, but no price. What do they run? $$?

[ThinkBuntu]

It's a glorified utility bike with a simple automatic shifter. With a marketing strategy like they have, I can guarantee it's wildly overpriced (no less than $400). A much better choice for any biker is to buy a normal utility bike with derailleur gears, and replace them with an internal gear-box. Anyone who's ridden a bike for more than recreation knows that the ability to shift over, say, five speeds is pretty essential unless you aren't in a hurry.

[prizrak]

Piece of ****. Not to mention it's lacking an engine (a big downside for anything IMO, don't care if it never meant to have one).

[fuscia]

i want a single-gear bike with...are they called 'kick brakes'?

[mips]

i want a single-gear bike with...are they called 'kick brakes'?

The brakes where you step back on the pedals ? We called those "kick brakes" when I was small.

Sometimes the pedals kicked back reducing me to tears.

[Brunellus]

For the people who fled the Flash-ONLY site, a summary:

the Lime is an "auto shifting" bicycle. Unlike the infamous LandRider (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=LandRider) (which is universally considered just so much overpriced bicycle-shaped garbage), Trek's Lime (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/trek-lime-bicycle-now-shipping-has-electronic-automatic-transmission-248861.php) uses a fancy electronic auto-shift controller powered by a front generator hub.

The bicycling world is leery of electronic components in critical drivetrain areas. The last time anyone tried anything fancy like this was when MAVIC rolled out their ZAP system to very poor reviews (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=Mavic+ZAP) all around.

For the money, I would recommend a much simpler, quality bicycle. Resist bling: cheap suspension forks/posts are heavy and not as useful as running wide tires to begin with. Derailleur shifting looks daunting until you learn it.

For all-around use in the DC Metro area, I'd go with a Jamis Commuter (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter1.html) or similar.

Resist the temptation to go for cheap X*Mart bikes. They are often heavy, with questionable components. If you do any real riding, they become a PITA to keep going.

If you can get an old Raleigh three-speed for cheap, though, get that. Not fancy, but damn well near indestructible utility bikes. I'm building up a three-speed bike this summer.

J, you can even call me up. I'll have some time off soon. Let's talk bikes.

[fuscia]

The brakes where you step back on the pedals ? We called those "kick brakes" when I was small.

i just read somewhere what they are now called and i've forgotten already.


Sometimes the pedals kicked back reducing me to tears.

il pleure dans mon coeur pour toi.

[Brunellus]

i just read somewhere what they are now called and i've forgotten already.



il pleure dans mon coeur pour toi.
"coaster" brakes.

[prizrak]

For the people who fled the Flash-ONLY site, a summary:

the Lime is an "auto shifting" bicycle. Unlike the infamous LandRider (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=LandRider) (which is universally considered just so much overpriced bicycle-shaped garbage), Trek's Lime (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/trek-lime-bicycle-now-shipping-has-electronic-automatic-transmission-248861.php) uses a fancy electronic auto-shift controller powered by a front generator hub.

The bicycling world is leery of electronic components in critical drivetrain areas. The last time anyone tried anything fancy like this was when MAVIC rolled out their ZAP system to very poor reviews (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=Mavic+ZAP) all around.

For the money, I would recommend a much simpler, quality bicycle. Resist bling: cheap suspension forks/posts are heavy and not as useful as running wide tires to begin with. Derailleur shifting looks daunting until you learn it.

For all-around use in the DC Metro area, I'd go with a Jamis Commuter (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter1.html) or similar.

Resist the temptation to go for cheap X*Mart bikes. They are often heavy, with questionable components. If you do any real riding, they become a PITA to keep going.

If you can get an old Raleigh three-speed for cheap, though, get that. Not fancy, but damn well near indestructible utility bikes. I'm building up a three-speed bike this summer.

J, you can even call me up. I'll have some time off soon. Let's talk bikes.
What is so difficult about shifting gears on a bike? There is no clutch to disengage and you don't need to worry about RPM's. It literally took me about 20 seconds to learn how to shift a friend's mountainbike (I used to ride BMX's so never shifted).

[mips]

il pleure dans mon coeur pour toi.

lol, thx!

[ThinkBuntu]

For the people who fled the Flash-ONLY site, a summary:

the Lime is an "auto shifting" bicycle. Unlike the infamous LandRider (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=LandRider) (which is universally considered just so much overpriced bicycle-shaped garbage), Trek's Lime (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/trek-lime-bicycle-now-shipping-has-electronic-automatic-transmission-248861.php) uses a fancy electronic auto-shift controller powered by a front generator hub.

The bicycling world is leery of electronic components in critical drivetrain areas. The last time anyone tried anything fancy like this was when MAVIC rolled out their ZAP system to very poor reviews (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=Mavic+ZAP) all around.

For the money, I would recommend a much simpler, quality bicycle. Resist bling: cheap suspension forks/posts are heavy and not as useful as running wide tires to begin with. Derailleur shifting looks daunting until you learn it.

For all-around use in the DC Metro area, I'd go with a Jamis Commuter (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter1.html) or similar.

Resist the temptation to go for cheap X*Mart bikes. They are often heavy, with questionable components. If you do any real riding, they become a PITA to keep going.

If you can get an old Raleigh three-speed for cheap, though, get that. Not fancy, but damn well near indestructible utility bikes. I'm building up a three-speed bike this summer.

J, you can even call me up. I'll have some time off soon. Let's talk bikes.

I live in Arlington, which is pretty much a biker's heaven. Unfortunately, I can't afford a bike because I commute to Fairfax daily and my transpo money goes towards keeping my car in good shape. *Sigh*

[Brunellus]

I live in Arlington, which is pretty much a biker's heaven. Unfortunately, I can't afford a bike because I commute to Fairfax daily and my transpo money goes towards keeping my car in good shape. *Sigh*
bikes are relatively cheap. If you know what you need, you could probably get something decent out of Craigslist. My first "nice" bike was a 75 buck pawnshop find.

And a few pennies saved here and there add up. You have at least one nice shop in Arlingtion (revolution cycles, on Wilson Blvd.)....

[ThinkBuntu]

I've really been eyeing a chainless bike from Dynamic. Check out their website (http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/), it's some pretty cool stuff. But $700 for a bike sight-unseen that I have to assemble myself? That's hard sale. I'll probably go with a utility-style bike, swap the derailleur for an internal gear system (allows shifting from a stand-still), add a chain cover, and save myself a few hundred if not more. Alternatively, I suppose I could do the same modifications and also add their driveshaft...but it would be very mean to my car to let it go another month (1600 miles) without a much-deserved brake repair!

I've walked by Revolution a million and one times, but never gone in. There's a bike shop down 29 in Falls Church (across from Coleman Power Sports and next to Foxes Music...a hobbyist's heaven!) that seems to have cheaper/used bikes, so maybe I'll take a look. Just curious, what's your dream bike?

[ThinkBuntu]

Good lord. According to the CBS Early Show video on their website,

It costs $579

Anyone dumb enough to spend that much money on this low-feature bike that could be put together for $200 or less shouldn't be allowed on a bike at all. They'll kill themselves in traffic if they're that stupid.

Lime: It'll leave a sour taste in your wallet
^^ COLOR="Lime"

[hobieone]

i think i'll stick with my $1100 1997 raliegh 7500 downhill full suspension mountain bike. which looks and is alot tougher and probably faster that that bike. only reaseon i spent so nuch onit was at the timwe i was panning on racing it in downhill dual salom competion and ordered it with certain specialized components.

but given it design and looks i'd say it designed as a road bike. and its rather pricey for for that purpose considering most decsent competion hardtail/soft nose mountian bikes with good components and 24 gears start at that price.

[mech7]

how can it shifts automatically? What will happen when you go against the wind?

[Brunellus]

how can it shifts automatically? What will happen when you go against the wind?
in all honesty, the type of rider seeking to buy such a bike is probably not thinking about wind resistance or ideal cadence...

[Brunellus]

i think i'll stick with my $1100 1997 raliegh 7500 downhill full suspension mountain bike. which looks and is alot tougher and probably faster that that bike. only reaseon i spent so nuch onit was at the timwe i was panning on racing it in downhill dual salom competion and ordered it with certain specialized components.

but given it design and looks i'd say it designed as a road bike. and its rather pricey for for that purpose considering most decsent competion hardtail/soft nose mountian bikes with good components and 24 gears start at that price.
"faster" is a function of the rider and the terrain. Your downhill full suspension mountain bike is probably not appreciably faster on level pavement. It is probably faster on a 20% downslope littered with rocks. But the target market for this bike isn't riding 20% rocky inclines.

[mips]

Anybody remember bicycle companies called Cincoa and Purdy (Purdy made a bmx bike with thin dual upper cross members)

Getting nostalgic here. I want a BMX :)

[tehbeermang]

"faster" is a function of the rider and the terrain. Your downhill full suspension mountain bike is probably not appreciably faster on level pavement. It is probably faster on a 20% downslope littered with rocks. But the target market for this bike isn't riding 20% rocky inclines. That downhill bike is probably 10lbs lighter, puts the rider in a more aerodynamic position, allows the rider to customize "shift points" and optimum RPM for power delivery.

The Lime is marketed to people who just want to get on and go, speed is not an issue. It just works. (Well, maybe. We'll see how well that electronic transmission works after a year.)

I could care less about suspension: I just want to go fast under my own power. I have an old Cannondale road bike (3.0 series Crit frame: shorter chainstays that won't accept anything bigger than 26mm tires, monster downtube, even for a Cannondale.)

My Cannondale is a medieval instrument of torture to those accustomed to Leisure bikes, such as the Lime: it stretches you out and transmits every single bump in the pavement to your hands and nether-regions. But as soon as you stand up out of the saddle to put the pedal to the metal for out of saddle sprinting, it looks back at you and laughs: "Is that all you got?"

Whoops, got a little carried away there...

Analogy: The downhill bike is a customizable desktop distro. The Lime is an information kiosk at a museum.

[Yaffle]

Very keen...

[RAV TUX]

For the people who fled the Flash-ONLY site, a summary:

the Lime is an "auto shifting" bicycle. Unlike the infamous LandRider (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=LandRider) (which is universally considered just so much overpriced bicycle-shaped garbage), Trek's Lime (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/trek-lime-bicycle-now-shipping-has-electronic-automatic-transmission-248861.php) uses a fancy electronic auto-shift controller powered by a front generator hub.

The bicycling world is leery of electronic components in critical drivetrain areas. The last time anyone tried anything fancy like this was when MAVIC rolled out their ZAP system to very poor reviews (http://groups.google.com/groups/search?qt_s=1&q=Mavic+ZAP) all around.

For the money, I would recommend a much simpler, quality bicycle. Resist bling: cheap suspension forks/posts are heavy and not as useful as running wide tires to begin with. Derailleur shifting looks daunting until you learn it.

For all-around use in the DC Metro area, I'd go with a Jamis Commuter (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter1.html) or similar.

Resist the temptation to go for cheap X*Mart bikes. They are often heavy, with questionable components. If you do any real riding, they become a PITA to keep going.

If you can get an old Raleigh three-speed for cheap, though, get that. Not fancy, but damn well near indestructible utility bikes. I'm building up a three-speed bike this summer.

J, you can even call me up. I'll have some time off soon. Let's talk bikes.L, I will text message or call you later. Lets deffinantly get together, do you have time off this weekend of next weekend. I know Leah would love your line of thinking, the less money I spend on a bike the happier she will be.

Thanks for all the 411, two goals I have this summer is to buy a bike and use it regularly and buy tennis rackets and play tennis. I have to get in better shape.

[RandomJoe]

Ouch - a wedgie! I'll stick with my V-Rex recumbent! I can "lesurely cruise" many more miles after the other "leisure" riders have quit in pain... :D

My first thought on seeing that was, "it looks like the touring bikes my parents had back in the '70s...' Except theirs didn't have the auto-shift (I'm sure that'll live a long time...) or in-seat storage (a rear rack with "trunk bag" on it carries a LOT more with ease!).

Perhaps I'm too cynical... Anything to get people to try cycling again - hopefully it works well enough they don't give up!

I can't say much about the price. By the time I finished kitting out my V-Rex (added a 3-speed hub, nicer rims/tires, lighting system, etc.), total price was around $1800. Include the HF ham radio I occasionally carry with me now (about $1100 between the rig and auto-tuning antenna) and my ride sure is getting expensive...! ;) (I do have a $200 "beater bike" for quick trips to the grocery store.)

[Brunellus]

Ouch - a wedgie! I'll stick with my V-Rex recumbent! I can "lesurely cruise" many more miles after the other "leisure" riders have quit in pain... :D

My first thought on seeing that was, "it looks like the touring bikes my parents had back in the '70s...' Except theirs didn't have the auto-shift (I'm sure that'll live a long time...) or in-seat storage (a rear rack with "trunk bag" on it carries a LOT more with ease!).

Perhaps I'm too cynical... Anything to get people to try cycling again - hopefully it works well enough they don't give up!

I can't say much about the price. By the time I finished kitting out my V-Rex (added a 3-speed hub, nicer rims/tires, lighting system, etc.), total price was around $1800. Include the HF ham radio I occasionally carry with me now (about $1100 between the rig and auto-tuning antenna) and my ride sure is getting expensive...! ;) (I do have a $200 "beater bike" for quick trips to the grocery store.)
/me drops back into his rec.bicycles.misc persona:

aaaah, you 'bent riders are all the same.

Must upright bicycle pain comes from people who don't understand how to fit a bicycle properly. Wannabe racers (and I used to wanna be a racer..in my daydreams) set up with too-long top tubes and too-long stems and drops far too deep. Great if you've been training for years and have the flexibility and stamina to deal with drops...not so great if you're just pottering around on a weekend ride.

On the other side of the coin, people get saddles that are too wide, end up "sinking" in the cushions, and they sit not on the bones of their hips (as God intended), but on their soft, fleshy bits (which should really be used for other things). After much chafing, they stop.