Help on choosing new bike

Will

On May 26, 8:37 pm, "Pat" <in...@tmail.com> wrote:

> It all depends upon how much you want it "your way."

Precisely.

If you don't have tools and are mostly happy with the stock bike
there's no reason to spend the money and time to fiddle-futz with the
particulars.

But... if one rides everyday.... the OP said:

"I train daily on city trails (flat asphalt) and there is a
weekend mountain climb (asphalt) that I really like..."

one will eventually take on some wrenching. I'm not talking about
going Serotta... or posing for pictures with two-spoke wheels. There
are places you can buy a build kit without incurring a mortgage.

Rich B.

On Sun, 25 May 2008 21:23:17 -0700, landotter wrote:

> On May 25, 9:51 pm, bigjimp...@gmail.com wrote:
>> cyclocross bikes are the best for all around.
>
> Not at all--they are designed for cross. Touring bikes are the best
> bikes for all round. Cross bikes with racks and panniers and size 44s
> can mean heel strike, and even fender flap/toe interference. They get
> pushed out the door--especially at my local LBS, as they're "edgier"
> than touring bikes--but sold to folks for the same uses. Shame that to
> get them out the door with all that "edge", they're getting a steeper
> geometry and short stays--while fine for unloaded riding, and indeed
> great for cross, they're really not going to be all that fun for loaded
> touring, despite the fact that you can mount up racks. Certainly, cross
> bikes are a better option, especially mounted up with some nice 28-35mm
> skinwall nominal slicks compared to the race bikes people are using for
> crouching over simply to get exercise. FWIW, my LBS has never had a
> normal touring bike on the sales floor.

I agree, a touring bike would be an excellent choice, they are
designed for a less cramped position than a road bike and are more
comfortable on long trips. Touring bikes are usually equipped with a
triple chainring and wider gearing in the cassette that allows a better
range of gears for carrying heavy loads up and down mountains. The
chainstays on touring bikes are designed to allow wider clearance so you
can mount wider tires (mine are usually 32mm but I have mounted 38mm
tires in the past).

I ride a REI Randonee touring bike on my daily commute (Panniers loaded
with laptop, accessories, change of clothes, lunch, rain jacket, inner
tube, etc) and I have ridden this bike on tour also.
In 11,000 miles on the road I have replaced my bottom bracket and had the
headset replaced, this bike has served me well. The going price at REI is
just short of $1000 but if you sign up for a membership you can get 20%
off.

If you want to check out at another touring bike I have not seen
mentioned, check out Bruce Gordon bikes; they are custom or semi-custom
built and are more expensive than most bikes but not as expensive as
Rivendell. The web-page is http://www.bgcycles.com/

Happy Shopping, Rich

--
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy