Conference noted::bicycle

    	Jim,
    
    	Take a look at note 1917 and its replies. The author of
    	that note expressed some of the same feelings that you
    	did.
    
    	Scott

>>    Do people really go biking in the woods ???

      Absolutely!

      When I was in junior high many, many years ago, I had this klunky
      old bike with Big, wide tires.  I used to ride it everywhere,
      especially out on dirt roads and on trails (I lived at the very
      edge of town in New Mexico).  Everyone wanted one of those
      skinny-tired 10 speeds.  Finally got one in college -too!
      It too was my main transportation.  If I only knew back in junior
      high that if I took my bike and a 10 speed and made a hybred that
      I could have been a millionaire today.

      I live in Colorado (in the mountains) and I simply take off from
      my house on trails.  I can't stand to ride on dirt roads, trails
      are absolutely the only thing I really enjoy riding.  I have riden
      places where I use to backpack.  I plan on doing a couple camping
      rides this summer. The COLORADO TRAIL stretches over 300 miles
      across the state and there are only a few places that one can't
      ride because it is wilderness but there are routes around these
      areas.
      

    
    
    Is it natural to get sentimenatlly attached to your old bike...???  
    I just took my old 20 year Raleigh into the bike shop to get the
    crank replaced, new rear wheel, front derailer....  problably cost
    me 175.00 to get it all fixed up...  I decided that I needed more
    help for the hills, so I'm putting a 52-42-28 on the front...  I
    may have to replace the back gearing too...  Has a 14-28 five speed
    now...  Anyone out there have a setup like this...???  The shop wont
    be doing the work until tomarrow so if Im making a big mistake....  
    
    Anyone else out there have this "love my old bike" disease...??  :-)
    
    
    jim o.
    
    
    
    
    
    

>    Anyone else out there have this "love my old bike" disease...??  :-)
    
Hmmm, none of my 4 is any newer than about 14 or 15 years, maybe I 
qualify? All set up as 10-speeds (exc. the track bike), all with gears 
around 45-52 front and 14-24 to 14-28 freewheels (yep, gettin' old, need 
that 45 x 28 in the mountains... :-( ). Last time I went to a shop they 
mumbled something about "....bronzing.... make a nice monument" but 
wasn't sure if they meant me or the bike, so I split :-)
                                            ken

	You think 52-42-28 is bad, I've got a 52-42-24!  And in the back
	I've got 14-24.  But, I've never had to walk up a hill. %^)

	I'm also pretty attached to my Fuji.  When I first got it, used, a
	few years ago, I thought it was pretty slick.  Now I realize what
	a clunker it is!!  It's perfect for my bike commuting, but I'm 
	starting to get new-bike-fever for something a little racier!  I
	think I'd keep the Fuji though... I look at the left-over sticker
	on the handlebars and remember the train-ticket in Germany...  The
	mega-heavy rims let me jump curbs onto cobblestone streets with
	50 pounds of gear without a single flat.  It's kinda my buddy.

    
    Well its nice to know Im not alone with my "old bike sickness"...
    
    I cant wait to get my bike out of the shop...  with all the new
    componenets...  I problably won't even have to pedal anymore   :-)
    
    I guess there does come a point where the cost of upgrading gets
    close to the cost of a new bike....  And thats why I'm getting a 
    new one as soon as this one wears out...  Thats right...  20 more 
    years and thats it...
    
    I mean it....
    
    
    
    

    Jim, sounds like I'm probably in the same boat as you. I already
    brought my set of Schwinn Super Sports to the shop to get them put back
    in like new working order. The wife and I hit the rode for a run and we
    thought we were doing alright until the neighbors kids tooks us on and
    totally did us in. 
    
    When we came back home my neighbor told us to come over and try their
    bikes. They had City bikes and Hybrids. what a difference!!!....
    My wife was totally sold on the fact that if she was going to ride
    again she needed a new bike. The ride, shifting, braking etc was all
    together different for her.
    
    so in essence we started looking!!!!......
    
    
    Bob 

    
    It's not surprising you found a City and Hybrid bikes handle
    and shift differently, etc.  It sounds like you're implying
    they're faster than a good road bike.  They are: over curbs,
    through the brush, etc.  
    
    If you decide to buy a Hybrid for semi-rough terrain, or because
    of the MTB-style handlebars or other things that might make it
    more comfortable for you, then fine.  But if you're interested
    in efficient on-road performance, be fair and check out some
    road bikes.
    
    -john

    
    
    
    
    
    -.7  Bob...  I think that you are doing the right thing looking at new
    bikes instead of fixing up your old bikes...  I just got my bike out of 
    the repair shop and now I have to take it back to replace my rear derailer
    / sprockets.
    
    When I'm done Ill have a nice road bike with mountain bike gearing
    range...  But it wont be cheap...  I'm also finding that the newer
    components don't always fit the older frames causing cables to be
    moved...
    
    If your looking for a project -  fix up the old bike....  Otherwise,
    buy a new one...
    
    jim