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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

2162.0. "Novice ATB'er Needs Help!" by POLAR::TANSLEY () Thu Jan 09 1992 18:28

    This is the first time I've ever written a NOTE, so I'm curious to see
    if it actually works for me! To briefly introduce myself, my name is    
    Doug Tansley, I'm the Plant Personnel Manager at the Kanata Plant, and
    I'm definitely what is called a novice (spelled greeeeeen) ATB'er! And
    I need HELP!! I'm tired of my 15 year old 10-speed, with tires a wee
    bit thicker than the spokes, and a seat a wee bit wider than the tires!
    I want to buy a mountain/ATB bike, and I've done some reading to get
    myself at least into the 19th Century. From what I've learned so far,
    I like the following bikes:
    
    	o Giant Iguana - about $500.00 (Canadian)
    	o Trek 730 - about $570.00
    	o Norco Bigfoot - $500.00
        
    Does anyone out there know anything about these bikes? Does anyone have
    any recommendations for bikes in a similar price range ($1.00 Canadian
    is worth about 87 cents U.S.).
    
    Whatever you can do to help me would be mcuh appreciated.
    
    Yours in confusion (but hopefulness),
    
    Doug.

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2162.1My 2 centsCOMET::VOITLThu Jan 09 1992 19:1113
    HEY DOUG, 
    I will bite first.  I have learned that the type of mtbing you want to
    do has a lot to do with what bike to ride/buy.  If you want to be
    aggressive and ride lots of uphills I have found that elevated
    chainstays are fabulous.  The reason being that they pull the rear
    wheel up under your behind for better traction.  The bikes that you
    mentioned are good bikes (it's really personnal preferance) for
    non-aggressive, and entry level riding.  Buy a bike that is
    comfortable to you.  Well I hope this helps a little.  Whatever you
    decide to do, good luck and enjoy.  
                                              Keep Pedallin'
                                                     Bob
    P.S. Your message worked well.
2162.2Trek makes some decent MTBsSALEM::SHAWFreedom is skiing solo...!Fri Jan 10 1992 10:2524
    
     Hi Doug, welcome to this notes file. 
              The bikes you mentioned are pretty good for any type of 
               intermediate offroad riding. 
               But before you invest be real honest with yourself as
               to what you are going to use the bike for. Will you be
               doing quite a bit of off road riding. As I go on my daily
               road rides I see a lot of people on mountain bikes travling
               the speed of an ant. 
    
               I myself invested in a high quality mountain bike. But more 
               often than not found myself riding on roads 'cause it was 
               not always convinient to pack up and go somewhere to do 
               trail riding. So finaly broke down and bought a road bike. 
               Now %99 percent of my riding is on the road bike. The bikes 
               of today are a joy to ride and are not as combersom as some
               of yesterdays ten speeds. 
         
               As for the bikes you mentioned. The Trek is definately the 
               best of the three and then the Giant. The price you have for 
               Iguanna is little steep unless its Canadian dollars. They 
               go for around $400.00 out here. 
    
      Shaw
2162.3PERSON WHO BOUGHT BIKE FOR WRONG PURPOSETROOA::SCHAFFERFri Jan 10 1992 18:321
    DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OFF RIDING YOU WILL BE DOING ,THEN BUY BIKE.
2162.4Trek is a fine choicePARVAX::SOFIOMon Jan 13 1992 12:2621
    Get the Trek- it's a good mid-level bike.
    
    I ride with a lot of people who have that particular model, and they
    all like their bike. Well constructed, sturdy, not too heavy, hanbdles
    well, etc.
    
    3/4's of the people who have them ride VERY aggressively. I'd have to
    disagree with .1- it's fine for people who are really going to beat
    on their bikes, doing aerobically & technically challenging riding.
    
    I don't think that you can go wrong with the Trek. Just buy from a
    good, reputable bike store. If you end up doing more road riding than
    off-road, then think about a seperate set of tires (road slicks, about
    $40 a pair), or a cmplete set of rims & tires (about $180 a pair, but
    easier to change over).
    
    Check all the bike out- thoroughly. Pick the one you like the best, and
    have a blast...
    
    
    Ed S.
2162.5WMOIS::FLYE_NMon Jan 13 1992 22:1418
    
    Decide what type of riding you will be doing.  Mostly asphalt, some
    dirt and asphalt, mostly dirt roads or trail riding.  Seriously think
    about this.  I know a lot of people who bought a bike for trail riding
    but ended up riding mostly on the roads.  They would ride on a trail or 
    dirt road after buying the bike and decide that type of riding was not
    fun or a hassle get to.  Most people do not have trails in their back
    yard.  
      Second, ride the bikes you have chosen for your style of riding.
    Buy the one that fits and feels best. 
      Forget about all the frills and fads.  Get a basic bike with
    dependable components.  You can always ugrade later.
    
    						Norm
    
    
    
        
2162.6The best for the leastWLDWST::SANTOS_ETue Jan 14 1992 12:3235
    I assume you want to ride on the dirt . There are many brands but
    few choices . @a certain price range they will all be very close to 
    each other. they must have :
    1.chromoly frame & forks
    2.stainless steel spokes narrow rims like 17mm wide. for acceleration.
     but wide tires .( you can update when you buy )
    3. make sure it fits . it should be the smallest possible framesize
      if you want strenght handling and less weight.
     the frame is the single most important component you must look at.
    4.weight is not as important as longetivity. Also the waranty and how
    the vendor honor it is very crucial.
    5.Stay away from bio pace , they twist chains , away from rapid or 
    exotic shifters , you would have a better luck with top mount levers.
    suntour pro has good brakes , deore is standard components as in.
    5. make sure that the stem is long enough for you ask for upgrade.
    the front hub should not be visible when you ride (handle bar cover
    it.)
    6. no plastic levers 
    7.Get as much free accesories as possible but be fair to the retailers.
    8. do not pay retail , buy mail order or sale bikes like last years 
    model.
    9. do not buy just for the price its ok to pay more for a better one
     than have to sell it at a lost when you get a bit better . stay 
    with a reputable brand for the resale is higher. Giant is actualy
    a big manufacturer that makes bikes as other brand names but their
    name has not caught on yet. 
    Consider Bridgestone MB3 (leading edge in the field ) and Schwinn
    Prog ( best waranty) odd chain stays.
    Remember mountain bikes are for off road as 10 speeds are for street.
    if you ride on the street on a mt. bike you will go slow but its better
    to have it sized 2 1/2 " clearance from your crotch for off road use
    along with a long stem for a good upper body fit.
    
    Good luck.
    Ed