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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

3091.0. "difference in gear ratio range between bianchi eros and trek 1220" by ROCK::EDMONDSON () Wed May 22 1996 16:58

	In my quest for the right bike, I'm currently contrasting a Trek
        1220 with a Bianchi Eros.  On the gears, Trek has 46/36/26 in
        front and 11-24 in back while the Eros has 32/42/52 in front and
        12-23 in back.  That's a pretty big difference on the lowest
        gear for hill climbing.  Any commments?
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3091.1decision based on other factorsSMURF::LARRYWed May 22 1996 19:5015
    Standard reply:  depends on the riding.
    
    Either one has plenty of hill climbing gears... if you are not doing
    loaded touring.   The Eros appears to be geared for a "fast" road rider 
    that wants every possible gear combination.   The Trek looks more like
    a touring type of arrangement as it has the low low granny for getting 
    over the largest of mountain passes (with panniers!).
    
    Having said that I would not buy a bike based on gearing.  I'd buy the
    bike based on fit and other factors like geometry, frame, components,
    titanium ring bolts etc, etc....
    I would then change the gearing to fit my needs.
    
    My two cents worth,
    Larry
3091.2were those mountain bikes?SMURF::LARRYWed May 22 1996 19:555
    Silly me.  I assumed these were road bikes but that is probably not
    true.  Shows what kind of riding I do primarily.  
    Proving once again that the noise to signal ratio is high in notes 
    files :-)
    Larry
3091.3they are road bikesROCK::EDMONDSONWed May 22 1996 20:001
they are road bikes
3091.4STOWOA::SWFULLERWed May 22 1996 20:117
    I suspect the Bianchi is campy equiped, the trek shimano equiped.  Both
    are decent, I personally like campy.  As stated previously rear cluster
    can be easily changed. If the shop is unwilling, go somewhere else.  
    Ride both bikes and pick the one that fits better.   This is what is 
    most important. 
    
    steve 
3091.5I agree (surprise, surprise)HERON::virenq.vbo.dec.com::HEMMINGSLanterne RougeFri May 24 1996 08:2913
>>    Having said that I would not buy a bike based on gearing.  I'd buy the
>>    bike based on fit and other factors like geometry, frame, components,
>>    titanium ring bolts etc, etc....
>>    I would then change the gearing to fit my needs.

Hear, hear, (but I'm sure your "titanium ring bolts" are tongue-in-cheek) and 
I still say the average rider needs a 52 x 12 like a hole in the head.  Until 
there is push-back by buyers refusing to accept this con, I'm afraid we will 
continue to see these offerings.  There is no excuse from the manufacturers 
who are trying to keep the same range of equipment for real racers and for 
the average rider - there is more volume and hence more money to be made by 
catering for the real needs of the average rider.

3091.6WMOIS::GIROUARD_CFri May 24 1996 10:4711
There are lots of offerings in the U.S. with reasonable gearing.

My guess is that when folks wnat to buy an upper level machine
they gravitate towards racing bikes and they're not going to
get non-racing gearing. They are what they are. They are what
they're meant to be. 

They should be looking at a touring machine or some other breed
or talk to the dealer and have the gearing changed.

Chip