Bikes

[H-man]

I got a kick out of the censorship software editing Van Dyke Road  ::)

Dan, look into "Rails to trails".  It's a national project that converts unused railroad easements/paths into bicycle and pedestrian trails.  In our area, there's a great trial (or so I've heard) from Pontiac to Romeo on to Richmond.

  H.

[motomadness]

I ride every Wednesday, and I am planning on riding on Mond. and Fri. starting this week.  We hit Maybury and Hine Drive.  Soon I hope to make it to Island Lake.

I recently bought a Trek Bruiser II, for under $800.  Awesome bike - disc brakes, solid frame, frt suspension with springs, not elastomers, triple butted rims.  This bike rocks, and I didn't pay anywhere near $800, this is the time to deal.

I would consider myself an all out mountain/trail rider yet, but I abused my last bike, so I thought it was time to upgrade.  

For a starter, pay about $450-600 and you'lll get a bike with good geometry, good to excellent components, and possibly the little nice-ities that will allow you to upgrade in the future.  If you like it and break the first one, then consider something more expensive.  My rule for bicycles - break it, then buy something better.  However, it's pretty hard to damage anything more than the wheels, but that's a start.

[H-man]

"Triplt butted rims", eh?  Hmmm... :-[  Now that's a candidate for censorship:-X :P ;)

You'll like Island Lake.  Some folks I know who are into mtn biking go there often.  I like it for it's beauty and hunting.   Their rules for the firing range is for the birds (no pun intended).

  H.

[Super Dave]

I'd say that Sean's bike is way cool.

But here's the flip side too.

I used to ride road bikes a whole lot.  So, I was in Denver for a motorcycle race and we visited the Denver Spoke.  On thing led to another, and I had the build me a quick Italian road racing bike.  It was $1400 in 1990, but I still have the bike.  A good bike IS a good bike.  I could have spent more, but I didn't need that.  But for a reasonable investment you can have something reasonably close to a pro level bicycle.  And they don't get too outdated.  Yeah, my Pinarillo might not have the cool new Campy shifters, but it's still very cool.  Michelin slicks and all... ;D

[Zac]

If you like it and break the first one, then consider something more expensive.  My rule for bicycles - break it, then buy something better.  However, it's pretty hard to damage anything more than the wheels, but that's a start.

Depending on how you ride, it's worth looking at the warrenties that the bike come with.  Some are lifetime (Trek), others are limited, and some companies have a crash replacement policy were they will sell you a replacement frame at cost.

I've bent a Cro-Mo lugged and brazed Trek (they wouldn't replace it cause it was "crash damage") and cracked a Gary Fisher Sugar (frame replaced and upgraded under warrenty).  My 50 year old father has had two Trek Cro-Mo frames fail in fatigue (one lugged and brazed the other a high end triple butted frame).

I got tired of braking stuff and built up a Cove Stiffee FR (beefy aluminum hardtale ment to take big hits) with a 5" fork (Z1 freeride), very stout wheels (Sun 36 hole SingleWide rims laced with 14ga straight spokes), 2.4" downhill tires, Hayes hydraulic disks, and XT drivetrain.  It's a little heavy for a hardtail (34lbs) but can handle almost anything.  Including downhilling at Sunrise ski resort.

For CC, now's the time to buy as all the 2005 models will be in the stores soon.  Get a 2004 on sale.  Unless you want to do really techincal bit hit stuff, stick with a hardtail, you'll get more bike for the money, and hardtails teach you to actually ride instead of just plow stuff over.  Unless you're riding in a lot of mud or really steep downhills, disk brakes aren't worth the weight, cost, or maintance hassle, go with rim brakes.  You should be able to find a good bike from a reputable manufactuer for $500 or so.  If you want more performance in the future, your local bike shop will be happy to upgrade all the components, the sky's the limit.

-z.

[cornercamping]

Thanks guys.  :)  Ended up picking up a bike today.  It's 2 "model years" old, but it's brand new.  2003 Trek XC 8000 Hardtail.  Got a great deal.   I figured I'd better stick with a brand name I heard of, because some of them I'm not too sure about when it comes to value and quality.  Looks like this.  Now I just gotta go ride it 8)      Hey Dave, what compound Michelin's you runnin on that bike of yours?  ;D   Think I'd look stupid wearing an Arai on this bike ???  ;D

[H-man]

Given where you say you'll do most of your riding, I'd say you'll want to swap out those knobby pretty soon.  Just to smoothe out the ride and reduce friction (make the pedeling easier).

[cornercamping]

Have you been down 8 mile lately  ???  Need all the traction I can get  ;D :P  Just kidding.  Can I opt for the Michelin slicks like Dave has  ??? 8) Maybe S2 front, M2 rear so I have good grip in the corners  ??? ;D

[stumpy]

 Nice choice! That bike is very upgradable also, not that its not a good bike. But for disk brakes and such. I just got some Kenda Karisma tires, Great tires with low rolling resistance, I do have Michelins on my road bike though. You would be surprised at how much faster a tire can be. I just got a indoor trainer that connects to the bike, works sweet. I gotta bring my biking to the indoors soon, unless I stud the tires :)


Stumpy

[cornercamping]

I hear ya.  It's cold down here too.   I'd say I want to go to FL, but no thanks. Hurricane Dan will stay in Detroit and stir crap up around here.  ;D

[Zac]

I just got a indoor trainer that connects to the bike, works sweet. I gotta bring my biking to the indoors soon, unless I stud the tires :)

Stumpy

What fun is riding a bicycle if you can't drop off big rocks and stuff  ???  ;)

That's why I live somewhere it doesn't snow  ;D

-z.