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Old September 12th 05, 04:50 AM
FunkyRes
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Default Bikes and Things Bikes - I'm kind of Ignorant

I'm a Linux guru. Now I know how the *nix newbies feel

I don't drive. I use to, but I have epilepsy - every medicine I've tried
messes with my head and I can't critically think as well, without medicine
I don't have seizures if I get enough sleep - but due to liability, no
doctor (that I know) will sign the DMV form if I'm not medicated. With gas
prices though, I don't think I'm missing out too much - and when the air
is just right, I actually feel more energized after the ride than when I
start.

So I've been riding a bike everywhere for a few years.
My bike is a Diamondback Wildwood, I bought it new in 2001, but I think it
was the 2000 model (not positive).

I think though I want a new bike. I've been lurking this list trying to
educate myself, but I don't seem to know enough to even do that

Most of my riding is on paved roads, but some of it is on gravel roads,
and quite a few of the paved roads are full of giant pot holes. I prefer
straight handle bars (like I have). There are a couple hills I take that
are steep enough coming down that I wish I had disk brakes - and that I
wish I also had a taller gear to maybe build up a little more speed.

The bike is a 21 speed (3 on left shifter, 7 on right).

Currently most of my riding involves going to school, but I live in
northern part of Redding, and I would like to bike up to Lake Shasta more
often, especially in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming.

I like the shifting mechanism that I have on the Diamondback (Shimano
Rapid Fire) but I really haven't tried that many.

I want something quality, something dependable.

This bike has been so far - though after the accident last semester (some
lady took a right turn into a driveway right into the bike lane in front
of me, nothing I could do - no exit path on the right, 50 MPH traffic on
the left, I layed the bike down and slammed right into her) I can't get
into granny gear (gear 1 on left shifter) anymore unless I lift the rear
tire off the ground and manually pedal, and sometimes on the right shifter
if I shift from 6 to 7 it makes a horrible sound and I have to go back
down and try again. I suspect though a bike shop could fix that. But I
want something really good that can take some abuse if needed, better than
what I have.

Needs to of course have the mountings for a solid rear rack that you put a
bag (panier??) on.

It doesn't need to be a mountain bike, but I think it does need to be a
hybrid because I do have to go over both gravel and neglected paved roads
to get to the places I go.

Any suggestions on what I should look at?
I'm 6'0"" if that matters, my ID says 185 but since I started biking, I
can't wear my pants w/o a belt, so I'm sure I'm down (maybe 170) now.

I won't be buying immediately, I'm planning on budgeting and buying at the
beginning of summer.

Thanks for any suggestions on what is important to consider, and what to
look at.
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