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First Bike Advice
I am about to buy a bike again after a number of years. I would plan to
use it to get a little exersise and would be cycling on roads and off road cycle paths etc. so nothing too demanding max 10-15 miles a week. I have looked in my local bike shop and seen a Raleigh Mountain bike (Max Aero). This is a basic Mountain bike with ridged forks and a Chromeoly ?? frame. Parts all look reasonable quality (Shimano gears, EZ rapid fire shifters, Pro Max Brakes) and although it is obviously an old model it apparently had a UK RRP of 190 pounds. It is on offer for 90 pounds in a sale. Is this a good buy for a novice like me to start with? I've tried it for size etc. and it feels ok. In all honesty I can't afford to spend a great deal and all of the other bikes in this price range were makes I had never heard of. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks Marc |
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First Bike Advice
"Marc Jennings" wrote ... I am about to buy a bike again after a number of years. I would plan to use it to get a little exersise and would be cycling on roads and off road cycle paths etc. so nothing too demanding max 10-15 miles a week. I have looked in my local bike shop and seen a Raleigh Mountain bike (Max Aero). This is a basic Mountain bike with ridged forks and a Chromeoly ?? frame. Parts all look reasonable quality (Shimano gears, EZ rapid fire shifters, Pro Max Brakes) and although it is obviously an old model it apparently had a UK RRP of 190 pounds. It is on offer for 90 pounds in a sale. Is this a good buy for a novice like me to start with? I've tried it for size etc. and it feels ok. In all honesty I can't afford to spend a great deal and all of the other bikes in this price range were makes I had never heard of. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks Marc Try posting your question to uk.rec.cycling, the regulars are extremely knowledgable and helpful when they're not ranting about speed cameras and other car related stuff. They're also much more knowledgable about cycling in the UK than we silly Merkin colonials. It's been said again and again that you don't shop for a bicycle, you shop for a bike shop. If you feel that your local bike shop are an honest, competent, knowledgable group of people who will give good advice and do a good job of repairing and maintaining your bike, spend your money there instead of the department store up the street who may charge a few pounds less for the bike but are unable or unwilling to give good advice or do good repair work. In US prices, GBP 190 (US$350?) would get you a decent, servicable entry level bike, ideal for the use you describe. "Obviously an old model" is no big deal, this year's cutting edge technology will fit that description by next year. Chromoly (molychrome) is molybdenum chrome steel, a step up from the "Hi-Ten" steel tubing on truly wretched bikes. Steel is no longer fashionable, but some of us think it makes for a stronger and more durable frame than aluminum. If the bike doesn't feel too dreadfully heavy when you pick it up I wouldn't worry too much. Rigid forks are just fine, especially for the use you propose. I assume that by "off road cycle path" you mean one that is paved or well graded gravel/dirt, not highly technical single track. Suspension forks found on lower priced bikes tend to be heavy and not too effective. HTH, -- mark |
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First Bike Advice
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#4
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First Bike Advice
Since you apparently are not planning to take this mountain bike off
road, I'd suggest asking the bike shop about replacing the tires. Most mountain bikes come with "knobby" tires which are designed to dig into dirt, but for paved surfaces a smoother tread or even "slicks" would be better. If you replace the tires at the time you buy the bike, hopefully it should not cost you too much extra. Other than that, this kind of bike would be fine for the kind of riding you describe. If you build up to the point where you are taking really long trips on the road, you may begin to wish that you had a road bike or a light hybrid instead, but a decent name brand mountain bike is not a bad way to start. I don't know anything about this specific model except that, of course, Raleigh is a reputable brand. MP On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 10:44:48 +0000, Marc Jennings wrote: I am about to buy a bike again after a number of years. I would plan to use it to get a little exersise and would be cycling on roads and off road cycle paths etc. so nothing too demanding max 10-15 miles a week. I have looked in my local bike shop and seen a Raleigh Mountain bike (Max Aero). This is a basic Mountain bike with ridged forks and a Chromeoly ?? frame. Parts all look reasonable quality (Shimano gears, EZ rapid fire shifters, Pro Max Brakes) and although it is obviously an old model it apparently had a UK RRP of 190 pounds. It is on offer for 90 pounds in a sale. Is this a good buy for a novice like me to start with? I've tried it for size etc. and it feels ok. In all honesty I can't afford to spend a great deal and all of the other bikes in this price range were makes I had never heard of. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks Marc |
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