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#1
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
Thanks to everyone's help in my earlier thread at
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...b50605296a2a17 I am now eager to put away my discount bike in the basement and buy a good quality bike. In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html What do you think about these bikes for my purpose? I plan to ride it about 20 miles a day on regular roads in the city. Since I am wearing a suit once in a while, I would like to attach full length light-weight fenders and a simple chain guard, just one extra ring next to the pedals (is it possible?). The main purpose is riding in the city but next summer I want to do a month-long bicycle trip. Do you think I can attach front and rear racks and go on the road with the extra weight? I wonder if those thin tyres will be OK. If yes, it would be perfect, as a like to move on fast. Or should I get a seperate bike for the road trip? What do you think? Ken Aston |
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#2
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
Ken Aston wrote: Thanks to everyone's help in my earlier thread at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...b50605296a2a17 I am now eager to put away my discount bike in the basement and buy a good quality bike. In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html What do you think about these bikes for my purpose? I plan to ride it about 20 miles a day on regular roads in the city. Since I am wearing a suit once in a while, I would like to attach full length light-weight fenders and a simple chain guard, just one extra ring next to the pedals (is it possible?). The main purpose is riding in the city but next summer I want to do a month-long bicycle trip. Do you think I can attach front and rear racks and go on the road with the extra weight? I wonder if those thin tyres will be OK. If yes, it would be perfect, as a like to move on fast. Or should I get a seperate bike for the road trip? What do you think? IMO, for riding in the city, those bikes seem a little pricey and the carbon fiber parts, especially the carbon fiber seatstays on the Lucas Valley, are kind of silly. Here is a much less expensive alternative from IBEX, an internet direct seller: http://tinyurl.com/y3pft7 For your month long road trip next summer, you'll probably be happier with a drop bar "touring" bike. |
#3
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
Ken Aston wrote: In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html What do you think about these bikes for my purpose? I plan to ride it about 20 miles a day on regular roads in the city. Since I am wearing a suit once in a while, I would like to attach full length light-weight fenders and a simple chain guard, just one extra ring next to the pedals (is it possible?). Attaching fenders is an excellent idea. But on a quick inspection, it's not clear to me how easy that will be. To easily attach fenders, you need threaded mounting holes down by the axles. You also need a hole near the top of the front fender- that is, at the top of the fork under the headset. And in the rear, you need a mounting hole between the two seat stays just above the rear tire, plus a mounting hole at the very front-bottom of the rear fender, just behind the cranks. I can't see if they've got those mounting points or not. Plus, you need enough clearance between tires and frame so you can fit a fender in there! Without the mounting holes, fenders can sometimes be fitted. (Some folks use nylon zip ties for this.) But it's much easier if the bike is designed for them. Sadly, lots of bikes are made with uselessly "close clearance" frames. Basically, to be sporty, they're precluding fenders. It's more common with carbon fiber forks, so I'd carefully check that out before I'd buy this bike. The "extra ring" chainguards are not very common as aftermarket parts, I think. Here's one, from one of r.b.tech's good guys: http://www.yellowjersey.org/mguard.html (look just below the yellow box of text.) But read the paragraph in the yellow box. I don't ride in a suit, but I often ride in dress pants. I wax instead of oil on my chain, to keep it clean, and I use a safety pin to keep the cuffs from rubbing the chain. Others use similar solutions, but the chainguard may help a bit. Regarding those bikes, I prefer the Tiagra shifters on the Lucas Valley, and I don't like the suspension seatpost on the cheaper Fairfax. OTOH, I'm not a fan of carbon fiber bits - the fork on both bikes, and the seat stays on the Lucas. I think you're paying for an imaginary benefit, and getting some detriment (e.g. lack of fender clearance). Lots of people like those handlebars for city use. (I prefer drop bars, but that's personal choice.) The main purpose is riding in the city but next summer I want to do a month-long bicycle trip. Do you think I can attach front and rear racks and go on the road with the extra weight? I wonder if those thin tyres will be OK. If yes, it would be perfect, as a like to move on fast. Or should I get a seperate bike for the road trip? I think the 28mm tire width is the sweet spot for most commuters, unless you've got dreadful roads. It's what I use, and I'm on the potholed-filled freeze-thaw line in NE Ohio. 28s can also work for loaded touring. I've done that, although I prefer 32s. You might check clearance at the fork and chainstays to see if wider tires will fit for that tour. Will the bike take racks? Again, you need attachment points. "P-clamps" can sometimes do the job, but separate rack attachement points are nice. Many bike tourists (including me) really like front "low-rider" racks. They carry panniers down at about front axle level, and are the best place to put heavy items so they're carried by the lightly loaded front wheel. But fashionable carbon forks almost never have the mid-fork mounting hole to make mounting low riders easy. For that, you probably need a dedicated touring bike. OTOH, thousands of tourists travel without low rider front racks. People tour on mountain bikes, recumbents, upright 3 speeds, etc. Some pull trailers so their bike choice matters a lot less. What do you think? My personal preference would be to look for a bike with a metal fork, for what I see as better versatility. (You can also review the current thread on r.b.tech about "trust carbon fork after wreck?") I'd also give detail consideration to mounting some sort of good-sized bag (handlebar bag? rack trunk? big saddlebag?) for carrying rain gear, extra jacket, lunch, briefcase, whatever. I'd give detail consideration to lights, too - lots of choices there. I'm not pushing this brand, but: you might browse at Breezer Bikes, for example, http://www.breezerbikes.com/bike_det...bike=l iberty to see one company's offerings that pretty much match your ideas. If you go with a different brand, you can use this as a reference for mounting useful accessories. Incidentally, for a person such as yourself who's asking intelligent, but newbie questions, I'd say the choice of a bike shop is at _least_ as important as the choice of a bike. Can you contact a bike club in the area and get a recommendation on a shop that will help you - not just sell you the fashionable inventory they're trying to drop at season's end? Again, you're asking good questions, and your plans are excellent. Good luck! - Frank Krygowski |
#4
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better thancheap ones?)
I have absolutely no touring experience, but I'd wonder about the 28
spoke wheel and narrow tires. Hopefully someone who's experienced will comment on this. |
#5
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better thancheap ones?)
Ken Aston wrote:
..... In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html What do you think about these bikes for my purpose? ...... What do you think? Ken Aston I think you could spend a lot less for that kind of bike. Grab any $400 MTB or hybrid and put 1.3-inch wide tires on it if it doesn't come with them. Full-suspension (and/or a springy seat post) will help preserve your tires and make the ride a bit more comfortable. ---------- Just for fun--here's the 2007 Fusion (I have a 2006) http://www.ransbikes.com/Fusion07.htm The MSRP is $950 or so; I had a month-long wait for mine. I know the Fusion frames can mount fenders and a rear rack (RANS sells them); I dunno about the front racks. They have a site/forum just for these models set up, where you could ask. http://www.crankforward.com/ These bikes are a lot more comfortable to ride--you won't need padded gloves or shorts. You see people in the photos riding them wearing /lycra/ shorts, but they are "recumbent" shorts, with no padding. Is that different enough? --------- For a bit over $1000, you can buy yourself a "lawn chair" like what I got: http://www.cyclegenius.com/ltx.htm The comfort difference between a recumbent and an upright bike is tremendous; there's simply no comparison. There was once a time when I would have tried it--but after having owned a couple recumbents, I can't imagine riding cross-country on an upright bike for fun. ~ |
#6
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
Thanks to everyone's help in my earlier thread at
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...b50605296a2a17 I am now eager to put away my discount bike in the basement and buy a good quality bike. In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html Perhaps more important than the particular bike is finding a good local dealer who can make sure things fit properly (yes, even on a "hybrid" there are lots of things that can be done to make it more comfortable & efficient), assembled right, take care of any warranty issues and generally make sure it stays on the road instead of in your garage. A really good shop should also be able to relate to how you want to use the bike, and make intelligent suggestions as to what bike might be best. For what it's worth, you might be looking at two different bikes long-term. A hybrid might be great for commuting, but perhaps not the best for long-distance touring. I do see quite a few on the 100k rides, but those folk are generally doing a bit more work, a bit more slowly, and a bit less comfortably, than those with drop bars. There's a lot to be said for multiple hand positions and moving more of the weight off your butt. But getting back to the commute-style bikes, you might also find a Trek 7.5FX at a local dealer. They run just under $700 and ride quite nicely. Don't be tempted by the 7.6 model though, unless it's generally flat where you'll be riding... for some reason, they didn't spec that model with a triple crank. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA "Ken Aston" wrote in message ps.com... Thanks to everyone's help in my earlier thread at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...b50605296a2a17 I am now eager to put away my discount bike in the basement and buy a good quality bike. In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html What do you think about these bikes for my purpose? I plan to ride it about 20 miles a day on regular roads in the city. Since I am wearing a suit once in a while, I would like to attach full length light-weight fenders and a simple chain guard, just one extra ring next to the pedals (is it possible?). The main purpose is riding in the city but next summer I want to do a month-long bicycle trip. Do you think I can attach front and rear racks and go on the road with the extra weight? I wonder if those thin tyres will be OK. If yes, it would be perfect, as a like to move on fast. Or should I get a seperate bike for the road trip? What do you think? Ken Aston |
#7
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
Ken Aston wrote: Thanks to everyone's help in my earlier thread at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...b50605296a2a17 I am now eager to put away my discount bike in the basement and buy a good quality bike. In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...as_valley.html or a Marin Fairfax: http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...s_fairfax.html What do you think about these bikes for my purpose? I plan to ride it about 20 miles a day on regular roads in the city. Since I am wearing a suit once in a while, I would like to attach full length light-weight fenders and a simple chain guard, just one extra ring next to the pedals (is it possible?). The main purpose is riding in the city but next summer I want to do a month-long bicycle trip. Do you think I can attach front and rear racks and go on the road with the extra weight? I wonder if those thin tyres will be OK. If yes, it would be perfect, as a like to move on fast. Or should I get a seperate bike for the road trip? What do you think? Ken Aston I like Marin Bikes a lot, ridden thousands of miles on one of their hybrids. Very well built at the factory. The model I'd recommend as a "do-everything" bike is the Marin Belvedere. Sora derailleurs, 8spd drivetrain with cheap consumables when you wear stuff out, moderately skinny rubber, and best of all, matching fenders. Braze ons for racks and what not. $500 street price. It looks very elegant and "urbane". Even the hubs are decent Formulas. Cheap bike to own, and not too tempting to most thieves. http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...belvedere.html |
#8
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better thancheap ones?)
landotter wrote:
I like Marin Bikes a lot, ridden thousands of miles on one of their hybrids. Very well built at the factory. The model I'd recommend as a "do-everything" bike is the Marin Belvedere. Sora derailleurs, 8spd drivetrain with cheap consumables when you wear stuff out, moderately skinny rubber, and best of all, matching fenders. Braze ons for racks and what not. $500 street price. It looks very elegant and "urbane". Even the hubs are decent Formulas. Cheap bike to own, and not too tempting to most thieves. http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...belvedere.html Does this enter into it also? 36 hole rims on the Belvedere vs. the 20 front and 32 rear on the other bikes he was looking at. 700X35C tires on the Belvedere vs. 700X28C on the other bikes. I'm still learning about this stuff, too. |
#9
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
catzz66 wrote: landotter wrote: I like Marin Bikes a lot, ridden thousands of miles on one of their hybrids. Very well built at the factory. The model I'd recommend as a "do-everything" bike is the Marin Belvedere. Sora derailleurs, 8spd drivetrain with cheap consumables when you wear stuff out, moderately skinny rubber, and best of all, matching fenders. Braze ons for racks and what not. $500 street price. It looks very elegant and "urbane". Even the hubs are decent Formulas. Cheap bike to own, and not too tempting to most thieves. http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...belvedere.html Does this enter into it also? 36 hole rims on the Belvedere vs. the 20 front and 32 rear on the other bikes he was looking at. Worth a mention, absolutely. Break a spoke and be able to ride home. Replace it for a buck. No brainer. 700X35C tires on the Belvedere vs. 700X28C on the other bikes. http://www.kendausa.com/bicycle/kwick.html The Belvedere comes with 28mm Kenda Kwick Roller tires. At 410g they should be durable, yet a bit nippier feeling off the line compared to most 35mm tires. The fenders should accomodate up to a 37mm tire if you want to go fatter, if memory serves me right. I almost bought one of these in grey last year. Very handsome bike in person, and great price point. If it had had a 3spd Nexus option, I would have taken it home. |
#10
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How about this bike? (was: Why are expensive bikes better than cheap ones?)
landotter wrote: The model I'd recommend as a "do-everything" bike is the Marin Belvedere. Sora derailleurs, 8spd drivetrain with cheap consumables when you wear stuff out, moderately skinny rubber, and best of all, matching fenders. ... http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...belvedere.html That front fender sure is short, though! On my commuter, my mudflap (when installed) comes within about an inch of the ground. If it didn't, I'd still have a stream of water pumped into my shoes, and onto my chain. - Frank Krygowski |
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