Sandi Luney said:I would like a mountain bike as I wouldnt want to be
restricted to just=
road
Quoted message said:riding but im not sure whether all the bikes with
suspension and stuff =
are
Quoted message said:better than those without - any ideas?
See other comments as to advisability of suspension (i.e.,
not very, at=20 this price level). A MTB is clearly the best
thing if you're doing=20 rough stuff, but by rough I mean
rocks that you can't pick up in one=20 hand and large vats
of mud that you think you might get lost in all=20 coupled
to seriously uneven ground. If that isn't the description,
and=20 to be quite honest a lot of off-road that gets done
isn't, then you=20 shouldn't have any great problem cycling
it on just about anything short =
of a dedicated road racer. I ride a folding bike with wee
16" wheels=20 through the local woods with no problem at
all. OTOH, a MTB with typical knobbly tyres is a great
deal harder work on=20 the roads. Nothing stopping you
changing the tyres, but unless you're=20 into those mud
vats you don't have any great use for knobbly tyres, so=20
why bother?
Quoted message said:I would like to spend around =A3150 at most really.
I'd agree with the comments about 2nd hand. I'd personally
put a=20 baseline of about =A3200 on a new bike. In the UK
folk have the general =
perception that spending a relatively small amount on a Lada
or the like =
is a false economy compared to a basic Ford/Vauxhall etc.,
but though=20 the same principle applies the same
consideration rarely spills over to=20 cycles. You really
do get what you pay for, and a basic bike with no=20
suspension at =A3250 will almost certainly be a vastly
better machine to =
ride than a suspended bike at half the cost. If a bike isn't
a pleasure =
to ride it'll end up in the back of the garage, so even
though it=20 doesn't cost much the value for money is still
very poor.
Personally if I wanted a new bike at a budget price it would
probably be =
something like the Ridgeback Rapide Series Speed. Depsite
the name it's =
actually a sensible bike rather than a speeder:=20 w-w-Open ↗
ww.ridgeback.co.uk/bikes/2004/bike.asp?seriesid=3D21&index=-
3D2 an= d=20 note you get mudguards[1] and luggage rack[2]
in the price, and though=20 it's =A350 more than you were
looking at it's a better bike, with all the=
=20
money going on genuinely useful stuff. And it'll do
simple tracks=20 through the woods, towpaths etc. with no
trouble at all.
Pete.
[1] typically the sporty or pseudo-sporty bikes sold in the
UK don't=20 have mudguards, 'cause they're (a) not cool
and (b) cost money you could =
spend on comedy suspension units etc. But if you don't have
them, and=20 ride through a big puddle, you'll experience an
instant bout of colonic=20 irrigation... If you don't mind
being sprayed with cack any time the=20 roads and trails are
wet they are pretty pointless, but lots of us *do*=20 mind!
[2] if you're carrying any stuff on the bike for more than a
few minutes =
it's a lot more comfortable carrying in on the bike than
on you, simply=20 because you don't have to support the
weight yourself.
--=20 Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111
ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382
640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net
[email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
