Bike info required

[James Hodson]

Hi all

A friend of mine from Gloucestershire has asked me about two models of bicycles. He didn't give me
too many details so you don't have much to go on. I'd appreciate your help.

1) KK Concept 20" very light rigid aluminium frame. 21 speed. Includes: lights, D-Lock, and
numerous other spares and extras. £95 ono

2) GT Avalanche MTB bike Black/silver. Avid discs f/r, Deore/LX 27 sp drivetrain, Judy XC forks,
RRP new £950 - serious bikes with ace reviews. Excellent condition. Pics available & full specs.
£275 each.

If either should be avoided at all costs I'd like to know why.

Cheers James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

 

[Msa]

"James Hodson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all
>
> A friend of mine from Gloucestershire has asked me about two models of bicycles. He didn't give me
> too many details so you don't have much to go on. I'd appreciate your help.
>
> 1) KK Concept 20" very light rigid aluminium frame. 21 speed. Includes: lights, D-Lock, and
> numerous other spares and extras. £95 ono
>
> 2) GT Avalanche MTB bike Black/silver. Avid discs f/r, Deore/LX 27 sp drivetrain, Judy XC forks,
> RRP new £950 - serious bikes with ace reviews. Excellent condition. Pics available & full
> specs. £275 each.
>
> If either should be avoided at all costs I'd like to know why.
>
> Cheers James
>
> --
> "Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

Never heard of the KK, but GT is a respected name. Going on the brief information you have, the
Avalanche appears to be the bargain...if it fits.

--
Mark (MSA)
This post is packaged by intellectual weight, not volume. Some settling of
contents may have occurred during transmission

 

[Peter B]

"James Hodson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all
>
> A friend of mine from Gloucestershire has asked me about two models of bicycles. He didn't give me
> too many details so you don't have much to go on. I'd appreciate your help.
>
> 1) KK Concept 20" very light rigid aluminium frame. 21 speed. Includes: lights, D-Lock, and
> numerous other spares and extras. £95

Never heard of it. It was probably in the same aisle as the barbeque charcoal and cheap tv's at
point of sale, if you get my drift ;-) Personally I wouldn't waste my time.

> 2) GT Avalanche MTB bike Black/silver. Avid discs f/r, Deore/LX 27 sp drivetrain, Judy XC forks,
> RRP new £950 - serious bikes with ace reviews. Excellent condition. Pics available & full
> specs. £275 each.

Now this sounds interesting and worth a look. Although no age is stated more important is the amount
of hammer it may have received, ranging from none as a fashion accessory to being a total wreck from
being used in anger.

And you'll only know by having a darn good look, but to help see:
http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/2003_hardtail/product_121494.shtml
http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Bike_hardtail/product_25028.shtml

Pete

 

[Peter B]

"James Hodson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 2) GT Avalanche MTB bike Black/silver. Avid discs f/r, Deore/LX 27 sp drivetrain, Judy XC forks,
> RRP new £950 - serious bikes with ace reviews. Excellent condition. Pics available & full
> specs. £275 each.

James, this is a quote from an earlier post in this NG:

"My GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc was stolen at the weekend (was cleaning the chain, nipped inside to put
the oil etc back and wash my hands, came back outside and it was gone in < 1min). Anyway whilst I am
a fan of GTs (2 Timberlines previously) and had started to like the Avalanche I never felt totally
comfortable with this bike. It was a bit heavy, a bit too big (should have bought the size below)
and didn't seem as well put together as my previous Timberlines. So what I really need is something
lighter and reliable for commuting that I can go and sit on in a shop and try out (hard to find GTs
here in London!!). I did like the disc brakes though and whilst tough at 1st they'd finally settled
in and were great."

Pete

 

[James Hodson]

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 18:55:40 +0000 (UTC), "Peter B"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"James Hodson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> 2) GT Avalanche MTB bike Black/silver. Avid discs f/r, Deore/LX 27 sp drivetrain, Judy XC forks,
>> RRP new £950 - serious bikes with ace reviews. Excellent condition. Pics available & full
>> specs. £275 each.
>
>James, this is a quote from an earlier post in this NG:
>
>It was a bit heavy, a bit too big (should have bought the size below) ...

Hi Pete

I'd written off the KK Concept bike myself but wanted to know others' thoughts before I mailed my
former work colleague.

The GT Avalanche sounds reasonable to me as long as it's in a fair condition. I've already warned my
mate about possible damage to the frame etc.

FWIW, Hugh has MS and doesn't ride for long distances. However, he does trundle out with his local
friends two or three times each week. As far as I gather, most of his rides are on minor roads but
the group also puts in a few gentle off-road miles too.

Hugh, at about 5'9", is a short **** (techical phrase). He's quite slim for his height but also is
strong, especially when one considers his condition. (Helen V's the expert on this point.)

Pete, I cannot locate the earlier post from u.r.c about the GT Avalanche. So, would you either point
me towards the correct thread or give me some idea of a suitable bike size for a properly-
proportioned 5'9" ish male. Perhaps incidentally, I'm 6'00", and my rigid Trek is sized 19.5" - all
my MTBs have been this size.

As I have never owned a sprung bike, I have no idea about bouncy forks.

Regards James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

 

[Tony Raven]

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:
>
> If Vernon says otherwise, he's lying. He shall be whipped soundly if he implies anything else.
>

I see. Well whatever turns you on ;-)

Tony

 

[Simon Brooke]

James Hodson <[email protected]> writes:

> I'd written off the KK Concept bike myself but wanted to know others' thoughts before I mailed my
> former work colleague.
>
> The GT Avalanche sounds reasonable to me as long as it's in a fair condition. I've already warned
> my mate about possible damage to the frame etc.
>
> FWIW, Hugh has MS and doesn't ride for long distances. However, he does trundle out with his local
> friends two or three times each week. As far as I gather, most of his rides are on minor roads but
> the group also puts in a few gentle off-road miles too.
>
> Hugh, at about 5'9", is a short **** (techical phrase). He's quite slim for his height but also is
> strong, especially when one considers his condition. (Helen V's the expert on this point.)

Often the case. In its early stages MS actually makes you stronger - which is why so many sufferers
are ex-athletes.

> Pete, I cannot locate the earlier post from u.r.c about the GT Avalanche. So, would you either
> point me towards the correct thread or give me some idea of a suitable bike size for a properly-
> proportioned 5'9" ish male. Perhaps incidentally, I'm 6'00", and my rigid Trek is sized 19.5" -
> all my MTBs have been this size.

There are reviews of several Avalanche models here: <URL:
http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/2003_hardtail/index_G.shtml >

Because MTB frame geometries vary so much it isn't really possible to say such and such a size
of frame will suit people of this height - it varies with the make. So you really need to get
him to try one.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; 'I think we should trust our president in every decision ;; that he makes and we should
just support that' ;; Britney Spears of George W Bush, CNN 04:09:03

 

[Peter B]

> James Hodson <[email protected]> writes:
> > Pete, I cannot locate the earlier post from u.r.c about the GT Avalanche. So, would you either
> > point me towards the correct thread or give me some idea of a suitable bike size for a properly-
> > proportioned 5'9" ish male. Perhaps incidentally, I'm 6'00", and my rigid Trek is sized 19.5" -
> > all my MTBs have been this size.

Hmm, my news reader didn't pick this up directly James. Anyway.......I copied the whole OP so
there's nothing more to add.

Regarding frame size, a bit hard to generalise for the reason Simons mentioned. F'rinstance, I ride
a 17.5" Marin susser and an older 18" Trek rigid but the Marin feels (is) bigger!

Pete

 

[James Hodson]

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 17:38:17 +0000 (UTC), "Peter B"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Hmm, my news reader didn't pick this up directly James. Anyway.......I copied the whole OP so
>there's nothing more to add.
>
>Regarding frame size, a bit hard to generalise for the reason Simons mentioned. F'rinstance, I ride
>a 17.5" Marin susser and an older 18" Trek rigid but the Marin feels (is) bigger!
>

I spoke to Hugh a few moments ago and now know that both bikes were offered for sale on his
company's intranet. Therefore, time is not really of the essence as they'll probably both be
available for a reasonable period.

I also suggested that Hugh drags himself along to a cycle shop - <http://www.noahsark.co.uk/> is
proably his nearest LBS; it seems to be OK - and gets himself measured.

As I mentioned and you picked up on, all my rigid MTB-look-alikes have been 19.5". Yet, like your
Marin and Trek, they have all felt different in size.

James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.