bike purchase

Specialized27 said:

I need some advice on a good first mountain bike. Any info is welcome, but I am looking for a bike
in the 200-400 USD price range. I dont need to get a new bike if any of you know a good place to
buy a used mountain bike that would be great! Thanks for any info,

See ya

Kyle

bbauer.gomen.orgnewbikeOpen ↗

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Specialized27 said:

I need some advice on a good first mountain bike. Any info is welcome, but I am looking for a
bike in the 200-400 USD price range. I dont need to get a new bike if any of you know a good
place to buy a used mountain bike that would be great! Thanks for any info,

See ya

Kyle

bbauer.gomen.orgnewbikeOpen ↗

That's an excellent resource and much-needed; but I disagree with some of his qualitative
assessments.

Shimano LX is not a "minimum standard" for hard riding. It has been called the "gold standard" -
meaning that every boutique manufacturer should strive to match LX's durability and precision as a
minimum requirement. I would also argue that XT is the practical peak of MTB components, with XTR
falling well into the "diminishing returns" range. I agree with many others who have said that Deore
(one step down in quality from LX) is the best component value (price/performance) on the market.

Hi-tensile steel bikes are at least as durable and tough as any other frame material. Ultralight
aluminum "beer can" bikes are much more likely to fail catastrophically than oversized thick-walled
straight-gauge hi-ten steel frames. Where cheap steel bikes are found lacking is mostly in the
wheels, handlebars and other cheaply-built components. However, many low-end bike-shop brands are
only a hair's breadth away from better-quality dept store bikes in component choices, while their
prices may be 2x as much.

7-speed cassettes are *just fine* for any application. There is no practical argument against them,
on any score, especially since replacement parts are plentiful and cheap. Seven speed is fine for
steep climbing, too: Shimano makes Megarange 7-speed cassettes with a 34T cog - the largest rear cog
on the market - and they put them on many low-end bikes. A 21-speed bike can go as fast, shift as
well and climb as easily as any other bike on the market. Period. The only gearing impediment might
be a crank with too-tall gearing (28-38-48 is not uncommon on cheaper bikes.)

Just my $.02 worth...

-=B=-

"Barry Bargain" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<%pt7b.409214$uu5.74180@sccrnsc04>...

Quoted message said:

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

bbauer.gomen.orgnewbikeOpen ↗

That's an excellent resource and much-needed; but I disagree with some of his qualitative
assessments.

<snip more barry bulshit>

Quoted message said:

Just my $.02 worth...

Your $.02 is obviously not worth [censored], especially when you start recommending walgeese. Blaine's
work on that FAQ was a conglomerate of the opinions of real mountain bikers, not bargain hunters.

JD

"JD" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Your $.02 is obviously not worth [censored], especially when you start recommending walgeese. Blaine's
work on that FAQ was a conglomerate of the opinions of real mountain bikers, not bargain hunters.

JD

You can't buy [censored] for less than $.05 these days here in So. Cal. Even then, it's still not
worth it. ;-)

cg

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JD" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Your $.02 is obviously not worth [censored], especially when you start recommending walgeese. Blaine's
work on that FAQ was a conglomerate of the opinions of real mountain bikers, not bargain
hunters.

JD

Uh oh. I guess JD's awake now. <yawn> I'd argue with him; but he's in my killfile, and I have much
better things to do.

He's still smarting because I got a *much* better deal on my high-end custom bikes than he did,
without cutting any corners. So listen to JD if you like to spend lots of money on "me too" bikes.
Be a follower, just like JD.

Quoted message said:

You can't buy [censored] for less than $.05 these days here in So. Cal. Even then, it's still not
worth it. ;-)

So, when the [censored] hits the fan, that's costing you real money.

-=B=-