Ken Aston wrote:
>
> In particular I am looking into a Marin Lucas Valley
> http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_lucas_valley.html
> or a Marin Fairfax:
> http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_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_details.cfm?bikeType=range&frame=range&bike=liberty
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