On Jun 20, 10:28 pm, bob syr <
[email protected]> wrote:
> > > a used bike for exercise and fun riding. I like the 3-speed but maybe
> > > I’ll try a 5-speed to get used to the up-to-date bike gears.
>
> > Up-to-date?
>
> Hey, that's what the salesman told me as he tried to sell me a 25-gear
> $1,800 special today only.
> You gotta get up to date.
I'm not sure that you need a new bike as much as a new salesman.
Me, I like having a wide range of gears. But I think I could get a
nice bike (with low gears for climbing with a load and big gears
deadheading) by spending a lot less than $1800.
$1800 seems pretty pricey for a commuter bike - that's the kind of
dough that them recreational weight weenies spend on their bikes. It
may be a very good deal, but I suspect that it's something that the
store would like to get rid of rather than something that other
customers have been asking for and they are having trouble stocking
due to high demand.
Here is a bike sold by REI - who are generally NOT known as a discount
retailer - It may not be the bike of your dreams but it does seem to
have a wide range of gears (but still only 8 speeds) and luggage
carrying capabilities for about half the price you mentioned:
http://www.rei.com/product/744803?c...-5041-DD11-98CA-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA
Plus it comes with lights and a dyno-hub to generate juice for the
lights, a pretty utilitarian setup in my book. If you have an REI
store near you it might behoove you to look at the plethora of bikes
there before you plunk down more than a grand.
Kona doesn't publish a MSR on their web site:
http://www.konaworld.com/08_ute_w.htm
But their Ute looks like it could be used to bring home some bacon,
even though it doesn't really have the big ring for the empty side of
the trip.
Google for utility bike and I'm certain you'll find lots of reading
material.