Sub-$500 MTB/Urban

[Aseradyn]

sorry about the thread hijack...

Meh. No problem

I think I got the answer I needed to hear, anyway - most bikes in that price range will be fine, so it's just whatever I like.

Random commentary is just one of the many reasons I love reading this forum

[Eden]

Kona Dews are really nice - another company to check out for value to price point is Marin (www.marinbikes.com) Check out their "street" line.

[Aseradyn]

Oooh

I like that Marin has a whole range of normal-looking step-through frames, instead of the goofy-looking curvy ones.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Aseradyn]

First off, many thanks to everyone who replied to my questions! I wanted to update this thread just to let y'all know what I decided on

I hit about three bike shops and rode at least 15 bikes. They've changed a lot since I last did any bike shopping!

Some general impressions:

Riding a couple of mountain bikes basically ruled out anything with front suspension. In the price range I was looking at, I couldn't lock out the front suspension, and I'm heavy enough that every time I hit the brakes, the front suspension compressed. I felt like I was going to fall off! More importantly, I felt like I didn't have enough control. That also ruled out the "comfort" bikes.

I discovered that I don't like push-lever type shifters. I do really like the twist/grip shifters though. (I'm *so* putting a set of those on my Schwinn!) But the right hand is backward - that's going to take some getting used to.

Most of the bikes I rode were... useable transportation. Light, functional, but rough and, well, they just felt cheap. I felt like they would shake themselves to pieces. Sort of like a Geo Metro. The more like this that I rode, the more I think I got an absolute steal on my old Schwinn.

The Decision...

I rode a Kona Smoke, and I barely had it out the door before I was in love. Smooth, solid, quiet, and shifted like a snap. A long step above anything else I rode. It's a little long (I like to sit as close to upright as possible), but we swapped out the stem and moved the seat all the way forward, and it fits pretty good. The dealer also threw in a different set of tires (wider, with a Kevlar belt, good for the Houston bike lanes). With the dealer markup, tax, and adding a rack, I just squeaked in under my $500 maxiumum.

I had originally intended to get a bike I could take off-road. The Smoke just doesn't have enough ground clearance for that - and I knew that when I bought it. I've managed to dig the pedal into the ground just turning a corner, so I'm teaching myself not to pedal through sharp corners. Instead, I'm going to make it my main commuter and grocery shopping bike, with the Woodlands as a backup if I need repairs.

I'm also going to start working on the Woodlands to get it back into trail-ready shape. At a minimum, it needs new brakes, cassette, and crank. (I didn't realize how bad those brakes were until I rode a bike with good ones) That'll be a fun project!

So, anyway, long ramble over. Thanks again for the suggestions, and for all the information and advice available in these forums!

[mimitabby]

congrats on finding a bike you liked, and getting it set up for you!
I don't get why you would have a ground clearance problem, it sounds like
a great bike for off road, but i am no expert in that area.

we want to see a picture!

[Aseradyn]

I'm a little fuzzy on the ground clearance issue myself. I think it's a combination of two things:

1 - The bottom bracket seems to be a little (maybe 1/2 - 1 inch) lower than my Woodlands. I haven't figured out why. Both bikes have 26" wheels and comparable tires... Maybe the chain stay is angled differently?

2 - The crank is a little longer than what I'm used to.

At the bottom of a revolution, there's about an inch or inch-and-a-half clearance from the ground. (I haven't measured - that's an estimate). If I point my toe down at the bottom of the stroke, I can scrape my toe on the road.

When I turn, I tend to lean (probably more than is strictly necessary), so if I pedal down on the inside of the turn, the pedal hits the ground.

It's not a problem in town - I just have to teach myself to be aware of where the pedal is. And on relatively flat trails, probably not an issue, either. But I can so easily see myself descending a bumpy trail, pedaling a little to keep the chain tight, and winding up with my pedal buried in the ground. And then, obeying the law of conservation of energy, there's me, flying off the bike...

I'll run down over lunch and see if there's enough light in the garage for a picture

[Trek420]

Aseradyn "The Smoke just doesn't have enough ground clearance for that - and I knew that when I bought it. I've managed to dig the pedal into the ground just turning a corner, so I'm teaching myself not to pedal through sharp corners. "

pedal on through that corner grrl, you'll just get used to the timing so the outside pedal is down on that outside edge of the turn.

pedaling out of the corners makes you faster and more secure on the turn.

outside leg down will make you more secure on descents!

have fun on your bike!

[Aseradyn]

Okay! Picture time. I lock up in the parking garage, to the railing around the smoking area. Nobody actually smokes there. They all hang out by the back door of the building, sitting next to the No Smoking signs.



Just realized, looking at it, that I also had them replace the rubber grips with foam - the rubber started to hurt after riding for a few minutes.

And I'm also reminded that I still need to get another or a longer lock so I don't lose that back wheel... There's always something else to buy.

[mimitabby]

Looks like a mean machine! enjoy your bike. I am so glad you found it.
m

[HillSlugger]

Nice bike. Have fun with it!

I felt like they would shake themselves to pieces. Sort of like a Geo Metro.

I had a 1990 Geo Metro. It was OK as a commuter car on local roads (35mpg) but if you took it up to anything near highway speeds it felt like you were losing all contact with the road I got rid of it fast when it became my only car after my splitup.