Hydraglass
join:2002-05-08
Kingston, ON
 ·Bell Sympatico
| reply to dvandervelde
Re: Bike recomendations?
I have a GT I picked up at a bike shop about 3 years ago - full suspension "all mountain style" - it has decent components all around - Shimano Deore derailleurs, Rock Shox suspension, Crank bros. pedals, hydraulic disc brakes, etc - it was equipped sufficiently from the shop I didn't do anything to it other than a new seat. I am trying to remember exactly what it set me back, but I think it was around $700 out the door with taxes paid.... the bike shop gave me 1 year of free tune-ups - good thing too - I needed my spokes adjusted twice in the first 3 months and they did courtesy brake adjustments and derailleur adjustments for me in the spring of the second year as well. I don't ride tons - but I do ride maybe once or twice a week - usually a 5k or 10k ride - on all terrains - city streets, suburban sidewalks, level park trails, light off-road, and sometimes I take it to the cottage and do some pretty rough trail rides in areas not really fit for a bicycle. All in all, it's held up nicely for me.
My wife has a "semi bargain" bike, a Columbia she bought at Sport Mart for $299 - she's had it for 2 years now - it treats her well enough. The shifters aren't as accurate as mine, the tires are only suitable for road and "gentle gravel" at worse, we took the fenders and package rack off when we brought it home as they looked a little silly. It seems to be holding up nicely - she rides a 5k or 10k ride, about once every 2 weeks - mind you it's never spent even one night outside -- where as mine has probably spent close to a month of days where it was outside in the elements since I picked it up - without one drop of rust on it anywhere. |
