Any bicycle enthusiasts?

[JoshT]

yup. as long as you use it, it doesn't matter what kind of type of bike you have. a friend has 3 or 4 high end bikes, cervelo and stuff like that but they just sit in the garage. they are doing him no good and were just a waste of money.

i was reading, back many many years ago, that serious riders in florida and cali were getting box store frames and putting high end parts on them so bike thiefs would not steal them. they said the frames were well built and once you swap the components, you had a very decent training bike that you didn't have to worry about losing 15k if someone stole it since no one steals huffys, or whatever the box brands are now.

it sounded like a good plan to keep your bike off the radar

I was seeing similar. Also main complaint about big box store bikes seems to be the assemblers. With proper setup they seem to be pretty good for the price. Yes, they are cheaper components, but not everyone has a need for those higher priced parts. You can also get better co.ponents on the used market for cheap to install as your riding grows into them.

 

[sgtsandman]

I was seeing similar. Also main complaint about big box store bikes seems to be the assemblers. With proper setup they seem to be pretty good for the price. Yes, they are cheaper components, but not everyone has a need for those higher priced parts. You can also get better co.ponents on the used market for cheap to install as your riding grows into them.

There is some validity to this. When I worked for Toys R Us, many years ago, we were given specific instructions on how to setup the bikes as they were being assembled. It was more about getting the thing setup and on the floor as quick as possible and not about precise setup. While it wasn't technically wrong, it was also not correct, assuming the assembler did what they were supposed to be doing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There is some validity to this. When I worked for Toys R Us, many years ago, we were given specific instructions on how to setup the bikes as they were being assembled. It was more about getting the thing setup and on the floor as quick as possible and not about precise setup. While it wasn't technically wrong, it was also not correct, assuming the assembler did what they were supposed to be doing.

Just goofing around at walmart is kind of startling how many brake levers will bottom out on the grips before they get tight on the rim/rotors.

Of course with basically flat tires the bike should coast to a stop pretty quick anyway...

 

[Curious Hound]

Of course with basically flat tires the bike should coast to a stop pretty quick anyway...

Depends on steepness of the hill.

 

[gaz]

@Jim Oaks
Love to ride, I had stopped for many years because my bicycle was stolen. Then while enjoying the sights in Australia, I won a grip of cash in the casino; I had spotted very nice (to me) used full suspension bicycle in a pawnshop near my hotel, that I would otherwise never have spent that much on a bike. That bicycle changed my life!

When I load a new tire, tube or combo, after a thorough cleaning, I use lots of soapy water with a spray bottle. I get the tire on, then carefully set in the tube (extra care to get the valve exactly where it needs to be) then douse the tire/wheel and start pumping in stages. Get it to 5lbs, the go around the wheel pressing in with my thumbs, then more water. After the tire seats it should be GTG but I always work facing the tire tread, just in case it lets go.

Always carry 2 spare tubes if the ride can't account for the time spent walking; my last six years in the Navy, I was able to commute to work on that bike!! I do not know about the rest of society but I could never be late while on that job.

 

[don4331]

I was seeing similar. Also main complaint about big box store bikes seems to be the assemblers. With proper setup they seem to be pretty good for the price. Yes, they are cheaper components, but not everyone has a need for those higher priced parts. You can also get better components on the used market for cheap to install as your riding grows into them.

Actually, the 'mid range' components are the best for the average user.

The low end won't hold position which leads to frustration (shifting under load, etc).
The high end assumes you have a mechanic tuning your bike every time before you ride it.

 

[JoshT]

Actually, the 'mid range' components are the best for the average user.

The low end won't hold position which leads to frustration (shifting under load, etc).
The high end assumes you have a mechanic tuning your bike every time before you ride it.

Only thing I can do is point out that I said higher priced. Higher priced doesn't always mean high end. All of it is higher priced than the components on the BBS bikes. As people with "mid range" bikes upgrade to better components (possibly still "mid-range") on their more expensive bikes, they might sell those used parts at a discount.

I really have no knowledge of what tier different components are.

 

[rumblecloud]

I'm not an enthusiast, but still have this hanging in the barn from years ago:

 

[superj]

that was what i used to use for delivering newspapers as a kid. a good ol beach cruiser with wide bars to hang the bags off. what a great bike for throwing papers in socal.

here in south texas, the wind is way too strong to ride a beach cruiser so all the local stores sell cruisers with gears. that takes away the old school cool from a beach cruiser though.


my recumbent came with high end components on it, since it was the top tier bike the company put out back in 01. those components lasted and worked perfectly till i broke the chain during a sprint take off and wrapped the rear derailleur around the back in 2016. if i remember right, its all dura ace. very nice parts so i changed my son's road bike to dura ace that i got off fb marketplace and ebay. it made a nice difference on his bike, which is a giant but i don't remember the model.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't know what mine has for derailers. Shimano I think.

The rear one has a 5.0 on it that kinda looks like a Foxbody fender badge and that makes me happy.

They also do derailer things so that is good too.

 

[sgtsandman]

Only thing I can do is point out that I said higher priced. Higher priced doesn't always mean high end. All of it is higher priced than the components on the BBS bikes. As people with "mid range" bikes upgrade to better components (possibly still "mid-range") on their more expensive bikes, they might sell those used parts at a discount.

I really have no knowledge of what tier different components are.

I haven't paid attention since I last shopped for a bike. So, I have no idea what the tiers are. I think I bought the tourer in 2009. I'm sure it's all changed several times since then.

 

[superj]

there used to only be 3 grades of components, entry, mid, and race. and that was from each company, shimano, campy, etc. now there is many tiers in each type of component for each type of bike and multiple per manufacturer. like the shimano road has 4 or 5 types and each type has multiple grades from entry, mid, high, race, etc.

you have to google the spread sheet on what you want to make sure you also get the proper length of derailleur to go with your shifters since they make short, long, and mid and some have different pull ratios so the shifters don't work with everything properly.

as you can guess, i found out the hard way when i broke my rear derailleur. race grade derailleurs are short while the others range from short, mid, and long. the shorter the derailleur, the faster it shifts when you click or turn the shifter.

 

[sgtsandman]

there used to only be 3 grades of components, entry, mid, and race. and that was from each company, shimano, campy, etc. now there is many tiers in each type of component for each type of bike and multiple per manufacturer. like the shimano road has 4 or 5 types and each type has multiple grades from entry, mid, high, race, etc.

you have to google the spread sheet on what you want to make sure you also get the proper length of derailleur to go with your shifters since they make short, long, and mid and some have different pull ratios so the shifters don't work with everything properly.

as you can guess, i found out the hard way when i broke my rear derailleur. race grade derailleurs are short while the others range from short, mid, and long. the shorter the derailleur, the faster it shifts when you click or turn the shifter.

Mine are long on both bikes since they have "pie plates" for a rear cassette set. If I remember right, one has 34T for first gear and the other has 32T. From what I remember, they don't get much bigger than that.

 

[don4331]

Mine are long on both bikes since they have "pie plates" for a rear cassette set. If I remember right, one has 34T for first gear and the other has 32T. From what I remember, they don't get much bigger than that.

You've been away from state of the art for a while:

SRAM XG-1275 GX Eagle2 Speed Cassette | Jenson USA

SRAM XG1275 12 SPEED CASSETTE THE RANGE TO REACH. TO REALIZE. A RANGE BEYOND LIMITATION. Fast on the flats. Control on the climbs. Dictate your own pace anywhere. Ride anything with this wide range XG1275 Eagle cassette that provides the perfect gear ratio. Only Eagle technology is the 1x...

www.jensonusa.com

10 to 52 teeth 12 speed rear cassettes are now available.

 

[sgtsandman]

You've been away from state of the art for a while:

SRAM XG-1275 GX Eagle2 Speed Cassette | Jenson USA

SRAM XG1275 12 SPEED CASSETTE THE RANGE TO REACH. TO REALIZE. A RANGE BEYOND LIMITATION. Fast on the flats. Control on the climbs. Dictate your own pace anywhere. Ride anything with this wide range XG1275 Eagle cassette that provides the perfect gear ratio. Only Eagle technology is the 1x...

www.jensonusa.com

10 to 52 teeth 12 speed rear cassettes are now available.

Yeah, I think the tourer has 9 and the mountain bike 7. Both are triple rings in the front.