Any bicycle enthusiasts?

[superj]

that great you guys got to do that kind of stuff though

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I sneaked up on a bargain of a bike for my wife:





I think it is about a 1995 model, it looks cherry though. It was sold as a ladies bike and was bought new by the lady I bought it from but I think it is a mens bike, it is the right size for my wife though and this style of frame will fit in our bike carrier better. Its been sitting, that is why she sold it so it will need a little work but it has like new tires on it. Chain is drier than the u-joints @Curious Hound hasn't found in his front axle yet, it won't go into first gear etc... pretty minor stuff.

It has the Y style brakes so I am pretty sure it is older than my '99 model. But I noticed as I took it out of the truck it was made in Taiwan which is weird. I don't know if it is a thing that changed or a size thing or what, my later bike was built in the US so that is strange they would jump around like that.

 

[superj]

I like those y brakes, they work very well

 

[scotts90ranger]

I sneaked up on a bargain of a bike for my wife:





I think it is about a 1995 model, it looks cherry though. It was sold as a ladies bike and was bought new by the lady I bought it from but I think it is a mens bike, it is the right size for my wife though and this style of frame will fit in our bike carrier better. Its been sitting, that is why she sold it so it will need a little work but it has like new tires on it. Chain is drier than the u-joints @Curious Hound hasn't found in his front axle yet, it won't go into first gear etc... pretty minor stuff.

It has the Y style brakes so I am pretty sure it is older than my '99 model. But I noticed as I took it out of the truck it was made in Taiwan which is weird. I don't know if it is a thing that changed or a size thing or what, my later bike was built in the US so that is strange they would jump around like that.

I always called those brakes center pull, as long as the geometry is good they work real well. I believe they had a few lines of varying quality back then like anyone... there's a chance that model was from Costco or something... I don't think they made a bad bike. I don't know when they transitioned between the center pull and linear pull brakes but it was probably late '90's

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I always called those brakes center pull, as long as the geometry is good they work real well. I believe they had a few lines of varying quality back then like anyone... there's a chance that model was from Costco or something... I don't think they made a bad bike. I don't know when they transitioned between the center pull and linear pull brakes but it was probably late '90's

I just remembered my 820 is aluminum and shares the frame with a couple higher end models, that is probably why mine was made in the US.

This thing may have been sitting awhile but it has some miles under it. I need to snag the tools to do wheel bearings. I have been meaning to for mine anyway.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Front wheel bearings should be cake, I don't remember how bad it is to do the rear whether you need to remove the cassette or not... if I remember the socket for the rear isn't too expensive online, I think I got mine at a bike shop in college for like $20 though... probably not a bad idea to go through the bearings on the crank and stem too... doing the cranks requires a puller and a splined socket though

 

[sgtsandman]

I sneaked up on a bargain of a bike for my wife:





I think it is about a 1995 model, it looks cherry though. It was sold as a ladies bike and was bought new by the lady I bought it from but I think it is a mens bike, it is the right size for my wife though and this style of frame will fit in our bike carrier better. Its been sitting, that is why she sold it so it will need a little work but it has like new tires on it. Chain is drier than the u-joints @Curious Hound hasn't found in his front axle yet, it won't go into first gear etc... pretty minor stuff.

It has the Y style brakes so I am pretty sure it is older than my '99 model. But I noticed as I took it out of the truck it was made in Taiwan which is weird. I don't know if it is a thing that changed or a size thing or what, my later bike was built in the US so that is strange they would jump around like that.

That is a nice find. I do believe you are correct on it being a men's frame. I'm pretty sure the lady's top bar is down a few inches more on the seat tube. Not as extreme as a cruiser bike but still lower.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That is a nice find. I do believe you are correct on it being a men's frame. I'm pretty sure the lady's top bar is down a few inches more on the seat tube. Not as extreme as a cruiser bike but still lower.

On 820's it is about parallel with the bottom tube.

https://www.sefiles.net/merchant/500/images/zoom/WS1347028-06.jpg

 

[JoshT]

I'm pretty sure the lady's top bar is down a few inches more on the seat tube.

Seems like that is the traditional terminology. Worked better for ladies wearing dresses.

Seems like the modern term for those bikes is step through. Honestly I like that better. That low top bar can be very nice for anyone with limited mobility in the legs/hip trying to use a bike.

Several times over the years dad expressed interest in going for a ride when camping or other places, but a "mens" bike that fit him was hard to get on due to the high bar. Even if he'd gotten a regular step through bike, with his disabilities riding far might have been difficult. That was before ebikes were as cheap and common place as they are now. Before he passed I was looking into buying a step through ebike for him. A torque sensitive (torque assist) step through ebike would have been a way for him to ride and be more active.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Seems like that is the traditional terminology. Worked better for ladies wearing dresses.

Seems like the modern term for those bikes is step through. Honestly I like that better. That low top bar can be very nice for anyone with limited mobility in the legs/hip trying to use a bike.

Several times over the years dad expressed interest in going for a ride when camping or other places, but a "mens" bike that fit him was hard to get on due to the high bar. Even if he'd gotten a regular step through bike, with his disabilities riding far might have been difficult. That was before ebikes were as cheap and common place as they are now. Before he passed I was looking into buying a step through ebike for him. A torque sensitive (torque assist) step through ebike would have been a way for him to ride and be more active.

I googled the heck out of the differences because I didn't want to paint myself in a corner on it.

Ladies bikes "can" also be shorter between the stem and seat tube with narrower handlebars as well. Not always of course just to keep it interesting. For this bike per the catalog 16.5" is a mens size, 17" is a womans bike size. IIRC 20" also is.

This one feels freaking tiny compared to my sasquatch special... for what little that is worth lol (16.5" vs 22.5")

It kinda looks like the trend is going to more of a unisex approach for mountain bikes, there would have be a difference if frame strength dropping that top tube like that too.

 

[sgtsandman]

I googled the heck out of the differences because I didn't want to paint myself in a corner on it.

Ladies bikes "can" also be shorter between the stem and seat tube with narrower handlebars as well. Not always of course just to keep it interesting. For this bike per the catalog 16.5" is a mens size, 17" is a womans bike size. IIRC 20" also is.

This one feels freaking tiny compared to my sasquatch special... for what little that is worth lol (16.5" vs 22.5")

It kinda looks like the trend is going to more of a unisex approach for mountain bikes, there would have be a difference if frame strength dropping that top tube like that too.

Frame strength is definitely compromised when they drop the back of the tube like they do for lady's bikes.

 

[JoshT]

It kinda looks like the trend is going to more of a unisex approach for mountain bikes, there would have be a difference if frame strength dropping that top tube like that too.

Frame strength is definitely compromised when they drop the back of the tube like they do for lady's bikes.

Don't disagree, but I'm not so sure about it being a decrease in strength issue. The dropped top tube could be just as strong if the materials and bracing were adjusted to suit it. Of course the trend in bicycles is towards lightness, and those things add weight, so triangulation wins.

Dad was probably around 170 for the last several years and he wasn't the type that would be trying to take jumps or dodge trees going down the side of a mountain. He probably wouldn't have taken anything more difficult than a asphalt road, or maybe a basic bicycle path. Dropped var or step through frame would have been more than strong enough for him. For many/most leasurely bicycle riders the hit in strength of the dropped upper bar isn't going to be an issue.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Don't disagree, but I'm not so sure about it being a decrease in strength issue. The dropped top tube could be just as strong if the materials and bracing were adjusted to suit it. Of course the trend in bicycles is towards lightness, and those things add weight, so triangulation wins.

Dad was probably around 170 for the last several years and he wasn't the type that would be trying to take jumps or dodge trees going down the side of a mountain. He probably wouldn't have taken anything more difficult than a asphalt road, or maybe a basic bicycle path. Dropped var or step through frame would have been more than strong enough for him. For many/most leasurely bicycle riders the hit in strength of the dropped upper bar isn't going to be an issue.

But then they probably are not shipping for mountain bikes either. The drop tube still seems pretty common for cruisers.