modify, or replace?

SoCalMike said:

what to do, what to do?

im 5'10", 200lbs, 30" inseam... any rough ideas of frame
sizes i should look for, if i go shopping for a road bike?
supergo has '03 cannondale R400s for about $550 that i saw
online, but have yet to actually go look at.

any other ideas? i REALLY dont want a $1000 bike, and ive
taken good care and got a lot of use out of the schwinn
world (RIP, years ago) and currently the MGX.

If I could suggest, go to your LBS and ride a few different
bikes. Try a low end, a higher end, a hybrid, a road bike, a
tourer, and see which one you ride back to the shop with a
big grin on your face.

Take your time, ride a few bikes, even ride bikes that you
don't think you'll buy, just so you can get a feel for what
a smooth ride is, and soforth.

You might find something that is a perfect match that you
can add on Triathlon bars, and it may be a road bike. When
you find the bike that fits you, guess what? Price will
really be secondary.

I was lucky b/c I found my bike on the third bike I rode,
but it was solid and smooth and shifting was almost totally
transparent.

By taking your time and riding several different types, you
give yourself an education and you realize things about a
good bike that you didn't realize could feel so good.

In addition, consider what type of rider you are. Are you
interested in something to have fun on, go longer distances,
tour, or maybe a 'fitness rider'? Tell the LBS what type of
rider you are and sometimes they can make a suggestion.

Best bet? A non-suspension road bike with good components,
actually the best you can afford. Really -good- solid bikes
actually, IMO, start around $1200 - $1500 bucks and the
$1000 road bikes are really low end. However I went for a
Trek 7500FX (fitness model, no suspension) and I have a
wonderful ride for $600 bucks.

Don't follow the trend and buy a mountain bike to ride on
the road. You'll be unhappy and the bike will be too heavy
and you'll have shocks you don't need. You want light, fast
and solid. That's why I recommend Trek.

Good Luck

-Badger

SoCalMike said:

except for the leaning on the bars, which is what im doing
now. and thats what id do if i got a road bike, i imagine,
unless i sprung for the "triathlete" style bars you lean
on. on the MGX, even with gloves on, my hands still go
numb. they did on the schwinn as well.

Whatever you do, get yourself some aerobars. Sounds like you
need them.

Quoted message said:

so i could pour some money into this department store bike
ive been happy with, buy a dedicated road bike and still
likely be uncomfortable without mods like the triathelon
handlebars, go for a recumbent for a lot more money, but
probably less speed.

what to do, what to do?

A properly fit road bike will be comfortable. Proper fitting
may be difficult to find. However, the end result will be
superior to all of the above (except possibly the 'bent,
about which I know little).

Quoted message said:

im 5'10", 200lbs, 30" inseam... any rough ideas of frame
sizes i should look for, if i go shopping for a road bike?
supergo has '03 cannondale R400s for about $550 that i saw
online, but have yet to actually go look at.

I'm also 5'10", 210lbs, 30" inseam. My Giant TCR2 is a
"medium", and it's too small. I should have gotten a
"large".

Quoted message said:

any other ideas? i REALLY dont want a $1000 bike, and ive
taken good care and got a lot of use out of the schwinn
world (RIP, years ago) and currently the MGX.

Do some curb shopping. Watch the curb on garbage day for
somebody discarding a bike like that Schwinn World (in fact,
I have a Schwinn World that I got that way). Rescue it, fix
it up. Many parts, believe it or not, can be found at
Walmart -- reasonably good 27" tires, tubes, maybe a chain.

Then, buy some aerobars for it. I like my Syntace C2.
--
Rick Onanian

SoCalMike said:

anyhow- ive been thinking about getting a dedicated road
bike, i used to have a schwinn "world" in the mid 80s, and
liked it. well, except for the leaning on the bars,

If nothing else, get a higher stem (within reason).
rivendellbicycles.comrr comfposition.htmlOpen ↗
You'll be less "aero", but your wrists will thank you.

Also, personally I've never been comfortable on flat MTB
bars due to wrist pronation. ergomart.comCOMPUTOpen ↗
ER_KEYBOARDS/Hand_Wrist_Posture.htm This position could be
at least a partial cause of your wrist issues. Road bike
bars, among others, offer more neutral hand positions.

Quoted message said:

any other ideas?

I've been getting back into cycling, using my MTB (with
slicks and more comfortable bars) while my body
acclimates. So far so good, but I'm starting to think
about a road bike now.

I've been going to thrift stores and garage sales, finding
little-used name-brand '70s-'80s road bikes in different
sizes and geometries, for dirt cheap (Fuji, Nishiki,
Novara). So far I've spent $70 total on three bikes. Two of
them haven't worked out for me, so I've sold the two for $90
total. The third has promise, but if it doesn't work out
I'll sell it too and try again.

The good: I get to live with a bike for a while, and learn
more than I could on one test ride what size and shape works
for me before plunking down $1000 on a new bike. Or maybe
I'll find the perfect bike (give or take a stem swap) for
$20 or less. In the meantime I've still got my city-MTB.

The bad: my choices are limited to what other people
randomly discard. Also, I *really* like shifting and braking
from the same hand position, and I don't think I can get
that on a road bike on a thrift-store budget.

Good luck, Steve

"Steve-o" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been going to thrift stores and garage sales, finding
little-used name-brand '70s-'80s road bikes in different
sizes and geometries, for dirt cheap (Fuji, Nishiki,
Novara). So far I've spent $70 total on three bikes. Two
of them haven't worked out for me, so I've sold the two
for $90 total. The third has promise, but if it doesn't
work out I'll sell it too and try again.

The good: I get to live with a bike for a while, and learn
more than I could on one test ride what size and shape
works for me before plunking down $1000 on a new bike. Or
maybe I'll find the perfect bike (give or take a stem
swap) for $20 or less. In the meantime I've still got my
city-MTB.

Or, if you are in Chicago, go to the "Working Bikes
Cooperative" on Western Avenue. They have lots and lots of
Vintage Road bikes in varying degrees of condition. But they
rebuild very nicely. I am now riding an old Lotus from the
late 70's. Its a dream to ride.