modify, or replace?

Socalmike said:

im currently riding a (laugh if you must) mongoose (MGX) D50, bought new
at costco back in 98 or so. i ditched the fattie tires and im running a
pair of skinny michelins, pumped up to 100psi. the rear shock is
adjusted all the way firm. i basically use it for bike trail
use/exercise.
the problem im having is the gearing is just too low for me now. i guess
im a "gear masher", since i run the hardest ratio all the time. front
sprocket is a 41T, rear is 13T. the valleys on the teeth of the 13 are
starting to look oval, with all the use it gets.
anyhow- ive been thinking about getting a dedicated road bike, since its
made for what i think i REALLY want to do. after pricing front
cranks/sprockets (the sprockets are riveted to the crank), rear
casettes, and stems (id like a slightly higher lift, but the bars are
ok), it comes to about half the cost of a new bike.
and theres no guarantee the new parts will work with the gruppo (i use
that term jokingly) thats on there now.
i used to have a schwinn "world" in the mid 80s, and liked
it. well, 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.
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?
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.

Pick up an older used 12/10/14 speed with good condition components
likely to have BB/crank compatibility with your gruppo, combine parts.

Put the road cranks/rings on the Mongoose-
11/34 Megarange freewheels are pretty reasonable in price, or if the
road bike is cassette, mount the cassette wheel on your Mongoose
and customize a tight high end cassette for your riding style
(i.e., 11-12-13-14-17-26-34).

Pick up your aero bars for your hands and you’ve got yourself a FS
road bike.

Alternatively, recumbent-yeh more expensive- but in contrast your
assertion on speed, should be faster unless your in a rugged terrain and
sitting back would be easier on your hands.

--

SoCalMike <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<TDIHc.50665$a24.44858@attbi_s03>...

Quoted message said:

im currently riding a (laugh if you must) mongoose (MGX) D50, bought new
at costco back in 98 or so. i ditched the fattie tires and im running a
pair of skinny michelins, pumped up to 100psi. the rear shock is
adjusted all the way firm. i basically use it for bike trail use/exercise.

the problem im having is the gearing is just too low for me now. i guess
im a "gear masher", since i run the hardest ratio all the time. front
sprocket is a 41T, rear is 13T. the valleys on the teeth of the 13 are
starting to look oval, with all the use it gets.

anyhow- ive been thinking about getting a dedicated road bike, since its
made for what i think i REALLY want to do. after pricing front
cranks/sprockets (the sprockets are riveted to the crank), rear
casettes, and stems (id like a slightly higher lift, but the bars are
ok), it comes to about half the cost of a new bike.

and theres no guarantee the new parts will work with the gruppo (i use
that term jokingly) thats on there now.

i used to have a schwinn "world" in the mid 80s, and liked it. well,
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.

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?

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.

go to wrenchscience.com They've got a decent system to help you with
frame size etc.

As far as a new bike goes just realize you may spend additional money
after bike purchase to get the bike to fit you right. Stock gear
doesn't always cut it. Replacing parts for you old bike should be OK
but realize that it will take patience, trial, and error to get
everything adjusted and working right. Also you may just be able to
but a 53T chainring on your current crank, maybe. Check out the
possibilities. If you can do all the maintenance work/adjustments
yourself then I'd say try and go for it but if you must pay to have it
done. Get a new bike. It will be cheaper in the long run.

SoCalMike <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<TDIHc.50665$a24.44858@attbi_s03>...

Quoted message said:

im currently riding a (laugh if you must) mongoose (MGX) D50, bought new
at costco back in 98 or so. i ditched the fattie tires and im running a
pair of skinny michelins, pumped up to 100psi. the rear shock is
adjusted all the way firm. i basically use it for bike trail use/exercise.

the problem im having is the gearing is just too low for me now. i guess
im a "gear masher", since i run the hardest ratio all the time. front
sprocket is a 41T, rear is 13T. the valleys on the teeth of the 13 are
starting to look oval, with all the use it gets.

anyhow- ive been thinking about getting a dedicated road bike, since its
made for what i think i REALLY want to do. after pricing front
cranks/sprockets (the sprockets are riveted to the crank), rear
casettes, and stems (id like a slightly higher lift, but the bars are
ok), it comes to about half the cost of a new bike.

and theres no guarantee the new parts will work with the gruppo (i use
that term jokingly) thats on there now.

i used to have a schwinn "world" in the mid 80s, and liked it. well,
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.

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?

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.

First go to wrenchscience.com The website has a really nice section
on the right fit of a bike.

Second you could put all those components on your old bike. If you
have the ability to install/adjust everything needed to bring your old
bike up to your desired specks then go for it. If you're going to pay
to have it done, forget it and go with the new bike option unless you
know for sure that the mechanic is good and the price is right.
Also, you may end up spending more than the new bike purchase price in
order to get the right fit. Sometimes stock components aren't
tailored enough to you and thus you may have to upgrade these to what
you want.

SoCalMike <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<TDIHc.50665$a24.44858@attbi_s03>...

Quoted message said:

im currently riding a (laugh if you must) mongoose (MGX) D50, bought new
at costco back in 98 or so. i ditched the fattie tires and im running a
pair of skinny michelins, pumped up to 100psi. the rear shock is
adjusted all the way firm. i basically use it for bike trail use/exercise.

the problem im having is the gearing is just too low for me now. i guess
im a "gear masher", since i run the hardest ratio all the time. front
sprocket is a 41T, rear is 13T. the valleys on the teeth of the 13 are
starting to look oval, with all the use it gets.

anyhow- ive been thinking about getting a dedicated road bike, since its
made for what i think i REALLY want to do. after pricing front
cranks/sprockets (the sprockets are riveted to the crank), rear
casettes, and stems (id like a slightly higher lift, but the bars are
ok), it comes to about half the cost of a new bike.

and theres no guarantee the new parts will work with the gruppo (i use
that term jokingly) thats on there now.

i used to have a schwinn "world" in the mid 80s, and liked it. well,
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.

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?

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.

First go to wrenchscience.com The website has a really nice section
on the right fit of a bike.

Second you could put all those components on your old bike. If you
have the ability to install/adjust everything needed to bring your old
bike up to your desired specks then go for it. If you're going to pay
to have it done, forget it and go with the new bike option unless you
know for sure that the mechanic is good and the price is right.
Also, you may end up spending more than the new bike purchase price in
order to get the right fit. Sometimes stock components aren't
tailored enough to you and thus you may have to upgrade these to what
you want.