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).
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/rr_comfposition.html
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.
http://www.ergomart.com/COMPUTER_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.

Quoted message said:

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.

im gonna check sportmart, see if they have anything. another option is
the thrift stores. might also go look at a trek 1000t, thats about $530.

i figure i got my use out of the MGX.