Build a Bike Help

On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 10:15:22 GMT, "Jason Settles" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[snip requirements]

The Kona Dr Dew might suit your purposes?

http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=80&parentid=182

[just in case your newsreader mungs the URL]

http://snipurl.com/mgdl

The only turd in the punchbowl that I can see is that front panniers
may be impractical with the stock fork.

Jason Settles said:

I am in my second year of cycling and love it. I want to upgrade from my
Giant Cypress DX. My requirements are as follows:
· Something between a road and comfort (hybrid?) bike.

· Riding mostly on asphalt (streets [city & rural], Greenway, etc.)
and some paths (hard packed).

· Bike that should last at least 2 seasons (not physically but my
riding ability).

· Don't care for the drop handlebars of road bikes. Prefer comfort
bike style.

· Like the trigger style shifters.

· Want good braking ability. Consider a bike hauling touring gear and
me.

· Need some gearing that would enable Grandma to climb the Alps.

· Want the potential to cruise in the 15+ mph range.

· Like the Giant brand, but my loyalties are fleeting.

· Open to having a bike built if over-the-counter would require
extensive mods.

· Want to keep the expense in the $1,500 at this time. (lower is
good).

Any suggestions, recommendations, etc.? I am leaning toward the build,
perhaps starting with a Surly Cross-Check frame. At 200+ pounds, I'm more
concerned for my weight than a few grams of the bike frame.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
*Jason. in Indy

Find a bike shop that can fit you and perhaps get you a Soma or Gunnar.
Then equip with Campag flat bar components, handbuilt wheels...Should
be in the $1500 range for Veloce or Mirage/Veloce mix.

Surly cross-check?
Complete bike <$1000 but you would want to swap out the bars and shifters.

http://www.surlybikes.com/bikes.html

Complete bike:
http://www.fullcycles.com/product_info.php/products_id/471

This bike should meet all your requirements quite well, although you
might want to substitute the road triple crank for an MTB triple
(22/32/44) if you want really low gearing. The retail is $1600, but I
suspect most shops would be willing to swap the cranks to a (probably
cheaper) FSA MTB crank, and help you get the position dialed (stem swap
if needed) for $1500.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=13177&bikeTab=techspec

Jason Settles said:

I am in my second year of cycling and love it. I want to upgrade from my
Giant Cypress DX. My requirements are as follows:

What is it about your current bike that you do not like? Answering
that question goes a long way towards figuring out what would wuit you.

Quoted message said:

· Something between a road and comfort (hybrid?) bike.

· Riding mostly on asphalt (streets [city & rural], Greenway, etc.)
and some paths (hard packed).

Sounds like you need reasonably wide tires. 28mm is a bare minimum
here, especially considering your weight. I would recommend something
in the 22-35mm range.

Quoted message said:

· Bike that should last at least 2 seasons (not physically but my
riding ability).

Not much of an issue - you may just graduate to having multiple
bikes...

Quoted message said:

· Don't care for the drop handlebars of road bikes. Prefer comfort
bike style.

Do yourself a favor and give drop bars a chance.

Quoted message said:

· Like the trigger style shifters.

· Want good braking ability. Consider a bike hauling touring gear and
me.

Not much of an issue - just about any bike sold today has good brakes,
provided your LBS sets them up properly. That said, whatever you get,
upgrade the brake pads to Kool-Stop salmon ones. They make a
difference, and will set you back about $25 for the whole bike.

Quoted message said:

· Need some gearing that would enable Grandma to climb the Alps.

Make sure it has a triple chainring up front. Not that hard to find
once you move aways from drop bars.

Quoted message said:

· Want the potential to cruise in the 15+ mph range.

You can cruise in the 15mph+ range on a scwhinn varsity. As long as
you don't have knobby tires, you should be fine. Note that drop bars
help you go faster - you are more aerodynamic on them.

Quoted message said:

· Like the Giant brand, but my loyalties are fleeting.

Giant makes good bikes. So does just about every other bike maker that
sells through local bike stores.

Quoted message said:

· Open to having a bike built if over-the-counter would require
extensive mods.

It is usually cheaper to get a bike close to what you want by modding
an over the counter one than building up from scratch - you can't get
parts for near the price that bike manufacturers can.

Quoted message said:

· Want to keep the expense in the $1,500 at this time. (lower is
good).

Any suggestions, recommendations, etc.? I am leaning toward the build,
perhaps starting with a Surly Cross-Check frame. At 200+ pounds, I'm more
concerned for my weight than a few grams of the bike frame.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Sounds like you want a flat bar road bike that can take wide tires, or
a non-suspension hybrid. A few examples would be: Specialized Sirrus,
Marin Fairfax, Bianchi Boardwalk, Trek 7.2 FX, and Raleigh Route 1.
There are others, and I don't recommend any particular make or model.
Go take a look at every LBS in your area - pick one based on which LBS
you like best/trust the most. You shouldn't have to spend anywhere
near $1,500, although you can if you want. None of the above mentioned
bikes should be more than $550.

Later,
Mark Muller

Quoted message said:

Do yourself a favor and give drop bars a chance.

I'll second that. If you are riding on the road, drop bars are
superior... comfortable hand positions with the brakes within easy
reach.

Very important for comfort; make sure they are high enough... use a
high-rise stem if necessary.

try looking at the Cheviot from http://www.hewittcycles.co.uk/ built with
flat bars it shoud do all you want and cost under a grand.
I have one which i built myself and it's a good bike for the money.

SW

"Jason Settles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am in my second year of cycling and love it. I want to upgrade from my
Giant Cypress DX. My requirements are as follows:
· Something between a road and comfort (hybrid?) bike.

· Riding mostly on asphalt (streets [city & rural], Greenway, etc.)
and some paths (hard packed).

· Bike that should last at least 2 seasons (not physically but my
riding ability).

· Don't care for the drop handlebars of road bikes. Prefer comfort
bike style.

· Like the trigger style shifters.

· Want good braking ability. Consider a bike hauling touring gear
and me.

· Need some gearing that would enable Grandma to climb the Alps.

· Want the potential to cruise in the 15+ mph range.

· Like the Giant brand, but my loyalties are fleeting.

· Open to having a bike built if over-the-counter would require
extensive mods.

· Want to keep the expense in the $1,500 at this time. (lower is
good).

Any suggestions, recommendations, etc.? I am leaning toward the build,
perhaps starting with a Surly Cross-Check frame. At 200+ pounds, I'm more
concerned for my weight than a few grams of the bike frame.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
*Jason. in Indy