First Bike Advice

"Marc Jennings" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

I am about to buy a bike again after a number of years. I would plan to use it to get a little
exersise and would be cycling on roads and off road cycle paths etc. so nothing too demanding max
10-15 miles a week.

I have looked in my local bike shop and seen a Raleigh Mountain bike (Max Aero). This is a basic
Mountain bike with ridged forks and a Chromeoly ?? frame. Parts all look reasonable quality
(Shimano gears, EZ rapid fire shifters, Pro Max Brakes) and although it is obviously an old model
it apparently had a UK RRP of 190 pounds. It is on offer for 90 pounds in a sale.

Is this a good buy for a novice like me to start with? I've tried it for size etc. and it feels
ok. In all honesty I can't afford to spend a great deal and all of the other bikes in this price
range were makes I had never heard of.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Marc

Try posting your question to uk.rec.cycling, the regulars are extremely knowledgable and helpful
when they're not ranting about speed cameras and other car related stuff. They're also much more
knowledgable about cycling in the UK than we silly Merkin colonials.

It's been said again and again that you don't shop for a bicycle, you shop for a bike shop. If you
feel that your local bike shop are an honest, competent, knowledgable group of people who will give
good advice and do a good job of repairing and maintaining your bike, spend your money there instead
of the department store up the street who may charge a few pounds less for the bike but are unable
or unwilling to give good advice or do good repair work.

In US prices, GBP 190 (US$350?) would get you a decent, servicable entry level bike, ideal for the
use you describe. "Obviously an old model" is no big deal, this year's cutting edge technology will
fit that description by next year.

Chromoly (molychrome) is molybdenum chrome steel, a step up from the "Hi-Ten" steel tubing on truly
wretched bikes. Steel is no longer fashionable, but some of us think it makes for a stronger and
more durable frame than aluminum. If the bike doesn't feel too dreadfully heavy when you pick it up
I wouldn't worry too much.

Rigid forks are just fine, especially for the use you propose. I assume that by "off road cycle
path" you mean one that is paved or well graded gravel/dirt, not highly technical single track.
Suspension forks found on lower priced bikes tend to be heavy and not too effective.

HTH,
--
mark

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I am about to buy a bike again after a number of years. I would plan to use it to get a little
exersise and would be cycling on roads and off road cycle paths etc. so nothing too demanding max
10-15 miles a week.

I have looked in my local bike shop and seen a Raleigh Mountain bike (Max Aero). This is a basic
Mountain bike with ridged forks and a Chromeoly ?? frame. Parts all look reasonable quality
(Shimano gears, EZ rapid fire shifters, Pro Max Brakes) and although it is obviously an old model
it apparently had a UK RRP of 190 pounds. It is on offer for 90 pounds in a sale.

Is this a good buy for a novice like me to start with? I've tried it for size etc. and it feels
ok. In all honesty I can't afford to spend a great deal and all of the other bikes in this price
range were makes I had never heard of.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

If all your riding is going to be on paved surfaces, you could also look at an entry-level road
bike: Fuji has two models under about US $450. They would be somewhat faster and easier pedaling
than a MTB, but not much good on unpaved trails.

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

Since you apparently are not planning to take this mountain bike off road, I'd suggest asking the
bike shop about replacing the tires. Most mountain bikes come with "knobby" tires which are designed
to dig into dirt, but for paved surfaces a smoother tread or even "slicks" would be better. If you
replace the tires at the time you buy the bike, hopefully it should not cost you too much extra.

Other than that, this kind of bike would be fine for the kind of riding you describe. If you build
up to the point where you are taking really long trips on the road, you may begin to wish that you
had a road bike or a light hybrid instead, but a decent name brand mountain bike is not a bad way to
start. I don't know anything about this specific model except that, of course, Raleigh is a
reputable brand.

MP

Marc Jennings said:

I am about to buy a bike again after a number of years. I would plan to use it to get a little
exersise and would be cycling on roads and off road cycle paths etc. so nothing too demanding max
10-15 miles a week.

I have looked in my local bike shop and seen a Raleigh Mountain bike (Max Aero). This is a basic
Mountain bike with ridged forks and a Chromeoly ?? frame. Parts all look reasonable quality
(Shimano gears, EZ rapid fire shifters, Pro Max Brakes) and although it is obviously an old model
it apparently had a UK RRP of 190 pounds. It is on offer for 90 pounds in a sale.

Is this a good buy for a novice like me to start with? I've tried it for size etc. and it feels ok.
In all honesty I can't afford to spend a great deal and all of the other bikes in this price range
were makes I had never heard of.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Marc