Looking for good bikes

Quoted message said:

Hi Everybody,
My wife and I are looking for some quality bikes for easy touring. I
used to do some tour cycling many many years ago, or should I say about
a hundred pounds ago. We both decided that cycling is a good way for
us both to be pulled away from the TV and the Sarah Lee cakes. I've
been out of the loop so long (still owns a Shwinn Sprint from the
70's), I'm not sure what brands I should be looking for, for quality.
I understand that there are some hybrids now that might be good for
both street cycling and some trails. We camp alot, so this sounds like
something we would be interested in. We are looking for quality and
probably willing to spend about 750.00 per bicycle. Any suggestions as
to what brands to look for? Thanks in advance 😄

Lots of nice bikes out there (of course I'm partial to Trek since that's
what we sell), but probably the most important thing is to find a really
good shop. You need exposure to some of the different styles of bikes
(full-on touring, sport/recreational, fast hybrid, cross-style etc), and the
correct choice is going to involve whatever's most appropriate for the
cycling opportunities in your area, along with wherever you might dream of
going.

In selection a shop, you might take a look at this piece on our website-
http://www.chainreaction.com/missionstatement.htm. It talks about how it's
*your* dreams that are more important, not the salesperson's, and might help
you sort things out. You might also look at this page-
http://www.chainreaction.com/roadbiketestrides.htm, which is ostensibly
about road bikes, but does a pretty good job of helping you figure out how
to evaluate just about any bike.

Good luck-

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Traditional, quality touring bikes like the Trek 520 and Novara
Randonee are going to set you back about $1000.

If you're really confident and savvy about bikes, you might want to
check out one of those ebay "windsor tourist" rides for about $600.

Best option: talk to your local bike shop and see if they can help.

:-)

The anonymous "forte88" wrote

Quoted message said:

My wife and I are looking for some quality bikes for easy touring. I
used to do some tour cycling many many years ago, or should I say about
a hundred pounds ago.

Quoted message said:

We are looking for quality and
probably willing to spend about 750.00 per bicycle. Any suggestions as
to what brands to look for?

Here's a few to look at:

Fuji Touring
http://www.fujibikes.com/2005/bikes.asp?id=22

Bianchi Volpe
http://www.bianchiusa.com/06_volpe.html

Specialized Sequoia
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=13175

Art Harris

Arthur Harris said:

The anonymous "forte88" wrote

Quoted message said:

My wife and I are looking for some quality bikes for easy touring. I
used to do some tour cycling many many years ago, or should I say about
a hundred pounds ago.

Quoted message said:

We are looking for quality and
probably willing to spend about 750.00 per bicycle. Any suggestions as
to what brands to look for?

Here's a few to look at:

Fuji Touring
http://www.fujibikes.com/2005/bikes.asp?id=22

Bianchi Volpe
http://www.bianchiusa.com/06_volpe.html

Specialized Sequoia
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=13175

Art Harris

forte88 said:

probably willing to spend about 750.00 per bicycle. Any suggestions as
to what brands to look for? Thanks in advance 😄

There are sure to be lotza good recommendations in response to your
inquiry, and I am not going to add to them. I just have this advice:
take your time, go to several shops, and make a pact with yourself that
you won't buy ANY bike until you've test-ridden at least half a dozen.

Bill

__o | Roads aren't for cars. They're for people.
_`\(,_ |
(_)/ (_) |

forte88 said:

Hi Everybody,
My wife and I are looking for some quality bikes for easy touring. I
used to do some tour cycling many many years ago, or should I say about
a hundred pounds ago. We both decided that cycling is a good way for
us both to be pulled away from the TV and the Sarah Lee cakes. I've
been out of the loop so long (still owns a Shwinn Sprint from the
70's), I'm not sure what brands I should be looking for, for quality.
I understand that there are some hybrids now that might be good for
both street cycling and some trails. We camp alot, so this sounds like
something we would be interested in. We are looking for quality and
probably willing to spend about 750.00 per bicycle. Any suggestions as
to what brands to look for? Thanks in advance 😄

Jamis Coda Comp
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/06_codacomp.html

Fuji Touring
http://fujibikes.com/2006/bikes.asp?id=143

Look for something with Reynolds 520 double-butted chromoly main tubes,
which is about as good as you'll get in a $750 bicycle.