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.