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.