| > Consider me an absolute novice when providing me information. I
> need to know as much as possible about gears, frames, tires, etc...
> Also, any suggestions on additional equipment such as pants, helmets,
> pumps, etc...would be helpful.
> gears,
For longer rides, the more the better! The wider the range the
better! The lower the lowest gear the better! I have 21 speeds
(3 chainrings, 7 narrow spaced sprockets) ranging from 22 inches
to 112 inches and use the entire range. Now that mountain bikes
are popular there are several derailleurs that can handle wide
ranges front and rear.
> frames,
For longer rides ask for a sport-touring bike. The head tube and
seat tube will be at steeper angles from the vertical than on a
racing frame and it will have a longer wheelbase. A touring
frame will protect you more from road shocks than a racing
frame.
If the bike you are looking at has a freewheel cluster where the
large gear is not much bigger than the small gear, you are probably
looking at a racing bike. Another way to tell is to check
the clearance between the rear wheel and the seat tube. If
the gap is smaller than an inch, it's probably a racing
frame (short wheelbase).
> tires, etc...
Any tire will do... 27x1-1/8 are about as narrow as I would
go on public potholes. For rougher roads choose wider tires.
The crazies who like to ride without benefit of pavement use
tires between 2-1/8 and 3".
Several people have recommended Specialized K4 (Kevlar belted
for puncture resistance).
> pants,
I would recommend touring shorts with a soft liner and pockets.
The skin tight Lycra shorts look good (especially, in my humble
opinion, on persons of the opposite sex) but sometimes you
just need a pocket! If you get a cycle jersey with pockets in
the back you don't really need pockets in the shorts until
you want to sit in a chair.
> helmets,
Any ANSI or SNELL approved helmet will do. Try some out at
your local stores.
> pumps, etc...
Pumps haven't changed much in 15 years. Silka still makes a
good pump for Presta valves. For my Schrader valves I have
a cheap metal frame pump from K-mart. It works fine and is
easy to use... why pay more?
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Some names to look for......
In your price range you're probably going to be getting either Suntour
or Shimano changers. I think Sun tours good touring changer is called
a xc 9000, and shimano's is Deore. I'm not real sure on that.
You might want to look in some of the bike magazines like Bicycling,
and also look in some of the mail order catalogs like Bike Nashbar,
and Performance.
Nashbar has some real nice "touring" bikes for a good price!
Stew
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| I also could use the same advice. My Fuji was stolen last friday.
I was looking at Nashbar's Toure Alpha 5000. Comes with SunTour
Alpha 5000 front and rear deraillerur and Accushift Index Shifting.
Gearing is 18 Speed, 30x44x48T, 13x30T. All this for $329.00.
Any and all comments will be appreciated as don't know much about
what's good and what isn't.
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