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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

504.0. "suggestions please... " by CHARON::OLOUGHLIN () Tue Dec 15 1987 12:55

    
    
    
      I'd like to ask for advice here. My girlfriend wants a bike.
    This was during the summer and was to be for her birthday. She was
    appalled at the cost of bikes and wouldn't hear of spending so much.
    She wants a mountain bike style. The riding would be on the back
    roads of southern N.H. and Boston. I will make sure that there is
    a smooth center ridge on the tire and good brakes. Keyed shifting
    isn't needed.  Just a good quality bike for someone who couldn't
    care less. 
      I picked up a bike manufactured by General. But once I got it
    home I realized that the axle was bent... or something. [ When the
    rear tire is spinning you can see a wobble in the gears.]  I *will*
    take it back to be fixed, but I am now wondering if I want a different
    bike for her.
     The model was "Street Shadow". Cost was $189.00.  I did see something
    I really wanted to get her. It was a "Hard Rock". The cost was $350.
    The only reason I wanted it is her, (Debbie's) last name is Rock.
    I am not about to spend another $160 just because it would be cute!
     So, how about some suggestions for 200 bucks. Cycle Pro maybe?
    Also I was told that General was a bunch of engineers from Ross
    who started their own company.
    
     Rick.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
504.1Clusters wobble, dec has them *NOW* !MENTOR::REGTue Dec 15 1987 13:147
    re .0	The wobble of the gear cluster may be due to the cluster
    itself, not the axle, its nothing to worry about.  At this price
    range its probably a relatively cheap cluster, don't expect a really
    good one on a bike costing much below about $500.
    
    	Reg
504.2 Yes but...CHARON::OLOUGHLINTue Dec 15 1987 14:3419
    
    
    
      I should say that it moves at 1/8, or maybe 3/16ths.
    
      Yes I know I won't get true component quality. But at the same
    time I'd think that the the cluster could turn true. Doesn't take
    much, bearings attaching the cluster to axle. Big deal. 
    
      And again, this is for someone who was willing to purchase a bike
    at Bradley's for $70. bucks.  I went nuts.
    
      So, who makes QUALITY?  That cluster/axle never should have pass
    QC.  Cycle Pro?  General?  Ross?  Fat City?  Fuji?  Peugoet <sp>?
    Does it matter at all at $200.oo?
    
      Rick.   _Who_knows_nuttn_bout_bikes_
504.3Try Specialized...TOMCAT::KLASMANTue Dec 15 1987 14:4116
< Note 504.2 by CHARON::OLOUGHLIN >
                                -<  Yes but... >-

>      So, who makes QUALITY?  That cluster/axle never should have pass
>    QC.  Cycle Pro?  General?  Ross?  Fat City?  Fuji?  Peugoet <sp>?
>    Does it matter at all at $200.oo?
    
I've seen the same thing on real expensive bikes, so don't worry about it.
I don't know if you'll get much for $200 these days.  For a low cost mtn bike 
I'd go with Specialized...Hard Rock, Street Stomper, etc.  They have a good 
reputation, sell a ton of mtn bikes and use good components.  I have a pair of 
Rockhoppers and they're great: light, responsive and fun.

Kevin
504.4? on wobbleSLDA::KIRICHOKHey frood, where&#039;s your towel?Wed Dec 16 1987 12:109
    Yea, Specialized sounds like a good idea.  
    
    About the gear wobbling, is this the crank or the free-wheel?
    
    As the saying goes (I hear it all the time from my friend):
    
    	'Parts on Mountain bikes are only rented.'
    
    Matt
504.5Freewheel wobble is NormalEUCLID::PAULHUSChris @ MLO 8-3/T13 dtn 223-6871Wed Dec 16 1987 12:377
    	Don't worry about the freewheel wobble.  Every one I've ever
    watched does it.  I've been told that this is intentional and helps
    shifting. (If you are familiar with control theory, it's like a
    mechanical dither added to the rear deralleure movement.) 
    	More important things are frame alignment (does the rear wheel
    follow in exactly the same track as the front wheel?, etc) workmanship,
    quality of components, etc.   - Chris
504.6 Built in wobble? Okay. CHARON::OLOUGHLINWed Dec 16 1987 16:2520
    
    
    
      Okay, I'll forget the wobble. Thanks for the information.  As
    far as the rest of the bike.  It looks reasonable.  This is the
    best I can say for a $200 bike.  The brakes are good. Alum wheels.
    Not a heavy bike...  but not light. (Meaning it's not 27lbs.)
    Forgetting the wobble, it will fit the bill. 
      I'm thankful for the replies, I'm happy I didn't go down there
    and raise hell about nothing.  
      Regarding the reply on spending more for better quality: Are you
    sure you read the base note completly?  Spending $500.oo on bike!
    No way.  That would be like buying a Rolls, when you wanted a Bug.
    Remember she wanted a bike from Bradley's.  Gawd, I can't do *THAT*
    to her.
      Anyone have a R-O-C-K bike for sale?
    
      Rick.  _I'd_rather_snowmobile_
504.7Is dither ever hysterical ?MENTOR::REGThu Dec 17 1987 12:2214
    re .5	Well, yes I'm familiar with control theory, though more
    electronic than mechanical.  Is a "mechanical dither" something
    to introduce the mechanical analogue of hysteresis into a mechanism ?

    	This reminds me of an electrical engineer here that I once heard
    explaining something mechanical to another EE in EE terms.  The
    reason that it was so funney was that he must have used a dozen
    terms from the mechanical vocabulary that the electronics folks
    have borrowed/adapted to represent models of circuit behavior.
    To hear this turned around again was just weird, I still don't know
    why the others didn't catch the joke for a long time.
    
    	Reg