Conference noted::bicycle

we just bought my wife a bike and i think it's a pretty decent bike for the 
money.  it's a univega activa-es (i think), which is a mountain or city 
bike.  we paid $279.  

i don't know your situation but my wife has not ridden much and i wanted to 
spend about $200 also.  she didn't want a road bike because she doesn't 
feel comfortable in that postion.  so what we got for the extra $79 was...

chrome-moly frame, sized to fit her.  index shifting, shimano i believe.  
city tires, which are kind of off road but a little thinner with a center 
rib and a little higher pressure.  18 speeds.  lite weight, especially for 
a mountain bike, 29 lbs as i wiegh it (27 if you listen to the salesman).
gel seat.  

i think this is a pretty fair price considering the difference between it 
and anything you can get at a sears or any other dept store.  but hey, 
don't take my word for just check one out somewhere, you can really feel 
the difference in the things you use, like shifting, braking, pedaling.

have fun shopping,
craig

     There's a guy in Hubbardston that has a source of "buy-outs"
    for road bikes (if that's what you're looking for). He can 
    sell a a good quality bicycle (that retails in the $500.00
    to $600.00 price range) between $225-$300. They are 1988 and
    1989 models. Pretty nice, I just bought one for my SO.
    
    
      His name is Dave Rivetts
                  55 Healdville Road
                  Hubbardston, Ma 01452
    
                  Tel. (508) 928-4852 (home) I don't have his WMO DTN
    
       Chip 

      Hi,
    
        Thanks for the help.  While that one bike sounds good, I'll
        just have to check out that guy in Hubbardston!
    
                                               Tony

    What ever you decide, stay away from the dept. store bikes. Most of
    those are know as gas pipe bike and they are usually junk. Also,
    if something goes wrong, most bike shop will not tune it up or fix
    it because they either they don't have the parts or it's just not 
    worth for youy to pay $50 when you bike is only worth $100 after a year.
    
    I strongly suggest you go to a good bike shop and you might find a left
    over from last year which will cost you a little more then $200. But
    you get the service from the shop and the bike will last you years if
    you take care of it. 
    
    Good Luck!
    
    
    Dave
    
    PS. Test Ride as many bikes as possible until you find the one you like
        best. A good shop should not have a problem with this.
    
    

  re: .2
    
    I got in contact with Dave Rivetts. He had what sounded like a 
    nice bicycle except I have never heard of the name. I even went
    back to my BICYCLING mag of a couple of months ago where they
    had the comparisons of hundreds of bicycles and it wasnt listed
    there, either. 
    
    Has anyone heard of a Zebra Veloce? Anyone own one? What are they
    like?
    
    Harry
    
    

	re: -.1

	I own a Zebra Ultima (Ishiwata 022 tubing, Shimano 600, . . .).
	I don't know anything about the model you're considering but
	from my experience, Zebra is a good deal.  I got mine from The
	Cycling Center in Danbury, NH a couple of years ago as a
	leftover.  I get the idea that Zebra had decent bikes but
	weren't all that sucessful in selling them in the US.  I did
	notice that they're selling mountain bikes this year but under
	another brand name ("xxxxxx by Zebra").  If the Zebra you're 
	looking at is the type of bike you want, and it's a good deal,
	I'd go for it.

	chris

i have a zebra "invincia".  i also was a little worried when i first heard
of zebra but... the tubing is well regarded, the components are are too. 
the fork is cr-mo, the dropouts are forged shimano, sealed bearings, etc.
i think the wheels are the weakest part, and they're not bad, just not as 
strong as the rest.  they are a reputable jap bike that used to be
zebrakenko (i've heard). 

i am not an expert at bikes but a friend is more knowledgable.  he told me 
things to look for and they were there, so...
i bought mine from dave and after comparing between shop bikes and his and 
there was no decision.  what i would do is find out what you can buy for 
what money and then go see if he's got something that fits the bill.  if 
he's got somnething that is the right size i believe you will find it's a 
deal.  i have no alegiance to him, only the feeling that my decision was a 
good one.

by the way, if you are considering mountain/city bikes.  the univega i 
mentioned several notes back is written up in the latest "bicycling" mag as 
a best buy.  i've put more miles on it than my wife (it's her bike) and it 
runs good.

craig

	Hi all...


	I've been looking at ATB's for about the last month and I think
	I've narrowed it down to a few...

	Specialized RockHopper    
	DiamondBack Ascent        
	Trek 850	          
	Univega Alpina Trail      

	I'd like to know if anybody's had any experience with these or
	anything similar.... I'm leaning towards the RockHopper and the
	Ascent because they've got Shimano STI (I don't care for the Suntour
	Express system). I tried a CDale 400 also but it handles kinda 
	strange... 

	Also, anybody know who sells Univegas and Specialized in the greater 
	Boston area? I just moved here 2 weeks ago and can't find 'em

	Thanks
	/ken
	

re:         <<< Note 1452.8 by CNTROL::MENTAL "VP of the DeadBeat Club" >>>

	Last November I purchased a Specialized RockHopper. Since then I have
put ~1500 hard off-road miles on it.  It's met all of my expectations. They 
come in three component group catagories (regular, sport, comp). Depending on 
how/where you are going to be riding; you may want to look at the differences.

	I have changed the tires on mine ( to Spec. Hardpack) and added a few
toys ( cyclometer, water bottles...), but I've found the base configuration
one of the best in it's price range.

-Eric