Bicycle Thread

[mad082]

ok, fixed wheel bikes are really one of those things that are hard to say whether they are good value or not, simply because they have so little to compare.

first of all i will say don't bother about what gearing it is running. that is relatively cheap to change. a new front chain ring will cost 40 or 50. a new freewheel will be less. generally 1 tooth difference on the back is equivilant to 3 teeth on the front.

also the cost can be a bit higher on them due to the low production runs that they have to do, so setup costs are spread over lower quantities.

as far as price goes, it isn't too bad.

but just as an alternative, something else you could look at is getting a normal road bike and turning it into a single speed. this has a few advantages. first is that it will give you a bigger range of bikes to chose from as far as looks go. secondly is that you can sell of some of the gear componentry and get some money back. the cost of changing to a single speed is only relatively small for the basic setup. then the cost of changing cranks (although the stock items would be more than fine) and brake levers to items somewhat better suited to single speed bikes would be a fair bit less than what you could sell the old stuff for. a set of shifters off a road bike are worth a few hundred dollars. basically to set up a road bike as a single speed would cost about $150 in parts. $200 at most (this would be for new brake levers, a singlator kit for the hub and a chain tensioner). then you have a cassette, shifters and derailleurs that you could sell. the shifters alone you could sell for $200 easily, even the basic sora ones, as $200 is below the wholesale cost of them.

[kralster]

What do you think of this mad082?

http://www.azzurribikes.com/product_03.php...=001&psn=55

Looking at around 2900 instead of the rrp which is 3400.

[Mr Eps]

see that is awesome if you own a bike shop - however i work fulltime work out for an hour 4 nights a week and dj 3 nights a week

i haven't got the time to do that

so while i do appreciate the advice, i can't justify the time taken in converting a bike - i'd rather "get on" something, the money wasted on a SS bike isn't a problem to me - i make enough money to waste on something as stupid as an SS bike... i more jsut want to know "is that a good deal"

im pretty sure im paying mostly for the fact that the bike is "hand made in the USA" as opposed to china / taiwan ... cos you know... ANYTHING that comes from those countries is inferior (sarcasm)

[Mr Eps]

What do you think of this mad082?

http://www.azzurribikes.com/product_03.php...=001&psn=55

Looking at around 2900 instead of the rrp which is 3400.

azzuri make amazing bikes i hear - and at a price like that - it really comes down to "do you think your getting a good deal"

cos it's not a good deal, ask anybody that doesn't ride a bike - they'd scoff at that price for something that's not a car!

but

at that price it doesn't matter what others think... only you!

you won't get a bad bike with such a high price tag - there's no way you could be disappointed that you own that bike - just forget that you paid that much for something and you'll be fine!!!!

oh and when people ask how much it cost - ie: mum / dad / grandma - LIE.

that's what i would do

[mad082]

What do you think of this mad082?

http://www.azzurribikes.com/product_03.php...=001&psn=55

Looking at around 2900 instead of the rrp which is 3400.

price seems good.

see that is awesome if you own a bike shop - however i work fulltime work out for an hour 4 nights a week and dj 3 nights a week

i haven't got the time to do that

so while i do appreciate the advice, i can't justify the time taken in converting a bike - i'd rather "get on" something, the money wasted on a SS bike isn't a problem to me - i make enough money to waste on something as stupid as an SS bike... i more jsut want to know "is that a good deal"

im pretty sure im paying mostly for the fact that the bike is "hand made in the USA" as opposed to china / taiwan ... cos you know... ANYTHING that comes from those countries is inferior (sarcasm)

the work to do it wouldn't take that long but i know what you mean.

but hey if you don't mind wasting money, you can't go past a cannondale. just make sure you give it a thorough check over before it leaves the shop because, between you and me, cannondale's warranty isn't worth the paper its typed on. this has nothing to do with cannondale themselves, just the jerks who work for them, LOL. that is a bit harsh though, some of the time they are good on warranty.......

but yeah stuff made by mexicans in america is always better than asian made........... just look at their cars......... LOL

[Mr Eps]

hahahaha now u have me second guessing!!! dammit - maybe i should wait and see what giant deliver for their 2010 range?

[mad082]

i would go 09. spec will be similar but about 10% cheaper going off prices i have seen from other companies so far. plus if you can get an 09 on special it will be better again. won't see too many 2010 stuff on special until after xmas

[mad082]

oh and as for warranty, cannondale are only crap if you actually have to claim, LOL

should be fine though. partly comes down to the shop as well

[Mr Eps]

shop is good =)

would be the third bike i bought from them

xox

[mad082]

yeah should be ok then. is that the same shop that sorted you out with the fork issue?

[Mr Eps]

haha yes actually - the same shop that i came back to them with an issue with a fork and they replaced my rincon with a cost price alias that was minus the price i paid ofr the rincon - i love them! =)

[Mr Eps]

hey marc my friend wants a white chain, for his trek soho-S

he's not sur ewaht size his frame is... does that matter?

mail order it for me

thanks

[Mr Eps]

[Xmetal]

^^^what he said

basically soft tails are acceptable if you have a REALLY weak / bad back and can't handle any form of a bumpy ride, and even in the event you *do* have a weak back, riding a bike will soon fix that

Unless you ride downhill, HT's can work but in the end Dually's own all.

[kreyzgym]

my bike. Still riding... getting much, much too old for a kids bike...

[Mr Eps]

look like it'd be great for your knees!!! haha

[mad082]

also have pedals that do the same thing in various colours

[Xmetal]

Question for Marc

Is there any benefit in going from an 8 speed rear to 9 speed rear for Downhill? I'm currently running Shimano XT 8 speed gearing at the back and a 34 tooth chain ring on the front with no granny gears and a chainguide.

[mad082]

if you are happy with the mix of ratios you currently have, then no, there is no benefit. the only reason for more gears is to have more ratios so you have more chance of finding one that is the perfect ratio. but for downhill where pedalling isn't the priority, hanging on for dear life is, it isn't such an issue.

9 speed gives a slightly smoother shift as the cogs are closer together, however this also means that over rough terrain it can jump gears easier because the cogs are closer together.

[xALmoN]

cannondale likes to crack.

i cracked a blue f400 way back in 05.