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From: warrenf@tekig.UUCP (Warren Finke)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: mountain bikes
Message-ID: <1919@tekig.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Apr-84 19:38:52 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig.1919
Posted: Wed Apr  4 19:38:52 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Apr-84 02:46:09 EST
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 47

I wholeheartedly agree, the way to deal with dogs is to run the suckers
over with your mountain bike. Same goes for motorists.

Seriously, unlike those whimpy looking skinny tired bikes, a mountain
bike gets some respect in traffic. I don't know if it's because it looks
heavy, or different, or if it's just because you sit more upright and
are visible, but I have had far less problems than with my whimpy
bike. The nice part about commuting on it is that you can go off the
road over curbs, front lawns, whatever to escape the cretin motorists.
And if that doesn't work you can use the railroad right of ways, that's
right, straight down the ties! Watch out for trains!

I bought my fat tired bike last September after several months of looking.
It's a Specialized Stumpjumper. I picked it after lots of deliberation
of everything from an inexpensive TREK model to a custom RICHEY. It's
my opinion that you get about what you pay for and Specialized had
the frame durability and sealed bearings I felt I needed for riding
year round in Oregon on roads and trails. I use the bike heavily on
trails and ride it every day in the rain and mud commuting to work. I
have had it on mountain trails you probably wouldn't want to hike on,
and on one occasion put it off a narrow bridge into a four foot deep
creek, all without damage, at least to the bike.

I don't think some of the 'cheap' mountain bikes will hold up to
rugged use. They may be O.K. if your're only going to commute on roads.
Take a long look at front forks and frame angles and immagine running
into a foot diameter log going downhill on a steep trail. If you're
going off road get a bike with lots of bottom bracket clearance and
a low gearing of something like 26 chainwheel into 28 cluster. This
sounds extreme, but you need it for climbing over rocks and bumps
on steep grades.

Mountain bikes are definately great fun. If you haven't tried one
you should. 

		Mountain bikes' greatest thrills:

		- Having enough uphill traction to go over backwards.
		- Riding up 10 inch curbs.
		- Riding down concrete stairways.
		- Crushing beercans on road shoulders.
		- Covering 50 miles of trail without ever getting off.
		- Passing cyclists with skinny tires!

				Warren Finke @ Tektronix