Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uiucdcsb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxj!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcsb!leimkuhl From: leimkuhl@uiucdcsb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Re: Time for a new bike Message-ID: <16200082@uiucdcsb.UUCP> Date: Fri, 25-Jan-85 18:36:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.16200082 Posted: Fri Jan 25 18:36:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 27-Jan-85 07:02:30 EST References: <3328@alice.UUCP> Lines: 101 Nf-ID: #R:alice:-332800:uiucdcsb:16200082:000:3654 Nf-From: uiucdcsb!leimkuhl Jan 25 17:36:00 1985 Don't be afraid of used bikes, you can often save %50: I bought a Holdsworth Special (Reynolds 531) w/Suntour Cyclone II, Gran Compes, Super Champ Gents, etc. Not a great bike but it was in good shape and very reasonable at $425. My brother bought a Team Miyata racer with all Galli/Campy Rec/ Cinelli stuff for $500 in near new condition--close to 1/2 original price. We bought our bikes at shops, and in all fairness I should point out that my friendship with a shop owner was very helpful in getting my brother his deal. Ask a bike shop owner whom you trust if he has any used bikes. Buying a used bike is NOT like buying a used car--there are far fewer things to go wrong, and further, if something does break (i.e. a derailleur) it is fairly cheap to replace it (unless of course it's Campy Rec. or Dura-Ace in which case it probably won't break if it hasn't really been beaten around). Don't be afraid to have the shop dismantle any questionable looking part on the bike. (Chances are, though, they will already have done this.) Finally, a tip about tubing. Any Seamless Double-Butted Cro-Mo is very nearly the same as any other SDBCM tubing. Principle difference is tube wall thickness (i.e. Columbus SP/SL) but this is usually matched to the size of the frame. Tange, Ishiwata, Columbus, and Reynolds 501 are virtually the same (although finish varies tremendously and bike made with Columbus tubing will probably be more carefully brazed and lugged. Reynolds 531 has some Manganese as well, which is supposed to make it a little stiffer for same weight, but if you're in the smaller frame sizes, Columbus SL with its thinner walls might actually be lighter. The new Seamed tubings, Columbus Aelle and Reynolds Z are not as light as the above, but they are probably as strong and given current methods for making seamed tubing, are probably quite adequate for most intermediate level riders. While bike stiffness and weight won't vary all that much for different choices of SDBCM, the resale value will. A bike made with Reynolds 531 or Columbus SL/SP still tends to sell for a lot more than the competitors. Actually, there is a reason for this: Reynolds 531 MUST be hand-welded, and Columbus SL/SP usually is, whereas the other tubings are typically assembly line welded. The Miyata frames made with in-house tubing are regarded as the stiffest, but stiffness probably isn't important for you. These frames hold their value like frames of Columbus SP/SL and Reynolds 531. Columbus SLX has very thin walls. Reynolds 753 is ultra-exotic, and cannot be used by tall people of normal weight. Both are expensive. Most people probably wouldn't want the oversized aluminum, although I hear that the Cannondale sport-tourer is very nice. Now about parts. There are so many different component groups on the market that it is very confusing which is which. Here are my best guesses about various groups--anyone have other knowledge? The numbers on the left are my ratings-- scale 1-10. Campy: 1 980 - very mediocre quality, not sold in USA 3 Gran Sport - medium quality 5-6 Victory - new, nice finish 8 Nuovo Record - very good 9-10 Super Record - Top Notch Suntour: 2-3 VX 4-5 ARX 7 Cyclone II 9-10 Suberbe Pro Shimano: ? ?? 6-8 Shimano 600 9 Old Dura-Ace 10 New Dura-Ace Dia-Compe: ? ?? 5-6 500N/G 400 7-8 Old Gran Compe 10 New Gran Compe Huret ? Duopar ? Duopar/titanium ? Jubilee Galli ? Sorry I spent such a long time spouting off about this stuff, but I really love to discuss it. Let's have some other commentary on parts/tubing etc. -Ben Leimkuhler