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From: wsw@hlwpc.UUCP (Bill Weiss)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: re. buying a new bike
Message-ID: <475@hlwpc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Jan-85 22:52:24 EST
Article-I.D.: hlwpc.475
Posted: Mon Jan 28 22:52:24 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 30-Jan-85 06:12:35 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Short Hills, NJ
Lines: 39

You can get a pretty decent touring bike for $400 off the shelf from any
of the makers you cited.  Just remember that they're likely to be similarly
equipped. They're likely to have alloyed tubing (Reynolds, Ishiwata, Tange)
with some (but probably not all) tubes butted.  Component sets likely will
be Suntour Cyclone (lightweight), Shimano 600 (reasonably durable), or a mixture
of Suntour or Sugino.  Look for lightweight aluminum wheels, preferably
taking 27" x1 or 1 1/8" hi-pressure tires (low rolling resistance), and
a leather saddle.  You are unlikely to get sealed bearing components unless
the bike is specifically designed for off-road use, in which case you're
talking about a whole different animal.

There's very little overall performance difference between centerpull and
sidepull brakes.  The former are inherently self-centering, but the latter
are a bit lighter and more direct-acting.  Cantilever brakes have enormous
stopping-power but should be used where needed--eg, tandems or off-road use.
They can pitch you over the handlebars in a sudden stop.
Anatomic saddles are fine if they happen to fit your anatomy.  But any good
leather saddle, properly broken in, will conform to your contours over time.

You can get a very good buy by buying a complete touring bike from a reputable
mail order house like Nashbar or Performance.  However, you can't get service
or warranty action by mail.  You can also buy bare frames mail-order or
over the counter.  Chances are these will be exotic racing frames, since
there isn't much of a market for bare, medium-grade touring frames.
You might consider buying a hi-quality touring frame mail order, and outfitting
it gradually with hi-quality touring components from Shimano, Sugino or
Sun Tour.  Make sure you know your gearing requirements, as cranksets and
dereilleurs have differing capacities.

An earlier net. posting gave an assessment of component group quality.
I'd add that the Campy Record and Super Record, although not as
technologically advanced as the top Shimano group, are by far the most
durable.  However, they're not designed to take touring gears and are
very expensive.  The Sun Tour V series is my bet for low price and good
performance.  In chains and freewheels, Regina is the best.

Bicycling magazine continually runs road tests on bikes in various price
ranges.  See if you can get the last two or three issues.
---Bill Weiss, AT&T Network Systems, (201) 631-6526