Messages

1

Routes / Re: Transamerica - First timers need help

« on: May 04, 2010, 10:25:13 am »

The Route 66 Trail through Illinois will take you from St. Louis to Chicago.

http://www.bikelib.org/maps-and-rides/route-guides/route-66-trail/

If you didn't want to ride through the city, you could break the trail around Dwight or Wilmington, IL and head east from there.

If you choose to take this route, let me know how it is.  This looks to be the first official tour that I plan to take.

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Gear Talk / Re: Road Training/Touring Bike--Tricross Sport?

« on: March 30, 2010, 04:56:31 pm »

You could buy a BOB trailer and pull it with the bike that you have.  You'd be out the door for less than $500 going that route and you could keep your existing bike.

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Gear Talk / Re: 2002 Trek 520 - NEW

« on: March 24, 2010, 10:58:06 am »

Your point is well taken, and you are correct.  No harm was done to me in the process.  The issue I have is twofold:

1.  I always hear that you're supposed to support your local bike shop.  They're in it for the love of the product, and they'll help you out when you come in when you're a regular customer.  That's why some people frown on ordering bikes (and parts) online.  You lose the customer service.  I feel that in working with this shop, I was not getting the customer service that you should expect from a bike shop.

2.  I had no problem with them refusing the offer that I made (which was $50 less than what they were asking).  That's the reason I left my information in the first place.  If they changed their mind and determined that I was the only person interested in the specialty bike in an unusual frame size that was eight years old that they were offering, they could call me back.  I had a problem with the fact that the owner felt that he needed to call and let me know that not only was he not planning to accept my offer, but he was going to raise the price the next day.

These prices were posted on the bike shop's website, and the 520 was not the only bike with a lower price on the website's sale sheet than in the store.  I understand that sites get neglected and aren't updated as often as they should be, but what is the logic in increasing the price on a bicycle that you're obviously stuggling to sell at the lower price anyway?

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Gear Talk / Re: 2002 Trek 520 - NEW

« on: March 20, 2010, 08:48:50 pm »

Well, the bicycle negotiation didn't go quite as I had planned it. 

Not only did the bike shop refuse to move on the $699 price or change any of the components, but the owner actually called me after I left the store (I gave them my name and number with an offer in case they changed their mind) and told me that after today, the price will be going up to $899!  I've never really heard of that before.  It's like I was getting an ultimatum...buy this bike at what we ask or else!  Wow.  Luckily, I have never spent a dime in this store previously and I won't be after the experience I had.

If anyone on this board is in central Illinois and wants to PM me, I'll let them know the name of the shop.  I won't do it on a public forum.

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Gear Talk / Re: 2002 Trek 520 - NEW

« on: March 19, 2010, 11:51:15 am »

$650 sounds reasonable, and that's when the bike was only a couple of years old.  I was hoping to get this one for $600.  Did they swap out the gears for the $650 or did you pay extra to get them to make the change?  I had been thinking about going the route of having them replace gears and whatnot if they wouldn't budge on the price.

The one I am looking at is green.  To bw honest, I'd probably rather have blue, but it's not a deal breaker.

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Gear Talk / Re: 2002 Trek 520 - NEW

« on: March 16, 2010, 12:05:10 pm »

Thanks for the advice.  I didn't really think about angling for some gear.  That may save me some money in the long run anyway.  I'll post back if I end up with the bike and let everyone know how I fared in the deal.  Thanks!

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Gear Talk / 2002 Trek 520 - NEW

« on: March 15, 2010, 02:42:54 pm »

Hi all!

I'm looking for my first road/touring bike after a few years of mountain biking and came across a "new" 2002 Trek 520 at one of the LBSs around here.  Apparently I'm the only 30" inseam aspiring tourist in the central Illinois area because this bike has never been out of the store.

A few quick questions I had for the experts:

1.  What should I expect to pay for this bike? 

They're asking $699 US, but I thought I could work the price down a bit further.

2.  What are the strengths/weaknesses of this bike? 

Since the bike is eight years old, I figured at least a few of you would have some real world experience on this bike.

3.  What should I expect to replace on this bike?

If a bike has sat for as long as this one, I assumed that I'd need new rubber.  Other than that, what technology is/was on this bike that I should reasonably expect to replace?  Shifters?  Chainrings?  Derailleurs?

Any assistance you could give would be a big help.  I'm sort of flying blind into the touring world, so I could use some sagely advice.  Thanks!

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Connecting ACA Routes / can you help me get from pittsburgh to ILL?

« on: May 31, 2006, 11:37:44 am »

I'm not sure if you have the time to wait for them, but you can order bicycle maps for free from the IDOT website to get through Illinois.  There are 9 different maps, and they are pretty detailed.  Each road is color-coded as to whether or not the road is more or less bike friendly.  Mine just came in the mail this week, and they will be very helpful when planning my weekend rides.  Here's the link:

http://www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/STATE.HTM

9

Gear Talk / Possible New Bike

« on: June 03, 2006, 11:04:22 pm »

Is anyone familiar at all with Fuji bikes?  I know that the have a touring bike that is pretty inexpensive that is supposed to be decent, but I'm looking at a different one.  My LBS has a Fuji Newest 4.0 for $389.00(list is $480.00).  It's a good looking bike, and it would be a heck of a lot better than what I'm currently riding.  I wondered if it would be up to the task of light touring.  For that price, I could almost afford to have it as a road bike only, but I'd like to be able to tour with it a bit.  

BTW-it has shifters that are on the frame instead of the bars(which keeps down the cost).  That's really the only glaring difference than some of the other bikes that I've been looking at(Giant OCR, Cannondale SR500, Trek Pilot 1.0)

Any help would be appreciated!!

10

Gear Talk / Straight handlebars

« on: June 01, 2006, 05:38:55 pm »

You are right.  I haven't given them a fair shake as of yet, but I plan to.  I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers.  It just seems a bit like there's only one possible right answer to 'What handlebars are right for touring?'.  FWIW-I've been swayed enough(even without using them) that I'm looking at flat-bar bikes as being a bit inferior to the drop bars as I shop now.  My opinion is easily changed!  

11

Gear Talk / Straight handlebars

« on: June 01, 2006, 02:51:25 pm »

With all due respect, I'm one of those "decided to do an epic trip and decided doing it self powered was the way to go and then decided a bike was better than walking" people, and although I've never ridden a bike with drop bars(I went from BMX to mountain bikes), I'm willing to give it a shot.  The issue for me comes in the fact that I:

a) don't like where the brakes are located on drop bars
b) don't particularly like the shifters that are integrated into the brake handles
c) don't feel 100% comfortable riding on a bike that doesn't have one specific place to put my hands

I've been told the benefits of drop bars, and because of that, I plan on giving them a shot, but to automatically put people into a category of being goobers who don't know any better is wrong.  If I try the drop bars and still decide that I like the flat bars better, that's what I will use when I tour.  It doesn't make me any less of a cyclist.

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Gear Talk / Questions about handlebars and trailers

« on: May 22, 2006, 12:00:52 pm »

Thank you everyone for all the advice.  I have definitely openned up my options for the drop bars based on these comments.  I think I'm leaning towards the trailer option as far as carrying my stuff goes.  Thanks again, folks!!

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Gear Talk / Questions about handlebars and trailers

« on: May 19, 2006, 11:02:46 am »

Thanks for the insight, folks!  It looks like I may need to give the drop bars a shot when I go test ride bikes.  I must admit, this morning on my ride, I started thinking about how uncomfortable it was having my wrists in the flat position...subliminal thoughts, I guess!

As for the trailer, your thought are exactly the reason that I was contemplating using a trailer rather than bags.  The guy at my LBS put the fear into me when he mentioned that a trailer is just more bike that has the opportunity to be hit by a car.  I'm still wrestling with that idea.

14

Gear Talk / Questions about handlebars and trailers

« on: May 18, 2006, 03:01:38 pm »

Hello!

I'm a newbie here, and I searched around before I posted this topic, so I hope I'm not asking questions that have already been answered.

I am just getting back into bicycle riding, and touring is very appealing to me.  In shopping for a bike to ride daily and tour with(I am currently riding a Diamond Back mountain bike on the road), I've run across two things that I had concerns about.

The first concern are the drop bars that all touring bikes have.  I've never ridden a bike with drop bars, and I don't know that I'd feel comfortable riding them now.  I'd like to hear some pros(I've got enough cons in my head already) for using drop bars versus flat bars.

My second concern is that most people I speak to live and die by using bags on their tours.  I initially thought that I'd pull a trailer when I got into shape to tour.  This would(I believe) give me a little more flexibility in the bikes I'd have available to me.  I'd like to hear some pros and cons of trailers versus bags.

Thanks to anyone who'd like to give an eager new guy some insight!!

15

General Discussion / IPOD/MP3 Touring Tracks for Playlist

« on: June 15, 2006, 02:02:16 pm »

I think considering the basis behind the list, you should probably have "Roll Me Away" by Bob Seger on there somewhere.  ;-)