All these bike threads have me shopping...

[porsche4life]

So, I've started riding some for fitness, and want to bring my bike to school for commuting. I feel like I need to upgrade bikes however, as I am riding a $60 walmart special....

So what should I be looking at? I've been riding a hardtail MTB at my folks house, but they are in the country, trails on 10acres. So I have been looking at those.

But on campus I would be riding all on pavement so I wondered if a street bike would be better?

Or I stumbled on a Specialized Tricross today, that claims it can handle pavement, and light duty off road....

So I'm at an impasse.


I don't quite have a budget yet, just starting to shop to figure out how much I need to spend. Been looking at used on CL...

[Eric Coffey]

Maybe a `92-`95 Klein Attitude or Adroit (both hard tails)? They pop up on CL from time to time. Or if you have a bit more to spend, you might keep an eye out for a nice 29er (Stumpjumper, etc.).

[porsche4life]

You have to remember that until recently OK has been a very bike unfriendly state. Most bikes on CL are less than 10yrs old...


I've been eyeing a few stumpjumpers lately, just haven't gotten the change saved up. I missed a rockhopper about a month ago for ~650...

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I missed a rockhopper about a month ago for ~650...

Here's a Rockhopper 29er in OK City listed for $500:
specialized rockhopper 29er

[porsche4life]

I've seen that, but what's the story on the forks?

[gduke2010]

Remember nice bikes get stolen on college campuses

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I've seen that, but what's the story on the forks?

I'd say the story is more negotiating power!

Seriously, it may be that he is just not familar with the bike/fork. The "lock-out" on that fork doesn't really "lock". It just puts it in it's most stiff configuration. So, it may be that since it doesn't actually lock, he thinks it's broken.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by gduke2010

Remember nice bikes get stolen on college campuses

And locks won't stop them. I see lots of bikes chained to racks that are stripped. Or there is just a wheel locked to the rack. You need one to snake through the frame and front wheel, and back too. The only real cure is a bike that nobody wants.

I got a $150 Diamondback Apex from the early '90s from a friend. I took some parts off and it makes a great bike to ride around the canyon roads with. Rigid, steel frame. I put 26x1.5 Geax Roadster tires on it- sort of like Supermoto/Motard tires. It is really fun downhill and a good workout uphill. I have gotten into shape now so I pass a good number of people on carbon fiber specials uphill. And you get to pass harleys and some cars downhill.

For school, though, I got lucky. A buddy gave me an old mountainbike (Iron Horse Defender) that needed a front wheel and some fixing up. I ride that at school and on the mountain roads near campus. It has full suspension but I cranked it as stiff as it goes. I am a road bike guy. Too nervous on dirt. The suspension is nice for the rougher roads around San Luis Obispo, though. I have similar tires that are good for dry roads, ok in wet.

The rigid stays at home and is my "good/fun" bike.

[porsche4life]

I'm about 6', so what size frame should I be looking for?


I'm aware bikes get stolen, but I will keep it inside my house, and lock it on campus. I go to a small school, and you would get caught trying to nab the parts off someones locked bike, no doubt. Low crime rate....

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I'm about 6', so what size frame should I be looking for?


I'm aware bikes get stolen, but I will keep it inside my house, and lock it on campus. I go to a small school, and you would get caught trying to nab the parts off someones locked bike, no doubt. Low crime rate....

This one should get you plenty of attention with the ladies.
And nobody will steal it. (Well, nobody older than five, anyway...)

[slodave]

+1 ^^ Even has tall handle bars, so the knees should be okay.

[pavulon]

ooof...an upper cut right to the old prayer beads.

[gtc]

Kinda depends on your inseam/torso length, but I would look for a ~20" MTB frame or 59cm road frame.

[Tim Hancock]

I can't see why you would need a heavy expensive suspension bike just to get around at school with. Might as well just buy a used old school name brand non-suspension MTB. I still have my old Diamond Back Ascent from 20+ years ago in my college days. No suspension...simple... still works perfectly. I have fairly narrow tires on it and it serves it's purpose well as a mainly paved/gravel road bike for getting around at Oshkosh once a year.


Not mine, but same thing only larger frame than mine.

[tharbert]

Go for the cross bike. If you're a normal 6 footer, you should be looking at a ~58 road frame. For a cross bike, you normally go down one size so look for 57 or 56. The idea is that you shouldn't be as stretched-out. Whatever you get, I strongly urge you to take it to a good bike shop and have them size it for you.

The cross set-up is perfect for easy road riding then ripping off across grass and gravel. The brakes are normally cantilevered providing for slightly larger tires sizes. Carbon frames and disk brakes are starting to show up on newer cross bikes = big $$. The gearing is normally compact (34/50) or cross compact 36/46 cranks with a 11/36 rear cassette that gets you through any road riding and most easy MTB trails. Put Maxis Speedmax 35mm tires on it and you're ready for road or dirt.

I have a Bianchi Axis and I love it. I prolly put close to 2K miles on it yearly, mostly cool weather riding. That's it in my avatar.

BTW, watch chainlove.com or bonktown.com for deals. You can build a bike cheap from the stuff you can score there.

[craigster59]

The Electra Ticino is a nice around town bike...

[Schrup]

If you can't find a killer deal on CL, strongly consider these guys. Save Up To 60% Off Road Bikes, Bicycles, Mountain Bikes and Bicycles with Bikesdirect.com, New with full warranties

[gtc]

The problem with older bikes is that service parts can be hard to find. Try finding fork seals for a 10 year old suspension fork. Or a long spindle, square taper bottom bracket. Or a derailleur hanger for a frame from '95. You can sometimes get them online, but often the monkeys at your LBS will be of no help at all.

[Flieger]

Can't you just put new stuff on an old frame? I put trigger style shifters on the Diamondback that had shifters with no detents (but still mounted on the handlebars). I can't really see the gear indicator but that does not matter to me. I am glad the rigid frame does not need maintainance like suspended bikes do. I was able to get a bottom bracket and a ball bearing for the fork when I needed them.

[Laneco]

Not really. Some stuff, yes, but you start getting real sideways with bottom brackets and anything with the rear wheel including the gear cluster. Old bikes are 5, 6, or 7 in the rear. Later came 8, 9 and now 10 gears at the back. At some point, the rear frame spacing got wider to accommodate.

The cost of such upgrades absolutely exceed the value of the bike. Replace the parts with like types or walk away.

But for a campus - get something cheap. That old rigid mountain bike is perfect and will probably still be (locked up) where you left it when you got back. Durable and reliable, not so old that parts are unavailable.

angela