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Nov 3, 2009
The GMC Denali 700C 21-Speed Road Bike is built around a lightweight
aluminum road bike frame. The Shimano derailleur and Shimano Revo shifts
make it easy to change gears quickly and smoothly, and the
high-performance 700c tires are up to the challenge of rigorous street
racing. Lastly, this road bike will help you stay hydrated with the
included alloy water bottle cage. Specifications: - Rims: Vitesse Alloy black 700CX14GX36H
- Tires: Kenda Black With Grey Band 700X28C
- Stem: Aluminum black EXT:100mm 0D.
- Handlebar: Maesbend W: 430mm D:22.0mm
- Fork: GMC Series 7000 steel
- Chain: KMC Z 51
- Crankset: Prowheel Alloy 335P6 28X38X48 170mm
- Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-TZ 31 Index
- Saddle: Cionlli Black
- Seat post: HL Aluminum Micro Adjust 27.2 X 300mm
- Pedals: VP-990S plastic body with steel cage
- Weight: 29.0 lbs
- Frame: Aluminum 7005 straight gauge
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30GS 7SPD
- Shifters: Shimano Revo SIS L2/R7
- Brake levers: Promax BL-250AP Aluminum
- Brakes: Promax 501A Alloy Caliper Brake
The Denali is typical of mass produced, imported, department store
bicycles. It will need some tinkering and adjustments, the extent of
which will depend upon your experience, tools and desires. Most riders
opting for this road bike will want to do things like true the wheels
and adjust the brakes and derailleurs. They are close out of the box
but need tweaking. Aesthetically, it is pretty with its anodized blue
look, accented with black and silver stickers. The wheel stickers make
the bike look expensive, but the metal name plates on the frame are a
bit tacky and look like they're about to fall off (although you
probably couldn't pry them off if you wanted to). Newer models don't
have the name plates.
Posted at 07:04 am by truffles
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Jul 5, 2009
Tommaso Aggraziato Bike Review
The Tommaso Aggraziato bike is an excellent value for the money. I was
considering many other bikes with similar equipment, but they all cost
about $1000 more. I took a chance on the Tommaso, and overall I am very
pleased. I had RS Cycle do a pro-build for me, and I would highly
recommend it to anyone considering buying this bike. I took it out of
the box, and about 20 minutes later I was riding around the
neighborhood. It was very smooth and seemed very similar to the Trek
Madone 5.2 ($3200) I had test drove two weeks earlier. On my first
ride, I was impressed with the smoothness, the stiffness, and the
overall quality of the ride. It Flies!!! I've had the bike three months
now, and I'm still impressed. The only problems came from the FSA crank
and front derailleur. I spent an extra $350 to replace these dogs, and
now I have a well working fast bike that I'll probably have for many
years to come.The Aggraziato is a light
weight, smooth riding, well equipped machine. The Shimano components,
the saddle, the FSA brakes, the Fulcrum Racing 7 wheel set, and even
the tires all get a big thumbs up from me. It looks cool and has a
great price. Without a doubt, the worst
thing on the bike is the FSA crank and front derailleur. They just
don't work correctly. I worked on them, and the local bike shop worked
on them, to no avail. I then threw these FSA (I have an acronym for
this, but I agreed not to use that type of language here)parts in the
trash, and replaced them with Shimano Ultegra SL and Ultegra front
derailleur. Problem solved!!! Oh yeah, the rim strips are really cheap
too. Do yourself a favor and replace them before your first ride. One
more thing, RS Cycle claims a $100 value for the box......ah I don't
think so. It went right to the recycling bin.
Posted at 04:38 am by truffles
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Jun 15, 2009
Pacific Shorewood Women's 26 inch Cruiser Bike Review
Features * Includes white-wall tires and full-wrap front and rear fenders * Wide saddle seat with padded suspension for comfort * Hand-operated brakes and 7-speed twist index shifters * 7-speed, 26-inch women's cruiser bike with classic frame * Easy-reach handlebars with long stem for upright seating The Pacific Shorewood women's 26 inch cruiser bike provides a comfortable ride ideal for the neighborhood or bike path. The Shorewood features an upright riding position with easy-reach handlebars, wide padded suspension seat and 7-speed twist index shifters. The front and rear fenders, alloy wheels and white-wall tires finish the Shorewood with a great nostalgic look. Want to cruise around your beach town in comfort and style? Turn to the Pacific Shorewood women's cruiser bike, which offers a classic cruiser frame, nostalgic white-wall tires, and old-school front and rear fenders. The seven-speed, 26-inch Shorewood offers a truly laid-back ride, with easy-reach handlebars mounted on a tall stem to put you in an upright seating position, along with a comfortably wide padded suspension seat. The twist index shifters and hand-operated brakes, meanwhile, put all your controls within easy reach. Finally, the bike includes a sturdy chain cover that will keep your pants and/or shoelaces from tangling with the chain. Cycling Type Bikes and Frames
Gender Women Bicycle Speed 7 Speeds Brand InSTEP Sports Type Cycling Bike Type Classic / Cruiser Bikes I've been looking for a cruiser with 5-7 speeds and fenders and a chain guard, and this bike fit the bill. So far, it's been a great bike. One time third gear slipped while riding, so I'm keeping an eye on that. It's pretty and stylish. The Pacific shorewood women's 26 inch cruiser came packed in a double box with no packing materials around it, and it turns out the front wheel was slightly bent - we only found out when adjusting the brakes. I called the company and they shipped me a replacement wheel (no tire) immediately, with no problems. I do not know how to put a bike together, so I asked a friend to do it for me and it took him about 2 hours. He worked for another hour putting on the accoutrement I like: lock, back rack with two folding baskets, front basket, lights and a bell. We had to go to the hardware store to get the right sized bolt to attach the back rack to the frame (down in the middle of the wheel) and get a couple of washers. I'm only 5'2" and usually the seat needs to be all the down, but on this bike it needs to be up higher. Overall, I like this bike quite a bit. Find the best price for Pacific Shorewood women's 26 inch cruiser bike.
Posted at 12:52 pm by truffles
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May 31, 2009
Ridley Noah Road Bike Review
There's good news and bad news about the Ridley Noah road bike. The good news is that the bike just comes to life at about 32mph.
It awakens as if from a deep slumber and realizes that it's time to
take over from me. I guess that this is when the aerodynamics of the
slotted fork and seat stays actually does something worthwhile. It
becomes so stable at high speeds that I have wondered whether or not
it's actually a bicycle then. It's amazing. The bad news is that I
don't get to 32mph nearly often enough.
I
have read that the ride of the Noah was harsh. With
that expectation, I've been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable of
a ride it has been. Chip-seal roads that were bone-rattlers on my last
bike (aluminum) are barely noticeable now. I think that the slotted
fork and seatstays actually provide some softening from what would
probably be a really stiff ride otherwise. I've ridden a few other
high-end carbon fiber bikes and they all have had a similar "buttery"
smoothness to them that I'm glad to enjoy on the Noah.
Handling is phenomenal. I'm faster and more confident in corners
than ever before. I feel far more stable and don't even think about
whether or not the bike will can handle it when I dive into a sharp
corner with a group of other riders around me.
I don't have any real hills in my immediate area, but there are a
few "speedbumps" that we call hills - 200 feet or so. The group that I
ride usually ride with usually races to the top of these hills. I'm now
at the top of these short climbs with the fastest guys and am a real
contender in the sprints to the top. When I push the bike, it
translates all of my (meek) power into forward momentum. The
one problem with this bike is its attitude. This bike
laughs at me when I ride it hard. Here I am going anaerobic bridging a
gap and my bike is saying to me, "is that all you've got?". I
really do think it has that attitude.
Seriously, I really don't have real any criticisms yet. It's a great bike that I've enjoyed riding each time.
Posted at 12:39 pm by truffles
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May 20, 2009
LeMond Bicycles Tourmalet
LeMond Bicycles Tourmalet is THE bike to buy if you are looking for very smooth riding steel bike that can be upgraded to racing specs. The Reynolds double-butted 853/525 frame could be the best performing steel frame for the money. At this price point, most other manufacturers use double-butted Italian steel or Reynolds 520 steel, which are heavier and less stiff. I got this bike as a replacement for my 01 Cannondale H400 hybrid. I loved the Cannodale’s craftsmanship, but after riding on a Schwinn hybrid with a Reynolds 500 frame(yes, the cheap stuff)for several years, I just couldn’t tolerate the CAAD2’s harsh ride quality.
Strengths: Reynolds 853/525 frame and carbon fiber fork, which are an unbeatable value for the price. If you take care of paint chips, the frame will last a lifetime. Very comfortable geometry for me. Shimano 105 rear derailler is efficient and smooth. 1 1/8’’ Aheadset and 3TTT stem. Sexy looks and the bike just looks fast.
Weaknesses: Not many at this price point. The durability of the paint is questionable. Seat is a little uncomfortable. If you want to loose some weight, replace the crankset and wheels first. Go for all 105 or Ultegra if you want to race. Some people may not like the shameless profusion of Lemond logos all over the bike.
Bike Setup: All stock. I plan to replace the pedals with some Speedplays pretty soon.
Posted at 02:02 pm by truffles
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