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08-30-05, 04:40 PM
Hi, I need a good ammount of advice concerning what type of bike to acquire. I have just finished destroying a cheapo Wal-Mart Schwin Sidewinder bicycle in a little under a week. I put considerable (read probly too much) force onto the cranks when riding, which lead to the largest front sprocket to bend and lose two teeth. This lead to massive accidental derailments when ever I applied torque to the peddles. After resolving this by simply using the next smallest sprocket (which is way too small and wussy feeling to make riding any fun), a peddle simply stripped every thread from the crank in which it was housed.
My previous bike (which was stolen) was a generic mountain bike given to me by a friend. It was anywhere between 5 and 10 years old, had cottered cranks and no real identifying marks. I rode it as it was for about 2 weeks before completely ruining the front gears by striking a head stone and bending them. Desperate to have a ride again, I knicked a set of cranks from a scrap womens Columbia cruiser. Where the default cranks for GMB (generic mountain bike) had 3 seperate sprockets, the Columbia cranks only had one which was a larger diameter than the largest GMB sprocket. I tore off the front derailer from GMB and quickly installed the Columbia cranks.
It was honestly love at first ride, the ammount of power ! could put through GMB was almost intoxicating when left on the smallest diameter cog. It was riden this way up/down hill every day for approx 5 months. It was stolen when I went on vacation with my family. As a bicycle was my only day to day transportation, I almost immediatly sacrificed the $139.99 on the Schwin just to have something to ride.
My size and riding style must make life for bikes a living hell, at +/- 250 lbs. and riding only on one gear setting (even up the steepest of hills). I need a sturdy bike for a suburban setting which involves alot of jump off of and onto curbs and a moderate amount of riding off of pavement. I like the looks of 1x1 mountain style bike, but I am put off by paying $600 dollars or more for a complete package. Money is tight right now. ANY suggestions for a style/brand of bike, second hand bike or parts are appreciated. Thanx.
My previous bike (which was stolen) was a generic mountain bike given to me by a friend. It was anywhere between 5 and 10 years old, had cottered cranks and no real identifying marks. I rode it as it was for about 2 weeks before completely ruining the front gears by striking a head stone and bending them. Desperate to have a ride again, I knicked a set of cranks from a scrap womens Columbia cruiser. Where the default cranks for GMB (generic mountain bike) had 3 seperate sprockets, the Columbia cranks only had one which was a larger diameter than the largest GMB sprocket. I tore off the front derailer from GMB and quickly installed the Columbia cranks.
It was honestly love at first ride, the ammount of power ! could put through GMB was almost intoxicating when left on the smallest diameter cog. It was riden this way up/down hill every day for approx 5 months. It was stolen when I went on vacation with my family. As a bicycle was my only day to day transportation, I almost immediatly sacrificed the $139.99 on the Schwin just to have something to ride.
My size and riding style must make life for bikes a living hell, at +/- 250 lbs. and riding only on one gear setting (even up the steepest of hills). I need a sturdy bike for a suburban setting which involves alot of jump off of and onto curbs and a moderate amount of riding off of pavement. I like the looks of 1x1 mountain style bike, but I am put off by paying $600 dollars or more for a complete package. Money is tight right now. ANY suggestions for a style/brand of bike, second hand bike or parts are appreciated. Thanx.