anaheim flash
09-08-09, 04:00 AM
the day is getting closer to new bike day, so gimme a "hot or not" on this one please:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/stratford.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/stratford.htm
Hybrid Bicycles - Opinions, Good or Bad
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Cfd
09-08-09, 04:18 AM
Good Bike - Terrific Price
Is it loaded for what you plan to do with it?
Is it loaded for what you plan to do with it?
anaheim flash
09-08-09, 04:27 AM
as far as i can tell.....i only worry about the "road bike" frame//tires and pulling my trailer and panniers. everything else i have on my current bike
meanwhile
09-08-09, 07:58 AM
as far as i can tell.....i only worry about the "road bike" frame//tires and pulling my trailer and panniers. everything else i have on my current bike
I'd ask on the utility forum what tyres people consider adequate for trailer pulling, then check that the bike has clearance for them. And I'd google for credible expert sources. There's no point buying a bike cheaply if it won't do what you want safely. Cheap visits to the ER aren't cheap!
You should also expect to have to at least check over the bike for mis-assembly yourself - bd are notorious for mistakes, I believe. E.g. in their ad:
Shimano 8spd front, Shimano Sora 8spd rear
- a 64 gear bike! Otherwise it's a good deal, maybe even a very good one, but not uniquely so - the Denalli(sp?) racer for the same price looks even a better one. Obviously the list price is just a gimmick.
Me, I'd buy a used mountain bike with slicks if I wanted to pull a trailer. Preferably a cromolly one. But I'm paranoid.
I'd ask on the utility forum what tyres people consider adequate for trailer pulling, then check that the bike has clearance for them. And I'd google for credible expert sources. There's no point buying a bike cheaply if it won't do what you want safely. Cheap visits to the ER aren't cheap!
You should also expect to have to at least check over the bike for mis-assembly yourself - bd are notorious for mistakes, I believe. E.g. in their ad:
Shimano 8spd front, Shimano Sora 8spd rear
- a 64 gear bike! Otherwise it's a good deal, maybe even a very good one, but not uniquely so - the Denalli(sp?) racer for the same price looks even a better one. Obviously the list price is just a gimmick.
Me, I'd buy a used mountain bike with slicks if I wanted to pull a trailer. Preferably a cromolly one. But I'm paranoid.
anaheim flash
09-08-09, 12:34 PM
already posted on the utility forum about it, just wanted some feedback from the utility forum as well. great forum with some more informed people than myself.
the 8 speed front quote is actually on the part itself. was a marketing thing by shimano itself to represent that the front cage and swing were wide enough to not rub on a larger cassette. over time, it just ceased to matter as cassettes went to 9- and 10- speed, and all FD could cover the duty.
i am considering the trek 7.1 fx, but parts-wise it is a great step down, but as you said, hospitals ain't cheap. (the bike WOULD have to fail in an epic manner)
my local LBS does not stock any models i am interested in, and the wrench skills they have are not trusted by me. of several parts i have purchased new from them in support of the local business, all but one installed by them had to be replaced due to mis-installation. in the last case, it was not even the part i purchased, but a great substitution, and "i would love it".....too bad a 1 inch threadless fork 1.5 inches too short would suck, when i have a 1 1/8 and like my pedals to be above the ground when i ride.....found this out just by looking at the damn thing, and got yelled at for being "in the shop". had to yell back at them to put my damn fork back in. they did that okay (had to re-do the pre-load at home, of course.)
they actually wanted to charge me for the labor....
long story, but i offer it in explanation of why my local LBS does not have much loyalty from me, and is not much different than any other mail-order part//bike house.
the 8 speed front quote is actually on the part itself. was a marketing thing by shimano itself to represent that the front cage and swing were wide enough to not rub on a larger cassette. over time, it just ceased to matter as cassettes went to 9- and 10- speed, and all FD could cover the duty.
i am considering the trek 7.1 fx, but parts-wise it is a great step down, but as you said, hospitals ain't cheap. (the bike WOULD have to fail in an epic manner)
my local LBS does not stock any models i am interested in, and the wrench skills they have are not trusted by me. of several parts i have purchased new from them in support of the local business, all but one installed by them had to be replaced due to mis-installation. in the last case, it was not even the part i purchased, but a great substitution, and "i would love it".....too bad a 1 inch threadless fork 1.5 inches too short would suck, when i have a 1 1/8 and like my pedals to be above the ground when i ride.....found this out just by looking at the damn thing, and got yelled at for being "in the shop". had to yell back at them to put my damn fork back in. they did that okay (had to re-do the pre-load at home, of course.)
they actually wanted to charge me for the labor....
long story, but i offer it in explanation of why my local LBS does not have much loyalty from me, and is not much different than any other mail-order part//bike house.
meanwhile
09-08-09, 04:39 PM
i am considering the trek 7.1 fx, but parts-wise it is a great step down, but as you said, hospitals ain't cheap. (the bike WOULD have to fail in an epic manner)
I wouldn't expect an epic fail from a BD bike as long as you're competent to check it before riding. The problems seem to be things like mis-torquing and forgotten bearings or lube in assembly rather than poor quality parts. If you'd feel competent checking a used bike, you should probably feel ok here. Just exercise caution at strange noises, vibration, etc. And given the number of bikes they sell, the problems may be very rare - who knows?
What would worry me is having a trailer behind, exerting extra force in turns that might throw that back wheel into a skid. A 23mm tyre is very marginal for grip in the first place. Braking is a matter of grip too and again on a good 23mm tyre it's scarce. Even if the trailer is ok most of the time, if some grip gets used by a poor road surface or having to brake and turn at the same time, you might have a problem. But if the bike has clearances for wider tyres then you don't have a problem.
I wouldn't expect an epic fail from a BD bike as long as you're competent to check it before riding. The problems seem to be things like mis-torquing and forgotten bearings or lube in assembly rather than poor quality parts. If you'd feel competent checking a used bike, you should probably feel ok here. Just exercise caution at strange noises, vibration, etc. And given the number of bikes they sell, the problems may be very rare - who knows?
What would worry me is having a trailer behind, exerting extra force in turns that might throw that back wheel into a skid. A 23mm tyre is very marginal for grip in the first place. Braking is a matter of grip too and again on a good 23mm tyre it's scarce. Even if the trailer is ok most of the time, if some grip gets used by a poor road surface or having to brake and turn at the same time, you might have a problem. But if the bike has clearances for wider tyres then you don't have a problem.
Big_e
09-09-09, 05:39 AM
That BD bike looks like a great bike to commute on. I bought 2 bikes from BD, a Dawes SST which I commute/work out on and a Mercier Galaxy steel which I've taken on group rides and metrics. I haven't had problems with either yet.
Ernest
Ernest