Hey guys,
I don't get a chance to post too often, but I had to post this. It's very exciting. I currently have this bike:
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...9&menuItemId=0
It's a 2002 Specialized Hotrock A1 FS. I love this bike dearly. I actually found this bike abandoned, believe it or not, and I took it home and nurtured it back to health. All it needed was a new rear derailleur. Since then, it's been my daily rider. We've been through a lot together and I knew I could rely on it to get me wherever I needed to go. I really lucked out with this find because not only did I find the bike and was able to fix it cheap, but it fit me perfectly. I fly on this thing. It was definitely better than the too-small-for-me-bikes I was riding. And at the time, I didn't have a job, so I couldn't afford a new bike. But I found the bike just in time, as I was starting have back pain from from the smaller bikes I was riding. Well, it looks like my bike may have ridden its last miles.
About a week ago I noticed my bottom bracket was all whacked. Granted, I've known I've needed a new bottom bracket for a while, but since it's a cartridge, I figured I could wait. There was a ton of play from the axle. I had to keep riding it for about a week because I didn't want to ride the smaller bikes. Well, my knees started to hurt from the bottom bracket being shot, so I had to ride the smaller bikes. I ordered my new bottom bracket, it came with a crank bolt missing, they sent a cheaper one just for the bolts, which aren't the same, and I was looking forward to having allen bolts for the crank bolts. Fine, no big deal. I go and get started swapping the bottom bracket, and I can't get the thing out. Brute force didn't do it, an air compressor didn't do it, and I've run out of ideas. So I think I'm just going to buy a new bike because I needed it last week. I'm not too bummed out because first off I'm getting a new bike...finally. I've only ever had crappy bikes from k-mart or costco, not that I didn't appreciate them, but yeah. Either that or they were hand-me-downs. Better quality, but pretty much rare that they'll fit perfectly. Second, I figure this might be the easier thing to do because I need a bike now. I know I should've followed the N+1 rule, but like I said, I didn't have a job, and the specialized was so reliable. Plus, I've needed a new drive train for a while and was thinking about replacing that along with the shot bottom bracket which I've known for a while too. At least this way, I'll know the components on the bike will work together. I just feel a little sad because I should've just replaced it when I first took it out to find out the size. But I figured, it's a cartridge, so I'll just keep riding it. Maybe that was a mistake. Maybe I'll get it out one day, but like I've said I need a bike now, and so I'm in the market for a new bike.
My budget is about $600, it can go higher, but lower would be nice. I just need something to ride now, as I do plan to buy another bike so that if this happens again, I'll have a spare. I figure $600 is decent for an entry level bike that's going to be ridden daily with decent components that can take the abuse. I want something like this:
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...codaelite.html
I know this one is like $1000, but is there anything around my budget that you guys know of? I like this because it's a commuter, I like the way the frame looks, it has disc brakes, and looks a little aggressive. Front suspension would be nice, but not too important, I guess. When I think of a bike, this is what I think of: simple and functional, at least for commuting anyway.
Ideas? Let me know below! Thanks guys!