got new rim tape. New innertube for back tire. Added new light (3led bulbs to replace single incandecent bulb) hopefully it's brighter, if not at least it's longer lasting and smaller than the schwinn headlight, the tail light works ok though so. Also got an odometer/speedometer the bell version. I average 12mph on the way to work, mostly uphill, and max out around 22 or so. I changed the tire measurements to 2136 so that should now be correct. I do have some questions though, first how do I replace the battery in the sensor or does this somehow not need one? Second it's rather hilly where I am but not horrid, is 12mph and 22 max, 5.46 miles in 27 mins that bad? Thanks for the help things are working well.

The Computer does have a battery in the bottom of it. It is like a watch battery. Should have a back panel that opens up so you can change the battery. But the battery should last a year or so.

If you are new to commuting then no that's not a bad speed. The speed will come after you get you legs in better shape.

Lol and with practice I imagine. I knew about the battery in the computer, but what about the sensor that reads the magnet? The one on the forks, that reads to the computer, does it have a battery? It's a bell cyclocomputer.

Is it a wire less computer? Or does it have a wire that goes from the sensor to the computer mount?

wireless

You should be able to find out in the instructions. My guess is the sensor is sealed and there's no real way to replace the battery in it without disasembling the thing completely... at which point the battery is probably soldered in.

This is something you may want to ask in a separate thread incase someone else has that same bell computer.

Oh, and more comments on the Schwinn computer (is this the wal-mart thread, lol...) I just snagged one...

Easy enough to set up, works well enough. Note: I'd refer to Sheldon Brown's cyclocomputer calibration page for type F, because the guide that comes with the computer isn't quite accurate. (27 x 1 1/4 is NOT 2155 mm circumference, it's 2161.)

I think it is.

I just picked up a Schwinn computer today for one of my other bikes (huffy aerowind wannabe roadie) The $10 computer does just as much as $35 cateye.

Thanks for the info on the computers!

Ok guys lets keep this post on the topic. "The GMC Denali Review"

Thanks.

Well today including stops I averaged 14mph for a 6 mile comute with a max speed of 30mph. I would like to get my ave speed up to 20mph but I don't think I want to push the denali over 30, or myself, lol.

I must admit, this is tempting: I want to get back into biking, and I really think I want a regular 'ole road bike to try out. $150 is cheap enough to try out! Especially since I'm not convinced that I would necessary stick with it. Anyhow, a couple questions come to mind:

-weight? I think you stated 29lb; all I see on Walmart is 32lb for shipping weight.
-are the tires "common" enough that they are cheap to replace? Tubes too?
-Chain? Same story. I'd like to start replacing chains *before* they take out gears.
-I don't think I want to put alot of accesories on, but would it take? I'm thinking fenders, rack, that sort of thing. I suspect I'd be only a fair weather rider on this, but it's decent question just the same.
-How adjustable is this? The wife wouldn't mind trying it out, and if we did get into biking, we'd certainly get his and her bikes. We have a pair of little kids, so little chance of riding at the same time.

I think I might swing into Walmart tomorrow and take a look. Never hurt to just look...

On edit: Forgot to point that my wife and are the same height. Different length legs, but similar sized. So it wouldn't be as if we were switching from 6' and 5' riders.

After 860+ posts I think we've beat the horse pretty good.

Different length legs could be a problem, with standover height.

28-622 tires are common. In this thread, it was mentioned that tubes that work are difficult to find, but there's various ways to adapt standard tubes. (Use a Presta tube with a long stem and one of those adapter plates that lets you put a Presta tube in a Schrader wheel, use an automotive valve stem extender on a regular Schrader tube, etc., etc.)

To be honest I've found that standard length tubes work just fine. Not as much stem to work with, but enough to get the job done.

I just order the tubes from Kent Bicycle. They are only $3.00 a piece. And Nashbar had the Michelin Dynamic Road Tire 700 x 23 or 25 on sale so I got a set of them for $8.99 a piece. So when the Knada tires ware out I'll have a set to replace them.

As far as weight goes. This bike is 26.5 lbs. The 32 lbs is the bike boxed ready to ship.

The chain is a good chain. Not the best but it works well.

The bike fits a 5' 8' to 6' 2" person quite well. If your shorter then that then look at the 20" red frame.

The bike has two eye lets on the rear for rack and fenders and one on the front for fenders.

Thanks CigTech. I'll take a look, maybe tomorrow. I'm right on the edge for size--I used to be 5'8" but seem to now be 5'7"... And I prefer blue to red. :)

I'm about 5'7 and have managed to ride the blue version ok.

They had the GMC Yukon XL at WM in North Reading, MA. Seemed decent, but who ever assembled it was on crack. The front brake cable was hanging down past the quick release skewer. Front deraliuer clicked on the top ring. Its like CigTech says, decent bikes if have the know how to tune them up, but the avg. joe isn't gonna have a clue.

Just bought a used Denali
 

There was used Denali for sale on my local CL and I was thinking of getting a new toy so after googling it and finding this thread I went ahead and bought it knowing that a friend of mine is looking for a bike too. I paid $50 for it so I am not gonna lose sleep if it dies on me quickly.

The Bike is in overall great condition. The only thing that I have noticed is that the from brakes have been replaced from brakes have been upgraded to something a little better.

For a bike that has been used I was surprised that so many simple things that could havent been fixed were not. Brakes were not tight. One brake pad was touching the tire. the wheels are too tight on the fork and the frame so that they dont spin freeely. The seat was wobling ...

Any way I fixed all that and pulled the seat post and handle bar as high as I could (I am 6ft tall with a 33'' inseam and the frame is the 19'' model). I was suprised how long the seat post is. I have it all the way up to the limit mark on it and I can actually ride the bike ok even though 1 or 2 more inches would be ideal.

Compared to my 20+ year old 20'' frame schwinn found rusting in the basement of my former apartment building the bike is actually very enjoyable. It is rigid and responsive and nothing wobbles really unlike my schwinn who despite my efforts always wobble somewhere.

The fastest gear feels a little short but I would have to test that on a longer distance since I only went around the neighborhood.

The only thing I dont like is that it looks too good. I dont like newish/modern looking bike I hardly ever lock my schwimm and have had it for 3 years now. I like ugly looking bikes that nobody notice/want/steals. I have some spray paint in basement and if I decide to keep it will give it the ugliest look I can.

Pictures to come.

Greg The newbie (I signed up today)

PS: Mine is red

"The fastest gear feels a little short but I would have to test that on a longer distance since I only went around the neighborhood."

Yeah same with the 26" version. But I can push it to 25 or so on very slight downhill. That's good enough for me. On a good downhill I can easily push it into the 30's, but I'm spinning free at that point.

I wish it had a taller third gear up front. Maybe that's something to look into for a later project. I could (if possible), keep the first gear (since I have mountains to climb), change the 2nd to the 3rd... and then put a new 3rd in with a higher top speed. That would make the bike near perfect.

One thing I like about this bike is as cheap as it is $$$ wise, they didn't leave the seat post open top (which would allow water to get in there) nor did they really leave too many other spots for water to get in the frame. It's a solid bike for the $$$.

I'm slow, been comuting about 2 months now and riding the same about 11miles rt. I got an odometer a few days ago, parked the bike because of a rimtape induced pinch flat. I've found that without standing on a decline I can hit a top speed around 31mph and generaly can coast comfortably around 15. Idk how this compares to other bikes but this is what I do on this bike.

n2t, I run it at 25 mph on the flats and max out at 31.6 mph. If you guys want more speed. Then look at replacing the cassette (rear gears). Some of the bike racers are using the 48/38 front gears but have a 11/25 cassette. The Denali has a 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28 cassette. Racers try to keep between 90 to 110 cadence. So with all that in mind, here is the top speeds at a 100 cadence.

With a 48 x 14 you get a max speed of 27.30 mph.
With a 52 x 14 you get a top speed of 29.58 mph.
With a 48 x 11 you get a top speed of 34.75 mph.
With a 52 x 11 you max speed would be 37.64 mph.
The speeds stated here are all figured at 100 cadence.

Now if you do change out the Cassette for a 11/25 then remember that it will be like start out in 2nd gear.

But then again a average commuter will all most never use below a 17 or 18 tooth rear gear. Which I can run the 48/18 (5th gear) at 23.36 mph at 110 cadence. See I call the Denali a 7 speed bike because I almost never use the middle chainrings. And never use the small chainring. I'm looking into changing the crankset for a 52/42 crankset. How ever, you guys that don't live in the flat land of Florida may need the lower gears for hills.

Hope this helps.

I max out at a bit over 31mph as well using my bell cyclo set at 2156 and standard tires. But this isn't a held speed this is the top I can hit on a slight decline. My trip is about half uphill and half downhill, yes...both ways amazingly enough. I go about 5.5 miles in anywhere from 21-26mins depending on lights and my pace. Again, I'm slow, lol but the same trip by car only saves me ten mins so it's worth it. I don't think I'll ever see 23mph ave, 18 I can see but that would take some work.

Oh yeah I need my lower gears up front. I couldn't even make it up the mountain road I ride without the lowest gears front and back.

Out on the bike trail though I never go out of 3rd up front. I'm usually hovering between 5th&7th in the back. On a nice 30 mile ride I average around 16. I'm going to start working on my speed during the weekends though. I can see averaging 18 or 19 on the trail if i push myself.

I've read most of this thread and it pains me to see people buying this "bike" because of this thread. I have bike in quotes because it is not a real bike that was meant for being ridden. It is a toy that is meant to look nice and trick people into buying it. Good lord, handlebars that are cut in half?? How much time has the OP spent making this bike ridable? New cyclists don't want to spend hours learning how to fix their bike.

If someone is thinking about getting into cycling, for gods sake this is the last thing you want them to buy. If they don't have the money for a new entry level bike, steer them towards a used one. My LBS has a very nice used steel Bianchi for 300 bucks. It will be much lighter, won't rust, will shift and brake better, and will last forever. I asked them and they said they would provide free tune ups for a year, which is what they do for their new bikes. If you look a bit you can find a similar bike for the price of the denali.

Also, I have trouble taking the OP seriously when he:

1. Claims that Florida is high-rust area and that is why he can't find a good road bike
2. Apparently rides at near Tour-de-France speeds, and brags about "riding some roadie into the ground"
3. Knows how fast he was going down to the tenths of a mph at any given time during a ride
4. Hit a car at 25mph, slid across its hood and continued to ride!
5. Claims that parking his bike in the front window of a video store dramatically increases its profits and people come by just to see it.

If this is a troll, please stop because it seems like some people are taking it seriously. If not, please return from you dreamy wonderland where you average 28mph and constantly embarrass elite bike snobs.