I'm referring to the Mongoose Paver. I've only seen the Mongoose Paver in one size.

I've seen a Schwinn Tourist at Target that looks entirely acceptable. Flat bar, no shocks, no nonsense. I'd ride one as a beater if my commuter ever gets stolen (knock on wood).

uh, there are other alternatives where you can get an good bike inexpensively, my example would be the dawes lightning sport that I have mentioned in the past...

I went and looked real quick. I did not see a Dawes Lightinig Sport; but, I did see the Dawes Lightning 1000 https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1000.htm , which looked like the lowest priced bike in the Dawes Lightning line.

I saw that it was priced at $389. Last weekend I saw a GMC Danali for sale at a Wal-mart in Springfield OR for $99.

Very simply, I expect that you are right. The Dawes should be a better bike. However, it does cost nearly four times as much. If instead of spending X you spend 4X, assuming you do not get riped off (say, for example, instead of purchasing the Dawes, you, instead, purchase a Trek Portland), it is safe to say that you will get a better product.

That link takes me to a single speed for $320.

If you are trying to say that bikes direct (BD) has cheaper bikes than the Dawes Lightning 1000, I will give you that. However, I was commenting on the post I was quoting and not on BD in general.

I will also add that I would not recomend a single-speed "track style" (BD's description) bike to a new commuter where I am at.

well, you are right, it is a lightning sport 1000, and it is the lowest product of the line. However, if you went to ebay, found a seller named "chicabike", you could buy the bike for 240.00...

and not sure about the trek portland, but I did buy a trek 7100 before this bike which is a hybrid... after riding the dawes which is not really that light but much lighter than the hybrid) I started to not really enjoy the 7100. I basically, use the 7100 as a "beater" even though it cost more...

also, I have noticed that there are schwinn bikes at target that sell for the same price as the dawes...

oops correction, it is called a "lightning sport" and not a "lightning 1000" on ebay... didn't go to direct bikes to check on the differences (if any).

Hello,

I have a Denali. i bought it 2 months ago with the intent to commute from work to home. I have put in a month of riding, 356 miles on it. i now have been interested in cycling in short distance and races. I realize that this bike is so much heavier in the road bike class. My particular new found passion is cyclo-cross which for a fact with out lying to myself this bike won't due. too heavy!!!

As far as a commuter i say perfect!! It's heavy enough to sustain a load and still go decently fast.

I have not invested alot on this bike except for front and back lights, strapless toe clips, reflector stickies, retaped my handle bars and removed front derailer and shift. I use it as a 8 gear at a time bike.I did retaped my rims and my back tire I put a presta tube and my front tires still had standard Schrader. I haven't had a flat. I been mostly on paved roads and cement bike trails. For $150 when I bought it,it's been great. I commute 6 miles a day and now started to do 15 to 20 miles every other day last 2 weeks and group ride on Saturday 20 to 30 miles. I have a race for September a 15k. My first competition.

This bike will be my trainer until I an in better cardio and strength condition. I constanly maintain this bike. I tighten and lube and air all I need to in order to maintain a safe efficent ride every time.

I got sized for a Specialized Cross bike and it will cost me $999. I will invest in clipless pedals and shoes for cross. It will take me a few months to purchase it but I hope to be ready for cross training and compete next year. Mean while the Denali will be my commuter and trainer. It has been a good bike.

Picture to your left is how it looks now since I have been more serious in the last two weeks. The picture on your right was my expression of a commuter last month. I removed most of my design on the wheels but kept some as an expression and hope to motivate more people to bike. Of course when I get my cross bike it will be strickly professional. No designs only hardware if need it.

what's the chainring sizes? is the largest ring 48t or 52t?

it's a 48/38/28, sorry it took so long to answer that qustion

Hi Cigtech,
I've been following this thread as well as reading your previous review of the Denali. I wanted to thank you for posting your observations on this bike.

I've been away from a lifetime of cycling for about fifteen years and wanted to get back into it. I started off by visiting one of the LBS here and came out reeling from sticker shock. I asked the salesman (who, BTW, wouldn't meet my eyes after I told him that my budget was $300!) what the price was for their least-expensive road bike — he said $950. I don't even remember the brand as I was stunned by that figure.

After reading your threads, viewing other forums on cycling, checking out CL and other offerings, I decided to go with the Denali at either Walmart or Target. (Real men say the real name!) I'd rather have a new bike than buy somebody else's problems!

I got a look at the Denali at Walmart last week. It WAS poorly assembled, but I am confident that I can put one in proper form, as I completely rebuilt my last bike from the ground up. It was a freebie but served me well on many long rides before one of life's detours caused me to store it away. Making any needed adjustments won't be a problem at all.

I need to get some other financial obligations out of the way first but will let you know when I make the deal. I look forward to getting my stamina back to where it used to be and riding the routes around here. My area is a nice mix of hills and flats, so I'm curious to see how the Denali (and the older ME!) rides over them.

Thanks again!
Bill

3rd week and all is well. Still have not had to adjust anything on the bike. Few days of rain and chain lube but that is all. Now I have 689.3 miles on the bike. Fatsest I been on the bike is 61.6 mph on the GPS. Was comming down this grade 10% hill and just let her go. Man I don't want to do that again LOL The bike did just fine , but it was a little to fast for my taste.

61.6 mph on a 10 % grade ?

You need to find another bike shop. Or heck, go to REI. My wife and kids have REI hybrids that they bought for about $300, and IMO they're durable and serviceable bikes, in fact they're better bikes than what I'm riding (a Giant hybrid bought for about the same money 5 years ago).

Well the bike shop here, the only one, has a road bike for $800.00. and thats the cheapest one they have.

I saw this thread a while back and ignored it cuz I've seen the bike in the store; it was too small for me )I guess they come in different sizes) and something about my little test ride down the isle made me run away. I don't remember what it was, I don't think it was the twist shifters. Anyway, I'm glad someone is enjoying this bike and holding their own against the barrage of nay-sayers.

Anyway I heard your experience with long stem Schrader valves and I recently purchase some valve extenders from a local auto parts store for an aero wheel of mine. I haven't used them yet but you might like to have one on hand ...?

The closest REI to me is 325 miles away.

I've checked the bike shops here in town (there are six) and the average lowest price for a road bike is $720 with the lowest price for a Fuji Newest (I'll assume the 4.0 from the price) at $450.

Anyone care to comment on the Fuji Newest? Pros? Cons?

I tried one when i was looking for a beater road bike... decent for what it is, only con is downtube shifters, but at 450 it's not too bad for a first bike.

The most important upgrades are Kool Stop brake pads (Salmons, if you ride in the rain) and good tyres. Re the shifters, a much cheaper and equally effective upgrade would be to fit bar end shifters crit racer style. Most people don't know this trick, and it isn't Cycling Fashion Police approved, but it works:

https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...for-crits.html

If the bike is 7 speed, then look on ebay for old 7 speed bar end shifters. But for commuting, rather than racing, why bother?

Hi Cigtech!
What's the latest on your Denali? How long have you planned for your review period to run? I'm looking forward to your final word.

Anyone else want to comment on the Fuji Newest that I mentioned above? What about the downtube shifters? My first road bike (1972) had shifters on the downtube.

Thanks

Week 4:

Now I have 863.6 miles on the Denali so far. I did have to adjust the rear derailure on Friday. It started not wanting to go into 1st gear. All I had to do to adjust the derailure is turn the tension set screw. So after 825 miles I had to do the first adjustment to the Denali. And I relube the chain as well. I just check the Brake pads and they still have a lot of Pad left on them. With all the hills around here I ride the breaks some times so I thought I better check them out. The back tire is starting to show some ware, So I will be looking at replace it in about 500 miles or some. Probably get the Continental Ultra Sport (Wire Bead) tires to replace the stock tires.

Probably just like last time 6 months.

Sorry I missed this post.

I went back and looked at the GPS data. It looks like the GPS spiked out and gave a false reading. Looks like I was doing about 50.5 when it spiked to 62 and then came back down to 50 again. Probably went under a power line or something.

IIRC you mentioned it weighs around 29lbs right? And it has a 48t chainring yes?