Well I'm still in the working class price range for sure. this new bike I paid $250, after lot of negotiation with the seller.

Week 10 report. Now with 1634.5 miles on the bike I have take it down to the hubs and checked the grease. Looks good so just put it back together as is. Relube the chain. check the brake pads there are a little worn but still usible so adjusted them. Check the seat position, all is good. Checked the shifters cables and still in good working order.

So all is good and the review goes on

Well now it's my turn for a long term report on a Denali I bought for my granddaughter last year. I bought this bike because she wanted to get into cycling like her dad and me, so I chose this one because it was cheap since I know kids (she was 13 at the time) and kids change their minds like they change their underwear! But she didn't change her mind and last month entered her first race which she didn't do well because the bike's rear derailleur broke about third of the way into the race...the second time the derailleur broke, which was replaced under warranty after a 4 week wait for the part.

She has ridden the bike about 8,000 miles in one year, and in that time we had to replace the rear derailleur once (the race situation was the second time which was the final frustration). She had her front brake cable snap twice; the front brake caliper keeps bending so we have to keep bending it back, this has happened 3 times; front brake pads wore out; the bottom bracket went bad but a LBS was able to replace it; the rear rim developed a crack near a spoke eyelit but still rideable according the LBS who said it would cost almost as much as new Denali to replace because we would have to convert to cassette, new rim and spokes etc-so she rode it and the crack seems to be stable; the rims were in constant need of truing; and the seat rail broke. This girl is 5'10" and weighs 135 pounds so she's not a clydesdale.

Last month after her race frustration we gave the bike to the LBS so they could use it for parts for others and bought her a new Cannondale Slice...yeah I know it's bit radical (her neck can take it, mine wouldn't be able to!) but it's what she wanted and she loves everything about it; and besides she wants to compete in mini-triathions because like her dad she's a good swimmer and swims on the her schools swim team and a decent runner like her mom and will be doing track this spring. She can't wait for her first race on the bike, but schools on now and her plate is full so she'll have to wait till summer

Freako, was that on the 20" or the 22" Denail. just want to know. Any ways Glad it got her into biking/racing. But as I said the Denail was not made for racing. I never had any problems with the Brake caliper or the cables. On the Blue (22") or this newer one. I had heard there was a problem with the caliper bending, but have not seen it. Did you change out the brake pads or where they stock?

It was the 22 because her inseam was 32" so the bike fit her well enough. The original pads didn't last long so her dad replaced them with some other brand but not sure since I didn't do it. The other thing that happened to the bike was the brake hoods split, but they never replaced them just rode it as it was.

She, her dad and I are planning to go on a 75 mile long distance break in ride for her Cannondale this weekend.

Actually I really like that Cannondale as well, it looks cool, but I'm in my mid 70's and the way that thing is angled my head would break off at the neck! But then again I hate that bike because she can get away from me on it!! She can break away from me on flats because she can spin real fast, but for some reason I can break away from her on steep climbs. Not sure why she can do that on flats but not on climbs, but I guess time will get her to be faster on climbing then me. I'll push her as far as she can go, it's that Marine in me, but eventually she's going to need a younger, stronger and better rider then me to train with. I'll miss doing all that with her, but she wants to and needs to improve. She's got the drive to excel in this as well as the other other sports she does, I don't know if genetically she's got the ability to go big time or not, but time will only tell and right now she's young so she's got plenty of time.

I'm rambling, bye.

Bah! Nonsense freako! Just get a e-Bike and she will have to work to keep up. Don't let age and whatnot prevent potential quality time in the form of training your grand daughter.

To quote Grant Petersen:

Electric bike? HAHAHHHAHHHa ...I may be old but haven't died yet!!! Besides aren't those things actually slower then a regular road bike? Not sure if I can ride that in my 3 person triathlons I do either. I won't stop the quality time with her, but lets be real, I'm no spring chicken and she's going to need an someone who can take her further; but that's not for awhile yet. I think it's amazing she's gotten into it and the other sports like she has, the grandson just wants to play computer games all day and he's older then she is...I hate those things!

My hood pads split too. I just removed them. the new Denails come with a better brake hoods and pads, they look like they will hold up better then the old ones.

week 11 report:

Nothing to report again. It will be 30 deg tomorrow. so soon we will see how well the Denail does in the snow LOL.

I finally raced Sunday in a 15k, about 9 miles. This was my first bike race. I started training in late July and August. My official time was 29min and 40sec.

Here is a picture of the team I was part of. I have a different uniform because I was a late commer add on to the team.

We took Silver medal for the competition.

Magnificent777. Thats give you a Avg speed of 27.02 mph. Not bad for your first race.

Thank you CigTech! Not bad for me being 38 huh? Your reviews gave me inspiration. Not only did you put the time to write updates but you put it into action. I am still amazed on how much time you put in the saddle. Have you ever done any races? Honestly your reviews gave me the motivation to get into cycling. You will hear more updates on races as I can get into.

I'm 6'1 and own the blue one as well. For me, I've found the bike is long enough, but it's not tall enough. I bought a stem extender through harris cyclery, put it on my bike, and it works well. If you get one, HEED the warnings!

Yeah, I'm still considering getting one of these stem extenders for my (blue) Denali (I looked up one at Harris Cyclery called a stem "raiser", I"ve also seen them called stem "riser")...I missed a used one on ebay that was selling for $11 shipped, that was really the first time I ever looked for one and now I'm keeping my eye out for an ebay deal or maybe getting one in the future when I can place an order for several things and combine shipping costs. Niagara Cycle Works sells one (they call it stem "riser").

I've been riding a Dawes Lighting Sport (with a chromoly frame) that I bought new from an ebay seller about 18 months ago. (I also had a "reach" issue with it so I bought an adjustable handlebar stem to get the handlebars higher and closer to me). I have over 800 miles on the bike and don't regret buying it one bit. I've recently notice that the 2010 model is now selling with an aluminum frame and is a tad more expensive than the previous year model (I'm "agnostic" as far as the aluminum/steel debate, but I'm thinking maybe the new aluminum model might at least be a couple pounds lighter than the chromoly-framed model). I mention the Dawes Lighting Sport because I think it would be good to consider in the "Sub-$300" road bike catagory (along with the Denali, Schwinn Varsity/Prelude, and used route).

Is it gettin cold where U live Cig?

Yes it's down in the upper 40's at night now and rained all day today.

week 12 report:

Adjusted the rear derailure today. Did not need it realy, just wanted to see if I could get a little better shift out of it. Relubed the Chain due to rain today. Thats about it for this week. I have 1965.38 miles now on the Denial.

Not bad at all. They did the Tour of MO just a couple weeks ago. The Fast guy in stage 4 of the TT had a avg Speed of 32.06mph and the Last place guy had a 24.86mph. That was on a 19K ride, so you would have been right in there what them.

cigtech, good to see a sane experiment as this continuing...!

now, i am thinking of getting a Denali (new, old, whatever) and change it into a knock-around off-and-on road cyclo-x-commuter of sorts....is there enough clearance for cx tires? and can the brakes easily be changed out?

plus, i want to experiment with this bike and let if be one i can play around with mechanical issues (should they show up), modify, etc. at this point i am not touching my Giant Defy except to ride...

Today I biked in to work from my girlfriend place. It was a nice up and down 6mile road. I did it in 22 min.

I was scrolling through my bike computer and was shocked that I reached a max speed of 41mph. Wow ! That is the fastest I been on bike!! I have been trying to draft off cars in front of me and one time manage to over take a bus as it was pulling out. He was shocked as I passed him. I was just smiling but of course he caught up and passed me.

It's fun to commute in the fog after the rain.

Week 14:

Yes I missed lasted weeks report. Anyways I got 2225.23 miles on the Denial so far. Ok relube the chain a couple times due to rain. and lets see.... no that’s it.

I own my own Computer repair company and I do house calls. So I get a lot of riding through out the day. See I ride from house to house repairing computer. So some days I get 20 pluse miles. and other days I get up to 45 miles. So not only do I get to ride the bike to a fun job, But I get to ride all day long.

Thinks, I think LOL


With the stock tires on it 28mm, there is only 1/4" clearance at the top of the forks. There is room side to side. Most CX bikes I see have a lot of room at the top of the forks. So this could be a problem. As for the brakes, there is no way to put MTB brakes on it. In less you weld on the mounts.


Hope this helps.

Thursday night 10-22-2009, around 8:30pm, I was hit by a van and knocked off my bike.

It was around UTD campus where the roads are super wide and pleanty of room for vehicles and cyclists. The area is well known for many cyclist that train on those roads with minumal car traffic.

I was doing some cycling training, I was wearing a reflective vest, blinker light on my bike and helmet and I was on my far right. The road lane one way is about 4 cars wide one.

All I heard was a reved motor, and a corner of my left eye a white van with green trim side swiping me at my left hip and dead on my left arm ,on my tricep.

He/ or she hit me so hard I was unclipped from my bike rolled hard head first to the tar mat.

I was wearing a helmet but I still seen sparks as I hit the road. A car stopped behind me and woman from across the park ran to my aid . I laid for a few seconds to come to, then realize what happen and rolled myself of the street unto the grass/curb.

The van never stopped. It was a hit and run. I missed work the next day and got medical attention. No broken bones just soft tissue damage. Friday and all weekend it was ice and motrin.

I still get headaches and My left sholder, arm and left hip are sore. I am back at work and I'm getting range of motion in my arm back slowly.

My bike belive it or not didn't suffer damage. The chain fell off with the impact and back break had to be adjusted. Funny that this first thing I asked after I came too I was asking if my bike was ok.

I could be angry but at who? I was hit by surprise and from behind so I didn't even get a chance to see a face. I pray before riding and I feel it could of been much worse.

I give myself another week to lay off riding then get back to training, provided that I'm pass most of the pain and my arm is good enough to steer.

Dude, your ok and that's great to hear!!!!! I had a similar situation happen to me when I lived in Bakersfield except I was even luckier then you. As a pickup truck turned right in front of me contacting my left side, my left arm by chance hooked onto his passenger side mirror taking me and my bike around the turn and down the street at speeds up to 45 while I fought to keep the bike upright and against the truck! About a block down the road he slowed down to 5mph so I get free then he sped off. No damage whatsoever to the bike or me. The cops could've cared less. But I got my revenge when I spotted the truck in a parking lot at a small shopping center about an hour later...I removed the mirror on his passenger side, then left a note saying if he wanted to talk to me about his mirror to call me and gave him my phone number!!! He never called!