Hi! New here. Just moved from VT to upstate NY. Know no one. Been checking out these forums for a little while. The more I read the more disgusted I feel about my current ride, riding experience, and knowledge (lack of). Was sooooo proud of my new department store bike - Schwinn Traverse, 21 Speed... under $200.00 - till derailleur problems, that I've been UNABLE to remedy, made me take a good close look at the thing. PLASTIC??? Since when? Understand, I haven't owned and ridden a bike since I was 16 years old! I'm now 43! So.... obviously, things have changed. Anyway... reading through all the posts here, I'm craving a REAL ride and some REAL experience. I'm taking this THING back to where I bought it from and purchasing (or rather thinking about purchasing) an immaculate Takara Deluxe 12... for $150.00... which, though I haven't been able to find much info on, I hear is at least better than what the dept. stores are selling these days! Heck... I have an old Sears Free Spirit Canyon Pass 10 Speed that I have NEVER had problems with! To think that this cheap old bike works better than the new one just disgusts me! CRAZY! Thanks for having me. ...Pardon my ramble...

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Touring-12spd

Welcome to the forums. There is tons of information here, take some time to poke around and you will find what your looking for and then some. I like the rambling post, I tend to do the same. Your in good company so ramble away, hehe.

Thanks 10 Wheels. I read Patluc's post and that's what actually motivated me to consider the Takara I made reference to. I mean, if the Takara's good enough for a Senior Member... who referenced it as "nothing exotic, but a nice mid level bike," it should be fine for me... a newbie.

Thanks GeoBigJon! I'm feeling fantastic that I'm actually "in" the forum now!

Cool...Now that you are IN, you can't leave.
Have fun here and with your bikes.