From: jwgst2+@pitt.edu (James W Gourgoutis)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: MTB Touring (was: Touring bicycles -- an extict breed?)
Date: 22 Jul 92 21:29:01 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <1992Jul22.180220.14400@hpcvusn.cv.hp.com> harry@cv.hp.com (Harry Phinney) writes:
>James W Gourgoutis writes:
>: I think that the authors step over the 
>: line, however, when they further breakdown MTBs into racing, TOURING, and such
>: an obscure thing as an OBSERVED TRIALS BIKE, which I have never heard of.
>
>Observed trials is a form of competition for which specialized bicycles
>most certainly exist.  Trials competition involves riding the bike over,

	It's not that I didn't know what observed trials are (I found that 
from the book.  It sounds like alot of fun to watch!)  It just seemed to me
that the book tried to use a bike as an example of the distinctions when there
weren't any with that particular bike.  They seemed like they were grasping
at straws.  I mean, they first said that a "real" trials bike was a 20-incher,
I guess something like a freestyle BMX bike.

>The PX-10 had different geometry than did the UO-8.  The PX-10 was
>shorter, and had somewhat steeper angles than did the UO-8.  The PX-10
>
	I type corrected about the PX-10.  I have only ever seen one in a 
picture in an old cycling book.  It looked really similar to my UO8.

>: 	Oh, one more point about my friend and his Marin:  He did get numb
>: hands, and I think that's due to the geometry of his bike.  I did not.
>
>I doubt very much that your friend's hand problems were caused by his
>bike's geometry.  His position on the bike _may_ have contributed to the
>problem..
	Yes, but aren't racing-type bikes supposed to be less comfortable
over long distances than touring-type bikes?  They have steeper angles, so
they supposedly give a harsher ride (I DON'T want to start up again about frame
stiffness here, folks!)?  I do agree, however, that his seat is much to high
relative to his bars/stem.  He also has a pretty long reach stem; it seems to
make you put more weight on your hands.   
 
>: 	As far as racing bikes go, there are also supposed criterium bikes, but
>: they look the same as road racers to me.
>
>A full-on criterium bicycle is halfway between a road racing bike and a
>track bike.  It will have the necessary features to support the use of

	Okay.  Thanks for setting me straight.  I've always wondered about
that.  How 'bout triathelete bikes?  Or the different types of bikes they use
in the Tour de France; whats the difference with those?

>
>: If I had aero brake levers on my
>: old Peugot UO8, I'd put aero-bars on it, too.
>
>"Aero" brake levers are easy enough to add, and are less expensive than
>most aero bars.  You could always install both.
>
	It's not that I couldn't add new levers, but I can't justify spending
money for aero-levers when my brakes are old Mafac racer centerpulls.  I think
(sheepishly) that it's too much of a clash between old & new.  And changing 
brakes is a whole new can of worms.  I need long reach brakes, due to the old
frame, and something cheap.  I have an old Nashbar cat. from '83, and listed
in that are some Dia-Comp 600 something or others; they would be fine (and
probably cheap, nowadays) but I can't find anything like that.  I DON'T want
to spend $100 for a new brakeset.  We're talking about a bike with a Suntour
Honor derailleur!  And then I'd STILL have to shell out another $40 for aero-
bars!!!!!!

>Harry Phinney   harry@hp-pcd.cv.hp.com



		James Gourgoutis
		Senior, Mechanical Engineering
		University of Pittsburgh
		e-mail me at:  JWGST2@unixd.cis.pitt.edu   
		Thanks!
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles