leimkuhl@uiucdcsp.CS.UIUC.EDU (11/05/85)
I've not heard particularly good things about KHS bikes. Here's my best suggestion: Colorado Cyclist (a mail order bike shop advertising in Bicycling) has great prices on bike kits. I think you can get a Gitane Pro w/modolo speedys,Ofmega ders, Ofmega Mistral Crank, Cinelli,Mavic G40s or GP4s for under $600! That is really cheap. For about $700, I think you can get the same bike with a Nuovo Record Group, and if I recall correctly they had several other options at similar prices. You can't go too far wrong there. Also, everything I've heard about the Schwinn Peloton has been raves. Lastly, don't overlook the possibility of buying a used bicycle. I recently found a bike for my roommate: De Rosa Professional/Suntour Superbe stuff, 1 year old. The bike was in perfect shape and was being sold by a bike shop that agreed to warranty it. $675. That is about the list price on the bare De Rosa frame! Be a bit careful when buying used, but a good frame that hasn't been raced a lot or wrecked is very unlikely to give you problems. That's another thing: Never buy a bike for its components--buy the bike because it has an excellent frame. You can always change components, but if the frame is too squishy or too twitchy or doesn't fit or is out of alignment, or whatever, you're stuck. Here's a quick check for frame alignment: take a piece of string, tie it to one rear dropout. Now wrap the string around the head tube and bring it back to the other dropout, tie it down. Make sure the string is taut. The string will now pass on either side of the seat tube. Measure the distance from the seat tube to the string on each side. If these measurements differ, the frame is out of alignment. (From THE CUSTOM BICYCLE) Most shops have a tool for checking this. Always check the alignment: I've seen a guy buy an expensive custom frame without checking alignment and then not be able to center the rear wheel in the rear triangle (of course the frame builder fixed it free.) -Ben Leimkuhler