Goodbye to an old friend...

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03-18-2005, 06:52 PM
sammm

Goodbye to an old friend...

After almost 8 years and nearly 2000 punishing miles with my large arse on it, my bike gave up the ghost! It's like losing an old friend. :( I was riding along my favorite trails this evening and the bike started to feel loose. I checked my wheels and steering first. No problems there. Thought the seat might be coming off the post, checked that and snap! It broke off at 2 different weld points at the same time. :? (The part on the garage floor is typically attached to the rest of the bike) Luckily I wasn't riding hard when it happened.

http://home.comcast.net/~sammm/gt.jpg
03-18-2005, 07:40 PM
EvilSpeeder

Wow!
03-18-2005, 07:50 PM
fwMiata

jb weld it, its got years left on its life..... :wink:
03-18-2005, 11:37 PM
Treibenschnell

That could've been like a :nutkick: :!:
03-19-2005, 12:46 AM
altiain

Damn, Sammm!

[cue vultures]

If you buy a new bike instead of just a frame, let me know, I could use a fork. Come to think of it, I might want your rear shock as well. :mrgreen:

[/cue vultures]

BTW, I'm a big fan of Specialized bikes. I've been through two Stumpjumpers and my current FSRxc has never done me wrong.

Component shock and fork manufacturers on the other hand... :banghead:
03-20-2005, 09:38 AM
sammm

So what/where is everyone's favorite bike shop? I spent most of yesterday 'test driving' bikes at Bikes Inc. and Debo's here in Arlington. For some reason the hard-tail bikes appealed to me more (my old one was full-suspension). Bikes Inc. has a sweet Specialized Rockhopper Comp w/disc brakes for around $750. Debo's has an '04 Cannondale F400 on clearance for $629. I'm still deciding if I want/need full-suspension or not.

BTW, I will be parting my old one out altiain. Make me an offer on the front shock or any other parts!
03-20-2005, 09:41 AM
onething

I think you need to start looking at walkers instead of fancy-schmancy bikes :wheelcha:
03-20-2005, 09:55 AM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by onething

I think you need to start looking at walkers instead of fancy-schmancy bikes :wheelcha:

:nutkick:
He shoots, he scores! :cheers:
03-20-2005, 10:14 AM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by onething

I think you need to start looking at walkers instead of fancy-schmancy bikes :wheelcha:

:nutkick:
He shoots, he scores! :cheers:

Bastards! :P

I found a picture of onething on his bike!
http://www.oklahomabicyclesociety.co...s/oldbiker.gif
03-20-2005, 10:25 AM
altiain

I like Bicycles, Inc. in Bedford. I've been buying from them (and riding with some of them) for over a decade. I've never been to the Arlington shop, but if they're half as good as the Bedford guys, then you can't go wrong with 'em.

As for hardtail versus fs, I like hardtails, but I kept taco'ing rear wheels on my last hardtail, which is why I went fs on my last bike. Since I bought the fs bike, I've had no damage-related parts failures, although I've worn some components out (my last hardtail was a mix of XT/XTR stuff while the FSRxc is mostly LX, which I'm not as impressed with).

If you can get a good, solid, cross country fs bike in your range (not much need for freeride or downhill bikes around here :wink: ) that has decent geometry, I'd say go for it, especially if you tend to be harder on equipment like me. I love the feel of a good hardtail, but I'm just prone to breaking stuff.

Can you PM me some details on the fork and shock (model, age, adjustments, etc.)? I'll be in Waxahachie most of the day working on my senior project, but I'm interested in picking over the carcass for parts I can use. :mrgreen:
03-20-2005, 10:40 AM
Treibenschnell

The Richardson BikeMart always has nice equipment... although they tend to be a bit pricey... but the sometimes have great clearance deals.
03-20-2005, 12:09 PM
black roadster

My "Target Special" full suspension bike does me just fine. :D
03-20-2005, 12:16 PM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by black roadster

My "Target Special" full suspension bike does me just fine. :D

Any bike can hang in your garage without breaking! :P Take your 'Tar-Jhay' Special out to some real trails and then we'll talk.
03-21-2005, 12:04 PM
sammm

Being the cheap bar-steward that I am, I spent Saturday evening and yesterday morning scouring the internet for bike deals. Score! :cheers: I found this place -

http://www.bicycleblowout.com

I just ordered - 8)

http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/04_dakar.html
03-21-2005, 12:59 PM
redmenace

Good find on them linkies!

[vulture]
How much ya want for the rear wheel?
[/vulture]
03-21-2005, 01:01 PM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmenace

[vulture]
How much ya want for the rear wheel?
[/vulture]

It's a 7-speed cassette on a Sun Rhyno wheel. Still interested?
03-21-2005, 01:18 PM
redmenace

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

Quote:

How much ya want for the rear wheel?

It's a 7-speed cassette on a Sun Rhyno wheel. Still interested?

Umm... I dunno. I would need to to stick my 6-speed Shimano on the freewheel. Think it'll fit?
03-21-2005, 01:47 PM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmenace

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

Quote:

How much ya want for the rear wheel?

It's a 7-speed cassette on a Sun Rhyno wheel. Still interested?

Umm... I dunno. I would need to to stick my 6-speed Shimano on the freewheel. Think it'll fit?

I'm not positive, but I don't think so. I think 6-speed's have a different spline pattern than 7-9's do. :(
03-22-2005, 08:05 AM
black roadster

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by black roadster

My "Target Special" full suspension bike does me just fine. :D

Any bike can hang in your garage without breaking! :P Take your 'Tar-Jhay' Special out to some real trails and then we'll talk.

Well, seeing as I don't use it for anything but "family bike rides" I think it will be fine. :wink:

I agree you get what you pay for and if I did some serious biking, I'd want the proper equipment but since I don't, I think my $100 bike does just fine. :D
03-22-2005, 08:31 AM
altiain

So Sammm... gimme some details on the shock and the fork, will ya?
03-22-2005, 09:03 AM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by altiain

So Sammm... gimme some details on the shock and the fork, will ya?

oops...sorry, forgot. :oops:

Seeing as how it's 6-7 years old, it's probably not worth much. I think I'm going to keep it for an emergency spare.
03-22-2005, 03:46 PM
altiain

Gotcha.
04-27-2005, 02:05 PM
redmenace

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

I found this place -
http://www.bicycleblowout.com

I just ordered - 8)
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/04_dakar.html

Well?!?

Has it arrived? Is it assembled? How do you like it? Would you buy from them again?

If you still have the old one, have you thought about having it welded?

Enquiring minds, and all...
04-27-2005, 02:14 PM
sammm

Wow, digging deep into last months archive! ;) Yes, my new Jamis did arrive 2-3 weeks ago. I ended up getting a new '03 Dakar Sport. The only difference between it and the 'normal' Dakar is the Sport has disc brakes and an upgraded front shock. It was packed well and my assembly was minimal. It's a great bike and I'd buy from them again! :thumrigh:

As far as my old GT goes, it's too late for welding. I stripped it clean and sold off a bunch of stuff on Ebay.
04-28-2005, 10:55 AM
redmenace

Thanks for the update. I'm past due for a replacement, and I like their prices -- but without the benefit of your experience they're just another mysterious online retailer.

I still wouldn't mind finding a good local shop to support, but the mom-and-pops rotate brands constantly and RBM screwed me on a Schwinn warranty claim (over 10 years ago, but I'm still bitter).

With the service I received at Jack Johnston near White Rock Lake, I always swore they'd sell me my next ride. But their storefront's vacant and they're not in the yellow pages. Guess I waited too long... :(
04-28-2005, 12:33 PM
sammm

I hear ya' on warranty claims. The GT I broke had a lifetime frame warranty. I checked their website and it states anything bought prior to 1998 (or somewhere around there) wasn't covered since they had filed bankruptcy after that. :banghead:

There aren't many Mom&Pop bike shops around anymore, or bike shops in general. There are only a handful left. Besides, how often do you have to take a bike in for service these days? ;-) Buy on the web and save some bucks!