🚀 go-pugleaf

@sco.com> garyh@sco.COM (< Gary H >) writes:
>Hi... Is Specialized bikes a good name brand? In particular, I am interested
>in opinions of the Specialized Rock Hopper bike.  Is there anything wrong with
>it? What's good about it?
>About truing a wheel.. What is involved in doing this? Can anyone tell me
>how to true my wheel? I think I have the basic idea... If there is a bend in
>the wheel (say to the left), I'll have to tighten the right spoke and/or
>loosen the left one.
>Gary
>/____\            The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO), Inc.

1) Specialized makes Excellent bikes!  Note that this doesn't mean
all their bikes are excellent, as they make cheaper bikes
too (S-works-->Stumpjumpers-->Rockhoppers-->Hard Rocks), 
      (descending price order)
and nobody makes a perfect mountain bike for less than $1500
(and even then, not everybody will agree on which >$1500 bikes
are perfect).

2) I suggest you also check out Trek and Bridgestone.  Test ride,
test ride, test ride.....

3) As far as Rockhoppers, see if you can get one with toe clips
(unless you don't want 'em).  I think only the top Rockehopper
models have toeclips.  Also be sure to try out a bike with
the top-mounted thumbshifters or the new Rapidfire Plus,
though it's unlikely a MTB in the price window of a Rockhopper
wil come with these (unless it's a Bridgestone).

4) Ask you bike store for _The Bicycle Wheel_ by Jobst Brandt.
A more general alternative is _Anybody's Bike Book_,
which covers wheels a bit, but nothing like Jobst's book.
On the other hand, Cuthbertsons's _Anybody's Bike Book_
covers things like bearings, cones, cone wrenches, cogs,
stems, derailleurs, and stuff like that.  On the left
foot, Jobst's book covers (optional reading) finite
element analysis in an appendix and debunks lots of
myths about bicycle wheels.
-J. CAse Kim

In article <1992Nov1.050908.16993@husc3.harvard.edu> kim39@scws8.harvard.edu (John Kim) writes:
>@sco.com> garyh@sco.COM (< Gary H >) writes:
>>Hi... Is Specialized bikes a good name brand? In particular, I am interested
>>in opinions of the Specialized Rock Hopper bike.  Is there anything wrong with
>>it? What's good about it?
>3) As far as Rockhoppers, see if you can get one with toe clips
>(unless you don't want 'em).  I think only the top Rockehopper
>models have toeclips.  Also be sure to try out a bike with
>the top-mounted thumbshifters or the new Rapidfire Plus,
>though it's unlikely a MTB in the price window of a Rockhopper
>wil come with these (unless it's a Bridgestone).

Adding toeclips and straps to a bike which doesn't have them is
very easy and cheap, so I don't think that should be a decision
factor in bike shopping.  I recommend Specialized's composite
mountain bike clips.

The basic 1992 Specialized Rockhopper came with Shimano Exage 400LX
components, with Rapidfire shifters, and no clips.  I'm guessing that
the 1993 Rockhopper will come with one of the new Shimano Altus
groups, complete with Rapidfire Plus shifters.

...Joakim

--
Joakim Karlsson            | aviator@athena.mit.edu
Flying Fanatic in Training | Air: PP-ASEL  CAP: Freedom 107 Mobile  FCC: N1JHW
                 "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
                And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings"

I bought a Specialized Rock Hopper 2 years ago.  It caused my road bike to go into hibernation for a year.  The Rock Hopper has been absolutely great!  I've had a couple of broken bones, but nothing on the bike ever breaks.  By comparison, some of my friends' bikes, including a Trek and an Iboc Sport (I forget who makes that), have been very dissapointing.  Their frames (except for a pair of bent forks) have held up, but all the assorted attachments and components are always coming loose or breaking off.		






I'm so happy with Specialized, I'm seriously considering buying a Specialized Road bike.	

ps:  3 of my friends recently boughtt Bridgestone mountain bikes.  You might check those out too.

Rod

Don't blame the bike manufacturers for component failures. All the components
on the bikes mentioned are probably made by Shimano (blecch). The frequency of
breakage on MTBs is a function of rider skill and mechanical knowledge - 
basically a well looked after bike will last ages. Even an ultra-expensive bike
with every trick part known to man will break and suffer component failure if
you ride into things, never clean it, don't tighten the bolts, adjust the 
bearings etc. etc. Half the pleasure in owning a bicycle is keeping it running
at 100%. A better functioning bike is more fun to ride.

Mike Davis