To: Frederick.Knabe@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Mountain bikes?
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 89 11:45:05 EST
From: Kenneth.Cline@PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU
Resent-To: bovik@k
Resent-Date: Wed, 08 Mar 89 17:28:22 EST
Resent-Message-ID: <5503.605399302@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU>
Resent-From: Frederick.Knabe@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU


I own a Jamis Dakar (the top of the line, I think), and before that I
owned a Dakotah (also made by Jamis), so I think I am qualified to
answer your question.  I also ride about four miles every day to
commute to CMU, so I have seen the effects of road salt on the bikes.

My Dakotah held up well to some real off road punishment, and I have
confidence that Jamis mountain bike frames are built tough to take
hard riding.  In fact, Jamis guarantees their frames for as long as
you own the bike.  The components were what you would expect from a
medium priced bike: none of them were outstanding, but with a little
care they did their job  (I am quite happy with the components on my
new Dakar). 

Jamis makes quality mountain bikes at competitive prices.  I don't
know if their bikes are the best bargains around, but I don't think
buying one (er, two) would be a mistake.  If you want more information
about Jamis (or other mountain bikes for that matter) you can visit
Dirty Harry's bike shop in Verona (20 minutes drive from CMU).

I don't think rust is much of a problem if a bicycle is properly
maintained.  Assuming that the bike is properly maintained
(i.e. lubricating the chain and derailleurs weekly, repacking bearings
with plenty of grease as required, etc...), the biggest worry will be
the frame and various steel nuts and bolts.  It's a good idea to
lubricate *everything* on the bicycle (except the rims, brake pads,
painted surfaces, and aluminum alloy parts).  A thin film of grease on
nuts and bolts goes a long way towards preventing rust.  Where you
can't reach (or don't want to disassemble), use WD40 or some similar
rust preventing spray, both inside and out.  After a wet ride or
cleaning of the bike, spray every nut, boolt, nook and cranny.  Take
out the seatpost and spray inside the frame.  Also look for the tiny
vent holes (required by the frame building process) in the seat- and
chain-stays (the tubes holding the rear wheel in place) and spray in
them as well.  Treated with this kind of care the biycle should last a
long time.

There are exotic bikes made of aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber in
which the frames are not subject to rust, they are probably out of
your parents price range (good ones selling for $1500 or more).
Cannondale sells a line of affordable aluminum mountain bikes, but
I think Jamis mountain bikes are superior to Cannondales ( a friend of
mine broke two Cannondales in one year).

Enough rambling.  I hope this helps.

Ken