MR> Thanks for the reply, I have all the info from the internet, and I'll 
 MR> check the mags to see what I can find. What I'm looking for here is 
 MR> "An Opinion" if this is a good bike for the "Weekend Worrier" type of a 
 MR> rider. I dare not ask a salesperson that, cuz they're gonna tell me
Weekend Warrior, or Weekend Worrier? :)
What you need to do is look at a few basic approaches - this from my recent 
poking about to find out about bikes.
First off - Cost. How much do you want to spend? A $160 bike may do well for 
you.... for a time. But the bike is steel only, the rims 38-spoke even if 
they are aluminum rims. The brakes may not be caliper, and the gear systems 
will be not as durable. Ditto with the hubs (what the wheels rotate on) and 
the crankset (what the pedals go through) in the bottom bracket.
I put 3000km on my $150 (Canadjin funds, eh?) bike this summer. I've killed 
the bottom bracket.
Secondly - what kind of riding? Is this off-road? Or just toodling down a 
road?
Do you want suspension? If so, be aware that suspension *costs*, both in 
terms of money, and in terms of weight. If you're a big lad, like me, the low 
end shocks won't do you anyhow. For most folks, shocks are a 'toy' rather 
than something funtional. (Of course, this all assumes Mtn bike!).
Once you get into the chromolly frames (Chromium/Molybdenum/Steel) then 
you're into lighter (and more expensive) materials. Also, you're liable to be 
looking at better components in all areas of the bike.
Best thing to do is go around to a few bike stores, and find out what they 
tell you. You may find a good one, you may find a bad one here and there.
The folks I thought were reasonable here, turned out to not be as 
knowledgeable as I thought they were.  Its best to be informed *first* before 
you go through the door. Asking questions will get you answers - not only the 
kind you need to know technically, but about the salespeople as well.
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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