Conference noted::bicycle

    Do you mean Miyata?  Which model?

    I bought a 1989 1000LT last spring at Belmont Wheelworks.

    The rims are a bit on the wide side, and I've had some problem
    with cantilever brake and rear pannier colliding, but it
    handles like a dream.  It rides like a hover craft, but
    can still carve through high speed turns.

    -Jeff Bell

    Yes, I meant Miyata, it is the model 600.  I took it for a long test
    ride and it was  very comfortable.  Unfortunately I don't have the
    specs with me - mostly Shimano components, I get the impression that
    the components are in the mid-range in terms of price/performance.
    I am told the bicycle lists for $600 but its one of the last in stock
    I'd like to haggle alittle bit with the price.
    Could anyone give me an indication of what percentage decrease in price
    I could expect.  I also plan on buying a roof rack (Yakima - any
    comments?) and because the bicycle and rack will be a fair cash outlay
    I'd like to haggle as much as possible.  ;^)
    Thanks in advance for  any comments.
    Nancy   

    In general, bike shop owners don't have a lot of room
    to haggle prices.  The margins on a bike aren't that big.
    You might be able to persuade them to do some equipment
    swaps or some fit kitting, but it depends on the shop.
    I think that there's another note about this somewhere
    around here.

    They did have the 600 at the Belmont wheel works, if you
    want to check there and see whether it's much different.

    Roof racks are discussed in another note too.
    I think the consensus was that Yakima had a slight
    edge over Thule, but at a greater cost.

    -Jeff Bell


    

    
            The 600GT is outfitted with Suntour derailleurs. I
         don't recall offhand what brand of crankset Miyata uses
         but I suspect that it's either Sugino or Sakae. I'll 
         try to remember to check when I get home tonight.
    
            That model has been discontinued so I suspect that
         you might get Fritz to knock off a few dollars, especially
         if you buy a roof rack as well.
    
            
                                                 Steve
    
            BTW Nancy, I sent you mail but got your mailwatch 
                       response. Are you really logged in while
                       you're on vacation?  8^)
                      

    Nancy, 
    
    Do you really want a touring bicycle?  I love touring , but I find
    my Trek 520 slow when I use it for rides with friends.  You could
    buy a more general-purpose bike, and use it for touring as well,
    as long as it had a reasonable geometry and could support racks 
    front and rear. 
    
    As for roof racks, I love my Yakima, but recommend you get the kind
    where you do not have to remove the front wheel.  It saves you
    from having to release your cantilever brakes every time you
    put the bike up on the rack. 
    
    Patrick

    Thanks for the comments.  Yes, I did log in while on vacation ;^0
    but only to log into this notesfile!!
    I'm back at work now...
    Re: .5, At first I was thinking of selling my mountain bike (Fuji)
    and buying a hybrid bacause it seems so decedent to have TWO bicycles
    but I have decided that there is nothing wrong with being decadent ;^)
    and thought a touring bike would be a good move.  
    What do you mean "general purpose bike"?  
    I thought that a touring bike would be good because I am primarily 
    interested in a comfortable ride and building up some distance.
    Thanks again!!
    Nancy
                  

    I think that have two bicycles is being rather conservative,
    certainly not decadent.
    
    ed

    I looked at the Miatas last year and thought the 600 was a nice riding
    bike in a price range closer to what I was interested in (the 1000LT
    was a bit too expensive).  However, for a more (what I think of as a)
    general-purpose bike I really liked the Miata 721A - it had a lot of
    the features for touring (braze-ons) and a slightly more aggressive
    geometry as I recall.  I finally bought a Cannondale ST600 but was
    favorably impressed with the Miatas.

    I just bought a Miata Alumicross (a touring bike)...my first serious
    bike, so I decided to get the best that I could afford.
    
    I love it.  Comfortable, smooth riding, handles very well.  
    
    We're planning on a 1-2 week cycle touring vacation in the Loire valley
    in France next spring.  Anyone have any comments or suggestions about
    this?

    
    Comments about which?  About the Loire...
    
    That was the first part of my first tour.  Highly recommended.
    There are some hilly parts climbing out of the valley occasionally,
    but otherwise rolling or flat landscape, low traffic, etc.
    
    As you probably know, you will be inundated with chateaux to visit,
    and most of these are highly worth it.  Accomodations are plentiful,
    including economical auberges.  There are also some wineries offering
    Gustation (free tastes).
    
    If you have time, Tours has mediaeval and other sites to see.  It
    is one of the larger cities on the route. Blois is a nice place to
    visit and spend the night.
    
    Obtain the Michelin green guide for the Valley of the Loire if you
    haven't already.
    
    Suitable starting places on the Loire are easily reached by rail
    from Paris (Gare Austerlitz I think, but I'm not sure).
    
    Bonne route!
    -john

    
    	Re. - Miata
    
    	Ain't d'at a sports car ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    
    	Made by Mazda ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    
    	Ain't be havin' no pedals either ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    
    	Oh, what the heck, ain't no thang'...

    Yup, Miata be a car.
    
    Miyata....dat's de bike.

     If you're serious about a Myata (sp?) call Dave Rivetts at 241-
    4627... He can take care of you.
    
       Chip

    Well, I couldn't find a Miyata in my size and since I got so much
    grief about the way I spelled it ...I decided to get a Trek instead.
    (easier to spell ya know!)    ;^)     ;^)
    I got the 1420 and I'm sure it'll cut down the commute time in
    comparison to my mountain bike.
    It is *nice*.
    Thanks for all the comments.
    Nancy

    One of the shops here is selling 1991 Miyata Alumicross bikes for $550. 
    That's $300 off last year's price to close them out.  Anyone have any
    comments on this bike?  I plan to use it as a hybrid, mostly pavement,
    but alot of hilly dirt fire roads, too.  The frame is a semi-fat
    aluminum, steel fork, mostly Deore components, triple crank, bar-end
    shifters.  The handlebars are a kind of weird touring shape.  Are they
    comfortable on long, hilly rides?  It comes with semi-wide lugged 700c
    tires.  Can these wheels handle narrow tires, too?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Ken