What is considered high miles on a bike?

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Date: 31 Jul 2007 16:43:50
From: Dart70ca
Subject: What is considered high miles on a bike?

I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.

Thanks,

Keith

Date: 01 Aug 2007 05:54:53
From: Dart70ca
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

Tom Sherman wrote:

>
> As long as it is one of the Optimas made in the last 6 years or so,
> that has reinforcement around the head tube/main tube junction and
> external cable routing, I would not be worried. Some of the early
> (20th Century) Baron frames cracked at this point.

Did you mean there that the frames cracked at the external cable
routing and had to be reinforced? or that the older frames had
internal cable routing? If the latter, should I inspect frames with
internal routing for cracks at the head tube junction?
Thanks for the tip. All good stuff to know.

Keith

Date: 01 Aug 2007 19:52:01
From: Tom \Johnny Sunset\ Sherman
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

"Dart70ca" wrote:
> Tom Sherman wrote:
>
>> As long as it is one of the Optimas made in the last 6 years or so,
>> that has reinforcement around the head tube/main tube junction and
>> external cable routing, I would not be worried. Some of the early
>> (20th Century) Baron frames cracked at this point.
>
> Did you mean there that the frames cracked at the external cable
> routing and had to be reinforced? or that the older frames had
> internal cable routing? If the latter, should I inspect frames with
> internal routing for cracks at the head tube junction?
> Thanks for the tip. All good stuff to know.

On the older Barons (I am not as familiar with the other Optima models
of the period) the rear brake and shifter cables entered the main tube
just behind the head tube. I know of two Baron owners who had 1999 (I
believe) models where the frames cracked in this area. Both frames were
replaced under warranty. The replacement frames lacked the internal
cable routing and also had reinforcement gussets at the head tube/main
tube junction.

The other problem with the internal cable routing was the edge of the
hole in the main tube abraded the cable housing. I recall one instance
of this happening, which resulted in non-functional rear shifting until
the housing was replaced.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Date: 01 Aug 2007 07:49:15
From: Artoi
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

In article <1185925430.465890.62970@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com >,
Dart70ca <ksgg@telus.net > wrote:

> I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
> one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
> This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.

Most serious roadie would do at least double of that mileage in a year.
--

Date: 31 Jul 2007 21:10:54
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

"Dart70ca" aka Keith? wrote:
> Thanks for the replies guys. It's an Optima Lynxx. Chain replaced
> recently he says. Pads aren't a problem and I'll watch the cassette
> when i ride it this week. If I get it, I'll be the third owner.

As long as it is one of the Optimas made in the last 6 years or so,
that has reinforcement around the head tube/main tube junction and
external cable routing, I would not be worried. Some of the early
(20th Century) Baron frames cracked at this point.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Date: 31 Jul 2007 20:55:32
From: Dart70ca
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

Thanks for the replies guys. It's an Optima Lynxx. Chain replaced
recently he says. Pads aren't a problem and I'll watch the cassette
when i ride it this week. If I get it, I'll be the third owner.

Keith

Date: 31 Jul 2007 20:33:50
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

"landotter" ? wrote:
"Dart70ca" ? wrote:
>
> > I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
> > one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
> > This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.
>
> That's barely broken in. It'll likely be on its second set of tires,
> and should have had the chain replaced. Brake blocks might need
> refreshing, etc, but it's not high mileage. Check the cassette for
> wear, too. A cassette should go further than 3500 miles, but you never
> know.

General experience indicates that chain life is proportional to the
number of links, so if this is a RWD recumbent (and not something like
a Flevo) the chain could be expected to last about twice as long or
more as one on an upright bicycle ridden under similar conditions with
similar maintenance. Replace the chain based on elongation (no more
than 12-1/16-inch for 24 pins), not on mileage.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Date: 01 Aug 2007 02:44:34
From: Jim Flom
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

"Dart70ca" <ksgg@telus.net > wrote in message
news:1185925430.465890.62970@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
> one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
> This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.

3500 miles is nothin'.

Date: 01 Aug 2007 02:08:24
From: Mike A Schwab
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

On Jul 31, 6:43 pm, Dart70ca <k...@telus.net > wrote:
> I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
> one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
> This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Keith

Last year, Brinehawk on BikeJournal.com turned in a tour of 39 states
and 43,000 miles with his girlfriend following in a van.
This year, his is married, in a house, with infant triplets.

Date: 31 Jul 2007 22:18:40
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

Mike A Schwab wrote:
> On Jul 31, 6:43 pm, Dart70ca <k...@telus.net> wrote:
>> I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
>> one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
>> This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Keith
>
> Last year, Brinehawk on BikeJournal.com turned in a tour of 39 states
> and 43,000 miles with his girlfriend following in a van.
> This year, his is married, in a house, with infant triplets.

Just guessing he won't do 43,000 cumulative until the triplets are 9 or so.
But then, some things are more important than bicycling.

Date: 01 Aug 2007 01:22:15
From: landotter
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?

On Jul 31, 6:43 pm, Dart70ca <k...@telus.net > wrote:
> I have the opportunity to buy a used bike and was wondering what
> one should consider as high-mileage when it comes to bikes?
> This is a Dutch touring recumbent with 3500 miles or so on it.

That's barely broken in. It'll likely be on its second set of tires,
and should have had the chain replaced. Brake blocks might need
refreshing, etc, but it's not high mileage. Check the cassette for
wear, too. A cassette should go further than 3500 miles, but you never
know.

Date: 31 Jul 2007 17:42:29
From: determined
Subject: Re: What is considered high miles on a bike?