European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                April 1985 the stars and stripes Page 17 photo by Gus Schuettler buy a couple of spare spokes youre bound to Bend or break a French bikes ranged from about to prices at the Canadian exchanges were Only slightly higher than since Canadian pm prices Are in the buyer has a Chance to depending on the Exchange a sweep through some Bike shops in a couple of euro Pean countries turned up the following offers in touring bikes were Selling for Between 600 and about to models we looked at were 10and 12speed French made models by Liberia and Hercules and English made a loaded version of the Hercules Saragossa came with lights and required safety equipment for 650 about it features Alloy double Alloy Alloy wheels and Cente pull the dealer said now this is a recent lottery winners or others who Are independently wealthy might be interested in the company titanium framed Ajaccio Model at Marks normally expect to spend about 650 around for a decent touring Bike by Raleigh or Hercules on the German Liberia built in Cost a bit with a Middle Range Bike going for about 800 or around there were numerous other brands at both ends of the Price in Peugeot bikes were Selling for Between and on the the 10speed Peugeot Premier represents the lower end of the spectrum the 10 Speed Daws with tubular is at the High Peugeot 12speeds were going for about English Bike shops also carried the Coventry Clem a 10speed touring Bike that retailed for Raleigh the English pronounce it like rally had a variety of touring models for Sale Between and top of the line was the Raleigh a tubular framed touring the 10speed Winner and the 15 Speed weekender represent the Low and Middle positions of the Price these Are authentic English made what one Bike dealer called the Mercedes of of he Sells in touring bikes ranged from a Low of to a High of about we looked at touring models by Lignano and three popular but Quality bikes with 10gears Start at about the lower prices Are for 4speed bikes marketed by the three keep in mind that these Are touring profession Al racing available All Over begin at about a coinage racing Bike we saw was retailing for in most european enthusiasts can design their Bike from the Frame with the Only limitation being depth of pocketbook buy the Frame you suggested one and then get it equipped to suit your the gears Grything can be changed or added depending on what kind of biking you plan to anything is he you can get some less than or spend or we can put together a isor 36gear Bike for someone who is really serious about Bike in equipping it for the open Road is the next hurdle to Here Are a few things to look for handlebars and these two Are among the most important parts of a bikes equipment the riders weight should be split evenly on them and the wrong Choice quite prove to be a pain in the for experts recommend dropped or racing style the rams Horn design puts an equal amount of the riders weight on the puts the body in the Best position for Strong and allows tucking in for decreased wind resistance on the dropped bars offer the rider the Chance to move the hands around while Riding to avoid the numb Ness that sets in after the first couple of forget the wide padded and Springer seats found on cheaper for get a leather Saddle or at least one that is Only slightly padded but has no for the first couple of Days your backside will be Send ing out ugly but after 100 Miles or so the Saddle will be broken in and the pain will slowly Digap from then on the seat will provide a comfortable but firm pushing off place for a must for brakes come in either Side or Cente pull the Best of the Sid pull variety Are Cente pull brakes by Wien Mann and Rafac Are also Good fenders Are some people swear by others see them As unnecessary if the trip includes Riding in the get some reflectors and a Bell Are required in Europe and round out the bikes any Bell that rings is Good lights driven by Generator will save hassling with reflectors for the bikes Back end and the spokes Cost very next is the question of sometimes wrongly called saddlebags by Are the main of storage for Bike rear panniers Are strapped Over the Back wheel a Carrier is needed to support them while front panniers Are lashed to their own Frame on either Side of the front Bike tourists can get by with Only rear but the front wheel is Apt to wobble pretty badly on bags on the front not Only give More storage but improve balance by better there Are plenty of brands plastic panniers Are available for As Little As a but ones made of Waterproof Nylon pack cloth Are look for ones that Are double stitched and have zippers that open completely when the bags Are attached to the the bags should also detach expect to spend about a set for decent a True Saddle bag one that attaches to and hangs underneath the Saddle provides additional look for the same features As on the the Handlebar bag is probably the most important part of Bike its the storage space for the camera and Money and playing lip radio and who knows what its also a favorite place for storing the Odd chocolate bar or piece of fruit Many biking enthusiasts use As snack along the Bike buying tips straddle the Bike with feet Flat on the the top tube should be half an Inch to one Inch below the the distance from the front Edge of the Saddle to the handlebars should be about the same As from your Elbow to the tip of your Middle adjustments insure that the Saddle and handlebars Are sit on the put your Heel on one pedal and align the pedal Shaft so its at the same Angle As the tube that runs Down from the seat to the your leg should be stretched but not the handlebars should be just level with the Frame aluminium Alloy ones Are the but there out of most Peoples financial look instead for Hig Carbon steel such As Chr memo by Denum or the higher the the lighter and stronger the the Frame tubes should be double butted look for a Collar at the joints instead of a Plain Weld and look under the top tube or if theres a the Frame May Warp or components look for the names Sun Huret and Avocet for saddles and other a wheels ask for a permanently sealed or youll have to repack the wheel bearings at least once a pick up one end of the put the tire valve at the three Oclock position and let the weight of the valve will turn the tire to the six Oclock position on a Well balanced tires there Are two clincher and Tubu the clincher has an inner the tubular does tubular sometimes called Are designed for racing forget get clincher tires with inner for get the widest tires the wheel will gear sprockets on the Small front sprocket should have Between 32 and 40 the Large front sprocket Between 46 and on the the largest sprocket should have at least 26 the smallest should have about 14 Teeth and the other three should be spaced evenly in dont be fooled about 12speeds the added gears rarely increase the bikes push nor Mally the extra two gears Are spaced Between the Large and Small rear gears and give Only closer ratios Between a Novice biker wont notice the if you want More gear youll have to go to a or change the values of your a Bike shop can do the latter easily there Are limitless combinations but youve got to know what to ask for get a bag with a plastic map Case on the and the More Side pockets the the top Flap should open towards the Handlebar bags with Metal support frames Are the plastic ones come fairly but Nylon pack cloth or Canvas is Many experienced bikers also insist on pedal the leather and Metal contraptions that hold the Ball of your foot entered on the theres some Merit to toe clips help in peddling evenly and save expending Energy to keep the foot positioned but begin Ning bikers who May be a Little shaky Are advised to skip the clips for a while taking a spill with the toes anchored to the pedals can be a bicycling wardrobe comes shorts and a shirt or Polo shirt Are great biking and although there Are shoes on the Market designed solely for Tennis or jogging shoes make very adequate there Are Riding which come with a Chamois Crotch for extra grip on the available for those who can stand the streamlined some brands have Terry linings for absorbing Riding gloves Are an important part of a biking Ward and not just for fashion anyone who Ever taken a spill and landed on the Palms of the hands will appreciate the gloves come in a variety of usually with synthetic Hal fingers and padded leather the padding serves double breaking a fall in an Accident while absorbing Road Shock to Cut Down numbing of the