European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 05, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Wide selection of models available the growing enthusiasm f r hiking has Iii n Matt hed he .1 dram Itu in in the number in models on i i h make buying a hike an of a. General la Mountain Uke. Have it. Low pressure titf., Jet inc h wheels Inch smaller than tin mad lift i Tito a Sam Myk Hanoi bar., bar in mulled Shutt levers Anil lev1 upright Frame angles than Road its. Thiv also weigh. On average More than in \ Les i null for the open mad. Can Mai a Mountain hike invokes How it will be he used Mil. Of course the Price. German Mohrin. Who i m germans a Mountain i Tike shop in Heidelberg West Germany advises mites to my k to less expensive models there Are of of Mountain Bike thai Are assembled in Taiwan and have in me moly instead of aluminium frames he Viii Bui these Are still Good Mountain bikes and the Best but especially for Mohren recommends specialized s hard Rock Model pred at it Marks about $473. With the Chr Rrt to Iier. German value added tax taken off Amer arts can buy the Bike for 77 i Marks about Vior. A s our cheapest Bike and .1 Good value for both on and off Road Riding said Mohren. Loat him Taphorn the co owner of Snow and Bike at lion in bad Homburg. West Germany tells potential buyers who plan to ride mainly on the streets taking an occasional weekend trip through the1 Woods to pay attention to the geometry or Frame angles of the Bike the sportier and More. Amp Ettive bikes have steeper Frame angles which make them a More responsive to Sharp turns but a Little less comfortable he said. Lap Horn suggests i i Merida Switchback Model for those who will ride mostly in the City ii Sells at his shop Tor 799 Marks about $-120. V lists who intend to hit the trails As often As possible should look for a Bike with aggressive1 handling techniques sub As smaller wheelbase steeper Frame angles and lighter weight. There is no of these quicker handling Trail orientated bikes at All Price ranges. He Best place to Start the search h for the perfect Mountain Bike is in a Library or Bookstore. Magazines such As Mountain hit and hey Chang both sold in stars and stripes bookstores have reviews of and advertisements for the latest models bicycling also publishes an annual Bike guide with a Section on Mountain bikes including All the1 guide was in the March 19h9 Issue Mien tomes a visit to a few stores to inspect and if possible test-ride1 some bikes. Americans living in Lairope have three options for buying a Mountain Bike american sports stores local inking shops and Marl order Cata logs. Generally american sports stores offer a less exp Matve selection of Mountain bikes than local Bike stores but the if pres Are better. I hi1 main Kassel sports a lure in Wesl Germany Sells Annandale Raleigh and Scott Mountain bikes. Mauger i Uina Ashley Aid it f in Nondo is with their lighter Alu Minum fames Are a lop seller but Many buyers pick the Rak highs which Are on jul mint Heaper. Canik Ndal Pines begin Al $499 Lor he Smulo Model the most expensive is the emf of which regularly sell for a m but is on Sale Lor while supplies let Rale Ijjas Range from $2fto Lih for the reflection. Manager Doug Brown said the sports store in Kaiser Lautem West Germany stocks Annandale i Lull v. Schwamn Peugeot and Bra models. The Thea Pesl is the Huffy stalker at $um,95. The top of the line is the Cannondale 9m90u at sh95 the american sports store Al rat Mildenhall in i England has a selection of Mountain bikes that begins with the i Ustiy stalker at $104.05 and ranges up to the Peugeot Cru at s2f�5. I of Al biking stores usually Are More expensive than american sports stores bul the benefits of buying on the Economy include a wide selection of models and the spec tally services offered. At f Harrad a runner in Darmstadt West Germany More than 10 makes Are available with multiple models in Stock from each company. There Are also several models available in women s versions such As the in Geol Chambord at 195 Marks of durum i explorer 1 eth " it 1 in Marks hand tin Kuwahara Cougar ubic h Sells Tor 1 v 9 Marks Gemma in i Arnes , including its own models. Its Prit is from b9lt Marks cf47 1 Lor the Speziali de Hanl Roik up to Marks $1,00 for the Merlin mob. bikes Are also big Sellers in shops in England. Multiple brands including several in Gish versions h As Muddy i of Are available. Al Richmond Cut Les in Middlesex Lingua my Price s Start at 19h pounds la 1 for the Peugeot laser and Range up to 1 or o pounds $ t flu for the top of the line Richmond s own Handbill Model. Italian Mountain bikes such As the i Rinarello Brand have a Good reputation but Are aug on average More expensive than american models a Truppi Bic Ijmte in Naples Prit is Range from lire about $314 for the Bianchi i Edalor to to million lire about $2. 1 i j for he Piaggio i a Cuba a. Buying a Bike from a t Ala lug has disadvantages including possible postal delays shipping costs and As always with mail order purchases the element of the unknown. But Catalon shopping can be cheaper. And the savings can outweigh the problems. Companies that ship to Apo addresses overseas include Bike ology of Santa Monica Calif., and Point Reyes bikes of Point Reyes Calif. Performance of Chapel Hill n.c., and re of Seattle also occasionally list Mountain bikes in their Cata logs and will ship to Apo addresses for an extra charge. More information on these and other mail order companies can be found in biking Maga Ines. . Above racers unload their Mountain bikes. At right scones from Tow race a solitary moment on the Trail top Linda Harvey at the head of the starting line lower left and dirty bikes and tired re cars at the finish Tine Tower right. The Choice of trails is yours Lucy to bikt1, ill a hts sky or at , i Higlin. h it hols of i Leirl Elberg we. l 1 Lake his Bike on the logging trails near Wall off. 11 ills also recommends Bavaria where there s it us Riml Riding and Beautiful scenery. A weekend around the1 Konig see. Is a great trip for Mountain bikers he said Kalv Giff a services technician at 112 Hilti Magazine october a /989
