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Seeking opinions: What is the simplest and most reliable gear system?

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2timer

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Good day gentlemen. I hope this post is in the correct forum. I was wondering what you guys opinions are on bike gear systems, specifically one that is well known for being simple and reliable. I currently own a Walmart bike which is fine for getting around town, especially on pabike lanes and the many paved bike trails in Colorado. However when I ride, I stay in the first three gears always. I switch the first set of 3 gears but I don't like to switch up to the 2nd set because it's hard to get back to the first gears (it's a cheap bike).

I want to do some long distance road cycling. My long term goal is to ride from Colorado Springs to Denver by bike. Currently, the bike I own doesn't inspire much confidence in me because the chain and gear system feels cheap and looks difficult to work on.

So I wanted to ask, can you guys recommend a particular gear system (eg, Sturmey Archer) that is simple and sturdy? I'm asking in hopes that I can learn much more about my bike, take off the chain and clean it periodically, and go on long distance trips where I can shift into a higher gear and maintain speeds around 25-30 mph.

Like I said, I'm really wanting to stay away from the more complex systems. Something that is well built and perhaps lends itself to self maintenance. I'm looking to buy a bike for my birthday in October and my budget is $400. I don't need an aluminum frame, disc brakes, or even shocks, since I plan to stay pretty close to paved trails and bike lanes. The only thing I really need in a bike is a sturdy gear shift.

Thanks for any and all help! 😀
 
I bike, but I honestly don't know too much about the gear systems. You might want to repost this on a bike-specific forum. You'll get better answers there, I imagine 🙂
 
Have you brought the bike in for maintenance at all? The cables used for shifting and braking stretch a bit from use (especially early on). You may be able to get your current gear system working well with a simple tune up. I would also suggest replacing the tires on the bike with slick, higher pressure tires than what most likely came with the bike.

I wouldn't fool around with replacing the gears on that bike. Serious bike parts are standard to a specific size wheel. You're more likely to spend a good bit of money for marginal differences than you are to get a real gain in reliability.

I think your best bet is to stop in at local bike shops and look at entry level road bikes (though you may need to up your budget a bit). Ask if they have any used bikes in stock, you might be able to get a good deal that way. At a minimum they'll help you figure out what a good fit would be and you can check craig's list / ebay from there.
 
Ghiedo27 covered what you should do pretty well.

I'd really recommend just hitting up a local bike shop. Stay away from a chain retailer bike shop and find one that's locally owned and has a small shop, because those guys, more often than not, will actually listen to your needs and help you (instead of just try to convince you to buy something outrageously beyond your needs). Take your bike in and get it tuned up. You may find that a $50 tune-up can set you straight and you won't need to buy new. On the other hand, if you're really serious about taking longer distance road trips, you probably want to look at what they have to offer for road bikes at the shop. You can buy a decent entry level bike for $400.

You're worrying too much about the "gear system". If you're looking for some amazing gearing system that's out of this world and hi-tech, maintenance-free, super-duper, you'll never find it without spending egads amounts of cash. The cable-chain-derailleur system is 99.9% standard on all bikes, up to those that retail for tens of thousands of dollars, signed by racing champions or legendary wrenchers.

Again, best thing for you to do is just go to your local shop and talk with a guy there. They'll get you on the right track. 😉
 
Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions.

I did about 12 miles today, I was downtown and rode by a cool looking bike shop in the commerce area. It was closed at the time, but now that I have a location I'll be going back shortly.
 
There are lots of very reliable drivetrains and shifters at almost all price points except for the big-box super-cheap ones. If you're going to do a lot of cycling, a quality used bike
  1. in good mechanical condition
  2. that has a drivetrain you can still get parts for (NOT Suntour stuff)
  3. in a frame size that suits your leg length and arm reach
would be a decent option. Size is really important; some bikes come in 6 or 7 frame sizes ranging from 11.5" to 23". Don't buy one that's not the right size, no matter how it's priced. Also, the average cyclist is not good at recognizing a Frankenbike that's been cobbled together from several incompatible donor bikes, or at assessing mechanical condition, so if you find one you might buy, get it assessed by a trustworthy bicycle mechanic or accept your risks.
 
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