The Kent Sierra Madre Women’s 26-Inch Comfort Bike has a 16.5-inch lightweight aluminum frame and is equipped with dual suspension to absorb shock and offer a smoother ride. The bike features a high-quality Shimano Revo Megarange Gripshifters and a 21-speed index which makes it easy to ride on a variety of grades and terrains. And the ProMax linear pull brakes combine strong power with light lever action so you can stop on a dime. Its adjustable alloy stem ensures a proper fit and its soft saddle ensures a comfortable ride. I got this as a gift for my partner and she likes it. I test drove it and it works pretty well. It was fairly easy to put together although I needed to take it to a bike shop to get the brakes adjusted correctly. My only criticism is that the gear shifter is a bit weird and clunky and it’s easy to get caught between gears as you’re riding causing the bike to make a slight grinding sound. This is because it uses a twist adjuster so it’s hard to gauge what gears you are on without looking down to see the number display. Of course as you are cruising through traffic this is not recommended! I may be old-fashioned or just haven’t gotten used to it yet, but I prefer the traditional up-down push gears – you can tell where you are by feel. But it rides smoothly otherwise.

Read More

Would Shimano 7800 shift indexing be compatible with either Shimano 7900 or latest Ultegra shifters. The Shimano 7800 group works fine for me but I am getting “jealous” when I see that most gear groups (Shimano, SRAM, Campy) have their shift cables hidden now under the handlebar tape. Change if you really prefer the aesthetic of the newer shifters. On some bikes (and in the hands of some mechanics) a mix of parts will work just fine (personal impressions of just what “working fine” is will vary). Shimano changed the amount of cable that its newer levers pull. I personally love Shimano’s 7800 and rank it as one of the best component groups ever produced. I have 2007 Specialized Tarmac SL s-Works equipped with the Shimano 7800 group. — Vadim Livitz Vadim, Unless your 7800 components are worn out, I wouldn’t recommend changing your parts. The newer calipers are, mechanically-speaking, more powerful and the levers are less powerful. Is it worth changing just to eliminate cable loops inside handlebar. Mixing your old brakes with the new levers will result in a spongier feel, but they will get you stopped. that is, they pull more cable.

Read Article