--- In bicycles@yahoogroups.com, "September Brown" <gregb@n...> wrote:
> What kind of mountain surface will you be riding up? Roads, dirt,
or both?

Pavement, slightly uneven/warped pavement, rocky pavement (as in, a
lot of crap littering the road), and tiles.

> I'd go for the most gears because of the hills, and if you're going
to be
> going over dirt or rocks, then you'd want wide knobby tires, for
traction
> and stability. If you're going to be on streets, then go for a smooth
> skinny tire that will have less resistance (and use less effort /
energy).
>
> September
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> I'm clueless in the Land of the Rising Sun. The only thing worse than
> not knowing anything about bikes is being in a country where you can't
> even ask and get an understandable answer.
>
> The situation is that I'm living on the side of a mountain - no,
> really - and I need a bike that can get me up the mountain without
> giving me a hernia. Of course, part of my success will be based on how
> I ride, but I want a bike I can really work with.
>
> First bike is a cream beauty with six gears on the rear and two (or
> three) on the front.
>
> Second choice is a sexy number with six gears on the rear.
>
> Third is a...um... I dunno. You know those short bikes shaped kinda
> funky that would look really odd with a basket on it? Maybe it's a
> BMX. Anyways, apparently they'll get me up the hill without quarrel.
>
> But if you just have some pointers or issues that you think I should
> think about, please let me know. I want to buy one pretty soon.
> Probably Sat.
>
> I know it's not a lot of info, but this is all I know. Any suggestions?