>>608930I went through one drivetrain and 4 sets of tires. The switch to decent tires in El Paso drastically improved my tire mileage.
>>608936Not really. I know basic rim/tire repair and cable/brake adjustments, but I can't really do any work on the guts.
>>608938I rode a Trek 8.1 DS hybrid. I got it new for $480. The frame is solid and the drivetrain is decent, but the freewheel and tires aren't adequate for loaded touring. I follow the other anon's suggestion and look for a quality road bike used in your area. The most important factor is size - you can swap out anything else.
And a second for Sheldon Brown, There's wikihow articles for pretty much everything, too.
>>608941Sorry I hadn't kept /out/ up to date. Posting on 4chan from my phone is annoying.
