GMC Denali Road Bike The GMC Denali 700C 21-Speed Road Bike is built around a lightweight aluminum road bike frame. You’ll stop on a dime with the alloy calipers and brake levers, and the high-profile alloy Vitesse racing rims look as good as they perform. The Shimano derailleur and Shimano Revo shifts make it easy to change gears quickly and smoothly, and the high-performance 700c tires are up to the challenge of rigorous street racing. Lastly, this road bike will help you stay hydrated with the included alloy water bottle cage.
Specifications:
- Frame: Aluminum 7005 straight gauge
- Fork: GMC Series 7000 steel
- Chain: KMC Z 51
- Crankset: Prowheel Alloy 335P6 28X38X48 170mm
- Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-TZ 31 Index
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30GS 7SPD
- Shifters: Shimano Revo SIS L2/R7
- Brake levers: Promax BL-250AP Aluminum
- Brakes: Promax 501A Alloy Caliper Brake
- Rims: Vitesse Alloy black 700CX14GX36H
- Tires: Kenda Black With Grey Band 700X28C
- Stem: Aluminum black EXT:100mm 0D.
- Handlebar: Maesbend W: 430mm D:22.0mm
- Saddle: Cionlli Black
- Seat post: HL Aluminum Micro Adjust 27.2 X 300mm
- Pedals: VP-990S plastic body with steel cage
- Weight: 29.0 lbs
Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it’s important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for a new bike:
The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:
- Road and Racing Bikes–As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
- Mountain Bikes–With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike–even one that you use regularly on trails–adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
- Comfort/Cruiser Bikes–For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.
The Right Price
A bike’s price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.
- Entry-level–You’ll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
- Mid-range–Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you’re looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
- High-end–Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.
The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:
- Stand-over Height–To find out if a bike’s overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you’ll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you’ll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
- Top Tube Length–You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike’s posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
- Bikes for Women–Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women’s bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.
The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don’t forget these crucial add-ons:
- Helmet (this is a must!)
- Seat pack
- Lock
- Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
- Spare tubes
- Portable bike pump
- Gloves
Customer Review: Ok to start with.
Pros:
Fast
Arrived in one piece
easy adjustments
nice color
Price
Cons:
crank warped (not damaged by shipping)
both Tires misaligned (not damaged by shipping)
china Break pads
Customer Review: Potentially a solid road bike after much needed upgrades.
I purchased the 26" GMC Denali at a local super center for $176 w/tax. My first day of riding, I noticed that the brakes were less than adequate. While attempting to adjust, I found that the front calipers were bent. So I removed them, and reluctantly rode with just the rear brakes. Secondly, I noticed that when shifting, it either misses the gear, or the chain would slip off the crank. It’s safe to say that’s not so good when you got a 16 yr old driving behind you in traffic. Finally, there was a weird noise coming from the bottom bracket and the chain would sometimes rub against the front derailleur.
Anyway, I called a local bike shop and they quoted me $75 for a tune-up, which you must have for any pre-assembled road bike, or $400 for the upgrades. So, rather than spend the extra money, I returned the bike back after riding it for about two weeks. I went ahead and spent the extra money ($600) for a Schwinn Carbon Fiber 1000, and have no regrets. I absolutely love the Schwinn. It’s partially carbon fiber, the components are better quality, it shifts like it’s designed to, the ride is smoother, and the bike only weighs 19.5lbs. Perfect!
The Denali could be a decent bike, but you’d have to upgrade all of the components. And I mean all of them! This upgrade should include the shifters, both derailleurs, the rear cogs, the bottom bracket, and definitely the brakes. Now if you can find the parts used, or maybe locate last year’s stock, you could probably spend less than $300 to upgrade, excluding labor cost. But keep in mind that these newer bikes are not like the ones I rode back in 1980. They’re far more complex, and require more technical skills. But why go through the hassle?
I’m not knocking the Denali, because not everyone can afford to pay $600+ for a bike. But eventually you’re going to spend that amount in repairs, tune-ups and upgrades. The good thing about road bikes is that their prices usually remains the same throughout the year. So why not wait, save up, and purchase a better bike. Check online stores like[...] for price and component comparisons.
Although, the Denali frame is solid and it carries a lifetime warranty; the break downs will take the fun out of the bike. Therefore, I would only recommend the GMC Denali to those who have the skills to upgrade and/or repair it. Other than that, the average person will be constantly visiting the local bike shop and spending unnecessary money.
Finally, the Denali is actually a two star road bike, but I gave it three stars because of it’s potential. However, my review is based on the 2008 model. The 2009 models may be better. I would suggest you do some research first, before deciding. Compare the 2008 components against the 2009 models. Or, even better, go visit your local bike shop and see first hand, the difference between the GMC Denali and a $700 quality bike. You’ll be amazed! Enjoy life and ride safe!
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