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gradchica27
Member Posts: 741 Member
Member Posts: 741 Member
Bike recommendations?
gradchica27
Member Posts: 741 Member
Member Posts: 741 Member
For someone interested in riding for about 30-60 minutes a go, sometimes (increasingly) for fitness, sometimes with the family for pleasure, usually flat pavement, sometimes gravel or hard packed dirt.
I’m bewildered by all the possibilities of bike types and categories and am hesitant to walk in to a bike shop for “real” cyclists both bc I don’t know where to start and I don’t want to drop $1000.
All I know is my girl’s sale special from Walmart I got in grad school is not cutting it for comfort or speed. I need something better. I don’t want to totally cheap out and waste $ on something I’ll be annoyed with in a month, but I don’t want to go the opposite direction and splurge on something I don’t need for an activity I’m not sure I’ll increase doing *that* much (it’s that catch 22 of I dislike biking for very long bc my bike is uncomfortable and inefficient, so I don’t know if I’ll use the new one constantly or the same amount as I do now).
Can anyone point me in the right direction on what to look for/type of bike:etc?
I’m bewildered by all the possibilities of bike types and categories and am hesitant to walk in to a bike shop for “real” cyclists both bc I don’t know where to start and I don’t want to drop $1000.
All I know is my girl’s sale special from Walmart I got in grad school is not cutting it for comfort or speed. I need something better. I don’t want to totally cheap out and waste $ on something I’ll be annoyed with in a month, but I don’t want to go the opposite direction and splurge on something I don’t need for an activity I’m not sure I’ll increase doing *that* much (it’s that catch 22 of I dislike biking for very long bc my bike is uncomfortable and inefficient, so I don’t know if I’ll use the new one constantly or the same amount as I do now).
Can anyone point me in the right direction on what to look for/type of bike:etc?
Replies
https://www.sixthreezero.com/
Best value is used, bikes depreciate like cars but they're mechanically simple and tend to hold up well. (There are a lot of people riding 50+ year old bikes.) If you don't want to go used ther's a site called Bikes Direct, but I would use a lot of caution there.
Road bikes are more comfortable than hybrids or MTBs for any amount of time. The curly handlebars are meant for you to move your hands around while you ride, which gives your neck, shoulders, and back relief. The most important thing is that it fits you. A size in either direction is within the limits of adjustability, but the better it fits the more comfortable it will be.
A gravel road bike or cyclocross (CX) are the two categories that are best suited to the kind of riding you described.
People in here can be of some help if you find a few options and want feedback. I wouldn't buy a used carbon bike of unknown provenance, you shouldn't either. It can be structurally compromised in ways that aren't obvious.
Know that "bikes are the new toilet paper," with the pandemic and lockdown situations, people are buying them up for exercise and for transportation. It's a seller's market. Good deals are getting snatched up quickly.
https://www.bikedoctorwaldorf.com/product/trek-fx-2-disc-womens-363116-1.htm
https://www.bikedoctorwaldorf.com/product/trek-marlin-6-womens-364566-1.htm
They only had a few bikes under the $1000 - but that is new
The people at my local "real" bike shop were super nice and helpful when I bought it, BTW. I don't know what your real price point is, but there are quite a few well under $1000 even now. If you visit a shop, what's the worst that could happen? They might be super helpful (as I found), but if they're snooty jerks, that's their problem, you leave, no sale, right?
One possibility to consider, especially if you have any friends who are bike-knowledgeable, though it's a little fraught: I live near a major univeristy. People abandon bikes, even good ones, and lots of them. This university actually repairs the bikes if necessary, then sells them through their salvage operation. Sometime there are really good deals, but it's a little bit "luck of the draw". There are also police agencies that sell off unclaimed bikes in some areas, I believe. For either of these, you want that bike-knowledgeable buddy with you to help evaluate condition and price appropriateness.
I would maybe take a look at Bikes Direct that NorthCascades mentioned. Like he said, use some caution but if you look at the bikes that have the better components, I think you could get a decent bike in your price range. My son got his road bike through them. He didn't get the cheapest but it was under $500. He's had it a few years now and just road it across the country in Feb. and March following the ACA's Southern Tier route so it's served him well.
Most likely avoid any mountain bike (unless you're serious about going off road) or hybrid, especially at that price the spring-coil forks are usually just rubbish and add weight...not to mention those fat-*kitten* tyres..
For around $1K u might be able to pick up something with an alloy frame, carbon fork. Then there is second hand but try to support your local bike guys if you can!
Just my $0.02
My first 'adult' bike was a hybrid which was super fun. My second bike was a mountain bike for riding on trails - also super fun, but very very heavy. You can take a mountain bike on the road, but it's lots of work and not nearly as much fun as... my third bike. My third bike is a gravel road bike. These things are amazeballs fun on the roads. You get great exercise and get the pleasure of going FAST(er) which is super motivating. I agree with @NorthCascades that the type of riding you describe makes me think you should get a gravel road bike.
Also see if you can find a bike shop that specializes in rebuilding bikes. There's a guy in Tucson that everyone knows. He finds quality frames and rebuilds them with high quality components. You tell him what you want, he'll build you a bike that's equal in quality to a new one for half the price.
Tips:
- unless you live near trails buy a road bike or hybrid. Mountain bikes are great for trails but not so great for roads
- be sure you buy a suitable frame size for your height. There are lots of charts online.
- Allow about $75 for a tuneup at a local bike shop and get it done. They will check, clean and lube everything that needs
- Check Craigslist, Facebook messenger and ask at local shops. Many people like to upgrade bikes and the shop may know who has something they no longer want. Some shops even stock used bikes or have them in consignment.
- in my area (central NJ) we have the Trenton Bike Exchange. They rehab, restore etc older donated bikes and sell them with proceeds going to boys and girls clubs. These places have popped up in many locations. This is the absolute best place as you will get a bike that you know is mechanically sound at a fraction of new price with the $ you spend going to a great cause.They can also guide you and make adjustments so the bike fits you (seat position etc)
Good luck! Enjoy.
I am short (with short legs & arms)/small and need a very small bike frame. I was fortunate to get both of mine on clearance at a local bike shop because nobody really fit the frame (or nobody that was shopping there for bikes really fit the frame so they were just sitting there being not sold).
I also started with a Walmart bike. Whatever you choose will be a big step up.
I'm being silly, but "endurance road bike" really is a thing. You sit in a more relaxed posture than a racing bike, it takes slightly bigger tires which provide more comfort, and the gearing is a little bit more suited to hills and gravel. I'd been on racing bikes for ten years, but you can't do gravel on really skinny tires. I find it extremely comfortable, like to ride for a few hours at a time. Again, the drop handlebars add comfort vs flat ones.
I got a huge discount on mine because I got it a month or two before they replaced that model. All they changed was the paint, but that's enough to knock the price down. They gave me electronic shifting (Di2) for the price of mechanical. If you call around to shops near you, there's a good chance you can find a deal on older stock they want to get rid of - especially if you're not one of the most common sizes.
"Good bike" means different things to different people. What matters is that you enjoy riding it, smiles for miles. I drive mine around to ride it on scenic roads (and occasionally trails). It's beautiful, entertaining, and deeply satisfying - plus it makes happy chemicals.
Riding a bike is great exercise, and it's also a great way to burn calories. Because there's no impact you can ride every day if you want to. Good to build up to that, and to make sure it fits well. The main thing to burning calories is how much time you put in, and bikes let you put in as much as you enjoy. Side effects include fitness, transportation, and big smiles.
This is straight up bike porn from a ride I like to do every couple years, from the valley floor up to Washington Pass. Stop for a photo at the top, and then it's car speed most of the way down for 45 minutes. It was hot and sunny down below.
I am eyeing a gravel bike, but both the price tag and lack of availability are hindrances right now. The LBS I talked to last week had TWELVE in stock, and only one my size but a road bike which isn’t quite what I am looking for. (Side note, no new stock of bikes in sight, and the same for kayaks which he also sells... he has ZERO of them in stock).
I have a Cannondale MTB from the mid 90’s that I am currently getting a quote on to rebuild to better suit my needs. I have no idea what numbers he is going to give me next week! Eeek! Trigger shifters are #1 on the list, maybe thinner/smoother tires for road riding, different handlebars, several other things. He actually seemed a bit excited talking through all the options (on the phone he wasn’t sure, but as soon as he saw it he said “oh yeah, we can definitely work with this.”)
Check for used bikes - I second the college town idea because my parents live in a bike friendly college town in Idaho and you can find really nice bikes dirt cheap at places like Goodwill. Pawn shops, Craigslist, OfferUp, Facebook, etc.
motivate just about anyone to take up bike riding! I love seeing them!
Motorcycles were my 2 main wheel vehicle of choice for over 50 yrs. Traveled all over the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe on one over the years
However, I just bought a new 3spd folding bike for just $269 from Green Zone Bikes in Houston for alternative transportation; mainly between car shops and my house. Was think about buying a 7spd eBike from them but couldn't justify the 3x higher cost.
These bikes are fine for flats and a little dirt/gravel and they are extremely easy and convenient to transport. Something to consider if you are not a SERIOUS bicyclist, which I'm not.
$300-400 is not an easy price point to hit with a bike. As a commuter you don't need the top of the line, but you need something of enough quality to be reliable and not give you mechanical difficulty so you can arrive at work on time. It's also hard to find sales right now because it's very much a buyer's market.
I would call local bike shops to see if they have anything in your range. I'd also consider used. Finally, and as a last resort, I'd consider bikes direct and similar places. I'd also watch enough YouTube to learn to do basic maintenance for reliability and budget reasons.
Here's an example of something near your price, it's an upright bike which makes you a little more visible in traffic, and has disc braking which is useful if you'll be commuting in the rain. The gearing goes down to almost 1:1 which is good for hills. I'm not recommending this, just using it as an example. PS - ignore the list prices on this site.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/liberty_fb-xiv.htm
If you commute by bike, check with your car insurance company to see if you can get a discount by having your car classified as a pleasure vehicle.