Need new bike advice

Oh I love my Camelback, but everyone has their preference.
I want a road bike too :bigsmile: I had my eyes set on the Bella Litespeed, but my husband is conveinced I would kill myself on a road bike hahha! :laugh:

Even though we don't have road bikes, we only ride on road. My hubby and I both have Litespeed MTB. I call them crossovers!
I use to ride an old Trek mens frame. It was ridiculous, I finally switched to a women's specific frame.
I'm not sure how tall you are. You maybe able to get away with a men's frame, but I would suggest a womens bike.
My advice to you is to go to a bike shop and have yourself fitted to a bike.

As far as price. I'm not sure what you can get for under 300.00 that would be good for long distance rides. It makes a BIG difference to ride a good bike when you are riding 60 miles plus.
My bike is custom and is priced around 4000.00...OUCH!!! and that was with a frame I searched 2 yrs to find at a discounted price.
I have top of the line components only because I ride long distances. We take a lot of trips to do nothing but ride and having great components seriously could make or break a ride. .
Plus, I hung up the car keys and I ride my bike to work everyday, weather permitted of course. :happy:
So if you look at it this way the money I save on gas and the price of my bike....it all comes out in the wash hehehe!
So your best bet is to hit the bike shops and look around and you maybe able to find something good on Ebay too.
Good luck and keep on peddling :bigsmile:
Kel~
p.s. Mine came with water bottle cages, but I ditched them for the Camelback :bigsmile:

I never knew girls bikes didn't have a water bottle holder??? My mountain bike is a guys, just because I wanted the stronger frame...It has two screws on the frame where you can add one. I use a camelback for long rides when I'm off road, and then I add the holder for about town and on light trails. Anyway... I didn't know that?

What brands/types are you looking at for now?

As to men's bike: yes. Good idea. Women bikes were originally build for women wearing skirts. You wear that when you ride? You should look for a women specific saddle.

Good luck

I SO disagree with you on the womens specific bike and wearing a skirt...WHAT THE???
After my ride today...I'll so you a skirt!
And I know alot of women that would disagree with that statement as well.
Have you ever seen bikes by Terry??? SWEEEETTTT Bikes!
It's like telling a women to wear men's pants. We are women and we are built different!
Also a mens frame doesn't mean it would be a stronger frame. I have a womens, titanium frame by Litespeed.
It's a very strong sturdy frame that should last me forever!
Bottom line is we are all shaped different and it's what works for you. I rode a mens frame for 4 yrs and never realized how wrong it was for me until I got my "WOMEN" frame.
Have fun shopping for your new bike. Kel~

I SO disagree with you on the womens specific bike and wearing a skirt...WHAT THE???
After my ride today...I'll so you a skirt!

Well, you may not agree with that, but that doesn't change facts now does it? Unless you show me proof I still believe my books and that historically this the reason to build women frames :happy:

I know that women are build different and seeing the mileage you put on your bike it is certainly justified to find the ride that fits best. But for someone who looks for an inexpensive bike for exercise and to get started, a DF frame that fits should be just fine.

The cheapest Terry bike starts at more than $600, and the next one up is already beyond $1000. So how does THAT help her?

When you go back to the Terry web site Diva, look at the frames they are ALL, with no exception, Diamond Frames. The geometry is different, yes but it is still a DF. I wonder why.........

Just got a new bike. My old (15 year+) Specialized Mountain Bike finally had enough. I wanted a road bike too as my mountain biking days are pretty much over. (Due to a slight mishap off a cliff a couple years ago and the fact that I cant bear to watch my 12 year old - he's getting too good and I start getting all mommy when I go with them!).
The racing road bikes I was looking at started at $1,500 - and they arent very good. I ended up with a "commuter" bike. Not a hybrid - its pure road bike, but not racing. I generally go by myself and I am not mechanically inclined at all and the skinny tires and shifting/chain mechanisms seemed too much for me. The one I have is suppossedly idiot proof as far as the gears and shifting. It was also under $800. Not the greatest if you are going to go over 50 miles consistenly, but the seat pole has shocks on it and you can always switch the seat out if you want. The shocks in the seat dont really do much and I either jump bumps or stand up anyway out of habit from mountain biking. Its a pretty comfortable bike. The only other down side is that its only 8 gears. The guys at the store told me that it's lowest gear would be lower than my old bike and the highest would be higher. That part wasnt exaclty true as I live in a very hilly area and the first few times I rode up my street it felt like my new bikes 1st gear was similar to my old bikes 4th or 5th. Oh well, my legs are alot stronger now as a result!!

Go to your local bike shop and tell them exactly what you just told us. The guy here was fabulous. I have a hybrid. Just got it and love it. He also told me that when and if I wanted to road bike that they take trades. It does not hurt to ask. Also, with bikes, you get what you pay for. Go somewhere where they know what they are doing and let them fit you properly. It makes a difference. You may pay a little more than you are hoping but man, I wish I had done it months ago. My whole body would have loved me more!