Finding a bike to ride

dancermom11
dancermom11 Posts: 13 Member
edited December 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi fitness family! I am looking into purchasing a good bike for not only riding around in my neighborhood but also along long paths along the roadways.My husband things what I have now will not work.I have a inexpensive rusty mountain bike from walmart.He wants me to get a better for quality bike with the thinner tires.But I have no idea what would be good.Do any of you ride bikes ?.Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. Christine

Replies

  • cb83580
    cb83580 Posts: 136 Member
    Go to a biking store and get fitted properly. A perfectly sized bike makes a huge difference in how it feels and handles when you ride. You'll also find a much nicer quality bike in a bike shop than you will in department stores. A Schwinn you find in a bike shop is vastly different from a similar Schwinn at Walmart in terms of quality.

    If you figure out what you want and what will work for you, you may be able to find a nice used one on Craigslist or Ebay for cheaper :)

    If you're not planning on taking it on any major off-road trips, a hybrid might be a nice option. It's a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike.
  • smpreston
    smpreston Posts: 262 Member
    If you are on paved or hard packed paths (stonedust, etc.), then I like the idea of a hybrid bike. Go to a bike store and see what they have to offer. It will cost more than a cheap one from a big box store, but you will be getting something better. Thinner tires offer lower rolling resistance making your raides faster with less effort. A hybrid bike has a comfortable upright riding postition, but enough gearing to allow you to get to a good speed. You can even get them with shock absorbing seat posts and comfy saddles for a smoother ride.

    A good bike shop will offer a tune-up after 30 days or so to make any final adjustments. They will also be there if you do run into a problem. You won't find support liket hat at a big box store.
  • zoom2
    zoom2 Posts: 934 Member
    If I could only have one bike it would be a cyclocross bike. Similar to a road bike, but with a heavier-duty frame and clearance for either skinny road tires or somewhat wider tires with more tread (so almost a hybrid of a mountain bike and road bike). That's what I'm on in my profile photo and on the right in my ticker. My absolute dream bike would be a titanium CX bike with disc brakes...maybe someday...
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    If I could only have one bike it would be a cyclocross bike. Similar to a road bike, but with a heavier-duty frame and clearance for either skinny road tires or somewhat wider tires with more tread (so almost a hybrid of a mountain bike and road bike). That's what I'm on in my profile photo and on the right in my ticker. My absolute dream bike would be a titanium CX bike with disc brakes...maybe someday...

    very much this ^
  • shawnp80134
    shawnp80134 Posts: 86
    Yea, the previous posts are right on. Go to a bike shop and get fitted. I use a road bike to commute to work everyday, it is head-n- shoulders above what you'd get at another store, plus once you do get the right bike, you will enjoy it so much more.
  • zoom2
    zoom2 Posts: 934 Member
    Yea, the previous posts are right on. Go to a bike shop and get fitted. I use a road bike to commute to work everyday, it is head-n- shoulders above what you'd get at another store, plus once you do get the right bike, you will enjoy it so much more.

    Very true. Up until 2.5 years ago I'd always been on POS bikes that didn't fit me well and it was never much fun or comfortable. And then I got my first properly fitted road bike at a legitimate bike shop. I pedaled 3500 miles in my first year (in addition to running 1000) and last year pedaled over 4k miles. I've since discovered the fun of duathlons and cyclocross and mountain biking, too. Someday I may give up running almost entirely to see what I can do if I put all of my energies into cycling.
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    In theory, big box store bikes aren't bad.
    they just:
    - have very heavy frames (slower, harder to move)
    - unskilled workers assembling them
    - proprietary components (when something breaks, you can't fix it)
    - poor quality bearings (harder to move, breaks quicker)
    - poor quality tires (harder to move, more flats)

    For what you describe, anything will work. A mountain or BMX bike would be least efficient and a road bike would be most efficient.
  • zoom2
    zoom2 Posts: 934 Member
    In theory, big box store bikes aren't bad.
    they just:
    - have very heavy frames (slower, harder to move)
    - unskilled workers assembling them
    - proprietary components (when something breaks, you can't fix it)
    - poor quality bearings (harder to move, breaks quicker)
    - poor quality tires (harder to move, more flats)

    For what you describe, anything will work. A mountain or BMX bike would be least efficient and a road bike would be most efficient.

    And the big box bikes only come in one-size-fits-few. I keep seeing photos of bikes with the fork on backwards, too...at least 3 of my friends have bought bikes for their kids with dangerous reversed forks.
  • digitalbill
    digitalbill Posts: 1,410 Member
    Hi fitness family! I am looking into purchasing a good bike for not only riding around in my neighborhood but also along long paths along the roadways.My husband things what I have now will not work.I have a inexpensive rusty mountain bike from walmart.He wants me to get a better for quality bike with the thinner tires.But I have no idea what would be good.Do any of you ride bikes ?.Thanks for any thoughts or ideas. Christine
    I found a used Cannondale H400 on Craigslist.
    It is a Hybred (hence the "H")
    Basically, it is a mountian bike frame but with skinier tiers but fatter thres then a full on road bike.
    In any case, check out Craigslist and then get it adjusted by a bike shop if needed.
  • dancermom11
    dancermom11 Posts: 13 Member
    Wow!Thank you so much for all the great advice!! It helped me make a decision and that was....That I purchased a Fuji Absolute 4.0 Hybrid bike in the small size(I am only 5 foot).It is PERFECT!! I went riding already and It is AWESOME! I got a helmet ,kickstand ,and water bottle holder put in.I biked six miles yesterday and I am aiming on riding 6 days a week! Oh and I did go to Advanced Cycles here in Orlando.They were very helpful and I can bring it in once a month for service!!So glad I did this instead of buying from Walmart.Thanks so much all my MFP friends! Christine
  • g0tr00t
    g0tr00t Posts: 192 Member
    Awesome, now make sure you get a bike computer and start tracking your miles, heart rate, speed, calories burned, etc... :happy:
  • dancermom11
    dancermom11 Posts: 13 Member
    I was thinking about that! Do you know of any good ones you recommend ? Thanks! Christine
  • g0tr00t
    g0tr00t Posts: 192 Member
    I was thinking about that! Do you know of any good ones you recommend ? Thanks! Christine

    I have a Bontrager Trip 4 (http://bontrager.com/model/08862) that I bought when I first purchased the bike. I would NOT get it again. I like the fact that it tracks my miles (odometer), but when I replace the battery, it get deleted. I also bought a cheap one from Target, its actually better than the Bontrager,, but again limited in use.

    So, I was looking at getting a "nice" one to track my speed/cadence and heart rate. A friend of mine at work rides in and he has the Garmin 500. I needed something more mobile, so I went with the Motorola Motoactv which does my spin class, weight lifting, walking, running, etc..

    If you want just a bike computer, skip the Garmin 200 and go for the Garmin 500, its a really nice small size and is great for micro managing your cycling (like I do). You can usually find it for a pretty good deal on Amazon.
  • novatri
    novatri Posts: 262 Member
    I like the Cateye line of bike computers. Corded computers will be the least expensive. The only features you need are distance and speed. Cadence is nice but that ups the price. The calorie counting function is total bs so skip anything with that and either log it into mfp or get a heart rate monitor if you want more accurate calorie counting.
  • dancermom11
    dancermom11 Posts: 13 Member
    Thank you.I will check out that model!
  • dancermom11
    dancermom11 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks! I will look at the Garmin 500.I already have a heart rate monitor watch with a chest strap so maybe all I really need is one that measures distance and speed but I will check it out.Oh and by the way,I watched that documentary you recommended called FAT,Sick and Nearly Dead. It was very good! I wonder if I could drink that stuff for a month!Thanks,Christine
  • g0tr00t
    g0tr00t Posts: 192 Member
    Thanks! I will look at the Garmin 500.I already have a heart rate monitor watch with a chest strap so maybe all I really need is one that measures distance and speed but I will check it out.Oh and by the way,I watched that documentary you recommended called FAT,Sick and Nearly Dead. It was very good! I wonder if I could drink that stuff for a month!Thanks,Christine

    Hey Christine, yeah that documentary is really good. The only thing I disagree with, and its just me being me, is I don't agree with the 30 day cycle. What I did is bought the Breville juicer and I replaced my lunch with a green drink (7 days a week) I pour it into 2 Polar bottles and throw it in the fridge. Some days I even make smoothies for the kids with it. I just don't agree with 30 day, 6 week, 8 week "diets". To me a diet is your eating habits. I changed my diet about 2 years ago and haven't looked back.

    If I went on 30 days juicing, I don't think I would survive with the biking/exercising I do. :happy: All I have ever seen and done (tried the "fad diets") was the weight came back after going back to my "normal diet". My doctor, a D.O., and his dietician have changed my life forever.

    Good luck to you!
  • forsettii
    forsettii Posts: 29
    I use an application on my phone called MapMyRide.

    MapMyFitness.com

    But I use it when I walk and ride my bike to tell me how far I have gone.
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    A hybrid is a great choice.

    However, what distances do you expect to travel?

    For me, anything regular, less than 20 Km. A hybrid is fine.

    If you plan to be a little more adventurous? Some version of a street bike (similar to the old fashioned 10 speeds) would be better.

    Also, check out bike shops! What ever bike you chose should have a frame that fits your body. Finding this at a box store is not always easy! For the very little extra a bike shop charges, you will most likely get a bike fit for you that will last much longer than a box store bike.
  • LesaDave
    LesaDave Posts: 1,480 Member
    Well, you already have your bike; but I still have a comment. I have a Bianchi, and I absolutely LUV it. I bought my first REAL bike 3 yrs ago and I could not BELIEVE the diff! I enjoy going on the trails. People had said that you can tell the diff, but I didn't believe them. The initial cost kinda scared me, but I will NEVER go back to a "wanna be" bike. And now that I have two, the price means NUTHIN now.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Another vote for a Hybrid. I got a Specialized Sirrus in 2008 (2007 model year clearance) for about $400, added a rack and more road-worthy tires, and I have something vaguely approaching road-bike efficiency (I can do my 14-mile-each-way commute in hilly terrain on it!) while still being able to carry clothing to work or the results of a modest bout of grocery shopping home. After 4 seasons and well over 2,000 miles of riding in rain, sun, gravel, and even a bit of snow, I'm finally having to replace components (brakes, cables, chain, sprockets, well, pretty much everything, but $250 will see it all done!). I'd have needed a lot fewer repairs if I had checked the chain 1,000 miles ago when it apparently started wearing out and chewing up the sprockets on me (word to the wise).

    It's rigged for pavement, but does reasonably well in hard gravel (I have a 1/4 mile gravel driveway), and I could put grippier tires on it if I wanted to go on packed trails more frequently. It'd be fairly useless on a dirt/soft trail, but I have an Acadia Cruiser for when I want to get more dirty and/or have a more leisurely ride.

    But go to a local bike shop and get fitted properly for a bike that works for you. It'll cost extra, but you'll want to ride it more. Wal-Mart and bog box bikes are usually low-end junk, and even the major-branded ones they carry generally have really low-end derailleurs, tires, etc. Plus there's no one qualified to fit it for you, and you'll probably have to pay someone to get it set up properly unless you have the tools and skills to adjust the gearing and stuff yourself. Wal-Mart usually assembles the bike, but rarely do they set it up properly. It's really disheartening when the gears don't work or the brake rubs.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Wow!Thank you so much for all the great advice!! It helped me make a decision and that was....That I purchased a Fuji Absolute 4.0 Hybrid bike in the small size(I am only 5 foot).It is PERFECT!! I went riding already and It is AWESOME! I got a helmet ,kickstand ,and water bottle holder put in.I biked six miles yesterday and I am aiming on riding 6 days a week! Oh and I did go to Advanced Cycles here in Orlando.They were very helpful and I can bring it in once a month for service!!So glad I did this instead of buying from Walmart.Thanks so much all my MFP friends! Christine

    Congrats!

    One thing I would add for sure is a mirror if you plan on any sort of road riding. I have one that sticks out of the end of my handlebar. Seeing the cars approaching me is really useful. Turning my head around to look can cost valuable response time for hazards in front of me.

    Another thing you'll want if you ride any great distance is a frame pump and a "trunk" with repair gear. You at least want to be able to field-repair a flat tire. A lot of local bike shops hold informational clinics on tire repair/replacement that are free or very inexpensive. I generally avoid the CO2 cartridge type inflaters, because once the cartridge runs out you're out of luck. A frame pump is more work, but I have plenty of air available to me - as much as my arms can pump.

    I added a steel rack that I can attach dry-bag panniers to, and cheap polycarbonate fenders to mine, but it's a commuter and I ride in the rain and need to carry a change of clothes and lunch.

    I also put 125PSI 700x25 road tires on it, since I ride on the road. I currently run a type called "Armadillo" (I think it's from Specialized), and It's been 1500 miles since my last flat tire, riding through glass on a frequent basis - I used to have at least one flat a week when I rode 150 miles a week.
  • JamCubeChi
    JamCubeChi Posts: 378 Member
    I am not a big rider but do enjoy it when I go (it's been quite a while)- I bought a mountain bike a Walmart about 2 years ago and have bene so disappointed -I've only been on it about 2 times so far. I main complaint is the seat. OMG- pain-- my daugher was in town lasst week and rode it and had the same complaints. I think after reading some of the responses you have received from others, that I will also go to a "bike shop" to get fitted and maybe see if I can pick up one someplace (Amazon or craigslist) as I know they can get pretty expensive at the bike shops and I am working wtih a limited budget now.:smile:
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    I am not a big rider but do enjoy it when I go (it's been quite a while)- I bought a mountain bike a Walmart about 2 years ago and have bene so disappointed -I've only been on it about 2 times so far. I main complaint is the seat. OMG- pain-- my daugher was in town lasst week and rode it and had the same complaints. I think after reading some of the responses you have received from others, that I will also go to a "bike shop" to get fitted and maybe see if I can pick up one someplace (Amazon or craigslist) as I know they can get pretty expensive at the bike shops and I am working wtih a limited budget now.:smile:

    Most bike shops will (for reasonable money) get the bike properly adjusted and set up for you. Prepare for some comments about the quality of the bike, but understand that bike shops run into Wally World specials all the time and they are experienced at making a bike fit you properly (even if you have one of the wrong size, which is common, they can help you make the most of it by adjusting the seat and getting the gears and brakes set up and the wheels trued properly).

    Cheap box store bikes will at the very least generally use standard equipment, so your local bike shop probably has a wall of replacement seats available for sale. Talk to them and tell them what kind of riding you do, and chances are you can get that seat replaced with something nicer (that can move with you to a better bike if you ever get the funds to upgrade).

    If you want to do any sort of distance riding - BUY BIKE SHORTS. Seriously - I have over 2,000 miles on a pair of cutoff jeans and resisted bike shorts for years, thinking I'd have to look like a Lance Armstrong wannabe with square bits of foam sticking out of my *kitten*. I now have a pair of shorts with about 350 miles on them and what a difference! I got a $60 pair from L L Bean that has compression shorts with a bike-seat-shaped cushion then a pair of regular-looking shorts that go on over them. I'm in so much less pain now, and I can rest a lot more weight on the seat. Best $60 I've spent in my cycling career.

    If your point is exercise, once you have the bike adjusted to you, it'll probably work just fine. You won't get great efficiency or a very nice ride, but it sure beats sitting inside on a stationary bike looking out at the sunny day! ;)
  • g0tr00t
    g0tr00t Posts: 192 Member
    I am not a big rider but do enjoy it when I go (it's been quite a while)- I bought a mountain bike a Walmart about 2 years ago and have bene so disappointed -I've only been on it about 2 times so far. I main complaint is the seat. OMG- pain-- my daugher was in town lasst week and rode it and had the same complaints. I think after reading some of the responses you have received from others, that I will also go to a "bike shop" to get fitted and maybe see if I can pick up one someplace (Amazon or craigslist) as I know they can get pretty expensive at the bike shops and I am working wtih a limited budget now.:smile:

    With Craigslist, I would be careful. Honestly, if I wanted to buy online, I would avoid craigslist all together. Those bikes are a hit or miss, I don't like to gamble with something that is going to put me within 3 feet of a car only to find out the frame has cracks or who knows what else.

    Try this place for online bikes. From the bike forums, they have a great reputation.
    http://bikesdirect.com/
  • KBGirts
    KBGirts Posts: 882 Member
    In theory, big box store bikes aren't bad.
    they just:
    - have very heavy frames (slower, harder to move)
    - unskilled workers assembling them
    - proprietary components (when something breaks, you can't fix it)
    - poor quality bearings (harder to move, breaks quicker)
    - poor quality tires (harder to move, more flats)

    For what you describe, anything will work. A mountain or BMX bike would be least efficient and a road bike would be most efficient.

    And the big box bikes only come in one-size-fits-few. I keep seeing photos of bikes with the fork on backwards, too...at least 3 of my friends have bought bikes for their kids with dangerous reversed forks.

    I used to work in a pro shop that did repairs on any brand. We saw this ALL THE TIME..... along with pedals that were misthreaded and would snap off at any moment!
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