So I'm gonna buy a bicycle

In My Humble Opinion
1

In an effort to get off my ass a bit more often, I’ve been thinking for a while about buying a bicycle. I set a goal in my online poker winnings, and I finally hit it not long ago, so I’ve cashed out and I’m ready to go.

First of all, I haven’t done much cycling since early in high school. I did a lot of BMX-type riding back in those days, and I really enjoyed it, which is what has always made me think I’d enjoy doing it as an adult.

I’ve looked at all of the different kinds of bikes, and the type I’m most drawn to is a hybrid. As a beginner, I’d like something that does a little bit of everything. I’ll mostly be riding around town and in the local parks, and I wouldn’t mind doing my four-mile commute to work once I got comfortable with it.

I know that a used bike can be a great value, but as I’m a short guy with short legs, I fear that I’d be looking forever to find a bike that fit me well. I also happen to have what a lot of people consider to be a top-notch bike shop in town with Cycles de Oro, and everyone says they’ll be able to help me find the right bike and get into using it.

Right now I’m planning to spend about $500, and I would like that to include the basic accessories to get me going. My first visit to Cycles de Oro (quite a while back, so I don’t remember any specific bikes) makes me think this is reasonable. I have heard equally passionate arguments for why I should spend at least twice that and why I should spend half that, but I’m willing to be swayed.

So what advice would you give me? Brands? Features? Questions to ask? Things to avoid?

2

First off don’t buy a cheap bike. They are ungodly heavy, use very poor components and will break soon.
For $500 you should be able to get a decent hybrid for about that. Pony up another hundred or two so and you can get a nice road bike, or a pretty good hardtail mountain bike.
The argument for spending more money to start is that you will go longer before you replace the bike. My first adult bike was a $200 hybrid. I liked riding, but could not do all the things I wanted to with that bike. When it got stolen, I replaced it with a $800 hardtail, then a year or so later, I added a $1200 road bike so it would not get lonely parked in the garage. :smiley: I am currently lusting after a $2000 wonderbike
Many thousands of miles later I still have both of those bikes, and still ride both of them.
Your money, your call.
One of the decisions you will have to face is grip shift or levers. I have friends that think that grip shifts are the coolest things since sliced bread. I hate the damn things. Ride both and decide which side of the fence you are on.
You probably won’t find clipless pedals in this price range, but if you do decide you want clipless, the shop can outfit you.
As far as brands go, all of the major brands (defined as what you bike shop carries NOT what Wal-Mart carries) will be good, it boils down to personal preference, and what feels good to you. A good bike shop will let you test ride several bikes, so you can get a good comparison. Just for giggles, after you try the hybrids, ask them to let you try a regular mountain bike, and then a road bike. You may find that after riding, you prefer something other than the hybrid.
Good luck, and don’t forget the technical term for someone who rides without a helmet is Organ Donor :smiley:

3

I think $500 will get you a good bike, but that’s about as low as you’ll want to go, IMO. You should budget that money for just the bike, then spend a little extra for accessories.

The bike shop you linked to looks like they could set you up nicely. Specialized and Giant are good brands to start with. Comfort and fit is very important - if you’re not comfortable and the bike doesn’t fit or if you just don’t like the look of it for some reason you’re not going to ride.

As for accessories you should budget in a helmet, gloves, and some casual riding shoes. At the very least a helmet. I doubt they’ll let you go out the door without strenuously trying to sell you one. Riding shorts are a good investment as well but maybe you want to wait before throwing down for those. Nothing beats a good jersey made of the latest hi tech moisture wicking fabric. T shirts can really be a drag after a while.

If you’re going to park the bike a lot you should get a lock. If you’re going to ride to work and park the bike outside you’re going to want to lock the front wheel to the frame, lock the seat to the frame or take the seat with you, and lock the bike to a pole or bike rack. For bonus safety lock the rear wheel to the frame while you’re at it.

A simple lighting setup (blinky on the back, a cateye on the handlebars) is good if you’re going to be riding at dusk or later. More for people to see you than for you to see the road. You’ll also want some kind of reflective material.

Oh, and an extra tube, patch kit and pump. And water bottles. Cages to hold the bottles as well. Maybe a couple of powerbars or GUs for the longer rides.

So now that you have all this crap, you need something to carry it in and your choices are mainly bike delivery-type bag, day pack, or panniers. You might want to start with a simple bike bag. It’s enough to carry a change of clothes, lock(s), is highly adjustable in terms of where it sits on your body, and it’s easy to access. The absolute necessities you can stuff into an under the saddle pouch or attach to the bike directly.

But first - get on the bike and enjoy the ride. Then you can start getting into all the various and sundries as the need arises

4

Well, since you did the first thing (research), I won’t recommend that.

That said, I have a cheap hybrid that I bought without having researched or known what I was doing (and while being scammed by a certain bike shop in the area.) It’s been relatively serviceable. But, replacement components are near impossible to find…

That said, while it’s heavier than a road bike, so it won’t go fast, it isn’t really good on roads anyway, and I found out 3 months after purchasing it that a road bike would have been a much better buy for me.

It’s also heavier than a mountain bike. But while heavy, it isn’t actually stable, so I wouldn’t take it near a trail, it wouldn’t last.

It is basically ideally suited for leisurely Sunday afternoon rides with small children where you stop frequently and talk to them. For anything else, there are better bike choices out there. (It won’t work for commuting).

Try everything, get an actual fit (especially if you’re oddly shaped - though short legs will probabaly not be a problem). Ride the bikes for as long as they’ll let you at the store.

5

I would look at a mountain bike over the hybrid. You can put street tires on a mountain bike for road use and still take it on trails. Speciailized has a nice lineup of bikes which should get you started. Check out the Rockhopper, Stumpjumper and P series bikes. Get a bike with a decent front shock too. Riding is a great way to get in shape.

6

I’m getting a bike soon, too. I guess the $150 WalMart special is out of the question, huh? I don’t want it for speed. I want it for the workout, which I don’t see how I could NOT get it, even with a heavy, slow bike. Is it dorky for an adult to get a basket for their bicycle? I never had one as a kid, and I think I’d like that part. :cool:

7

About 3 years ago, I went to a reputable bike dealer in Indianapolis, and bought a Raleigh (British brandname) hybrid for about $250. I’m beefy, and I wanted my bike to be beefy, too.

I’ve put lots of miles on it, and it’s been extremely dependable. In fairness, I only ride it on paved roads, or maintained unpaved trails. I’m too old for off-roading. The bike has been rock solid dependable, and the only mechanical failure was when I broke off a pedal via metal fatigue. Those have been replaced by beefier pedals.

At the same time I got mine, I bought my son a Gary Fisher mountain bike. He’s harder on his than I am on mine (teenagers are like that), and he’s had no problems with his that he didn’t cause himself. The idiot bent his front wheel when he tried to jump a pothole…

8

I think a pannier on a rear rack would be more useful. A basket can interfere with a headlight, and carrying a heavy load on a handlebar-mounted basket affects steering. Also, you can carry much larger objects on a rack by strapping it with bungee cords.

(And no, I don’t think it’s dorky, but I’m a recumbent bike rider so don’t trust my judgement on that point. :stuck_out_tongue: )

9

A hybrid is a good compromise, however, I’d recommend a hard-tail mountain bike for more versatility. There are a myriad number of tires available, from slicks for street riding, combo’s for road/dirt, and gnarly knobbed tires for serious muddin’. Plus you get a beefier but light frame and most come with 3-chain rings up front for maximum gear efficiency. $500 is pretty good for some one-step-up entry level rides, and you can get more bang for the buck if you buy used. Last year I bought the wife a used Specialized Hard Rock for $175 (retail on last years model was about $450) and it was in excellent shape. Negotiate with your LBS (local bke shop) for some of the accessories, many will throw in a water bottle or two and/or a patch kit and new tube with the purchase of a new bike. Look to spend about $150 on a new helmet, gloves, and a couple pair of riding shorts. Clipless pedals will come later.

10

Not to hijack, but **vunderbob I like your sig, you don’t leave in Hampton Roads do ya?

11

Why, yes I do; In Hampton itself…

12

Ha, Southsiders rule, Peen-insular’s drool… :smiley: [/end o’ hijack]

13

If you can scrape together another $50, the you could buy a Breezer Citizen. It’s got three gears (fine as long as you don’t have any hills) with the added benefit of being able to wear long pants on the commute to work. It also comes fitted with dynamo lights, a bell and a rack. With a helmet, you’ll be good to go.

14

I have a Cannondale hybrid. H600, maybe? Bought it in '95 or '96. I like it a lot. It’s not as fast as a road bike, but it’s more versatile and considerably sturdier. So I’ve been able to ride it on trails and unpaved roads that a road bike would have trouble with. Most of all, it’s a fun bike. I can’t really tell you the price, but it was more or less in the $500-$600 ballpark. You might be able to find a last year’s model and save a bit of money.

I’m not convinced that a mountain bike would have brought anything extra that I needed and I suspect that they have geometry and structural trade-offs that make them not-so-good for prolonged road trips. If nothing else, shock absorbers would be just so much extra weight to drag along on a paved road.

If you do buy a hybrid or mountain bike, you’ll probably want to buy some bar-ends so that you can move your hands around a bit while you’re riding and avoid fatigue.

15

My biggest bike-related suggestion (aside from: learn to patch/change tires immediately - actually, being able to do minor repairs by yourself will save you much time, energy and heartache) which hasn’t been listed here is pants. Really. Your cuffs will be mangled by the chain if you’re not careful, and quite possibly even if you are. When I commute I wear an old pair cut off at the shin, and change when I get to work.

Also, get fenders so that you will not be grounded when it’s muddy or rainy.

Finally: please wear the helmet. Have them help you fit it. It’s important. Given the option, it’s much nicer to hear your helmet cracking against the pavement than your head.

16

I suggest a cyclocross bike over a hybrid. It’s going to be a bit more money, but it will have better and more standard components (e.g. maybe shimano 105 rather than the lower end stuff they put on hybrids).

You can get a cross bike with rack mounts and room for fenders if commuting turns into the main use, or run it with road tires if a road ride is what you want. It’ll be good on trails and dirt roads. About the only thing it can’t do reasonably well is technical single track descents (but if you plan on riding technical single track, you’ll want the mountain bike anyway).

Fuji, Trek, KHS, and Redline all make cross bikes. Maybe Cannondale too.

17

My husband says, “Yes, Cycles de Oro! Buy from Dale! Buy from Dale. Dale’s just a fucking great guy. Tell him Monkeyman('s wife) sent you.”
(They’re acquaintances from biking/ bike building listserves)
Their site is (as you might know-- you’ve already visited, I guess) here .
Giant, Fuji and Specialised are all reputable and make decent bikes in your price range (looking at what that shop carries). Hubby (pro bike mech for thousand years) thinks Giant’s are great and has owned several. Many hybrids are fine but a mountain bike for most riding would also be fine (put on thinner tires for streets, etc) (I like the idea of the retro styled Breezer and the Bianchi city bikes, personally). Try them all out and what ever is most comfortable for you, get that one. Good fit is the most important thing. That shop’ll do you right for fit.

18

I’'m looking in the $350-500 range myself. I really like Giant and Specialized as well as Kona and Fisher. I have ridden all kinds of Fishers and several Konas and Giants as well. I have read great things about the Specialized models and I have taken a couple for a spin as well. I have a 10-year old KHS that I have been riding forever, and I want to upgrade to something with suspension soon.

You didn’t say what kind of riding you are thinking about, but I don’t think that you should hvae to spend more than $500 all said and done for a good mountain bike with decent front suspension. The guys and girls at most shops are riders themselves, and want to help you find the right ride.

19

Tell me, don’t the snake legs make cycling difficult?

20

I have a set of collapsible wire baskets in the back of my bike, one on each side. They’re great for biking home with groceries, and as a bonus I can fasten my bike lock on them while I’m riding. I’ve never tried carrying anything larger than a sack of potatoes, but I imagine it would work fairly easily with bungee cords, like scr4 says. As long as you keep the weight reasonable balanced.