Bicycle suggestions

[SJP0tato]

Hey guys,

I've been thinking of getting a bike for purely health/entertainment reasons. There's tons of bike trails in my area (Phoenix, Az), and I'd like to start taking advantage of them.

After doing some initial research I think a hybrid bike would fit best to the kind of riding I want to do: 90% on-path/road, with maybe 10% being mild off-road/desert/gravel type paths.

I'm guessing for the bike itself I should probably expect to pay $350-500 for a decent entry level type. Is spending more just hype for a beginner, or are there things I should look out for, or insist on when buying? I'd like to purchase from my local bike shop, and there's several of them around so I'd still be able to comparison shop between stores.

Any suggestions on models that I should steer towards or stay away from would be very helpful!

Thanks guys

 

[zebano]

From what it sounds like a entry bike will be just fine. Buy at a local shop just so you get it sized right. I don't like hybrids, I have a road bike and a moutain bike, but I ride all summer and for commuting.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Do you know for a fact that they are "mild"? Because you guys have some serious trails in Az. A hybrid is going to be far from bomb proof if they are more radical than you expect. A hard-tail (no rear suspension) MTB with some semi-slicks (tires) would handle almost anything you plan on, and will be more bomb proof.

There are a number of nice entry levels under $500 from various companies, here are a few in that price tier-

Cannondale

Trek

Haro Flightline series

 

[SJP0tato]

Thanks guys.

I used to ride 10-15 years ago the bike paths in/around Papago park, for the most part if you stick to the path they're not too rugged. The biggest danger seems to be thorns getting stuck in your tube. I heard one guy literally need to put 5 patches in his tires on a single 8-10 mile ride.

I'll take a look at the mountain bikes too and see what they've got to offer. After reading some more yesterday it sounds like I'll really just need to head into the store and see what they recommend.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Well pick an area then, either MTB or road. Hybrid is meh either way. I say go pure Road, forget unpaved trails, buy MTB later on.

Or, buy MTB but don't complain about it being slow on pavement.

 

[Tiamat]

Don't mean to steal the thread, but I am in the same boat as the OP except in Washington DC area.

How does something like the following seem for a bike noob?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/pro...mercier/galaxy_al8.htm

I need the bike mainly for just riding for "fun". I haven't had a bike for 10+ years (since before high school), and even then, it was a cheap mountain bike from Husky or whatnot.

Mostly paved bike trails (15+miles), sometimes the pavement is interrupted by tree roots that broke through because the civil engineers didn't do it right (I don't want the bike's wheels to be so easy to bust due to hitting a tree root or bumping against a curb). I'd like the bike to be reasonably light weight so I can carry it on the metro/up and down stairs/escalators to destinations.

Thanks for thoughts, I hope this helps OP a little too!

 

[imported_Dingster1]

Come over to Bikeforums.net lots of info there. I'm in the Md. area. I'm riding a Trek 7.2 fx 2007 model as my utility/city bike. For my distance bike I'm riding a 2008 Fuji Newest 3.0 from Performance. I don't like the option of ordering bikes online simply because I need to be fit for my bikes because I'm female and a shortie.

 

[theeedude]

Sounds like you would benefit from a cyclo cross bike, which is a trail capable road bike.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclo-cross_bicycle
But you are probably going to be limited to used bikes with your budget.
Also, spending more is not just hype, if you plan to ride on a regular basis. Higher quality more durable components that stay in tune better.
Once you get over $2K, then you are spending more for hype with marginal benefits.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Sounds like you would benefit from a cyclo cross bike, which is a trail capable road bike.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclo-cross_bicycle
But you are probably going to be limited to used bikes with your budget.
Also, spending more is not just hype, if you plan to ride on a regular basis. Higher quality more durable components that stay in tune better.
Once you get over $2K, then you are spending more for hype with marginal benefits.

I thought hybrid bikes were frowned upon. I don't know anything though, I just read that on several forums ::shrugs::

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: senseamp
Sounds like you would benefit from a cyclo cross bike, which is a trail capable road bike.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclo-cross_bicycle
But you are probably going to be limited to used bikes with your budget.
Also, spending more is not just hype, if you plan to ride on a regular basis. Higher quality more durable components that stay in tune better.
Once you get over $2K, then you are spending more for hype with marginal benefits.

I thought hybrid bikes were frowned upon. I don't know anything though, I just read that on several forums ::shrugs::

Hybrid and cyclocross are two different things.
Hybrids are usually just road bikes that are watered down for comfort, or mountain bikes converted to commuter duty. Cyclo-cross is a real sport where bikes race on variety of terrains.
To use a car analogy, hybrids bikes would be crossover SUVs, while cyclo-cross bikes would be rally cars.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: senseamp
Sounds like you would benefit from a cyclo cross bike, which is a trail capable road bike.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclo-cross_bicycle
But you are probably going to be limited to used bikes with your budget.
Also, spending more is not just hype, if you plan to ride on a regular basis. Higher quality more durable components that stay in tune better.
Once you get over $2K, then you are spending more for hype with marginal benefits.

I thought hybrid bikes were frowned upon. I don't know anything though, I just read that on several forums ::shrugs::

Hybrid and cyclocross are two different things.
Hybrids are usually just road bikes that are watered down for comfort, or mountain bikes converted to commuter duty. Cyclo-cross is a real sport where bikes race on variety of terrains.
To use a car analogy, hybrids bikes would be crossover SUVs, while cyclo-cross bikes would be rally cars.

Cool, would the 2009 Cannondale Quick 5 be considered a good begineer "cyclo cross" urban/ 15-25 mile bike? (as an example)? Another that is available in my price range is the 2008 Jamis Allegro 1 and the 2009 Specialized Sirrus. Obviously, Id go to the dealer to get fitted, but I want to make sure I am looking at the correct type of model so that I can read up on them in more detail prior to going to the dealer.

Perhaps those are actually considered "hybrids"

Bikes branded with cyclocross seem to cost over 1000$...

 

[SJP0tato]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Cool, would the 2009 Cannondale Quick 5 be considered a good begineer "cyclo cross" urban/ 15-25 mile bike? (as an example)? Another that is available in my price range is the 2008 Jamis Allegro 1 and the 2009 Specialized Sirrus. Obviously, Id go to the dealer to get fitted, but I want to make sure I am looking at the correct type of model so that I can read up on them in more detail prior to going to the dealer.

Perhaps those are actually considered "hybrids"

Bikes branded with cyclocross seem to cost over 1000$...

Those bikes look similar to what I'm leaning towards as well. My biggest obstacle is I love to over-analyze before spending money on anything, and with these bikes for instance I have no idea what actually is "better" (if anything) when comparing.

Are there any "underground" cyclo-cross bikes in the $400-600 range? I agree with Tiamat they seem to start around $1000 from what I see online.

 

[theeedude]

http://www.roadbikereview.com/...-bike/PLS_5670crx.aspx

Try here, I see some in $500+ range. I'd aim for something in $600 msrp range and try to bargain it down to your budget or get a last year clearance model.

 

[SJP0tato]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Do you know for a fact that they are "mild"? Because you guys have some serious trails in Az. A hybrid is going to be far from bomb proof if they are more radical than you expect. A hard-tail (no rear suspension) MTB with some semi-slicks (tires) would handle almost anything you plan on, and will be more bomb proof.

There are a number of nice entry levels under $500 from various companies, here are a few in that price tier-

Cannondale

Trek

Haro Flightline series

Sorry, somehow I missed the links you put up here earlier. That Haro is a little bit out of my price range with MSRP of $2935

That Trek looks pretty nice. I'll have to ask about it and take a test ride if one of the shops here has it in stock and in my (fairly short) size...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: SJP0tato


Sorry, somehow I missed the links you put up here earlier. That Haro is a little bit out of my price range with MSRP of $2935

You have to scroll down a bit to see the FlightLine series MTBs.

 

[SJP0tato]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
You have to scroll down a bit to see the FlightLine series MTBs.

D'oh, there they are.

What's your opinion on these as road bikes:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/fx/72fx/

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en...bike_path/hybrid/7100/

 

[DAPUNISHER]

My bro has an older model of the 7100, it is very competent on the road. Plush ride with the elastomer dampened seat post and front fork, and no worries about taco'ing a rim crashing curbs, which lets you alter between street, sidewalk, grass, etc. where a normal road bike might be dicey.

I put skinny semi-slicks on it for him for the street (nice to have a little side knobby if you hit some sand or something on the road and lose traction in a corner.) but when going straight, a good reduction in rolling resistance, making it an easy pedaler, and fast compared to my MTB with semi-slicks.

For dirt I picked him up, what are for a 700c rim, some pretty beefy WTB raptor series, and it handles the better groomed single-track here in Florida well with them. He and I are both over 6ft, so it is a big bike, and the back end doesn't track well with the front for tight, and sometimes ,low clearance, single-track, but that ain't its game anyways.

If you are looking for a bike that is going to be a good blend of, fairly fast and fun on the street, but get dirty once in a while, it is a good model IMO.

 

[SJP0tato]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
My bro has an older model of the 7100, it is very competent on the road. Plush ride with the elastomer dampened seat post and front fork, and no worries about taco'ing a rim crashing curbs, which lets you alter between street, sidewalk, grass, etc. where a normal road bike might be dicey.

He and I are both over 6ft, so it is a big bike, and the back end doesn't track well with the front for tight, and sometimes ,low clearance, single-track, but that ain't its game anyways.

That sounds pretty positive. I'll have to try it out in person as I'm a bit shorter (5'6" 140ish lbs). Not sure if size comes into play much when choosing?

Sounds like this might be the mix I'm looking for with the semi-slicks.

Thanks!

 

[SJP0tato]

Just to followup: I went to the nearest LBS to me, they didn't carry Trek but I did try out a bike from GT (I guess their website is down/infected according to google) and the p6 from Scott: http://scottusa.com/us_en/prod...668/11813/sportster_p6

The P6 felt really nice, I might take one last trip to the further out bike shop to try out the Trek just in-case it miraculously surprises me. The GT was a lower line, so it wasn't really a fair comparison (it was like $150 cheaper than the Scott).

 

[StageLeft]

Cyclo-cross bikes are strange and I'm not sure a person not into that sport would really want one.

 

[Blintok]

Originally posted by: SJP0tato
Thanks guys.

I used to ride 10-15 years ago the bike paths in/around Papago park, for the most part if you stick to the path they're not too rugged. The biggest danger seems to be thorns getting stuck in your tube. I heard one guy literally need to put 5 patches in his tires on a single 8-10 mile ride.

I'll take a look at the mountain bikes too and see what they've got to offer. After reading some more yesterday it sounds like I'll really just need to head into the store and see what they recommend.

as for thorns and other things causing flat tires... 1 word.. kevlar
kevlar lined tires are the greatest. (armadillo brand is one)
i ride all year in all types of weather and terrain. i used to average around 1 flat per month.
i got kevlar tires 2yrs ago and not one..zero flat tires. and i have accidentally rode thru some nasty stuff..like broken glass ...i have a hybrid. no shocks except for seatpost. large frame and large 700c tires. used to have a mtn bike but the gear ratios sucked. used to run out of spin --ie going so fast i cant spin the crank anymore as it just windmilling. .. with the hybrid i have yet to find a stretch of road or hill that lets me do this.

so if you on the road alot..solid forks better than shocks. when you are peddling hard..no wasted energy from forks bouncing

 

[StageLeft]

I don't have Armadillo tires, but I have read about them and a review and basically they are invulnerable to flats for all practical purposes. I think in one test people rode over glass, the things are ridiculous, like a perma run-flat. They are a bit heavy, so not a race tire, but otherwise awesome. There are many tires that have some varying amounts of Kevlar in them. I think I have some michelin pro II or something on my front that have some kevlar in them, but the stuff is heavy, so to really crank up on kevlar the armadillo is a good tire.

I used to flat a lot in 2007 (always rear tire, and that was with a crappy tire) but in 2008 I didn't at all. I think partly this is because I am a little more careful with road refuse but I think more than that I don't keep tire pressure as high (and I'm still on that same tire--the inner tube has 2-3 patches on it from more than a year ago and the tire has been burned down further on a trainer). I used to pump up to 115 or so and now I pump 105 but will ride with it as low as 90 before bothering to pump it up again.

Personally, I keep my best tire on the front because a flat on the rear is not a big deal but on the front I believe could be more of one, plus braking is biased heavily to the front.