Bicycles

[BigfootsMonk]

Hi,

I'm looking for a bicycle to ride in NYC. But I don't know anything about bikes. I am a college student and don't want to spend too much money. Anyone here knows a good deal about bikes and wouldn't mind giving me some tips/suggestions?

I'm looking for a full sized bike around $200-300 if not less. I don't do any serious mountain biking or speed biking just want to get one for convience and spend enough for one that will last and is light.

Thanks,
Horace

 

[PhoenixOrion]

With that price range, I think you're limited to what you can get at your local Walmart or Target store.

I'd first go into "used" sporting goods store.

 

[BigfootsMonk]

any used sporting goods store in NY you know of?

 

[laurenlex]

I'd get the ugliest, crappiest bike available. It will get stolen if it looks nice. It might get stolen while you are riding it.

 

[Xyclone]

You can buy mountain or hybrid bikes for at least $300, so don't buy from Target/Walmart/other crappy bike store. Go to local bicycle stores and test out their ~$300 bikes.

 

[altonb1]

Sam's Club and other club stores have decent enough bikes if you are not looking for a heavy duty ride.

 

[jagec]

Buy a used bike, or even better, put the word out among your friends and family that you're looking for a bike...you may be surprised what someone has sitting in their garage unused.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

45 listings for used bikes using online yellow pages.

 

[BigfootsMonk]

why used by the way?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: BigfootsMonk
why used by the way?

It's cheaper. It's uglier because it's old and scratched up, and therefore a less-likely theft target. It's cheaper.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: BigfootsMonk
why used by the way?

A better question is, why new? Assuming the previous owner took decent care of it, you're getting almost as much bike for a lot, LOT less money.

I mean, there's no "new bike smell" in the interior. There are no oil changes. There aren't a whole bunch of hoses that can get old and cracked. The windshield doesn't get cracked. It doesn't rust (assuming the previous owner wasn't a TOTAL moron). You can't beat up on it before it's warmed up. The radio NEVER worked. The belts don't need changed. The new models don't get much better mileage. Heck, the new models don't even LOOK that different.

Get a new bike if you are a serious biker who knows exactly what he/she wants. Otherwise, buy used.

 

[JinLien]

Like other suggested a used bike is the way to go. A decent hard tail used bike can be had for $300, but you are not going get light weight for that little cash unless it is a stolen bike.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

I think I read it somewhere before.

Top 3 things to buy "used":

1. books
2. CD's
3. sporting goods (bikes, weights, or that threadmill that was only used 4 times)

 

[Brutuskend]

Just passing though.

(get a used bike for that $$$ and you will get a MUCH better bike than if you spend the same amount on a new one. WHO am I kidding, Brutuskend enter a Bike thread and NOT throw in his 2c worth?)

 

[BigfootsMonk]

Is this a decent bike?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/151283993.html

 

[LiquidImpulse]

wow? since when were bikes in the $200-$300 U.S. price range? I got a pretty decent one for $150 canadian

 

[LiquidImpulse]

Originally posted by: BigfootsMonk
Is this a decent bike?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/151283993.html

from what my friend's say, they are pretty decent for the money