Biking...I wanna start

[TheSiege]

I wanna do long distant biking on a budget. Anywhere from 10-100+ miles. I just have no idea what type of bike to look for, or what brands. Obviously this will be on roads, and I want a bike, possibly used, around the 200-500 range. So any ideas? This is not for commuting, just for fun and exercising thanks.

 

[xanis]

Just started getting into biking myself, so I'm not going to be much of a help.

Lots of knowledgeable posters on OT though, so I'm sure someone will be able to help.

 

[TridenT]

Get a shitty bike off craigslist for cheap. Fix it if it has issues. Get some helmet.

Ride it a thousand miles. Then come back.

http://bicycletutor.com/

 

[Tyranicus]

I am an amateur distance cyclist. I have been on quite a few long trips in the 60-90 mile range in the past year or two, and I am a big fan of the Trek Hybrid. I have an older version of the model I link to here, and it has served me very well.

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

 

[Brainonska511]

You could go to your local bike shop and get properly sized for a frame. Maybe something like a "fitness hybrid" - kind of like a flatbar road bike, with slightly thicker tires and half the price. Those generally start around $400 new - you might be able to get a 2010 model on clearance right now.

Trident's method would probably only be good if you knew how to do the work yourself and know how to check if a bike is the right size or not.

I am an amateur distance cyclist. I have been on quite a few long trips in the 60-90 mile range in the past year or two, and I am a big fan of the Trek Hybrid. I have an older version of the model I link to here, and it has served me very well.

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

My dad got the 7200 this past summer. He enjoys it, but I think it's a little on the heavy side; it works for his style of riding (few miles, easy riding...).

I got a Trek 7.2FX this summer and love riding it around. I owned a Gary Fisher Wingra for 2 years when I was in Chicago, until some asshat stole it from my building, and that was also a great bike to ride around on. I used to go up Lake Shore Drive's trail for 20-25 mile round trips in the summer.

 

[Dirigible]

On roads = a road bike.

Seriously, if you want to do mileage you should get a real drop bar road bike. You should be able to get something decent in your price range although you may want to go used. I think a search on bike forums would do a better job than we would on specific brands. Getting the right fit is extremely important for road bikes. Might want to at least go to a bike shop, see what they have in your price range, and post it here or on bike forums for feedback. Be aware that a lot of cyclists get snobby and may pooh-pooh bikes that are perfectly adequate. (I have definitely become a bike snob.)

Be sure to have budget for helmet, cycling shorts, frame pump, patch kit, tire levers at minimum.

It's more fun IMHO to ride with a friend - riding alone gets old. Hopefully you can find someone to ride with. Once you get in decent cycling shape it's usually easy to find riding groups.

 

[Dirigible]

Oh and bike brands are a little deceiving. The "brand" often only supplies the frame, with the shifters, derailluers, wheels, etc. made by other companies and often common to all bikes in a certain price range, with minor differences. Especially on the low end, there are very minor differences even between frames.

What you want to look for is a frame that fits. Beyond that the parts should function and stay in tune. Low spoke count wheels are a minus in your price range even though they look cool. I'd you're serious you'll want to at least get toe clips if not clipless pedals.

Realize that if you really enjoy it the first bike will be a learning experience. It'll teach you what you like and don't like so your second bike really makes you happy. So don't worry too much about getting the first bike perfect.

 

[xanis]

Oh and bike brands are a little deceiving. The "brand" often only supplies the frame, with the shifters, derailluers, wheels, etc. made by other companies and often common to all bikes in a certain price range, with minor differences. Especially on the low end, there are very minor differences even between frames.

What you want to look for is a frame that fits. Beyond that the parts should function and stay in tune. Low spoke count wheels are a minus in your price range even though they look cool. I'd you're serious you'll want to at least get toe clips if not clipless pedals.

Realize that if you really enjoy it the first bike will be a learning experience. It'll teach you what you like and don't like so your second bike really makes you happy. So don't worry too much about getting the first bike perfect.

Something I've been curious about: Why would one need clips? I've only seen a few bikes with them (bike messengers mainly). I took them off of my own bike because they seemed useless.

 

[coldmeat]

I started cycling this year. I bought a used Devinci SL2. I like it, but it's getting colder and I don't have warmer clothes or gloves with fingers so I haven't been out in a while.

 

[Dirigible]

Something I've been curious about: Why would one need clips? I've only seen a few bikes with them (bike messengers mainly). I took them off of my own bike because they seemed useless.

You don't need them. You can ride fine without them.

However, toe clips, and clipless even moreso make it easier to apply power all around the pedaling circle. I don't just push down on the pedals. I lift up, push forward, etc. Allows one to go further faster.

 

[FleshLight]

Get one of the "comfort" road bikes:

Specialized Roubaix or Secteur
Trek Pilot
Giant Defy

 

[GoSharks]

You don't need them. You can ride fine without them.

However, toe clips, and clipless even moreso make it easier to apply power all around the pedaling circle. I don't just push down on the pedals. I lift up, push forward, etc. Allows one to go further faster.

Very little power comes from pulling up on the pedal.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Very little power comes from pulling up on the pedal.

Depends on the rider but clipless pedals definitely help to keep your foot in the proper position over the pedals and the shoes are very stiff soled which aides in power transmission. For short rides around town this makes very little difference but on a 50-60 mile ride it definitely is a benefit.

Both of my road bikes have clipless pedals.

 

[episodic]

Get a fixie - but with brakes - best excercise you can get - you can't stop pedaling - no pernacious coasting !

 

[JulesMaximus]

Get a fixie - but with brakes - best excercise you can get - you can't stop pedaling - no pernacious coasting !

Not good for your knees in hilly areas though.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I just bought a cheap road bike from a guy on Craigslist and brought it to a shop for a tune-up. Works fine.

I don't use clips, I am always afraid that I'd get hurt a lot more if I were to ever fall off with clipless pedals since I'd stay attached (I know that they can disconnect in a crash, but that doesn't happen until you're already on the way down). Besides, they're probably more expensive than my entire bike was. I usually bike in sandals actually, love the feel of air flowing past my feet.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I just bought a cheap road bike from a guy on Craigslist and brought it to a shop for a tune-up. Works fine.

I don't use clips, I am always afraid that I'd get hurt a lot more if I were to ever fall off with clipless pedals since I'd stay attached (I know that they can disconnect in a crash, but that doesn't happen until you're already on the way down). Besides, they're probably more expensive than my entire bike was. I usually bike in sandals actually, love the feel of air flowing past my feet.

I've fallen over twice because I either a) couldn't get unclipped before I stopped - this happened only once very early on when I first got clipless pedals and b) I was trying to start going uphill from a stop and couldn't get clipped in right away so I lost momentum and fell over - this also only happened once.

You can get cheap clipless pedals for $30-40 or less and cheap shoes for around the same price. They really are much much better than sandals or regular sneakers especially if you are riding long distances.

 

[malbojah]

If you do get clips, make sure they are setup properly

 

[illusion88]

imagine you are drawing a circle with your heel when you are peddling. This applies power during the whole motion. More efficient too. You need clip less or toe straps for this.

 

[coldmeat]

I fell once because of my clipless pedals. I had put my seat up a little bit, and about 10k into my ride I got a charley horse in my leg, couldn't disconnect my foot and fell over.