Need a bicycle ... any suggestions?

[Ricemarine]

Just to add my $0.02:

- Most of the comments are right. $200 will not get what bike enthusiasts think of as a good road bike.
- The difference (already answered) is that the road bikes are lighter in weight and have better components, allowing for smoother shifting and once again, less weight overall.
- I just bought a bike a month or two ago from craigslist. It's a 2006 Specialized Allez Comp that a was in very good condition for $600 (the guy got a steal for $450 and I bought it off him). It ride's like a champion. Gaidensensei's info is right... Before, I rode a cheap 1993 bridgestone mb-5 road bike and got passed often. Now I pass everyone else. My mountain bike is probably ~28 lbs and my road bike ~19 lbs.
- If you're going short distances, the difference between a mountain bike and a road bike is negligible (minus the getting passed part). If you want just swap out the knobby tires on a mountain bike for regular ones. There are also hybrid bike which are much cheaper that might suit your needs.
- Some people complain of the drop bars on road bikes when compared to the bikes with flat bars. Some road bikes were meant for racing and thus have an aggressive geometry to them. The bikes with the flat bar have a more upright position, meaning less strain on your back.

If I had to spend $200, I'd just buy the GMC Denali off walmart for $157. Otherwise, I'd jack up my budget to around $350 and buy a used off craigslist with at least Shimano soras. (that was my original goal). So, bikes like the Giant OCR3, Trek 1.2, Trek 1000, or a Specialized Allez would do.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

You will definitely want to go used at that price point, although it might be hard for you to distinguish the real used bikes from the Wal-Mart-type used bikes. What's so bad about Wal-Mart bikes? Well, they ride like shit and fall apart. They really are junk. Bike enthusiasts refer to them as "bike shaped objects."

 

[TridenT]

http://publicbikes.com/
:awe:

WTF. Short of that fucker being made of carbon fiber there is no reason a 8 speed Public D should cost $1,150!!!!!!

Bikes are cheap if you don't care about brand, and brand doesn't matter in most cases. Craigslist has tons of roadbikes that go for <$500 that are in great condition and are good.

 

[arkcom]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/hybrid_bikes.htm

Free shipping.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/hybrid_bikes.htm

Free shipping.

The fact that many of those have suspension is not reassuring. Suspension is not a cheap feature, and every penny spent on suspension is a penny not spent on other components. In other words, the cheaper models on that page are probably total garbage.

 

[JEDI]

If I had to spend $200, I'd just buy the GMC Denali off walmart for $157.

whats so special about 700c?

what about this 700c bike for $119?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/700c-Men-s...r-Bike/8399245

edit:
hm.. both bikes are 36lbs shipping weight

 

[Kalmah]

Schwin brand bikes at Target are surprisingly good bikes for the price I think. Brakes and gear systems seem to be of good quality, not the junk you normally find on walmart bikes.

 

[BUTCH1]

Buy a cheapie of CL and install one of those gas or electric motor kits that are so popular nowadays, win!..

 

[iGas]

Looking for brand and model recommendations.

Not ...

"Newegg.com /thread"

What is your budget?

Most uninformed people will steer themselves to shiny objects therefore they tend to fall for crappy cheap bikes. Or, buy a bike out of impulse thinking that it would be fun to ride but do not have the courage/motivation to ride more than 1 summer.

Statistic for used bikes in my town/Victoria, and Vancouver BC. is that 50&#37; of the used bike are sold for 60% of its original price. The bikes have less than 16 hours of use, and were stored away for 4 years before they are sold.

<---- owned more than 1/2 dozen bikes, and have clocked near 100,000 kms on bicycle.

 

[nageov3t]

I bought a bike online a couple years ago and totally regretted it... one of the worst buys I ever made.

personally, I'd say go to a local bike shop and try out a couple different bikes to see what feels best. you might not even notice / care about the features that mark the difference between a $50 bike and a $500 bike.

 

[MJinZ]

Thanks for the suggestion guys.

So I am going for a Hybrid bike of some sort that I will be buying:

1) New or if Used, in like New condition
2) Locally probably
3) Is light, high quality, looks good, and rides well. Does not need all the bells and whistles (literally).

What brand do you guys prefer or is your first choice?

My max budget would be $350.

 

[iGas]

Thanks for the suggestion guys.

So I am going for a Hybrid bike of some sort that I will be buying:

1) New or if Used, in like New condition
2) Locally probably
3) Is light, high quality, looks good, and rides well. Does not need all the bells and whistles (literally).

What brand do you guys prefer or is your first choice?

My max budget would be $350.

I don't have a prefer brand, and most of the bikes are now made in China therefore brand is almost a moot point at your price range.

IMHO, the correct bike sizing and components that make the bike.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

A bell is a pretty good accessory to have, actually. Whistle not so much.

 

[cheezy321]

Here is a nice one near me:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/bik/1750797952.html

Look on craigslist near you for one of the brands me or someone else has listed. Find a bike you like and go check it out.

 

[MikeMike]

This is funny.

Just saw this today.

Enjoy

 

[potion]

If you don't have a hard-on for bikes or have some specific need, get whatever you can find that is cheap and decent quality at a store or buy a used one off someone. It will get the job done, there is no need to waste money on some overpriced bike.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Brotha please!

OP: It may not be the best bike in its class, but with the budget you can find something no problemo. I'd say look up what bikes in your price range are available on craigslist that you might consider buying, and then do your online homework on the make/model of those bikes.

Well, nice find on a city bike there :thumbsup:, However, OP is a bit confused I think. A road bike, with drop handlebars and skinny tires is well out of his budget, even used. City bikes are another matter.

A used hybrid/commuter bike is possible. I was in my local bike shop today getting my brakes fixed and I saw last year's model Kona Dew going for $420 CAD. A used version of that would be a very nice bike, and fit within OP's $350 budget.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I have no clue when it comes to bikes. Haven't ridden one since I was a kid.

So I need something that is:

1) A road bike, not a mountain bike, but not one of those crazy skinny tire ones (seems really fragile?)

2) Value oriented, but high quality. Looking for the ideal price/performance bike for um...

3) $100 - $150 or so?

:thumbsup:

Goodwill or salvation Army thrift stores...

 

[Ksyder]

Schwin brand bikes at Target are surprisingly good bikes for the price I think. Brakes and gear systems seem to be of good quality, not the junk you normally find on walmart bikes.

I truly agree with this.

Bikes that are bought from a big-box retailer such as walmart are considered to be inferior to a bike from a Local Bike Shop, or LBS as its usually referred to on bike websites. Target is the first mass retailer I've personally noticed that has a few LBS quality bikes.

The important thing is to make sure any bike is in tip-top shape mechanically and to make sure that the bike fits you.

It can be overwhelming to try to research bikes because there is so much scattered information on the internet. The best thing to do is go to a big bike shop and look at lots of bikes.

The local bike shop is a key component of the bicycle industry and, in recognition of the value that local bike shops provide, some manufacturers only sell their bicycles through dealerships.

None of the really good brands sell at wal-mart, target, etc.

Oh, and my $0.02 on the bike in your pricerange, just get any bike you can afford that you like and that fits you. If you can spend more dough it really is money well spent. Try a cheap bike and then buy a better bike someday and you will notice a huge difference. Me personally I would just make do with whatever bike I could get. Your options are pretty limited at $150. You can still have fun and enjoy riding on any bike IMO. The key with bikes running good is consistent maintenance.

 

[Zebo]

Just go to costco. These fools replying to you know nothing of price/performance.

I own a 19lb 1200$ trek with all the gizmos and can't tell a lick of difference.

 

[Ksyder]

I own a 19lb 1200$ trek with all the gizmos and can't tell a lick of difference.

I'm surprised to hear that... I think more expensive bikes are much more enjoyable to ride... faster, lighter, they roll better, shift smoother, just generally have higher quality parts all around.

But even the cheapest bikes are rideable nowadays because manufacturing has gotten so good. The most important thing as I said above is they have to be put together and serviced properly throughout its lifetime and any bike no matter how cheap will last.

 

[CraigRT]

For that price range, just buy something used obviously

Good bikes are several times that

 

[dquan97]

What about this from CL? He's asking $350

Complete Bike Includes Everything in the picture.
Parts list: Kona Caldera Frame 7005 Double butted 15" Frame
Deore Hubs
Deore Shifter/Brake lever
XT rear/front de-railer
Deore Front brake
XTR rear brake
175mm XTR Shimano Cranks
Carbon Fiber Manitou- Mars Front shocks
Race Face Stem
*Needs rear tube*

 

[JEDI]

How about this bike?

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Catal...rtBy=savings&#37;2F/0&cn1=&searchTerm=hounder

Nashbar Hounder Single Speed Road Bike
It's flat bar provides a more upright and comfortable position
Wt.: 27lbs
Tires: 700c X 28

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have no clue when it comes to bikes. Haven't ridden one since I was a kid.

So I need something that is:

1) A road bike, not a mountain bike, but not one of those crazy skinny tire ones (seems really fragile?)

2) Value oriented, but high quality. Looking for the ideal price/performance bike for um...

3) $100 - $150 or so?

:thumbsup:

They aren't fragile at all. I've been riding road bikes all my life and as long as you keep them properly inflated they are not overly prone to flats...at least not the hazards I've encountered in thousands of miles of riding in SoCal.

For $100-150 you are going to get shit though unless you find a killer deal on a used bike through craigslist.