what's the minimum I will need to spend to buy a road bicycle?

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: Safeway
You can get a decent one for $400. A good one for $1000. A great one for $2500.

:Q
at those prices, just get a bike form k-mart/Walmart/target or something, maybe one of the better models for $200-250

I have bought several Kmart cheapos over the years (off-road bikes---this time I want an ON-road bike) and usually had some brake or tire trouble with them and they never fit me well.

The problem with department store bikes is that they are heavy, they have crappy cheapo components that will fail much sooner than quality stuff like Shimano which is what you find on decent bikes, they are poorly designed and made, and they are assembled by morons.

If you plan on riding regularly you need a bike that is a good fit and one that will last. You won't find either of those things with a department store bike.

 

[GasX]

To buy a "road" bike new, you should expect to spend $600+ for a decent entry level one. (the $4xx link above is a decent cheap alternative!) However, this is for a lightweight bike with thin tires built to do little but go fast. If you are planning on riding around town, off curbs, on the occasional trail and generally beating the bike up, then you want either a hard tail mountain bike or a hybrid bike. These generally come cheaper at the entry level.

Regardless of the type of bike you want/need, I would recommend tapping into the used market. TONS of people buy a fancy bike and ride it twice a year for 2-3 years and then sell it. 3 year old bikes in pristine condition are everywhere and CHEAP - typically half of their original cost.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Go to your local bike store and get something in the $350-400 range or better yet see if you can find a decent used bike that someone spent way too much money on and never rode. There are loads of those around if you are patient. You could pick up a $1000 bike for $400-500 easily, maybe even less.

I have been looking at the classifieds for used bikes but when it gets right down to it I could get fooled too easy...I don't know good components from the bad. I better buy new.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
i'm confused about how you intend to use the bike?

is this a commuter bike?

will you be locking the bike up outside? is theft a concern?

I plan to use the bike just to train. Train for what, you ask? Nothing in particular, just to get in shape. I just want to ride the bike hard in sprints down the road.

Theft is not a concern. Bike probably won't be outside.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: Safeway
You can get a decent one for $400. A good one for $1000. A great one for $2500.

:Q
at those prices, just get a bike form k-mart/Walmart/target or something, maybe one of the better models for $200-250

I have bought several Kmart cheapos over the years (off-road bikes---this time I want an ON-road bike) and usually had some brake or tire trouble with them and they never fit me well.

The problem with department store bikes is that they are heavy, they have crappy cheapo components that will fail much sooner than quality stuff like Shimano which is what you find on decent bikes, they are poorly designed and made, and they are assembled by morons.

If you plan on riding regularly you need a bike that is a good fit and one that will last. You won't find either of those things with a department store bike.

WOW, wrong again. My target bike is aluminum and has Shimano components as well. Cost like $150-200 range.

Target seems to have good all round bikes. Higher then most wal-mart styles but much cheaper then others.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: edprushI have been looking at the classifieds for used bikes but when it gets right down to it I could get fooled too easy...I don't know good components from the bad. I better buy new.

If the components say Shimano on them, that is a good sign.

From worst to best, their product line goes like this:

Sora
Tiagra
105
Ultegra
Dura Ace

The first two are perfectly adequate. 105 is very good. The other two are high end stuff.

If you ride the bike and it stops smoothly and shifts quickly and cleanly and doesn't clack clack clack, then there is probably nothing a tune up can't remedy.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
i'm confused about how you intend to use the bike?

is this a commuter bike?

will you be locking the bike up outside? is theft a concern?

I plan to use the bike just to train. Train for what, you ask? Nothing in particular, just to get in shape. I just want to ride the bike hard in sprints down the road.

Theft is not a concern. Bike probably won't be outside.

okay, so maybe you want a roadie, or maybe a hybrid, especially a hybrid near the roadie end of the spectrum... My LeMond Wayzata was 600, marked down from 1200, because it was near the end of the riding season and the previous years model (New, but almost 2 years old). Its got fast wheels, and the handle bar config is a bit more conducive to city riding (IMO).

Roadies are great too. I would say by the best roadie/hybrid you can afford, cycling is a great activity, and the difference between a cheap bike and a good bike is well worth the money.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDudeokay, so maybe you want a roadie, or maybe a hybrid, especially a hybrid near the roadie end of the spectrum... My LeMond Wayzata was 600, marked down from 1200, because it was near the end of the riding season and the previous years model (New, but almost 2 years old). Its got fast wheels, and the handle bar config is a bit more conducive to city riding (IMO).

Roadies are great too. I would say by the best roadie/hybrid you can afford, cycling is a great activity, and the difference between a cheap bike and a good bike is well worth the money.

I love that bike!

 

[IronWing]

Let's break it down:

Hacksaw $12
Total $12

It will cost you $12.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDudeokay, so maybe you want a roadie, or maybe a hybrid, especially a hybrid near the roadie end of the spectrum... My LeMond Wayzata was 600, marked down from 1200, because it was near the end of the riding season and the previous years model (New, but almost 2 years old). Its got fast wheels, and the handle bar config is a bit more conducive to city riding (IMO).

Roadies are great too. I would say by the best roadie/hybrid you can afford, cycling is a great activity, and the difference between a cheap bike and a good bike is well worth the money.

I love that bike!

If that bike fits me that is what I'm looking for.

Does anyone know of nationwide retail chains that have good prices on roadbikes? I should look into Scheels.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDudeokay, so maybe you want a roadie, or maybe a hybrid, especially a hybrid near the roadie end of the spectrum... My LeMond Wayzata was 600, marked down from 1200, because it was near the end of the riding season and the previous years model (New, but almost 2 years old). Its got fast wheels, and the handle bar config is a bit more conducive to city riding (IMO).

Roadies are great too. I would say by the best roadie/hybrid you can afford, cycling is a great activity, and the difference between a cheap bike and a good bike is well worth the money.

I love that bike!

If that bike fits me that is what I'm looking for.

Does anyone know of nationwide retail chains that have good prices on roadbikes? I should look into Scheels.

I'm 6'2 BTW, about 220. For me this is a very comfortable bike.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: edprushI have been looking at the classifieds for used bikes but when it gets right down to it I could get fooled too easy...I don't know good components from the bad. I better buy new.

If the components say Shimano on them, that is a good sign.

From worst to best, their product line goes like this:

Sora
Tiagra
105
Ultegra
Dura Ace

The first two are perfectly adequate. 105 is very good. The other two are high end stuff.

If you ride the bike and it stops smoothly and shifts quickly and cleanly and doesn't clack clack clack, then there is probably nothing a tune up can't remedy.

The name "Shimano" by itself means very little. Sora, Tiagra, etc are the parts they make for quality bikes. They also make plenty of cheap crap that goes on $100 bikes simply because manufacturers can sell the bikes with the name "Shimano". Go to K-Mart and look at the bikes with "Shimano" printed on the frame. See if it says "Sora" or "Tiagra" on the derailleur. It doesn't.

 

[zebano]

Scheels is a complete rip off. All of my local bike shops have prices 10-25% lower than scheels. Jules is 100% correct when saying

"The problem with department store bikes is that they are heavy, they have crappy cheapo components that will fail much sooner than quality stuff like Shimano which is what you find on decent bikes, they are poorly designed and made, and they are assembled by morons."

Classifieds are fine. Look for shimano or campagnolo on the derailurs and you should be fine. Whatever you do TEST RIDE the bike. A bike store can and should tune up and fit a bike before selling it to you. Otherwise plan to spend $40-100 to get your used bike tuned up.

fyi: steel bikes are harder to buy nowadays than aluminum ones. They are heavier buy much more resilient than aluminum.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975


WOW, wrong again. My target bike is aluminum and has Shimano components as well. Cost like $150-200 range.

Target seems to have good all round bikes. Higher then most wal-mart styles but much cheaper then others.

I really don't mean to be a Bike Snob, but you're wrong if you think any Target bike can compare favorably (or compare at all, for that matter) to a decent bike from a bike store.

Department store bikes virtually always have crappy zinc or galvanized spokes, solid axles, crappy all-steel drivetrain and braking components (whether they're Shimano or otherwise, they are vastly inferior to even entry-level Shimano component groups found on bike-store bikes), heavy, poor-quality rims and tires, steel handlebars, and the list goes on.

I'd actually be even more leery of an aluminum bike from Target than a steel one, since aluminum is meaningfully more fragile and not as fault-tolerant as steel (even the poor-quality hi-ten steel used in department-store bikes) when it comes to being welded.

I would be happy to lead a friend toward a low-end, $300-400 bike if it suited his or her needs, but I wouldn't let one ride a bike from Target or Wal-Mart for safety reasons.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975


WOW, wrong again. My target bike is aluminum and has Shimano components as well. Cost like $150-200 range.

Target seems to have good all round bikes. Higher then most wal-mart styles but much cheaper then others.

I'm sure its fine for riding around the park with the kids or cross campus but I doubt its safe for any real mtn biking. They don't sell road bikes.

Here is article on why these bikes might not be safe:

Deals on Wheels

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: newbiepcuser

Originally posted by: Marlin1975


WOW, wrong again. My target bike is aluminum and has Shimano components as well. Cost like $150-200 range.

Target seems to have good all round bikes. Higher then most wal-mart styles but much cheaper then others.

I'm sure its fine for riding around the park with the kids or cross campus but I doubt its safe for any real mtn biking. They don't sell road bikes.

Here is article on why these bikes might not be safe:

Deals on Wheels

nice read.

 

[edprush]

what I think would work best for me is a hybrid bike with a road bike's handlebars. I like the position that your torso is in when you are leaning forward (as with a road bike) but I like the price of hybrids