Thinking about buying a bike
3The wife and I have been thinking about buying bikes, sans motor, to cruise around town on. I'll admit that I'm fairly ignorant to the biking world though. I think a road bike would be best simply because we don't have a ton of terrain around us for trail riding. But I'm by no means opposed to getting a trail bike as well or possibly a hybrid if that's the best fit.
There is a new bike shop that opened just down the street from us, I think the best place to start would probably be to head in there to get measured for the right height but I'm not sure.
Any advice would be great because I flat out don't even know what to consider when I start looking. But in general my goal is to not do any of these things:
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how many monies do you wanna spend
@Lotsofgoats That's the thing, I"m not even sure what a good budget for both of us would be? Is $500 enough to get two decent bikes? Is that overkill? Not enough?
@MEHcus I mean you're just looking to cruise around, so that's probably not outrageous either way. If you just make that clear to a store owner they'll steer you in the right direction.
@MEHcus
My advice: read all of this advice, then disregard, and buy something from a place that will let you spin it around the parking lot, and just get the one that feels right to you.
the thing the guy did in the 3rd gif. yeah, been there, done that. i don't recommend it unless you're aching for a face full of asphalt.
as for buying a bike. figure out how much you want to spend. then go to a local bike shop and ride some around. it's really the only way to know if you like the bike. in my past, i've had Raleigh for the most part. i currently have a Fuji that i won in a contest. brand new, still in the box. hey! wanna buy a bike??
@carl669 lololol you took your coat off while riding and it jammed in your front wheel? bonus that he has a helmet on... his handlebars
I'm still trying to figure out what's happening in the 4th one...
@carl669 I'll give you $5. That's good enough for a month of VMP ya know?
@Lotsofgoats well, i already had my jacket off and was holding it on the handlebar. apparently, i wasn't holding it well enough. the sleeve came loose and jammed into the front wheel and flipped me.
@MEHcus sold! $5 for the bike and $150 for shipping?
@Lotsofgoats maybe that forth guy got his shoe laces rolled up in his pedals.
It has nearly happened to me a few times. really scary as hell - and if you are on a fixie you are going to fall. I always put the ends of my laces inside the cross-overs.
Gotta watch out for pants getting chewed up too. Right cuff gets into the chain a lot.
@fjp999 That brings back memories of my childhood when bell bottom pants were in style. Many chain incidents.
Well I won't pretend to know tons about biking, however I will tell you what the wife and I ended up with.
Giant Cypress ST. Believed we purchased them in 2012.
This balanced our needs the best. Cost was very reasonable, believe we paid a tad over $500 for both a Men's and Woman's bike. It was a comfortable bike, rode smoothly, and was able to give us decent speed. The thinner tires compared to mountain bikes make it role much smoother and with less effort. However made me feel more secure than riding on those tiny little road bike tires. Through 3 years they are both still in great shape and ride as smoothly as they did from the start.
They were a bit cheaper because they have a rigid fork and it was a steel bike. Which made it a bit heavier, however still not bad.
I would buy it again. We are casual riders that ride for fun as opposed to sport.
@MrMark
Giant has actual rocket scientists on their design team. Good product.
My advice: don't buy a bike pre-assembled by a walmart employee. They don't care and your handbars will be backwards and your gear will shift on its own all the time.
@Moose
And walmart bikes are so awful you will either quit riding or upgrade in a few months
I cant give much advice on bikes except what i have been told:
Dont buy from walmart, target, local toy stores etc.
People seem to like diamondbacks as starter bikes
Wear a helmet!!!
There are great deals on craigslist but you better know what you're doing (i don't)
If you purchase a used bike or mail order bike, take it to the local bike shop and have it assembled/checked out
A local bike shop can be a good way to make connections
Start conversations with people in biking gear, they often invite you to rides
A lot of cities and towns have biking pub crawls a few times a month, with a "no participant left behind" policy. If you can borrow or rent a bike, this can be a great way to meet biking people and perhaps get some face to face advice.
Some cities have well-attended nighttime full moon rides once a month, that start aroung midnight? These can be lots of fun, completely wacky, but not for the faint of heart or the completely unfit. Austin has a huge one.
Big box stores are where you get disposable bikes
Sports Authority isn't bad, though. Actually take a little pride in their bike and ski service teams
Took a few bikes there for tune ups because they are close and I'm lazy, and they did good work at a fair price.
reiterating to always always wear a helmet. there's a really shitty argument that shows that drivers will drive marginally closer to you if you have a helmet on, because you're subconsciously seen as less vulnerable. the reason this is a shitty argument is because the "safety" gained by not wearing a helmet sacrifices the 85-90% reduction in head and brain injuries if you do happen to be in an accident.
with that said, make sure your helmet either fully covers the back of your head or has a rear clip. worst case is you get hit and you're launched, in which case you want to absolutely be sure your helmet is going to stay seated.
ALSO DON'T WORRY YOU'LL BE FINE THIS IS JUST SAFETY TALKING YOU'RE AN ADULT YOU CAN DO THIS
and now, this:
equally shitty argument is that the look of your hair is more important than the function of your brain
(of course I shave my head so idc)
@Lotsofgoats Also remember if your helmet ever takes an impact then it's time to replace it.
@jqubed this is usually true. just follow the manufacturer's instructions on replacement (and yes they have an incentive to tell you to replace, but they also have an incentive to advertise durability so those two about even out).
@Lotsofgoats Rather similar to what I did on skis when someone clipped me. Hard pack snow feels just like concrete. That was the last season I didn't wear a helmet skiing. It was about that time when people were really just getting into helmets for skiing and boarding. Within 5 years I'd say usage went from 10% to 95%. As a motorcycle rider I've always advocated helmet use on the street and am thoroughly ashamed I live in a state that actually repealed their helmet law. Then again, Darwin...
@cinoclav yea, to be honest I think brands like Bern had a lot to do with that because their helmets are ok looking
@Lotsofgoats The style of Bern helmets are more popular with the skater/snow park type rider. From my experience I see a lot more of a bike style shell on the slopes. I use a Giro Seam myself. This does bring up an important point though - there is a serious difference between a cyclist helmet and a snow helmet in that snow helmets not only are made to withstand the colder temps but also provide more coverage around the back of the head. Cyclists tend to go down sideways while skiers/boarders tend to hit the back of their heads and need the extra impact protection.
I always wear a helmet.
But, statistically, there's a greater benefit wearing a helmet in your car than on your bike. Especially for kids.
So it's odd that folks are so vocal about bike safety and silent on car safety
@MehnofLaMehncha Not challenging you, but do you have a source for this?
I don't know an insane amount about bikes, but I like to ride.
If you're trying to go cheap, check out your local craigslist or similar. I got my last bike there for $20 - it had a fair amount of fixing up to do to it, but turned out well.
If you go that route, it will make you learn quickly how to fix/maintain a bike on your own. There are LOADS of great tutorials online, and generally local groups that get together to fix up bikes together. If you're not sure if you're going to enjoy riding forever, it will also give you a chance to try it out fairly cheaply.
If you're not wanting to fix it up, you can get a tune up at a local bike shop - general tune ups tend to be $30-40 or so.
Make sure to get a good helmet, a decent pump (you don't need anything fancy), and a few tools (flat repair kit, tire levers, etc).
Once it warms up a bit here, I'm very much looking forward to tuning up my bike and going for a long ride, it's one of my favorite things in the world!!
And if money isn't so much an issue, there's nothing like riding a brand new bike - so go for it if you get a chance!
@luvche21
Good point.
Get something at a yard sale, see if you like it, then buy a similar new bike later
(I'm scared shittless of Craigslist. Had to dump a couple of email addresses after all of the scams from using it maybe twice. Seems like every six months, there's a shoot-out from a Craigslist sale gone bad.)
@MehnofLaMehncha Whoa, I forgot that I even made this comment... it's always weird when old topics crop up like this, haha.
But yes, that's another reason why I have a dedicated spam email account for any not quite trustworthy source. My old hotmail account from 15 years ago has finally come in handy!
Bikes... one of the few goods I do not purchase online. Find a reputable shop, become friends with said shop owner, become a member of a bike community, find good bike on the second hand market.
Bought a bike online once. Came mostly assembled, but everything needed to be adjusted. Still think I got a pretty good value. Just an occasional rider, but I'd recommend not getting a "dual purpose" bike. Decide what your going to do most and get one optimized for that. Otherwise, it's like a futon (an uncomfortable couch and and uncomfortable bed). Also check out your local BikeMS events -- fun bunch and a good way to get motivated. Teams often do training rides prior to the event.
I found mine on Craigslist, because I wanted to keep costs down, but get a great bike. It's an older Sekai road bike, and it's in perfect shape. Fast and light, I could not have found anything better for the money.
I second staying away from general merchandise stores. You get more for your money with a low end "real" bike than the fanciest Wal-Mart crap.
As to bike choice, what you want to do will dictate your needs. I'd go towards a commuter, cruiser (but not a fixed gear) or casual "mountain" bike rather than a strictly road bike as tiny narrow tires will fuck you the minute you want to ride on anything that's not pavement, and they just seem able to take more casual "punishment" - hitting potholes and the like.
Not only get measured so you know the right size bike, but also test ride if you can. And enjoy, bikes are fun!
I also had good luck with Giant bikes, a good brand for not much money, relatively speaking.
I say go for the banana bike.
Check out the local bike shop. If they aren't bike snobs then you're good to go. If they let you test ride the hell out of a variety of types then do it.
It is great to get fit properly as just a small adjustment can mean the difference between being uncomfortable and being able to ride for hours.
If this place is new they may not have a lot of stock. I have a family run shop, mostly Trek, but they also have some used bikes and really stand behind everything they sell. Great to do biz with this shop.
I have also bought from Performance Bike which has some great deals and a very good guarantee. Buying into their membership payed off for a year even for online purchases - incase your local shop doesn't have that much stock.
If you have your pick of places in a big city then look online for clubs as many have suggested.
If you are in a very small town, like I am in, and you only have the one new shop and it is good then stick with it. Building a good relationship with a new owner will mean a lifetime of great riding - if that is what you want.
Get this and just don't use the motor.
You'll look like a bad ass.
@medz
Huh. No rocket launcher or laser weaponry. Is there an upgraded model?
So I came to the site last night a bit before the new product, so I looked for some discussion threads to check out while killing time. Saw this, and got engrossed in bike-fail videos and recommendations from others. And forgot to check out the new product right at 11:00 (my time)!
So yeah, I missed the fuku because of @MEHcus and his damn thread. Hope you buy a bike now.
And by the way, another vote for Giant. Very happy with mine.
@pitamuffin You're welcome, glad I could help
So I finally bought a bike, here she is:
Gonna take it by a bike shop tonight for a once over to make sure everything is in good working order and pick up some riding shorts while I'm there.
Guessing I take my first tumble over the handle bars in under a week. Pictures of road rash to follow.
@MEHcus Just missed your update. Good luck with the new wheels! I'd suggest getting a good multi-tool -- shit breaks at the worst times -- best to have something to help yourself.
Something like the Alien (I swear by mine) is what I'm talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Alien-26-Function-Bicycle-Tool/dp/B000FIE4AE
@ACraigL I mean I just posted it 11 minutes ago so I don't think you really missed the update haha.
Thanks for the advice, I'll grab one!
I used to mountain bike a ton, and my best advice is get your your local bike shop and have a discussion around what you want do, then what you want to spend. It's a lot like getting fitted for running shoes.
My first "adult" bike was a Trek 6000. Rather than upgrade the bike, I've upgraded the parts over and over to the point where it's a frankenstein creation, but that's allowed me to grow with the bike as I got to know more about what I wanted from it.
Don't store it hanging by the tires. Congrats!
@DaveInSoCal Thanks, it'll probably stay right where it is. Fits under the stairs nicely.
Beautiful bicycle!
If the local bike shop seems like a good place then they can be your best friends. If it is a small shop prices may be a little higher than Amazon ... they may have an email list with special sales etc. Ask them about fitting the bike for you as well. Give them a tip at the end of it all. After riding for a month you may find that you want things adjusted - this is so important - back may feel some pain, elbows painful... legs may feel cramped so seat post may need raised and seat may need moved back or forward. These small things, from a good shop, can make the world of difference in a comfortable ride.
One of the things that has saved me a ton of money over the long run (as well as a lot of frustration) is getting these heavy duty tubes (every company goes by a different name). I use to get a flat about once a month but after getting my small shop lbs (a Trek shop) install these tubes not only have I NEVER gotten a flat but they do not need pumping air ever! They are enormous! The box is about 3X larger than the boxes the average tube comes in! Well worth the extra expense and I paid the shop to install them.
This guy seems to have the go to site for everything on Cycling: http://sheldonbrown.com/bicycle-parts-links.html
To get the most power from pedaling I recommend getting a set of rat traps.
You can find two examples near the bottom of the page here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/pedals.html
They usually come with leather straps (not necessary but will really improve your power)... just practice getting in and out of these - better to start without the leather straps. Not difficult to use just watch some of those above vids - keep your pant cuffs & shoe laces out of the way etc.
Happy Cycling!
@fjp999 Super helpful post, thanks for all the info!
@MEHcus Welcome. I am a horrible bike mechanic so took a lot of others helping me ... another thought - chain falling off. seems to happen every so often & just at the beginning of a ride. there are a few tricks/hints like start in the lowest gear (might be in the sheldon brown links or pick up a good starter book at the library/lbs to read up on such hints about cycling).
btw, this is why messengers use fixies/single gear bikes. less to mess with.
After about age 45 I noticed it was becoming a lot of work to climb hills, so I moved up to one of these. I highly recommend it.
@Steve7654 :whistle: