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Thinking about buying a Bike.
    #15345161 -

Hey there cyclists of the shroomery!

As the title says, I'm thinking about buying a bike. I've decided it's finally time to get some exercise and spend more time outside.

I'm looking for a bike to ride to class, nothing too crazy, maybe a fixed gear.

Price range: as close to $200 as possible (is this too cheap?)

This is my first bike and I'm not looking for anything fancy, I just need something to work.

Any brands I should look for/avoid? Any tips or advice are welcome. :smile:


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345206 -

Should I just go pick one up at target?:confused:


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345213 -

Well for that cheap you can find a lot of bikes that will "do the job". they aren't going to be pretty, but they'll work, if that's what you're after.

my best suggestion is Craigslist. Just search for Road Bicycles and you'll find a bunch.

here's my bike


but I paid over $1000 for everything.

If you are serious about biking, they are worth the investment. My bike will last for a looong time. The past 4 months I've put on 750 miles :thumbup:

you'll get addicted. I know I did :awesome:


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Trippin? Click Me...... Me too!


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345222 -

Listen, if you want a budget bike, that will flow easy, pedal nice, and get you where you gotta go fast, you can get one at Target for around 200$ Shcwinn I believe makes a hybrid ( 700c tires )

If you are willing to spend an extra 200$ ( 400$ total ) do what I did.

Head to your local bike shop, and pick out a hybrid Trek. I spent 400$ on my Trek, with the 700c tires ( that's what makes it a hybrid ) *Cross between a Road bike, and Mt bike ) But I don't recomend doing what a MT bike can, cause it won't.

But it's super easy to pedal, picks up speed nicely, and cruises amazing.

Best 400$ I ever spent.

( It was actually 416$ )

Report back with what ya bought.

My friend paid 600$ for his Specialized Hybrid, and he loves his.

But I love my Trek moar.


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IT'S A FISHY!!!!! ----> :fishy:

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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345235 -

If you want a nice bike, I'd avoid Schwinn.
(Trek and Specialized are both nice. As is Giant.)

Also, I'd avoid a fixed speed or single speed.
Going up hills is hard, and gears help.

Also, look into bike sizing, and get a bike that is the right size for you.

Biking is fun, man. A lot mellower than driving for sure.


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: ifoundwaldo]
    #15345278 -

Thanks everyone! Great info so far. :thumbup:

Quote:
Also, I'd avoid a fixed speed or single speed.
Going up hills is hard, and gears help.


Where I am, there are no hills!  :lolsy:  Seriously, it's flat.

And, damn, $400 for something solid is tempting.


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345290 -

None??

No freeways and ramps over them? Or anything?

I mean, in that RARE case, I guess a fixie or an SS would be cool.

When commuting, I spend 99% of my time in 1 of my 24 gears.


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345313 -

Buy an old ten speed for cheap and fix it up.
Worked great for me and got all new parts and everything for abt 200


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: ifoundwaldo]
    #15345315 -

damn, in Seattle, there are hills EVERYWHERE. I literally am changing gears every couple of minutes. Plus I scale across my entire range, triple crank w/ 8 speed cassette.

If I lived in a flat city I'd get a fixed gear/single speed. Or a single crank w/ a 5 speed cassette or something


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Trippin? Click Me...... Me too!


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: ifoundwaldo]
    #15345330 -

Fuck fixies, that shit is so whack unless you plan on riding backwards. Singlespeed is cool for the simplicity but honestly dude we invented gears for a reason, topping out on your one gear gets old, you can really haul ass with gears.
I would go the craigslist route, find a cool old roadbike instead of some cheap walmart huffy...

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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: Anthony]
    #15345337 -

I got a nice enough bike for $100.  all the gears work fine, it has full suspension, it's a mountain bike though.  came with a speedometer, has front disc brakes... it's worked well.

If you're spending closer to $200 you should really get a quality machine for your purposes, which seem to be just basic transportation.


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: Anthony]
    #15345341 -

Here's my bike.



I don't really use it for transport, just as something to ride around in parks, trails, etc. If your main use is for transport, then a road bike would be more efficient.


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: x Ju x]
    #15345357 -

Yep, only for transport.

Do road bikes not handle off-road terrain well? or does it have to with shifting?


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345404 -

road bikes are absolute fail on off road.    but if you're ONLY on flat streets, its way better. for real, the smallest bump will ruin your tire and rims.  either way, i'd get one that shifts.  hills on a 1 speed  :grrr:


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: The Phleg]
    #15345406 -

It has a little bit to do with geometry/comfort but mostly its just a difference in tires. Ride through a patch of sand with your skinny slick road tires and you're gonna eat shit. There is cyclocross racing tho, which is road bikes with mountain tires.

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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: NWlight]
    #15345415 -

NWlight said:
for real, the smallest bump will ruin your tire and rims


this is the main reason they don't go off road well.

mountain bikes and road bikes are also geared a little differently.
since you have to climb steeper and looser terrain off road.

EDIT: Geometry too... Road bikes are more aerodynamic (leaning over handle bars). Mountain bikes have you sit more upright. Cruiser bikes have you sit straight up (comfort).


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: NWlight]
    #15345529 -

NWlight said:
road bikes are absolute fail on off road.    but if you're ONLY on flat streets, its way better. for real, the smallest bump will ruin your tire and rims.  either way, i'd get one that shifts.  hills on a 1 speed  :grrr:


:facepalm:
Yeah, road bikes are not meant to go off road. Hence the term "road" bike.

but the bolded part is not true at all. I ride my road bike and it handles bumps just fine. It can really bounce you around on the saddle if you aren't used to it. Certain frames will absorb the shock better than others. Carbon fiber/aluminum absorb a lot more shock than my steel frame does, but steel is much more rugged than the other two materials.

Certainly not big ones, if you hit a big bump or pothole, you're fucked. Especially at high speeds.

My wheels are slightly out of true, but after 750 miles I expect that. :shrug:

I've only replaced my tires once, and I bought the bike used, with extremely bare tires at the time.

You can get a hybrid bike, which will have thicker, knobbier tires that will allow you to roll over a lot more, but you sacrifice speed and pedaling efficiency as the surface area against the concrete slows you down considerably.


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Trippin? Click Me...... Me too!


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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: ifoundwaldo]
    #15345533 -

Geometry is COMPLETELY different.  It's more than the difference in just sitting up vs leaning forward.  The chainstays are a different length, the BB is a different height off the ground - the only similarity they have is that they're both technically bikes.

To whoever said topping out in your one gear is old sucks at spinning, straight up.  I can break 60km/h in my one gear, and I can easily get up to speed and cruise at 35km/h.  I climb hills all day no problem.  Sure gears can be nice, but to me the maintenance you need to do on them is a pain in the ass.  My bike is used to get me from point a to b, and I do literally an hour of maintenance every year just changing the chain, and maybe every 3-5 years tightening the cones on the hub.

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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: Anthony]
    #15345537 -

Anthony said:
NWlight said:
road bikes are absolute fail on off road.    but if you're ONLY on flat streets, its way better. for real, the smallest bump will ruin your tire and rims.  either way, i'd get one that shifts.  hills on a 1 speed  :grrr:


:facepalm:
Yeah, road bikes are not meant to go off road. Hence the term "road" bike.

but the bolded part is not true at all. I ride my road bike and it handles bumps just fine. It can really bounce you around on the saddle if you aren't used to it. Certain frames will absorb the shock better than others. Carbon fiber/aluminum absorb a lot more shock than my steel frame does, but steel is much more rugged than the other two materials.

...

You can get a hybrid bike, which will have thicker, knobbier tires that will allow you to roll over a lot more, but you sacrifice speed and pedaling efficiency as the surface area against the concrete slows you down considerably.


Sorry dude, but that's just not true.  Steel is something like 3 times less stiff than aluminum, and 6 times less stiff than carbon.  Steel will absorb a TON more impact than aluminum or carbon could ever dream of.

Additionally, I'm really not a fan of hybrids.  They're marketed at being good for everything, but really they just kinda suck for everything.  Get a road bike for transportation IMO.

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Re: Thinking about buying a Bike. [Re: pwnasaurus]
    #15345598 -

pwnasaurus I remember you posting in the other bike threads. you seem to have this elitist attitude about your single speed.

I like how you talk like you are the best biker ever cause you're pro at spinning. You pedal super fast in a lower gear, great. I can pedal less fast in a higher gear for the same effect. Although, the technique is smart. I'd just rather have the option to ride in a tougher gear and spin just as fast. :shrug:

Not everyone wants to ride a single speed. Shifting is fun, allows you to climb easier uphill and go hella fast downhill. There really isnt that much maintenance involved. The only difference is you have 2 derailleurs that are very simple to adjust.

Really, the only situation in which I'd ride a fixed gear/single speed is if I lived in a city like Chicago.

oh and I guess I worded that poorly. by shock absorption I meant they transfer more of the impact to your body


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Edited by Anthony (11/09/11 06:49 PM)

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