Any bicyclists? advice needed

[nursebee]

ANyone ride bikes regularly? My old bike is perhaps going to cost $150 or more to get road worthy but will still have lots of rusty spokes. For now I am looking at new bikes. In the past I was a fair weather commuter to school and work, now fattened by the luxuries of marriage. My knee troubles me and my gut needs help. Stationary bike at the gym helps the most but is boring. So I am looking to buy new and hope for advice.

My local bike shop has Trek, I am looking at the 7.2 with the largest frame size. It costs more than $500. Previously I was on a hybrid Iron horse, this seems comparable in quality. If I go with other brands I will have to travel to get them.

Please share with me your thoughts on biking in general, opinion of what I am looking at, and opinions on performance vs price curve.

Thank you

[Hobie]

I hear ya on the stationary bikes! I can bike on the road for hours, but am ready to give up after 15 boring minutes at the gym.

This will probably be no help whatsoever, because my bike is an old "Frankenstein" that my Dad and I pieced together out of parts from the dump in 1981. The reason I still keep it going is because the frame dimensions fit me so well. Other bikes I have looked at are too long seat-to-handle bars, and my neck aches after a while. Treks are the only one that fit me well, but too expensive to rationalize since I do not bike as much as I used to.

In my opinion, the main goal is to find a bike that you will ride. If it is too heavy and uncomfortable, and sits in the garage it does you no good. If your old bike is incredibly comfortable, it may be worth fixing up. Perhaps used parts off another bike would suffice. Or maybe you bike a lot, and the old bike is just worn out, and a new one is in order. But perhaps it does not have to be a top of the line bike. In my opinion, the important things are:

1. Fit. The bike must be comfortable. If your knees hurt, the seat height is critical, and you may need a longer seat post. Even 1/4" difference in seat height makes my knees ache. Handlebar position- there are a number of stems and handlebar designs. Distance seat-to-bars (how far forward do you like to lean?) Test ride all bikes. Perhaps a smaller frame with a longer seat post would be more comfortable.

2. Quality components. You want good derailleurs, etc. so they are not constantly slipping. It is too annoying to need to constantly adjust them (although you should expect an initial adjustment as the cables stretch.)

3. Gear ratio. More critical if you live in a hilly area. Important for knees. I custom built mine to climb walls, and I love it.

The least important thing to me is the name on the frame. I think Trek is a very good manufacturer, but Schwinn and others are making decent stuff as well. I kind of like my old, rusty steel frame, because no one even thinks of stealing it.

[dragonfly]

When I first met DH, he was an avid bicycler, and he rode Trek back then. $500 for a Trek sounds to me like a great price compared to 30 years ago.

[Gregg]

I regularly commute to work on a bike, ride at breaks and at lunch, and as much as possible (although not as much as I used to due to travel considerations for work, and also because I'm running a lot more bees than I used to; have put on 750 miles in a month in the past, now generally only get about 200 per month). Trek is a very good brand (there are several others of course) from what I know (I have never owned one) and $500 is in the price range for a decent commuter bike. As with anything else, you get what you pay for, and how much you spend should be determined by how much you are going to use it. I currently have a Specialized Expedition Sport, have had it about 3 years, believe I paid about $400 for it. I have also had a Mongoose in the past, also a good bike.

I'd ditch the old bike and get something new, the people at the bike shop should be able to help you pick the bike that suits you best. You will quickly make up the money you spent on it in gas savings, if you use it regularly, and the health benefits are probably worth even more. I would think in NC you should be able to use it almost year round. I generally bike to work from about March - November/December here (depends on snow/ice moreso than temps, I have ridden to work in the morning when it's been below zero), although helps now that I only have about 3/4 of a mile to get to work, a few years ago was about 3.5 miles. Good luck!

[Zane]

I agree w/ Hobie-
There are alot of really good bikes out there. But with all those bikes are alot of different opinions on how a bike should fit a person. I would really recomend "trying on" a few bikes and see which one feels most comfortable. Take it for a test ride on terrain you will ride the bike on most(dirt, concrete etc) This is also the perfect time to get one on sale!!!
I bought an old "American made" Schwinn years ago. I got it for $250-$300 less due to me buying it at the end of the season. I too liked the Trek but when I rode this Schwinn I knew it was the bike for me. Schwinn is now made in Japan or China as alot of bikes these days.
Also try bikes w/ different grade shifting componants. A shifter made of metal should last longer than these plastic ones I see out there. Shimano has been around for ages and "XT" and "Deore" where the better models back then. You can really tell a great componant compaired to a not so great componant. It shifts right on time and when you want the bike to shift. Smoothly and without effort. Making the bike ride more enjoyable. I think alot of the price you pay for is the weight of the bike. Pick up a $200 bike then a $1000 bike and notice the weight. Frame geometry will probably be the same just lighter and better componants.
There are alot of great bike mfg's out there. Go to a dealer and tell him what your lookng for. If he's a good dealer he'll help you out and explain things to you. If he doesnt you might try someone else. Bikers have always seemed to be good friendly people so you should find some great help out there.
Good luck.
Bikes are fun to ride and great excercise. Be careful for the idiot drivers that are on their cells!!!! and try to wear a helmet

[Sundance]

Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, I rode 25 miles a day.

Ditto to Hobie.

The rule of thumb back then probably applies now as well.
The quality jump from entry level bikes (less than $200) to
mid level bikes (approx $500) is incredible. The quality jump
from mid-level to higher end ($750 and way up) is minimal.

A couple years ago I got some really nice bikes from a
police auction. Lot's of unclaimed stolen bikes. I got a
nice (but scratched up) Trek for $50 and an aluminum
Raleigh for $60. Check out your local PD's and ask about
auctions to come. They are common.

[cow pollinater]

I used to ride alot and even took bycicle camping trips and a few statewide tours before I got my drivers license. I rode alot of nice bikes back then and Treks were ussually my favorites.
I quit riding bikes for a long time but about three years ago I realised what a great tool they would be at my real job on the big dairies. I now ride a little boys twenty inch bike from Walmart about ten miles a day. It took me two and a half years to wear out the first one and I ride it like a madman and slam it on the ground and throw it in the back of my truck. They cost about$50 each and I kept the tires off the first one in case I get a flat on the new one. They pay for themselves the first day.
I know that's not the advice you're looking for, I'm just saying think about what you really need and don't buy more than that.

[Bodo]

Check craigslist and other sites. I see good bikes going for reasonable rates all the time.

[Zane]

Did you ride that Trek yet? how did it feel? The 7.2 looks like a pretty good bike for the dough

[nursebee]

I am 6'6" tall so finding a bike in the shop that fits me is pretty tough. I did ride the 7.2 in a smaller frame, different shifting but similar arrangement to the iron horse I had. I tried to order a 7.2 with 25" frame, they called later in the day to say that the $520 bike would need to be ordered from the west coast, would not be the color I chose, and require $60 shipping fee. So I ended up ordering a 7.3 for $590 in a color I am happier with. I've asked that they call me when they put it together as I have rarely done any work on a bike and would like to take care of this one.

I have been watching craigslist and will consider a used road bike if I keep up with this.

Thanks everyone.

[Hobie]

Congrats! Sounds like an awesome bike. Bike general maintenance is not difficult once you see it. Make sure you learn how to adjust the brake and derailleur cables, because they WILL stretch when new. Especially if you have index shifting... There must be a trick to that that I haven't figured out.

Also, learn to change the tires, especially the rear, where you may or may not have to remove the chain, depending on the derailleur. And, although they won't be doing it on a new bike, how to patch a tube. Other than that, and treating your bike well, there's not much else!

My one suggestion: get a rear rack. When the roads are wet, a piece of cardboard or plastic bag attached to the rack will keep you from getting the infamous "back stripe."

Now you get to ask for "stocking stuffers" like chain breakers and tire irons and patch kits and spoke wrenches for Christmas!

[doc25]

Keep looking for that used road bike. I found mine at a flea market. Nakamura road bike cheap and fast. I really prefer the road bike terrain permitting. One type of bike I really didn't like was the Hybrid I picked up at the flea market (specialized crossroads $90.00). I was doing winter commuting and just found that was more fragile than the mountain bike and nowhere near as fast as the road bike.

[Sundance]

Tire changing has to be something you can do easily.

I like the tubes they are selling now with "Slime" sealant
already in them. Slime is worth it's weight is gold when
you are going to work and you run over glass, nails, etc.