nOOb in nEEd!

[Diggles]

Hi Ladies! As the title suggests...I am a noob in need. I posted on a local forum but after a month of waiting on a helpful response, I have given up hope.

Here is what I posted there:
Ok, I'm new to this. I've barely done any cycling except when I broke my ankle & wasn't able to run...feeling like a lazy slob I borrowed a friends road bike for a bit. Fun...I admit!
I'd like to get something fairly cheap just so if I hate it, I haven't wasted a ton of money. I'm thinking the 200-300 range. According to my local bike shop I need a 15. I'm 5'7" & 135lbs.

I've done a bit of snooping around here & you ladies seem so sweet & helpful. I've been wanting to get into cycling for a number of reasons...1 being the price of gas...and 2 being that running is really starting to hurt my knees & ankles. I just can't get my mileage in like I used to be able to. Gettin old & all.:(

Hope to get to know some of you...
D

Afterthought:
I hope it was ok to post here looking for a used bike? I apologize if it's inappropriate. I would really love suggestions for a decent, cheap starter bike...I can look elsewhere for the actual bike!

[pikato]

Quick Question:

Do you specifically want a ROAD bike or are you asking about a bike in general??

[Diggles]

The only kind of riding I've done is on a road bike. Although I'm open to suggestions. I think I would be too nervous to try to get on trails since I can barely even balance.

*This is so embarrassing*

[KSH]

If you want a road bike... it's going to be hard to find a new one for under $500-$600.

You can look at used bikes, but honestly... they tend to be almost as much as a new one... but MANY years old... and then you have to search and search for one that fits you just right. Your options are limited at that point.

I know it's PAINFUL to pay $500+ for a bike... and you aren't even sure if you will stick with it. Trust me, I had that same struggle.

Well, I bought my bike in October 2004 for $600, and I have ridden 2,700 miles on it, and I am still going strong! I put 450 miles on it last month alone!

Think about this... you have probably spent up to $600 on entertainment (eating out, movies, books, etc.) in the past 2 years. Well, you can $600 for 2 years PLUS... of enjoyment on a bike.

I think if you look and find a bike that you really love, that you will find that you won't give up as quickly as you think you might.

[CorsairMac]

Diggles: don't be embarrassed, if you can't ask it here where Can you ask it! :D

For the price range you're thinking about, you can get a hybrid bike. It's not a road bike Or a MTB, it's more like a commuter/comfort bike. You can get one for under $500 and see if you like riding and/or how much you'll ride it. The hybrid bikes tend to have straight across handlebars so you're going to sit up, the tires are thicker than skinny road tires and they are built for comfort. It's a good place to start tho to see if this is what you want to do.

I'm not very familiar with some of the other brands - the other ladies are tho and can offer suggestions but I'm thinking along the lines of the:

Trek Navigator 200 or 300. We've got a lady here on the board that just did her first century on the Navigator 300 so don't poo-poo the hybrid-ness of it! :D

[pikato]

Hello again,

I personally agree with the other ladies about buying new. I'm a relative newbie myself, and the concept that I'd have to pay over $600 for an ENTRY LEVEL road bike nearly killed me, but I have a lovely LBS(local bike shop) that allowed for layaway. For some reason it didn't seem so bad when I could make payments:p

After all is said & done, I've had Oscar(yes he has a name!) for about a month now & I really don't think I could have bought a used bike, since I was such a newbie. I had no clue about fit & all the jazz that you will see people posting about. Oscar is a beginner friendly Giant OCR 3, which I was able to get for $550 since he was last years model.

I definitely recommend looking around at bike shops and seeing what is comfortable to you, THEN worry about the price, lol.

[KSH]

Might I add that if you are not sure if you want a Hybrid or a Rodie... why not go rent each type of bike and take 'em for a test drive.

My boyfriend wasn't sure if he wanted a Hybrid or a Rodie... and after a few rentals, he knew that a Rodie was for him.

You certainly don't want to buy a Hybrid, just because it's cheaper... only to find out that you want a road bike.

Keep in mind that if you want to do group rides with groups, you will probably need a road bike to keep up, unless it's a really slow group.

[DrBee]

I'm in agreement with Corsair - I suggest a hybrid.

It's a good way to get started and even if you decide to make the jump to a roadbike in a year or two, you'll have a good bike to toodle around town or do some commuting with. This is what I did. I bought a Trek Hybrid (7200FX) - they run somewhere around $350. There are lots of other brands, too. It was a great way for me to get started and test out my knees and committment to cycling before I plunked down $1500 on a roadbike. 8 months later - I bought a roadbike. But I do still use the hybrid to run errands and take the kids to the park, ride with my daughter, etc. I have a friend that's been riding a hybrid for years and goes many many miles!

Good luck and let us know what you decide! Feel free to ask more questions - that's why we're here! :)

[Bad JuJu]

Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of going out and grabbing a Wal-Mart special just because they're cheaper. The bike will almost surely not fit you well, won't shift or brake properly--at least not for long, and you'll be so unhappy and uncomfortable with the the bike that you might think you just don't like cycling, when it's really the bike that's at fault, not the sport.

A decent bike is a good investment, so bite the bullet and make it--and, oh yeah, have fun.:D

[dachshund]

The hybrids are quite a bit cheaper, for what it's worth. I second the idea of going out and test riding. Go to multiple shops, you'll get to try different bikes, and learn a lot by talking to different sales people.

I guess the risk of getting a cheaper bike "for now" is that you might want something better or lighter down the road. (all puns intended) Maybe do the LBS circuit then see what's available in used bikes? Anyway, as others have said, having a hybrid around as a second bike would probably really come in handy. Also, ask if they have "last year's model". I saved quite a bit by getting a 2005.

[chickwhorips]

i had the same problem when i first got my mountain bike... i didn't want to spend a ton but wanted a good bike. i looked at the bike shop, but then wound up at REI.
they had a ton of different bikes for a reasonable price. if you have one of those in your area i'd look there or online at www.rei.com

[Diggles]

You ladies are so incredibly helpful! Thank you!

I did go to my LBS (look@me...using the lingo already!) and the guy suggested a Trek 7200. The price tag was do-able for getting a feel if it's something I'd stick with.

My only reason for hesitation is that I would really love to have something I could also take off-road. I'm looking at Trek's website right now & I just can't make heads or tails of what all this stuff means...a Hybrid is a bike that would serve this purpose?

[Duck on Wheels]

If by off-road you mean jumping over rocks and balancing on logs, then the hybrid might not be up to that. But if you mean gravel trails, then yes. In fact, there are hybrids specifically designed to work well on the road and on trails. But I'm a newby too and forget what they're called. :o

[Trek420]

Diggles "You ladies are so incredibly helpful! Thank you!"

welcome to the board Diggles, lots of help here.

"I did go to my LBS (look@me...using the lingo already!)"

oooh, cute, look, she's saying bike words. ::sigh:: they grow up so fast here, before you know it....:D Just kidding you, that's great. :D

"My only reason for hesitation is that I would really love to have something I could also take off-road."

If by off road you mean gravel trails consider simply getting an extra set of tires. Use the slicks for commute, road rides, just pop knobbie tires on when heading for a gravely ride.

What will most of your rides be like?

My commuter is a GT Outpost trail about 10 years old. They have front shocks now but back in the day no suspension anywhere.

It fits just right. I don't need suspension for my commute.

I got slicker tires and have taken it on a fire road but nothing bouncier than that. I just threw good money after bad at it an upgraded the wheels. On some rides, like hills (which I'm bad at) I might be faster on the old el'cheapo GT than on my fancy schmancy road bike.

I've read here that you're faster going than stopping so I may even try it on Mt Diablo someday.

[crazybikinchic]

I agree with KSH. Most of your LBS will rent you a bike for different lengths of time. That way you know what you want when you get hooked on cycling, because we all know that you will.

[wannaduacentury]

I have the TREK 7100 and ride lightt dirt trails all the time around my place. I am careful about flats/none yet so far.I really need another mtn bike and I want a road bike too. One thing at a time for me. My trek 7100 has a suspension fork and a suspension seatpost. 2005 model you might consider this a comfort, I know I do :) Good luck on finding a bike. Sometimes the LBS may have a used model that someone traded up for. You can get a deal on a used bike that was taken care of.

[Diggles]

By off-roading, I mean pretty straight-forward trails I guess. Big gravel or dirt, tree roots, possibly steep. But this wouldn't be everyday. Probably once a month or so.

So I'm feeling a hybrid is going to be my best bet! I'll get my butt to the LBS circuit (as you pro-fessionals say) and see what I can't find!

Thanks again y'all! I can't believe how helpful everyone here has been.:cool:

[CorsairMac]

Not a problem Diggles!! I agree, it sounds like the hybrid is a great place for you to start.....just be sure and let your LBS know you're going to want to take it off-road "every once in a while". They should be able to suggest some MTB tires that you can switch out for the days you want to do that. and if you don't know how to change a tire - tell them that too.....if they're halfway decent they should either offer classes or show you how to do that. That way you've got a nice bike for road and soft trails, and the tires for the harder stuff when you want it.


Just please please please be sure it fits you and fits you well.....you won't ride it if you don't like it! :D

[residentgeek]

Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of going out and grabbing a Wal-Mart special just because they're cheaper. The bike will almost surely not fit you well, won't shift or brake properly--at least not for long, and you'll be so unhappy and uncomfortable with the the bike that you might think you just don't like cycling, when it's really the bike that's at fault, not the sport.

I did this. Went out and bought a sub-$100 bike at Wal-Mart in April. Figured I wouldn't be wasting much money if I didn't enjoy riding. I've put almost 100 miles on it, and man, it's beat up now. The shifting SUCKS (it especially loves to jump gears when I'm going up a hill), I've already had to replace the brakes once, the crankshaft wobbles when I pedal... the list goes on and on. I've decided I'll have to deal with it for the rest of this season, and when I get my tax return in Feb/March, I'm going to the city to find a bike shop and get a real bike. The closest bike shop here is probably almost an hour away, but it'll be worth it.

Don't waste your money on the discount store bikes. Get a real bike from a real bike shop. Even a cheapie from the bike shop would be better than the one I got at Wal-Mart. Ugh. I feel so dumb for wasting my money.

[CorsairMac]

Ugh. I feel so dumb for wasting my money.


no need to feel dumb. At the time it was a decision that worked best for you. Just think - if for some unfathomable reason you had Hated cycling - you wouldn't be out a lot of money. Now.........you know that you not only Love it but you've got a Great idea just what it'll take to make it even more perfect for you! Just think - but for that Wal-Mart bike you might've bought a higher-end bike that wasn't right for you......and sold it at a garage sale! ;)

oh: and the longer you keep riding the heavy clunker, the better shape you'll be in. By the time you get that higher-end ride, you'll be able to just blow riders right off the road! :-D

[plantluvver]

no need to feel dumb. At the time it was a decision that worked best for you. Just think - if for some unfathomable reason you had Hated cycling - you wouldn't be out a lot of money. Now.........you know that you not only Love it but you've got a Great idea just what it'll take to make it even more perfect for you! Just think - but for that Wal-Mart bike you might've bought a higher-end bike that wasn't right for you......and sold it at a garage sale! ;)

oh: and the longer you keep riding the heavy clunker, the better shape you'll be in. By the time you get that higher-end ride, you'll be able to just blow riders right off the road! :-D

I agree she shouldn't feel dumb. But her advice is good. I had a cheapy department store bike. Made me feel I was too old to ride. I was in my twenties!:eek:

So I think she is very fortunate that she continued to ride DESPITE that clunker!

Luckily for me, a freind at work talked me into considering buying his wife's bike, and I hesitated. So they loaned it to me for a weekend. I rode that bike 14 miles my first time out! I had no idea how far I had gone! I still have that Schwinn and I am now 47. And I know that I can enjoy riding (although its been about a year since I've ridden much.)

Unfortunately, I never maintained her. I just didn't know how, and thought it was something that only cycling geeks did. My childhood bikes only ever got oil on the chain every so often, and seemed okay.

I am a cheapskate, and will probably wind up with a garage sale bike, but I will hold out for something that feels good, at least as good as my Schwinn did when I first had her.

And also, my bargain bike was no bargain. something was wrong and the threads in the pedals got stripped. I couldn't find replacement pedals to fit. They were some non-standard size. :confused: I went back to the store and they replaced them once, by taking them from another bike. It happened a second time, and they no longer carried the bike. Besides, this time, the crank was stripped as well.

Also, you can't test ride a department store bike, and who is going to give you any advice.

I don't know anything about new bikes from bike shops, my two Schwinns were bought used. But I would certainly stay away from department store models!

Do you have any biking freinds who can assist you in making your decision?

Mary

[residentgeek]

Okay, okay, I'm done feeling dumb :)

The discount bike has definitely made me aware of what to look for when I finally get a real bike. I won't make the mistake of walking into the bike shop and buying the first bike they put me on! Especially since I'll probably be giving up going to hockey camp next year if I spend my tax return on a new bike. I won't have the money to do both. So I'll probably drive the shop guys (or girls, if I'm lucky) nuts being so picky :D

And I do keep reminding myself that the harder the bike is to work with, the easier I'll ride when I get a good one. If only I could get the muscles in my thighs to start showing... They're there, but they're hiding. Guess I'll have to throw the kids in the bike trailer again.

[Barb]

My freind was in the same position. She just bought a REI Novara Forza. Last years model. She keeps up just great with me on the road and can take it on trails and dirt roads that my skinny 23mm tires won't handle. It's worth a look.

[rivergrl]

The bike a bought a couple of years ago and it was a Giant Sedona. It's a comfort bike and has been a pleasure to ride, super comforable, looks good, very light. You can get a Sedona for around $350 without the bells and whistles as my friend did.She only had the water bottle holder added. Mine cost around $550 because I added the light and the milage tracker thingy (my mind went blank on the actual name of that) anyway, that is something I'm glad I had put on. I could live without the light since I never ride at night. I rode (and still do ride off and on) the Sedona for building up my stamina and often if I'm riding with a friend.

Recently I bought a Giant OCR1 and it's fun for more fat burning rides. I still love to take my Sedona out for a nice long ride and just take in the scenery. Sometimes I take it out for an hour on Saturday mornings and just take a long ride, later I might take the road bike out and ride fast for a more focused workout. Even on the Sedona you can go fast if that's what you want, I would ride 15-17 sometimes, other times 12-14 was a good smooth speed for me. I could ride that thing for days, it's such a great bike. I don't think I'll ever sell it...well worth the money spent.

[Diggles]

And I went back to my shop...
I'm looking at this one:

Clicky (http://schellers.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=2758)

Anyone start on or even still use this bike? I feel like a complete dope asking for help at the shop. Me: Hi, I'm a moron...sell me something I know nothing about. Them: We love people like you.:rolleyes:

[Grog]

And I went back to my shop...
I'm looking at this one:

Clicky (http://schellers.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=2758)

Anyone start on or even still use this bike? I feel like a complete dope asking for help at the shop. Me: Hi, I'm a moron...sell me something I know nothing about. Them: We love people like you.:rolleyes:

My first "real bike" (read: over $20) after 10 y.o. was the Trek 7100 FX. The "performance" one. I quickly got a road bike after that but I rode it once after riding my road bike for a while and was impressed at how well it rolled. Nice bike.

I'd suggest getting the "performance" instead of the "comfort" type... You'll be comfy enough on the "performance" bike and it will indeed be faster...

[Diggles]

I'd suggest getting the "performance" instead of the "comfort" type... You'll be comfy enough on the "performance" bike and it will indeed be faster...

Thanks Grog!
Is it the same model just labeled with "performance"? I'm really sorry for all the questions. Can I just ask the salesman? I'm afraid that if I don't know exactly what I want when I go in that they'll be able to talk me into more money...b/c I I hate buying the base model of anything anyway so it'd be easy to do. :cool:

[Geonz]

Nope, they're not the same. I have a 7500 FX (not my first bike :-) . I can't remember all the differences... some of 'em have suspension and others don't, tires might be different...
... but I would recommend *riding* the bikes and seeing what it feels like to *you.* While you will change some in how you sit and lean as you learn to ride more efficiently, if it feels good now, it should keep feeling good.

[farrellcollie]

If possible - I suggest going to a couple of different shops to try different brands. I started out on a hybrid - a GT I think- 10 yrs ago - road every weekend 10=25 miles on it with friends and commuted during the week. At that time I paid around $200 for it and thought I had lost my mind. then it got stolen about three yrs ago and I replaced it with another hybrid (raleigh) that had front shocks (totally unnecessary for my riding - not bad just heavy). I recently bought a road bike that I love and ride all the time now except for commute where I need my rack, fenders, lights, etc.

The shops around here all carry different brands - some have trek, some have giant, some have specialized etc - but none have more than two-three brands. Fit and feel is different in each brand I thought - so if you can ride more than one brand - you might like one over the other in the same price range. You also might find you like one shop over another - useful info when you need tuneups, your next bike etc.

[Grog]

Thanks Grog!
Is it the same model just labeled with "performance"? I'm really sorry for all the questions. Can I just ask the salesman? I'm afraid that if I don't know exactly what I want when I go in that they'll be able to talk me into more money...b/c I I hate buying the base model of anything anyway so it'd be easy to do. :cool:

Yeah that's that "official name" and the bike you are interested in probably comes in both options. The "comfort" makes you more upright, the performance is a bit more aerodynamic.

[KnottedYet]

My SO/DP/DPITA/wife has the Trek. She loves it, and has ridden it 85 miles in one day. (I tried one, and hated it. Doesn't mean it's a bad bike, just not the right one for me and the way my body likes to ride.)

She's had hers for 4 or 5 years now, and not had any troubles with it. I keep asking her if she wants a new (i.e. faster, sexier) bike and she says no. We've done big road rides and gravel/dirt path rides and group rides and just the two of us rides and she's ridden alone. She's happy with her bike.

Edit: PS. My new bike is a $400 Kona Dew www.konaworld.com

[Diggles]

And you love it? There is a cycler's cafe here that sells Kona...perhaps I'll run over there & have a look. I think I have some friends that ride, maybe I need to pester them to come with me to shop.

Y'all are going to be so happy when I finally buy a bike so I'll quit asking so many questions!

Thanks again,
D

[KnottedYet]

Yup, I love it. It's a great commuter bike for me and the way I ride. I miss my old steel bikes, and would like to get a second bike. (in the past I've always sold the old bike to buy the new) My next will be a tourer, all steel (Soma or Surly or similar), with Campy and Ritchey and Brooks.... and a whole lot more expensive than my Kona workhorse. But THIS time I intend to keep the old when I buy the new (in a year or two or three).

Don't be afraid to ask questions! We all do! :D

[Diggles]

I'm happy to announce the arrival of the newest member of my family...

http://schellers.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=2591

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[KnottedYet]

Wooohoooooo! Congratulations!:D

[residentgeek]

Sweet! That's a very good looking bike :D

[Geonz]

Sweet! Start puttin' those miles on him/her/it -)

[Grog]

Grrrrrrrrrrrreat, enjoy it now!