you girls have done it now

[fastdogs]

all these photos of wonderful bikes. This weekend I decided I needed a new bike. I have a new folding bike, and two, um, walmart bikes gathering dust (neither one fits me). I haven't been riding long, but long enough to appreciate a bike that fits me. I love my folding bike- I ride it every day at work during my lunch break. But it's not so good for pulling the bike trailer, and I'd like to be able to keep up better on group rides. I know some of this is me, but it seems like I'm pedaling like crazy while others on the "tall bikes" are just cruising along.
Maybe I just want a new bike. Saturday I went to a bike shop in rolla (rte 66) and sat on a trek 7000 on a trainer. I felt like the top tube was tall, but once on it, it seemed to fit me really well. They have the women's version, but none that they had fet well, they felt too cramped. The Trek shop in St. Louis didn't have any of the 7000, but they had 7100 and the navigator. It doesn't have to be trek, but I probably do need a hybrid. I'll ride mostly on roads and maybe gravel shoulders, but might like to go on a packed dirt path too. No rockhopping, so may not need a mountain bike. Any suggestions? I'm pretty heavy right now (but losing!) and will ride this bike on weekends while I ride the folding bike during the week- so don't want to pay a lot- the price range of the low end treks is about right (300-400). I won't be putting tons of miles on it at first, I've been doing like ten miles a ride but would like to do more (right now the limiting factor is my son's patience). I would like to actually sit on the bike, so will check out another bike shop tomorrow and see what they have.
vickie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey, welcome!

I'm no expert, but a hybrid sounds like a good idea for you according to what you say you want to do right now. You are being smart by trying out different bikes in different bike shops. The more bikes you ride before you buy, the more you will know exactly what you need in a bike. Try to resist impulse buys unless you are like suddenly crazy in love with a particular bike. If you aren't quite sure,- keep test riding.

Good luck! Try to enjoy the search for a bike, meanwhile.

[KnottedYet]

I always recommend the Kona Dew (aluminum) and the Kona Smoke (steel).

(I have had one of each)

$350-$400

As my LBS says, they are "bombproof" bikes.

www.konaworld.com
http://www.konaworld.com/08_dew.htm
http://www.konaworld.com/08_smoke29.htm

With the new, larger wheels available on the 2008 Smoke, I'd definitely be going for the Smoke. (steel, and it comes with fenders) My 2007 Smoke has 26 inch wheels, and I'm not complaining. But it is slower overall than my Kona Dew with the 700c wheels. (I rode the Dew in a triathlon, and was a studly babe for the biking leg. We won't talk about my performance in the swim and run legs... )

[fastdogs]

well, I really liked the feel of the trek 7000, it was the men's version with a 17.5 (size of the frame?). But then, it's the only hybrid I've ever been on. I am enjoying the idea of a new bike, so will enjoy the shopping. I checked out the kona website and really like the look of the kona smoke, but when I searched for dealers it showed none in my area (st. louis). kind of hard to believe.
thanks for the encouragement and suggestions!
vickie

[onimity]

As far as Kona in St. Louis, Google says...

http://bigshark.com/index.cfm?display=homepage
http://pelotoncyclery.com



Anne

[fastdogs]

thanks, I found another one that carries kona. It's supposed to rain this week, so instead of riding during my lunch break I might sneak away to check out some bikes.
anyone know anything about jamis bikes? I found a shop that carries them and some look interesting. I will check out mountain bikes too, prefer hardtail.
vickie

[onimity]

Hi Vickie,

Seems like you are looking for a couple of different things.

My LBS guy gave me great advice when I was in a similar (but utterly bikeless) position; that was that if I was going to be riding on dirt, to consider a MTB (which I could always put slick tires on) but which would give me a wider range of uses for the bike. It was great advice, IMO because I could ride a lot of dirt trails more easily that are not-so-fun on a hybrid. I started with a Kona Fire Mountain, which I *loved.* (She got stolen ) But it was a phenomenal bike.

Group rides, though, it sounds like you'll benefit from a road bike there. And yes, the bikes do play a big part in that. But those are more expensive, though you can get some good deals on used road bikes, there is lots of good advice to be had here on that...

That said, if you consider that that the jack of all trades is the master of none, by definition, Knotted's advice on the Kona Dew & Smoke is spot on, both are *great* bikes and an excellent value for the money.

Anne