What should I get?

[new girl]

Hi, I am going to purchase a bicycle soon. I've already got a bike rack. It's been years since I have been on a bike, but I see people riding all the time. They are getting great exercise, it doesn't look as hard on the joints, and it looks like fun. So, I'm planning to get a bike that I can ride on a veloway, some on the street, and perhaps some on very easy trails. I want to get something that I won't decide to sell the next month or so. I want something that I will stay happy with for a year or two. I have no idea what kind of bike I should get, or if there are particular brands that are better than others. I assume that women need a different type of bike from men. I've had a look in a local bicycle shop, but that's all. Also, are there any other tips that I should know(other must-have items for female riders, something I should ask a sales person to do, etc.?)

[sundial]

Hi New Girl! Welcome to the happy riders club.

OK, first things first. How much are you budgeting for a bike?
After you determine how much you have in the piggy bank, consider going to a bike shop and have them measure you to see if you would fit a women's specific bike or a unisex bike.

You might want to consider a cyclocross bike since you are interested in going off road.

Then test ride LOTS of bikes in your price range.

Then ask your bike shop lots of questions. You want to find a bike shop that really clicks with you and your needs.

Then ask us our opinions. Then go buy the bike. And when you do, you *have* to post pictures of your new bike.

OK, hope this helps for starters. Good luck and let us know what you decide on.

[redrhodie]

I'm a fan of the used bike idea. It probably won't be your dream bike, it may have some fit issues, but you'll learn a lot on it (like what you want to change, and what kind of riding you want to do). IMO, that will make purchasing a new bike less stressful, less likely to make fit mistakes, and give you a good starting point without breaking the bank.

Craigslist, yardsales, and bulletin boards are all good resources for used bikes.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

[redrhodie]

Oh, and yes, there are women's specific bikes, but you may be fine on a men's bike. It all depends on what you find comfortable. Maybe you should look for a hybrid to start. Post info, and we'll give you thumbs up or downs.

[new girl]

Hey thanks for the replies. I am definitely going to spend some more time in the bicycle shops. I am also looking at used bikes on Craigslist, but I am afraid of getting something which is not for me. I really want to take off with this. So, I want to minimize chances of getting something that's uncomfortable, something no well suited for me etc. I'm thinking I'll spend something like $400 on the bicycle itself, but maybe I'm being too frugal? I know that people spend way more on new bikes especially specialized ones for serious riders. I'm hoping to become a serious rider myself, but we'll see. I'll post pics when I make up my mind, though I might come back before buying to ask more questions if I get bowled over in the bike store.

[F8th637]

I'm fairly new to this process but not new enough that I can't share some of the lessons that I learned the hard way through this whole thing. When I first started on this journey I wasn't really sure what kind of riding I'd be doing. I liked the idea of having something I could take off-road if I wanted to and I was rather intimidated by slicks on a road bike. I decided then that I wanted a hybrid. I also wanted to save money so I went to a place that sold me an XS bike (I'm 5'6") because I didn't know any better. I spent $550 on that bike but once I figured out it was too small was able to sell it to a fellow TE member here in the area for $300-something. I even threw in an expensive rack because that bike didn't have the eyelets that I realized I wanted after buying it. The rack was another $120 or so.

I don't regret buying that hybrid though because from it I learned what it was I wanted and didn't want from a bike. I did take that bike off-road on a light trail a couple of times with my husband. I also realized I wasn't concerned about speed but more concerned about being able to go for miles on end and being able to support myself if need be. So, I didn't need a race-mobile which was good because most race-mobiles do not have the eyelets I needed to be able to support myself. Because I wanted a bike I could potentially take on some light off-roading I also knew I needed a bike that could accept wider tires. I would never have realized this stuff had I not bought myself that too-small hybrid and not ridden around.

You sound like you have a good idea what it is you want to be able to do with this bike. I recently helped a friend with a bike purchase and told her that as long as she got a bike that fit her and had enough gears (we have some hills) that she'd either love to ride and ride often or she'd abandon riding and the bike would go to waste. I wasn't sure about her and her budget was sub-$200 so I recommended that she get a used bike from Craigslist. Together we scoured and I found her a hybrid some guy was selling. She still regularly rides it. Maybe one day she'll upgrade.

My point of my long-winded post is that we typically don't know what we want when we first start out. Lots of us start on bikes that don't fit or on comfort and hybrid bikes. For a lot of us it's a trial and error process. You can buy a brand-new older-model bike for less than $400 but it might not be the bike that you end up keeping in the end. There is a reason many of us have more than 1 bike in our stable and some of even ride them all!

Decide what you want to do with this bike. Do you think you've got the racing bug in you? Then you may need a different bike than what a long-distance rider who sometimes goes off-road would need. After that, make sure whatever bike you buys fits you properly. Any reputable bike shop should do this for you. Don't do what I did and buy a bike that is too small or even a bike that is too big. Then I would look at budget. If you buy the right bike and truly see this being the one for the long-haul you may be a little more flexible in terms of what you spend. It's better I think to spend a little more on THE BIKE rather than spending smaller amounts on bikes that just aren't right. But please don't put yourself into debt on this note.

Ride a bunch of bikes and keep in mind what you want to do with it. Tell your LBS how you'll be using this and what your future aspirations on it may be. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

I myself decided on a tour/cross bike as it was everything I was looking for: drops, steel (comfortable for riding hours on end), could accommodate wider tires for off-road use, and had all the proper eyelets so I could put a rack and support myself. HTH! And definitely let us know how it goes and what you decide!

[lacyliz]

My two cents are that when I first started riding I wanted the same thing - a bike I loved and one that was versatile. I did what the other girls suggested about rsearching/riding bike. I also saw consumer reports' report on bikes. I bought a Giant FCR - women specific. I loved it - I actually still have it and use it for riding in the winter.

It's very versatile- good on the road and can be used on trails - it's a hybrid - leaning toward road. It's only 22 lbs (light for hybrid)- anf has great gears for the price. It's $500 brand new. L

[Flur]

I'd also recommend shopping around at various LBSs. I've noticed that many of them (but not all) seem to be geared to a specific type of rider (racing, mountain, tandem, etc.) They usally carry a lot of different kinds of bikes, and they know a lot about their niche, but they sometimes have a hard time giving lots of options outside of their niche, and may wind up steering you towards something you ultimately don't want. Shopping around is the best way to avoid getting excited b/c the sales guy is excited and then having buyer's remorse later.

[LoriO]

My two cents are that when I first started riding I wanted the same thing - a bike I loved and one that was versatile. I did what the other girls suggested about rsearching/riding bike. I also saw consumer reports' report on bikes. I bought a Giant FCR - women specific. I loved it - I actually still have it and use it for riding in the winter.

It's very versatile- good on the road and can be used on trails - it's a hybrid - leaning toward road. It's only 22 lbs (light for hybrid)- anf has great gears for the price. It's $500 brand new. L

Ditto this.

I just bought a Giant FCR and love it! I didn't know what I wanted to buy so I went to about 4 different bike shops and tried everythign that was available in my price range and had the features I wanted.

As I rode I kept eliminating the ones that I didn't like and finally decided on the Giant.

Don't be afraid to go back and try a bike 2-3 times even to decide!

[elk]

look at the Trek hybrids...if they fit you they can be great..my DH has a 7000 and loves it....under 400.00

[Jammin]

I was in your shoes seven years ago. I wanted to get into it, but was clueless about where to start. I ended up going to several bike shops to get the right size, but I knew I didn't want to spend the bucks for a new bike. Once I tried riding in the parking lots, figuring out the right frame size, I could zero in on used bikes. I think I paid around $400 for a full suspension mountain bike, which I've had for seven years now. It is a men's bike but they really didn't have women's designs back then. Eventually, I wanted more of a commuter bike so I ended up buying a used road bike (Specialized Allez) which is a women's specific design.

Now that I have had time to evaluate the two bikes, I am ready for my third. I love my road bike for certain rides, but it does not serve me well on my commute to work since I have a portion I need to ride on a dirt trail. The technology on my mountain bike is dated, and I am ready for a new one.

My point is that you will get your first bike to get you into the groove, and over the years (or months for some riders) you will learn and discover what it is you really want. Good luck!

[uforgot]

I second the hybrids. The Trek fx series is good. That was what got me into it. I don't recommend front suspension for what you want. It just adds weight and absorbs energy and for roads and light trails it isn't necessary. The fx bikes are perfect for what you describe. I had the 7.2fx and it will last you a couple of years until you absolutely know what you want, and they hold their value so if you ever want to resell it, you won't have a problem