Oh my...what have I gotten myself into!

[NbyNW]

Nice thing about a hybrid, too, is that once you decide to upgrade to something nicer, it still makes a good backup/errand/rain bike.

Whatever you decide, make sure you get a good fit at an LBS where you feel you are getting good customer service. Being comfortable on your bike and knowing that your LBS is a resource you can go back to will go a long way to keep you riding!

[staceysue]

About 4 years ago I got a beach cruiser from the local bike shop for $350. It was the cheapest bike in the shop. People had been telling me for years "it's not worth the $ to buy Walmart bikes" but I kept blowing them off. I thought they were snobbish or something - I don't know why I wouldn't listen to them. That was the first bike I ever bought that wasn't from Walmart or the likes, and even though it wasn't a super nice one, the difference between it and a retail store bike was amazing.

Cycling actually became fun again! I felt like a kid, riding that bike. That's what led to me eventually upgrading to a road bike. I still have my beach cruiser, and I still use it. I do not feel the money was wasted by any means. It's probably the best $350 I ever spent.

The only thing I wish I had done differently was to get a hybrid instead of a beach cruiser. Three gears were definitely not enough.

[QueenCarlotta]

This is great information! I'm going to the bike store today after work. Is there an on line resource for valuing used bikes (like Kelly Blue Book for bicycles LOL)? I'm not opposed to used at all and I'm grateful for the info about the difference in big box Schwinn and LBS Schwinn. I wouldn't call Knoxville a biking town, but there are a couple of shops that have been in business for a very long time. This is getting exciting!

[MommyBird]

Another vote for avoiding the big-box stores. Walmart, Target and K Mart.
Go to a real bike store. Actually, go to several real bike stores. For a starter bike, you will pay twice as much as a big-box level bike but you will be getting 10 times the bike and eliminate the headaches.

As stated above, replacement parts are not readily available for the cheaper bikes. They rattle and ride rough. Components vibrate out of place constantly. My husband spent hours trying to adjust our boys' friends sub-standard bikes. Our boys' LBS bikes, on the other hand, required minimal work.

The local bike shop will be a wealth of information and source of on-going customer service. You will have a place to go for adjustments, maintenance and all those accessories that you will just have to have.

The hybrid is also a great suggestion. Comfortable, stable, versatile, not too heavy, peppy and it has a full range of gears.
Cruisers are cute but they are heavy, lack gears and are not very stable.

http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/hybrids.htm

[tiva]

You've got some great bike shops in Knoxville! Visit a few. Cedar Bluff has the Trek FX series, which are well worth checking out for the kind of uses you're thinking about. Make sure you try out a bike or two that costs a bit more than you want to spend, as well as a bike or two that costs less than you want to spend. It will give you a good feel for the trade-offs you might want to make!

[PamNY]

Hey, I did a lot of biking in Knoxville. Of course, that was in the 1960s when I was in college at UT.

You definitely want a hybrid and you want low gears -- a beach cruiser or comfort bike will make it too hard to explore those beautiful hills. I live in NYC (mostly flat) and I'm glad for my granny gears.

I did luck out on a used Trek -- bought it from a bike rental place. I agree with the caveats about Craigslist, though it's worth checking.

Good luck!

[ekcjwc]

I was a newbie in March of last year! I love what someone said about the speed ... "the more I focus on the speed the least I like it" (or something along those lines) because I feel the same way. I love riding but I like riding my speed. Enjoy the time and the miles and don't worry about the mileage.

[tharley]

Maybe it's just Boulder that is like this, but we are still wondering if people just keep their road bikes in the garage long after they stop riding them? So there's no market for them? things that make you go hmmm. (We did eventually get a screaming deal on a road bike, at Performance, the last bike shop we planned to visit.)

That is my problem right now as well. I am looking for an inexpensive WSD Road Bike, and let me tell you what a challenge it is, especially used. I think CO in general is geared toward mountain bikes. I do see a lot of people with nice road bikes though, but I think that they hide them away and sell them for the big bucks.

[channlluv]

One more welcome from another plus-sized, relatively slow cyclist. You're making a great investment in yourself when you buy a bike and get out there. You're going to love it.

I bought my road bike used on Craigslist last October. I got a really good deal -- an '07 Specialized Ruby Comp that listed for something like $2400 new, for $1200. It came with $120 Speedplay X/2 pedals and a bag full of tools that had a $20 bill in it along with the extra tube and multitool. It weighs 17 pounds. I rode it in my first triathlon in October. It was awesome.

My mountain bike I got from an LBS about 10 years ago. It's a steel-frame bike and weighs 37 pounds when it's loaded with the tool kit and a water bottle. My longest ride on that one was 50 miles on my 45th birthday (last September).
It's lasted for all these years and is pretty good shape.

I've enjoyed cycling so much my mom bought her first bike since she was a kid last summer, also at her local bike shop. She got an older model that the shop owner still had in stock. She got it for about $350, a Jamis Earth Cruiser. She bought some gear and a helmet, too, and ended up spending about $450.

There are good deals to be had. That said, it's worth visiting lots of shops for more than just the good deals. As an older, overweight woman, I can tell you that I've received a variety of receptions at different shops. In some I'm completely ignored, in others, I'm treated with respect and my questions are answered and my needs are considered. Expect a variety of receptions, and don't get discouraged if the sales people don't acknowledge you because maybe you don't look like the typical athlete who shops there. Just move on to the next shop. (Although I did give an earful to one of the shop guys who had ignored me and then dropped about $200 worth of shorts, socks, and jerseys that he could have sold me if only he'd said, "Hello, ma'am, can I help you find anything?"

Good luck finding the perfect fit, in your new bike and your new bike shop.

Roxy in San Diego

[QueenCarlotta]

Thanks everyone. Wow Roxy! A triathalon?? That's great and definitely an inspiration! I've been doing some research on line and I like the idea behind the Electra Townie bikes. I don't think I can do the bent over road bike scene right now, but these have similar capabilities with upright positioning. They sell them at three of the LBS here, so I'm going to go and try one on Any experience with Electra?

[TrekTheKaty]

Queen Carlotta, Welcome! Don't worry about being slow. Just get out there. Cyclists are friendly. We were all slow once! Do you have a park with a couple mile loop nearby? It's a nice way to get started without getting too far away from home/car.

Consider everyone's recommendations about used bikes. A few months on a cheap bike will make your more educated about what you like and dislike. By then you should be hooked and will be ready to move up

tharley, I started cycling because I had a bad back. Like you, I chose a hybrid with an upright position. However, after test riding a road bike, I realized sitting upright actually caused more jarring. I'm now more comfortable on my road bike--be very honest with the LBS about your back problem during your test ride and fit. You can get a road bike with a more "upright/less aggressive" position.

[owlice]

Welcome from another old, slow rider!!

You might look at the Freecycle groups in your area, too, to see whether anyone is giving away a bike (or you can put out a request for a bike). I gave away an old road bike on Freecycle; it was easier than cleaning it (<g>) and fixing it up to try to sell it, and a grad student got a good (though dirty!) bike for free!

[janmanuel]

After I saw Carla's post last week, I e-mailed her to find out where in TN she lived. Turns out, she's about an hr from me. I've lurked around this list a while now....

Anyway, we met up yesterday and I brought a bike for her to try. We rode together for a bit...think we did 4 miles by the time we were done, and she did great.

I have a group of ladies in the Morristown, TN area that ride with me. We all ride mountain bikes, mostly on the road. We do enjoy trips to the VA Creeper Trail and other rail-trails like it.

I told Carla to ride my extra bike for a bit and when she is ready, we'll go shopping.

We had fun.

[channlluv]

What a nice thing to do!

Regarding the Electra Townie, just make sure it can fit in your car. My recollection of them is that they're very comfy, but big.

Roxy

[CamsShel]

As another new rider... :-)

I just got the Specialized Ariel. It's a hybrid, since I live on a gravel road and have to ride down that to get to pavement. It's also great when I get to ride the trail around the lake with my husband (who rides a skinny wheel road bike) because I can cut across the grass and be the first one back to the van. Ha!

I bought it new from the LBS--msrp $440. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...7&menuItemId=0

You'll enjoy it, once you get started on it.

Michelle in OK