nOOb in nEEd!

[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.

[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!

[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!

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. 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

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

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.

[Grog]

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

Clicky

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.

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.

[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.

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.