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| *Vultures Knob>>>Mountain Bike |
Good to buy a bike? |
I am going nuts trying to buy a bike. I am going to bike shops and getting very conflicting information. I don't know if I am getting fed a line of BS because someone is trying to make a commission or what. My situation is that I am a good athlete that is new to cycling. I had a bike when I was a kid, but haven't been on a bike in years. I am a 30 year old male, 6'2" and 240 lbs. I am not looking to join the X-Games or Tour de France. I want a good bike that I can ride around on for excercise and enjoyment, mainly on pavement, but would also like to be able to go off road a bit. I would ride 3 to 6 days a week. One salesman told me the Trek Navigator 3.0 was the way to go. A different shop told me the Trek 7200 hybrid. Another shop told me to get a Gary Fisher mountain bike. Last shop I went to was hardcore about a Fuji bike. I am trying to educate myself and make a smart purchase, but it is difficult with all of the conflicting information. Very good answers here for a change. I'll just add a few pieces... I would personally suggest you go for a mountain bike. The hybrids or cyclo-cross bikes are fine, but seem to do neither terribly well. The only real problem with riding a mountain bike on the road is rolling resistance. You'll work harder on pavement, but so what. If it is for fitness, who cares. Moutnain bikes are certainly more comfortable. Later, if you want to do a triathalon, or become a roadie, you can invest in another bike. Mountain bikes are very good all purpose bikes, with good versatility and can take abuse. You fall into what is affectionately known as the Clydesdales -- a big guy. Still, most anyone under 300 pounds won't have an issue with a frame unless you are dropping off of cliffs, getting big air. And yes, bike shops absolutely will try to sell you on the their bikes, and disparage their competitors. Margins are slim, and bike sales are flat right now. Your BUDGET will go a long way toward determining what you need. Do not go for a $200 Wal-Mart or discount bike. But, you don't have to spend $2,000 either. You can probably find a very nice hardtail that would meet all your needs in the $8000-$1100 range, perhaps less. The vast majority of "name brand" bikes are made within miles of each other in Taiwan. They are all perfectly good, and offer good value. Bikes from Giant, Specialized, Trek, Gary Fischer, Kona, etc are all good choices. I like Mountain Bike Review (link below). You do get biased opionions, but can at least screen the bikes you are looking at, and see if users have noticed fatal flaws. Read up, and you might be able to narrow your choices. Try the bikes you are interested in. It's rare these days, but some shops do have demo models you can borrow or rent. Don't be afraid to ask if they will discount a bike. There is a lot a shop can do to earn your business. Just reward them with your service needs later. Good luck! EDIT: Have a shop size you. It's the best way, and you can then feel the difference in person, rather than using the formula from a book. Source(s): http://www.mtbr.com/ question or a story Since you are new to cycling I suggest a cheap mountain Bike. Around $150-200, My 21 Speed "Rhino" mountain bike has lasted years and nothing has ever gone wrong with it. I suggest getting a bike with front and rear suspension because they give the smoothest ride. My "Rhino" (A very cheap brand of bike) was only around $140. Before you buy any bike, Try sitting on it. If it isnt comfortable to sit on how do you expect to be able to cycle anywhere. Alright... the first thing you need to do is determine the kind of riding you're going to do. If you want to ride trails, and do cross country riding, a hardtail mountain bike is the way to go. avoid rear suspensions unless you plan on doing riding that calls for it. If you want comfort, a comfort hybrid (like the navigator) is the way to go If you want to be on the road, and going fast, you're after a road bike If you want to be on the road, but don't want the extremeness of a road bike, a performance hybrid is good (like the 7.2, etc) These descriptions are a little general and crude, but it'll give you an idea of what you're after After that, you need to pick a pricepoint. Keep in mind, that if you buy a more expensive bike, it will be lighter, and have more reliable and accurate components. This is good because people really do enjoy biking more when their equipment works... One last thing... if you're looking for a bike that can do it all, maybe a mountain bike is the way to go. You can always swap the tires for a set of slicks for the road, but can still go trail riding if you wish. Good luck! work in a bike shop First of all, of course each shop will try to sell you their bikes. It really comes down to personal preference. In my experiences, Trek makes a good bike for the money. Personally I have a Gary Fisher Hybrid. If you are looking to go off road, unless you are just talking about gravel or smooth dirt trails, the hybrid will not hold up as well as a mountain bike. But if you mainly ride on the roads the thinner tires of the hybrid are the way to go. When at the bicycle shops, ask to take the model you like for a ride. Any good shop should let you test ride. Pay attention to how comfortable the seat is, how smooth the gears shift, and just the overall feel of the bike. Most bikes are made of similar components so if you are not paying top dollar you probably wouldn't notice. |
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