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#1
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What kind of bike should I get?
Hi,
I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. The ratio may change. My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? Street bike? Hybrid? Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? What brand should I consider? Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? How about Dynacraft? Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? Thanks!! Eddie G |
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#2
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What kind of bike should I get?
Eddie G wrote:
Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. The ratio may change. My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? Street bike? Hybrid? Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? A drop bar cycle-cross bike would be excellent for this use, as would a touring bike. Any road bike that has room for reasonably wide tires (i.e. 28-mm or more) and is not designed for criterium handling will work fine on the average hiking trail (when the trail is dry). Of course, a hybrid bicycle will be fine, but is not as good for longer distances due to the lack of variety in hand and upper body positions. What brand should I consider? Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? How about Dynacraft? Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? You will NOT get a decent bicycle for less than what the lowest price bicycle is selling for at a real bike shop (or proper store like REI) [1]. In the long run, the cheaper bicycle will cost more money due to repairs (that is if you do not give up on cycling because of the poor fit and quality). There are good used bikes for less than $200, but getting the right one is beyond the normal newbie. [1] Unless you happen to find the same type of bicycle on closeout or liquidation sale. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia “Mary had a little lamb / And when she saw it sicken / She shipped it off to Packingtown / And now it’s labeled chicken.” |
#3
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Aug 13, 8:48*pm, Tom Sherman
wrote: Eddie G wrote: Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. *The ratio may change. *My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? *Street bike? *Hybrid? *Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? A drop bar cycle-cross bike would be excellent for this use, as would a touring bike. Any road bike that has room for reasonably wide tires (i.e. 28-mm or more) and is not designed for criterium handling will work fine on the average hiking trail (when the trail is dry). Of course, a hybrid bicycle will be fine, but is not as good for longer distances due to the lack of variety in hand and upper body positions. What brand should I consider? *Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? *How about Dynacraft? *Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. *What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? You will NOT get a decent bicycle for less than what the lowest price bicycle is selling for at a real bike shop (or proper store like REI) [1]. In the long run, the cheaper bicycle will cost more money due to repairs (that is if you do not give up on cycling because of the poor fit and quality). There are good used bikes for less than $200, but getting the right one is beyond the normal newbie. [1] Unless you happen to find the same type of bicycle on closeout or liquidation sale. Thanks. I am the occasional rider so I am not too concerned "the long run" if that changes anything. What is the lowest price in a bike shop, anyway? Also, what is a "drop bar cycle-cross" bike? Thanks! |
#4
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What kind of bike should I get?
Eddie G wrote:
On Aug 13, 8:48 pm, Tom Sherman wrote: Eddie G wrote: Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. The ratio may change. My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? Street bike? Hybrid? Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? A drop bar cycle-cross bike would be excellent for this use, as would a touring bike. Any road bike that has room for reasonably wide tires (i.e. 28-mm or more) and is not designed for criterium handling will work fine on the average hiking trail (when the trail is dry). Of course, a hybrid bicycle will be fine, but is not as good for longer distances due to the lack of variety in hand and upper body positions. What brand should I consider? Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? How about Dynacraft? Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? You will NOT get a decent bicycle for less than what the lowest price bicycle is selling for at a real bike shop (or proper store like REI) [1]. In the long run, the cheaper bicycle will cost more money due to repairs (that is if you do not give up on cycling because of the poor fit and quality). There are good used bikes for less than $200, but getting the right one is beyond the normal newbie. [1] Unless you happen to find the same type of bicycle on closeout or liquidation sale. Thanks. I am the occasional rider so I am not too concerned "the long run" if that changes anything. That is what you think now, but a good bicycle could convince you to become more than an occasional rider, while a bad (or poorly fitted good) bicycle will not. What is the lowest price in a bike shop, anyway? The dealers that participate here can give you a better idea, but typically around $300 for a basic hybrid that would serve well for the type of riding you describe. Sacrificing $100 from other activities would pay off in the long run. Whatever you do, do NOT get something that looks like a full suspension mountain bike for $200 from your local discount store. You would be better off with an old "city" 3-speed for $25 from a thrift shop or yard sale. Real full suspension mountain bikes start at about $1000, and for good reason. Also, what is a "drop bar cycle-cross" bike? Here is one of the best one's, made by my Cheesehead neighbors: http://www.gunnarbikes.com/crosshairs.php. A cycle-cross bike differs from a standard road bike by having cantilever brakes that allow for wider tires for off-road use and sometimes a slightly higher bottom bracket. A cycle-cross bike will be almost as fast as a racing bike on the road and much faster than a true mountain bike, but will be much better than the road racing bike to ride on gravel, limestone screenings (common on unpaved bike trails), hiking paths, etc. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia “Mary had a little lamb / And when she saw it sicken / She shipped it off to Packingtown / And now it’s labeled chicken.” |
#5
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Aug 13, 5:27*pm, Eddie G wrote:
Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. *The ratio may change. *My budget is $200 max.. What kind of bike should I get? *Street bike? *Hybrid? *Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? What brand should I consider? *Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? *How about Dynacraft? *Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. *What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? Thanks!! Eddie G How do you define "light trails"? If you mean crushed limestone rails- to-trails bike paths that get yearly maintenance you can ride just about any bike on them. As for finding a decent bike for under $200, you should forget about new bikes and focus on finding a good used bike. Are there any shops in your area that deal in the used market? Not many do but if $200 is your max budget, the search is worth the effort. Even if you don't find a shop that deals in used bikes they may be able to at least give you an idea of where to look. Regards, Bob Hunt P.S.- Many shops offer some sort of finance plan if that would help. |
#6
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Aug 13, 11:17*pm, Tom Sherman
wrote: Eddie G wrote: On Aug 13, 8:48 pm, Tom Sherman wrote: Eddie G wrote: Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. *The ratio may change. *My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? *Street bike? *Hybrid? *Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? A drop bar cycle-cross bike would be excellent for this use, as would a touring bike. Any road bike that has room for reasonably wide tires (i.e. 28-mm or more) and is not designed for criterium handling will work fine on the average hiking trail (when the trail is dry). Of course, a hybrid bicycle will be fine, but is not as good for longer distances due to the lack of variety in hand and upper body positions. What brand should I consider? *Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? *How about Dynacraft? *Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. *What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? You will NOT get a decent bicycle for less than what the lowest price bicycle is selling for at a real bike shop (or proper store like REI) [1]. In the long run, the cheaper bicycle will cost more money due to repairs (that is if you do not give up on cycling because of the poor fit and quality). There are good used bikes for less than $200, but getting the right one is beyond the normal newbie. [1] Unless you happen to find the same type of bicycle on closeout or liquidation sale. Thanks. * I am the occasional rider so I am not too concerned "the long run" if that changes anything. That is what you think now, but a good bicycle could convince you to become more than an occasional rider, while a bad (or poorly fitted good) bicycle will not. What is the lowest price in a bike shop, anyway? The dealers that participate here can give you a better idea, but typically around $300 for a basic hybrid that would serve well for the type of riding you describe. Sacrificing $100 from other activities would pay off in the long run. Whatever you do, do NOT get something that looks like a full suspension mountain bike for $200 from your local discount store. You would be better off with an old "city" 3-speed for $25 from a thrift shop or yard sale. Real full suspension mountain bikes start at about $1000, and for good reason. Also, what is a "drop bar cycle-cross" bike? Here is one of the best one's, made by my Cheesehead neighbors: http://www.gunnarbikes.com/crosshairs.php. A cycle-cross bike differs from a standard road bike by having cantilever brakes that allow for wider tires for off-road use and sometimes a slightly higher bottom bracket. A cycle-cross bike will be almost as fast as a racing bike on the road and much faster than a true mountain bike, but will be much better than the road racing bike to ride on gravel, limestone screenings (common on unpaved bike trails), hiking paths, etc. Oh! That's like my current 10 speed Raleigh that I've had for 27 years!! But it has thin tires (90lb psi) that would not be good for trails. As for the type of trails, there might be some fallen branches, leaves, and MOSTLY flat. But nothing hard core. I just don't want to pop a tire or hurt the bike if I hit something I'm not expecting. There is a chance I may never go on these light trails anyway. Right now I ride with my 6 y/o and we ride on paved surfaces. (This new bike is for our vacation home in the Poconos) |
#7
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:17:03 -0500, Tom Sherman
wrote: .... Here is one of the best one's, made by my Cheesehead neighbors: http://www.gunnarbikes.com/crosshairs.php. A cycle-cross bike differs from a standard road bike by having cantilever brakes that allow for wider tires for off-road use and sometimes a slightly higher bottom bracket. A cycle-cross bike will be almost as fast as a racing bike on the road and much faster than a true mountain bike, but will be much better than the road racing bike to ride on gravel, limestone screenings (common on unpaved bike trails), hiking paths, etc. If just the frame is $800, that is a bit over his budget. I've been using a Trek 7100 hybrid for around six years as a commuter bike. It was around $350 new. That is really about the lowest that can be paid for a real bike. The only change I made was spending around $120 or so for a rear tire with double-butted spokes that won't break. It is very annoying to break spokes and cheaper bikes will do that no matter how much you stress relieve them. I put on fenders, a mirror, and a rear rack. My commute is 15 miles each way. It would be nice to have drop bars sometimes (mostly for really windy days) but otherwise it's been fine. |
#8
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Aug 14, 6:41*am, Eddie G wrote:
On Aug 13, 11:17*pm, Tom Sherman wrote: Eddie G wrote: On Aug 13, 8:48 pm, Tom Sherman wrote: Eddie G wrote: Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. *The ratio may change. *My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? *Street bike? *Hybrid? *Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? A drop bar cycle-cross bike would be excellent for this use, as would a touring bike. Any road bike that has room for reasonably wide tires (i.e. 28-mm or more) and is not designed for criterium handling will work fine on the average hiking trail (when the trail is dry). Of course, a hybrid bicycle will be fine, but is not as good for longer distances due to the lack of variety in hand and upper body positions. What brand should I consider? *Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? *How about Dynacraft? *Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. *What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? You will NOT get a decent bicycle for less than what the lowest price bicycle is selling for at a real bike shop (or proper store like REI) [1]. In the long run, the cheaper bicycle will cost more money due to repairs (that is if you do not give up on cycling because of the poor fit and quality). There are good used bikes for less than $200, but getting the right one is beyond the normal newbie. [1] Unless you happen to find the same type of bicycle on closeout or liquidation sale. Thanks. * I am the occasional rider so I am not too concerned "the long run" if that changes anything. That is what you think now, but a good bicycle could convince you to become more than an occasional rider, while a bad (or poorly fitted good) bicycle will not. What is the lowest price in a bike shop, anyway? The dealers that participate here can give you a better idea, but typically around $300 for a basic hybrid that would serve well for the type of riding you describe. Sacrificing $100 from other activities would pay off in the long run. Whatever you do, do NOT get something that looks like a full suspension mountain bike for $200 from your local discount store. You would be better off with an old "city" 3-speed for $25 from a thrift shop or yard sale. Real full suspension mountain bikes start at about $1000, and for good reason. Also, what is a "drop bar cycle-cross" bike? Here is one of the best one's, made by my Cheesehead neighbors: http://www.gunnarbikes.com/crosshairs.php. A cycle-cross bike differs from a standard road bike by having cantilever brakes that allow for wider tires for off-road use and sometimes a slightly higher bottom bracket. A cycle-cross bike will be almost as fast as a racing bike on the road and much faster than a true mountain bike, but will be much better than the road racing bike to ride on gravel, limestone screenings (common on unpaved bike trails), hiking paths, etc. Oh! *That's like my current 10 speed Raleigh that I've had for 27 years!! *But it has thin tires (90lb psi) that would not be good for trails. As for the type of trails, there might be some fallen branches, leaves, and MOSTLY flat. *But nothing hard core. *I just don't want to pop a tire or hurt the bike if I hit something I'm not expecting. There is a chance I may never go on these light trails anyway. *Right now I ride with my 6 y/o and we ride on paved surfaces. * (This new bike is for our vacation home in the Poconos)- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - That Raleigh may be better for your purposes than anything you're going to get for $200, especially new. Also, if the bike is that old, there’s a good chance there’s clearance for wider tires. Not mountain bike tires, but something wide enough for both purposes. I’ve got a 1960s Rudge single speed with 27x1.125 tires that until recently I used for almost exactly what you describe, except I was riding probably 80% road and 20% trail. I also put fenders on it to keep my back and feet dry when riding through the wet stuff. I recently bought a “real” road bike and dubbed the Rudge the foul-weather bike, but it served a purpose very near what you’ve described for quite some time. Perhaps your $200 would be better spent on some new tires (assuming the ones on the Raleigh are actually all that narrow – once you hit a smooth trail you may find they do just fine) and a decent bike rack to transport your bike to and from the vaca home (assuming it’s a driving trip). I wouldn’t worry too much about popping tires unless there is a bunch of broken glass and such all over the trail, and even then there are some tires available that are very resistant to that sort of thing (at the expense of a smidge of weight and rolling resistance, likely not a big deal in the circumstances you describe). Buy a small saddle bag to hold a patch kit, a spare tube and a CO2 inflator (or, if you prefer, skip the CO2 and get a frame pump) and go ride. You might be pleased with what you have. In my opinion, and I’ve done quite a bit of this both ways, an older wide-tired (27x1.125, for example) is far better for this blend of riding than a mountain bike, and I’m referring to nice, high-end mountain bikes, not $200 bike-shaped-toys. |
#9
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Aug 14, 8:58 am, " wrote:
On Aug 14, 6:41 am, Eddie G wrote: On Aug 13, 11:17 pm, Tom Sherman wrote: Eddie G wrote: On Aug 13, 8:48 pm, Tom Sherman wrote: Eddie G wrote: Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. The ratio may change. My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? Street bike? Hybrid? Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? A drop bar cycle-cross bike would be excellent for this use, as would a touring bike. Any road bike that has room for reasonably wide tires (i.e. 28-mm or more) and is not designed for criterium handling will work fine on the average hiking trail (when the trail is dry). Of course, a hybrid bicycle will be fine, but is not as good for longer distances due to the lack of variety in hand and upper body positions. What brand should I consider? Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? How about Dynacraft? Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? You will NOT get a decent bicycle for less than what the lowest price bicycle is selling for at a real bike shop (or proper store like REI) [1]. In the long run, the cheaper bicycle will cost more money due to repairs (that is if you do not give up on cycling because of the poor fit and quality). There are good used bikes for less than $200, but getting the right one is beyond the normal newbie. [1] Unless you happen to find the same type of bicycle on closeout or liquidation sale. Thanks. I am the occasional rider so I am not too concerned "the long run" if that changes anything. That is what you think now, but a good bicycle could convince you to become more than an occasional rider, while a bad (or poorly fitted good) bicycle will not. What is the lowest price in a bike shop, anyway? The dealers that participate here can give you a better idea, but typically around $300 for a basic hybrid that would serve well for the type of riding you describe. Sacrificing $100 from other activities would pay off in the long run. Whatever you do, do NOT get something that looks like a full suspension mountain bike for $200 from your local discount store. You would be better off with an old "city" 3-speed for $25 from a thrift shop or yard sale. Real full suspension mountain bikes start at about $1000, and for good reason. Also, what is a "drop bar cycle-cross" bike? Here is one of the best one's, made by my Cheesehead neighbors: http://www.gunnarbikes.com/crosshairs.php. A cycle-cross bike differs from a standard road bike by having cantilever brakes that allow for wider tires for off-road use and sometimes a slightly higher bottom bracket. A cycle-cross bike will be almost as fast as a racing bike on the road and much faster than a true mountain bike, but will be much better than the road racing bike to ride on gravel, limestone screenings (common on unpaved bike trails), hiking paths, etc. Oh! That's like my current 10 speed Raleigh that I've had for 27 years!! But it has thin tires (90lb psi) that would not be good for trails. As for the type of trails, there might be some fallen branches, leaves, and MOSTLY flat. But nothing hard core. I just don't want to pop a tire or hurt the bike if I hit something I'm not expecting. There is a chance I may never go on these light trails anyway. Right now I ride with my 6 y/o and we ride on paved surfaces. (This new bike is for our vacation home in the Poconos)- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - That Raleigh may be better for your purposes than anything you're going to get for $200, especially new. Also, if the bike is that old, there’s a good chance there’s clearance for wider tires. Not mountain bike tires, but something wide enough for both purposes. I’ve got a 1960s Rudge single speed with 27x1.125 tires that until recently I used for almost exactly what you describe, except I was riding probably 80% road and 20% trail. I also put fenders on it to keep my back and feet dry when riding through the wet stuff. I recently bought a “real” road bike and dubbed the Rudge the foul-weather bike, but it served a purpose very near what you’ve described for quite some time. Perhaps your $200 would be better spent on some new tires (assuming the ones on the Raleigh are actually all that narrow – once you hit a smooth trail you may find they do just fine) and a decent bike rack to transport your bike to and from the vaca home (assuming it’s a driving trip). I wouldn’t worry too much about popping tires unless there is a bunch of broken glass and such all over the trail, and even then there are some tires available that are very resistant to that sort of thing (at the expense of a smidge of weight and rolling resistance, likely not a big deal in the circumstances you describe). Buy a small saddle bag to hold a patch kit, a spare tube and a CO2 inflator (or, if you prefer, skip the CO2 and get a frame pump) and go ride. You might be pleased with what you have. In my opinion, and I’ve done quite a bit of this both ways, an older wide-tired (27x1.125, for example) is far better for this blend of riding than a mountain bike, and I’m referring to nice, high-end mountain bikes, not $200 bike-shaped-toys. My old Raleigh is great, but I'm looking for a 2nd bike. So I guess I need to increase my budget to $350ish? |
#10
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What kind of bike should I get?
On Aug 13, 5:27 pm, Eddie G wrote:
Hi, I am in the market for a new bike that will be used 98% on the street and 2% on light trails. The ratio may change. My budget is $200 max. What kind of bike should I get? Street bike? Hybrid? Are there street bikes that can be ridden on light trails, or would that be a hybrid? What brand should I consider? Are Huffy's still crappy like they were 30 years ago? How about Dynacraft? Or should I stick with Schwinn,Giant, etc. What bikes are overpriced? Are Mongoose bikes any good? Thanks!! Eddie G Here is a good alternative to buying a bike at the average LBS: http://www.bikesdirect.com IMO, decent bikes at very reasonable prices. Their price advantage lies in their distribution scheme (the bikes go from the warehouse directly to the end user) and a much lower advertising budget than the "brand names" (who do you think pays for all those ads in Buycycling magazine (etc.)? You do!!). I'm not associated with Bikes Direct in any way, but I have setup or worked on quite a number of their various bikes. IME, they represent an excellent value. |
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