Bicycle Advice?

awelgraven

awelgraven

Well-known member
I do a lot of editing where I'm just sitting around, so I've been thinking about getting back into biking in the mornings to add some daily exercise into my life. When I was in college, I used to bike 15+ miles a day on a bike path, using a hand-me-down Mountain Bike from my dad. But I sold it when I moved to Arizona.

Does anyone have an experience with lower cost (like, under $300, if that's realistic) hybrid or mountain bikes (I'm in AZ so it'd be nice to have some capability if I ever go off a bike path)? Again, I'm not advanced, and I don't need anything fancy... I just want to ride in the mornings for exercise. I know Costco/Target/Walmart carry bikes... are any of them decent?

Thanks for any help/advice!
 
Good for you! I would not recommend going the Costco/Walmart/Target route. A bike shop will give you better support, have better product & most importantly, be put together by someone who knows what they are doing. Some times local bike shops will have used bikes for sale too. If your really trying to go cheap, Craigslist (but I'm betting you have thought of that already) that site is full of people dumping their Walmart bikes.

Paying a bit more to get support from the shop is well worth it in my opinion for someone who is just getting back on the bike.

Good luck and ride safe!
 
Yoyodyne said:
Good for you! I would not recommend going the Costco/Walmart/Target route. A bike shop will give you better support, have better product & most importantly, be put together by someone who knows what they are doing. Some times local bike shops will have used bikes for sale too. If your really trying to go cheap, Craigslist (but I'm betting you have thought of that already) that site is full of people dumping their Walmart bikes.

Paying a bit more to get support from the shop is well worth it in my opinion for someone who is just getting back on the bike.

Good luck and ride safe!
Click to expand...

So you wouldn't recommend buying a Costco/Walmart/Target bike and then taking it to a Bike Shop for them to tweak/fix? I'd planned on taking it into a bike shop anyway, because I've read a lot of reports that the people putting the bike's together at chain stores don't usually know what they're doing.

I will check out a few local bike shops and see if they have anything. I've looked on CL, but like you said... it's a lot of people unloading their not great bikes...
 
i would actually strongly suggest costco, because if they have a model that fits your needs, they have the ultimate return policy. if it ever falls apart(not from abuse), they'll take it back no questions. Bike shops wont shy away from service just because you didn't buy the bike from them
 
awelgraven said:
So you wouldn't recommend buying a Costco/Walmart/Target bike and then taking it to a Bike Shop for them to tweak/fix?
Click to expand...

It's not that the bike may need some tweaking. The people at a knowledgeable bike shop will tell you the parts on the bike are cheap and won't last. This is the honest truth of department store bikes, even if some of them are lucky to last. Small things like the brake pads, brake cables, gears, tire tubes, screw holes that are too wide and eventually the screws spring loose. And like others have said, you get the full support of the shop when you purchase from them, like buying a Toyota at a Toyota dealership.

Some bike shops have used but also have last year's model or before. I got a high end Diamondback for $300 that was well over $500 when it was new, and it was only last year's model.

If not a bike shop, Craigslist is a great option to find a decent bike for a decent price.
 
Alright, thanks guys. I will stop at a bike shop and see what they have to offer in used bikes. Appreciate your help!
 
I bought my bike from Amazon. It's called the Takara Kabuto. It was pretty cheap and it runs nice. It's a single speed, but I'm alright with that.
Prior to that, I got an old Schwinn Le Tour, but replacement parts were very expensive for that one.
 
those cheap bikes from chain stores can a surprising amount of time when taken care of properly. don't expect anything fancy, and (hate to say it) expect some condescending looks when you take it into the bike shop for maintenance/repairs. I'd see if you can find a good deal or sale on a higher end brand (the local bike shops around here have about 3 sales a year, and you can get some really nice hybrid, commuter, and low-end road bikes at amazing prices) - downside is waiting for those sales to happen. I pieced together a great fixed gear bike for riding around town last year for just over $200 (bike from CL, parts from online, put it together on a rainy day). Regardless of what route you take with the bike, please please please buy and wear a helmet as well :)

Adam
 
Many bike shops these days carry one or more lines of good quality cross-over utility bikes with prices starting under $300. Definitely visit a few bike shops first.

If there are any used sporting goods stores they will sometimes have very good deals on used bikes. I picked up a rough looking but good quality Fuji mountain bike for $60 that just needed its wheels and gears tweaked a bit and some lubing. It is my beach bike now.
 
You could probably find a good as new Specialized Hardrock for your budget.
Something like this:
http://www.buya.com/Item/Details/SPECIALIZED-HARDROCK-CLASSIC/9c8cc4ebc87d4165b9972406d777227a

If you think you're going to ride offroad, go ahead and get a mountain bike, not a hybrid- they're built better, are more rugged and typically have better components.

I myself ride a (very) old school 20 year old Cannondale Killer V 900- I hit the trails nearly every weekend, during the week when I'm not booked- great stress reduction!
Bought it new for $1250, they still get $300-$400 for them now.

Last week:

Cannondale.jpg
 
whatever you end up getting, i highly recommend swapping out the seat for a noseless saddle. much less painful.
 
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