Recreational & Family - New Brooklyn cyclist needs a new bike - help!

Hi there,

I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn & I'd like to buy a bike. I rode as a kid & I've rented bikes in the past, but now I'm ready to buy my own bike. I want to use it for recreational purposes, including weekend riding and some evenings. I'd do most of my riding around my neighborhood (Prospect Park), with the occasional ride over the Brooklyn Bridge. I need advice on what kind of bike to buy. Ideally, I do not want to spend much over $200. I looked at Dixon's Bicycle Shop in Park Slope & was shown a Jamis Ranger XL bike for $229. The price sounded right, but I want to be sure this is a good quality bike. I'd rather spend a bit more & be completely satisfied with my purchase.

Could anyone please offer up some advice? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

The equipment on just about any of the bikes in that price range will be just about the same. I wouldn't buy until riding a few other bikes so that you can feel the differences in geometries. Proper fit is as important as proper equipment. Jamis makes some fine bikes, but I would check out some of the other companies before buying. I am not very familiar with the Jamis line, but I believe the Ranger is a MTB. You may be happier with a hybrid type of bike based upon the riding you mentioned. A hybrid with the proper tires can handle anything from easy dirt trails to street riding, but the MTB starts to be a little bit of a problem on longer road rides.

Hi Jeff,

Is an MTB a Mountain Terrain Bike? I'm new to all the "biking lingo"!!! Why would an MTB be tougher on longer rides? What are the benefits of a hybrid vs. an MTB? Is a hybrid better than a road bike? What's the deal with comfort & cruiser bikes? Are those more for the occasional spin around the block? I'm not about to enter a bike-a-thon anytime soon, but I also don't want to buy a bike that can't handle anything except for newly paved roads. I do live in Brooklyn, after all!

Thanks!

Danielle

Hi Jeff,

Is an MTB a Mountain Terrain Bike? I'm new to all the "biking lingo"!!! Why would an MTB be tougher on longer rides? What are the benefits of a hybrid vs. an MTB? Is a hybrid better than a road bike? What's the deal with comfort & cruiser bikes? Are those more for the occasional spin around the block? I'm not about to enter a bike-a-thon anytime soon, but I also don't want to buy a bike that can't handle anything except for newly paved roads. I do live in Brooklyn, after all!

Thanks!

Danielle

The road bike is the ultimate road machine. I ride a mountain bike (MTB), a hybrid, and a road bike. The MTB is not designed for streets especially when equipped with knobby tires. It takes much more effort to ride long distances on a mountain bike on city streets when compared to a road bike. A hybrid sort of fits in the middle. One of the problems with a road bike is that you can't buy one for the money you want to invest. You can, however, get a decent hybrid for that money. You asked in another post under introductions if a bike shop will let you test bikes. Most good shops want you to test bikes to make sure you will be satisfied with the bike you buy. I would test a hybrid if I were you and compare it to a mountain bike. From what you are saying, I think you would be happier with a hybrid. Jeff

Most good shops want you to test bikes to make sure you will be satisfied with the bike you buy. I would test a hybrid if I were you and compare it to a mountain bike. From what you are saying, I think you would be happier with a hybrid. Jeff
I agree with Jeff 100%...
Go to "on the move" on 7th Av and 11th St, they are very friendly and will help you out. Try to go on a weekday... weekends are packed!
O.

I agree with Jeff 100%...
Go to "on the move" on 7th Av and 11th St, they are very friendly and will help you out. Try to go on a weekday... weekends are packed!
O.
That's weird...I've always found the people at "On the move" grumpy and occasionally outright nasty, and I've heard this from other riders as well.

They act like they're doing you a huge favor - complete with eye-rolling and sighs - if you buy small items like tubes. But hey, it's Brooklyn, I can take a little attitude. The final straw though...

I bought a tube from them and changed it at home. The next morning, lacking a working pump, I went back there and tried to use their air hose. They didn't let me fill up my tire because I didn't have the 25 cents(!).

Now I go the extra fifteen blocks to Dixon's, where they've always been friendly and helpful.

Jamis is a good make. The XL is an entry level MTB. I think it has non-suspension forks (which is a good thing).
MTBs make excellent city bikes. You can easily swap the off-road tyres for some light, fast, slick tyres. Any shop should do this for you as an upgrade. You can fit a luggage rack and fenders on the bike and it will do anything you need from long day rides to touring and some off-road riding.
Whatever style of bike you get, make sure it fits you well and is not too big or small. make sure the bike is not too heavy. You wont get an ultra-light but you should be able to pick the bike up and carry it over steps.

A good shop will fit the bike and make any upgrades you need. It is hard to get any discount on bikes but much easier to negotiate a discount on accessories. You will need to budget for helmet, pump/repair kit, lock, lights and probably rack and fenders.

I'll voice my opinion here. The bike you're getting sounds fine for a recreational rider. Go to Gotham bikes in lower manhattan, they're really friendly, don't work on commission so there's no pressure. R&A down in 5th avenue and park pl. is ok, I've always found their reception kind of cold though when I go in to buy stuff.

Hello Danielle1072. My daughter's name is Danielle. Anyway, with a road bike you lean forward qiute a bit. With a mountain bike you sit more upright, but are leaning forward some. With a hybrid or comfort bike you normally sit upright. A hybrid usually has road style whells on it. A comfort bike normally has MTB size wheels with wider tires than a hybrid.

I agree with Coyote, I have "On the Move" to be inconsistent, but most often not very enthusiastic about providing servicve, often unkowledgable, and not reliable. More than once I have stopped in and requested prices, and one actually a part, and never heard from them. Dixon's information and service has always been reliable. I live near Key Food on Prospect and 11th Avenues yet still make the trip to Dixon's if I need servive or will be making a purchase. Granted , Dixon's can be more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Danielle,

I don't know if you've made a purchase yet, but I'm about to replace a bike that was stolen. Consumer reports rated the Jamis Explorer 2.0 it's highest rated casual/recreational bike last year. You might want to look into it.

R&A down in 5th avenue and park pl. is ok, I've always found their reception kind of cold though when I go in to buy stuff.

does R&A have rec bikes? i get so dazzled by the shiny colnagos and de rosas that maybe i don't notice anything else. seems like a pretty high-end bike shop to me and probably not a place i'd buy a bike like this from. but i could be wrong. the location is good for him though.

Hi - I'm in Park Slope too. I've been exploring bike shops - Dixon's is always crowded and no sales on the weekends - when I can go. R & A was OK - showed me 2 hybrids a Raleigh and a Bianchi - But I hear they can be pretty snooty to us non racers - It is the closest for me. Anyone have any experience with Bay Ridge on 3rd Ave at about 80th St. When I called them they were helpful and encouraging. I am like Danielle - most biking will be done in Prospect Park with some adventures to do errands. I also plan to take it to Cape Cod and ride hard pack and/or paved trails. I am a young - almost 60 year old woman - who learned to ride on the hills of Pittsburgh on my brother's 1 speed Schwinn in the 50's. Wow that sounds old. I do want a light - comfortable bike - I am only about 5'2"/5'3" - who knows. Do like to ride more upright than flatter back. Want a comfortable saddle and am not very techno savy. I have fallen in love with Bianchi green and am thinking about the Bianchi Milano or Bianchi Boardwalk - Help needed from Brooklynites - Thanks

got my bike - used R & A on 5th Ave - Felix gave lots of time and was encouraging. Am now hoping to find some Park Slopers and others for company on weekend riding in Prospect Park - would be fun and make sure of safety in numbers. Any "For Fun" riders out there??? Gammy

does R&A have rec bikes? i get so dazzled by the shiny colnagos and de rosas that maybe i don't notice anything else. seems like a pretty high-end bike shop to me and probably not a place i'd buy a bike like this from. but i could be wrong. the location is good for him though.

Now that he made his purchase, I can safely say, yes. :)
I wonder why he didn't get the cold shoulder like many of us. I rode with a bunch of chicks and they said felix at R&A manages a lot of female group rides, they said he's pretty cool.