A 40ish lady friend is looking for a bike. Her price point is only about $200. I've seen quite a few bikes around the $250 mark but not many at that price. Any suggestions for a comfort, hybrid or even a women's mountain bike between those 2 prices? I've tried to explain that she might be happier with a little nicer bike but she is a little tight with her money and she doesn't want to spend too much if she doesn't enjoy riding. Thanks.

the used market, not the new market. try to hit up someone who is looking to upgrade their several years old originally $400 machines, they might let them go for $200 if your friend is really smooth. but you gotta be at the right place at the right time. and you gotta know what you're buying.

+1 used, else she rolls the dice in the lower end market. Ya hate to see someone miss out on picking up a healthy activity, but you can't win them all.

Check out www.craigslist.com for the nearest major city to where she is, you can usually find something decent in that price range without too much trouble. Make sure someone knowledgeable about bikes inspects anything of interest before laying the money down. And asking prices are always negotiable, that's why they're called asking prices. Can also check local bike shops for used trade-ins, might get something nice and they will overhaul it as part of the sale. Good luck....

B'Dog

Another thing to do is to change the terms of the debate. Ask her how much she spent on her car, and how many miles she expects to get out of it. So, let's say $25,000 and 100,000 miles, that's $0.25 per mile.

Then ask her how many miles per week she plans to ride her bike, and how long she plans to keep this bike. Let's say 25 miles per week for 5 years. That's 6,500 miles. Well, at the same $0.25 per mile rate as the car, that gives her $1,625 to play with. Well let's say she only budgets $0.0625 per mile, then she still has $406.25 to play with.

Often newbies spent too little, it's like trying to run a marathon in Wal-Mart tennies. Unless they're rich, in which case they waste their money, but they make a bike shop owner happy.

I saw a kid on a charity ride on a high-end Cervelo TT bike, barely making 12 MPH !!!

From slowest/most upright to fastest, Trek Navigator 50, Trek Hybrid 7000, Trek 7.2 FX WSD. Tires get narrower, body position is upright for the Navigator and the Hybrid, leaning just a bit forward with the FX. Bikes also get lighter from one to the next. As you go to more expensive models, you get better shifters, better wheels and tires, etc. It's cheaper to buy the best you can instead of upgrading later.

Cannondale, Giant, Fuji, Marin, Specialized will have similar bikes.

Basically, wider tires are more comfortable but slower. Most road bikes have 700C wheels (27") but if your friend is petite the bike may have slightly smaller 650C or 26" wheels. This makes no difference.

Cheaper bikes will have grip shifters. These work okay but shifting isn't always precise. More expensive shifters are the 'trigger' ones that you push with your thumb and forefinger.

For tooling around the neighborhood, the low-end Treks, Cannondales, etc. are fine but the problem is that you'll want to ride more, further, faster. You'll want a better bike.