Newbie help - bike type...

[Murdock]

Hi -

I haven't been on a bike in about 5 years and am looking to get a new ride. My main purpose will be to ride local bike trails (asphalt - on road) while towing a kiddie trailer with my 2 year old.

I'm really liking the look of several cruisers - and I am in love with a Kona Humu Humu... I've also looked at the Schwinn Panther, SSX and the Raleigh Special.

A guy at a bike store told me yesterday that riding a single speed coaster brake cruiser might get old if I plan to ride over 3 miles. He recommened a couple of hybrid Raleighs and Treks that had an upright comfy ride, but also 8 speeds and more features - all were less than the Kona. I felt he was actually being very honest as he wasn't pushing a more-expensive or as-expensive bike...

What do you think? Is a simple sinle-speed coaster brake cruiser OK for what I want to do? Any opinions on that Kona? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[masiman]

I agree with the shopkeeper. Pulling a trailer will be much more comfortable with some gear selections. Your trailer weighs 20+ lbs. Your kid weighs ~30lbs (guessing) and will continue to grow. If you hit any sort of hill you will be wishing for some gears. If you have another kid add more weight.

A much more flexible solution would be a geared bike.

[DiRt DeViL]

Get a Trek hybrid if you can, you get the sturdiness of a mtb frame with the speed of road bike wheels.

Had a 7700 at the shop and it's a nice bike, within hours it was gone.

http://www2.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/large/7700_brushedaluminum.jpg

[farrellcollie]

I have a two yr old raliegh hybrid(C40) that I use for light trail riding and commuting to work. It is reliable and I have had no trouble with it - it is heavy though.

[Murdock]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like something with some gearing is the way to go for me maybe. That 7700 sure is nice, but the 7300 would be more in my price range :) A couple of people have told me that a front suspension for pavement riding may actually sap more of your energy. Any opinions? And - anyone have anything to say about the true "cruisers" with maybe a gearing upgrade? Or something like the Trek Rail 3?

[masiman]

That is really a personal preference question with respect to cruisers. If you like them and they will get you to ride more than another style of bike, then get the cruiser. If you can afford it, get a cruiser for you and a geared bike for those times you want to take your son out on more challenging terrain.

Recent threads with mentions of suspensions and bike types:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=195724
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=194923

The second one should give you insight to most if not all of your questions. I am being careful not say answers because in the end it will be a personal choice.

I personally don't ride cruisers but that is because I enjoy distance and technical riding. They are not well suited for those purposes. If my thing was tooling around the beach or other flat social environments, a cruiser would be the thing.

Good Luck. Let us know what you get.

[ZachS]

They do make cruisers with multiple speeds....

[DiRt DeViL]

If the front suspension takes out from the effort this one might do the trick, Trek 7000.

http://www2.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/large/7000_navysilver.jpg

[Murdock]

Wow. Thanks for all the info.

Masiman - I read through those threads and they were very helpful.
DirtDevil - That Trek is one on my list to check out.

I think now I need to go test ride a couple of bikes. Gonna see what feels right and ask a few more questions while I'm looking at the models at the local shops.

I appreciate the help. This is a great resource.

[chephy]

How about 7.3 FX if you don't want suspension? Trek FX series is very popular and generally enjoys good reviews.

[HardyWeinberg]

My kids totalled ~50# maybe when I started pulling them in a trailer and I pretty much hit a fitness wall taking them home w/ my bike geared 52/42/30 and 12/25 9 spd. I wound up switching to a mountain bike for the low gears to pull them home up the hill. Now they total ~60#, and while I have down-geared my main ride (28 tooth is now largest rear cog, and am planning to drop the 30 chainring for a 26), I definitely need the mtn bike to pull them up the slope our house apparently sits atop, esp. if carrying groceries or panniers full of work stuff in the trailer as well as the kids. I mean, I can physically pull them home in whatever gear I have, but if I need the energy to keep up w/ them once I get home, I need low gears on the bike.

[Murdock]

OK... I thought about this a while and Masiman's advice kept popping up in my head. I completely fell in love with the Kona Humuhumunukunuku a'pua and when I test drove one I couldn't help but smiling. Felt like I was about 10 again. I know this bike will get me out riding. So, I ordered one and it is due in any day now.

http://www.konaworld.com/Prod/000000343/2K6_HUMUHUMU_650.jpg

I also got a Topeak child-seat and am going to start with local rides around the neighborhood to see if my son likes riding. I'm worried about a trailer with the way people drive in my neighborhood, and I know having to pack everything up to go to a trail everytime we want to ride will discourage me. This way we can pop around the block and around the neighborhood.

So, we'll ride close to home to start and if I get back into biking big time I'll get a trailer for the trails, maybe mod the Kona for multi-speed or pick up a used multispeed hybrid bike. Maybe then keep one of them at work for a lunch-time workout... Hmmmm... Better take one thing at a time eh?

Thanks again for the advice!

[masiman]

Awesome! Glad you found a bike that you like. I gotta admit, I am not a cruiser guy but that bike does look awfully cool. Looks like some of the original bikes that Fisher and Breezer rode as mtb's before mtb's were invented.

You don't need to ask how it rides when you got a 10 year old kid smile on your face :).

I know your son will pick up your vibe and enjoy the dad rides even more. Again, excellent choice.

[pHunbalanced]

How about 7.3 FX if you don't want suspension? Trek FX series is very popular and generally enjoys good reviews.
+1

If my gf & I could do it over again, we would have bought Trek FX bikes (or Jamis Codas). Of course, the downside to that is that we'd probably not have moved on to get cyclocross / light touring bikes. Suspension is silly for path, street & road riding - as well as 50% of trails. Trek FX 7.3 is an awesome starter bike.

[George]

I'm 66 and my wife is 62 we just got our Trek 7300 after not riding for 50 years. We put from 12 to 15 miles a day on them and we're really not that tired when we get done. Good luck with your choice. George;)