General Cycling Discussion - Buying a new bike.. NEED SOME ADVICE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUP GUYZ,

Im new here :rolleyes: .. I dont know anybody who could assist me in buying a new bike, so I found these forums so Im hoping I can learn some useful things..

First of all, the purpose of the new bike Im planning to buy is to ride casually around local streets, to local malls.. I might go on some hills and valleys for fun, but it wont be for extreme mountain biking in trails and the wilderness..

My budget is around $200.. I live in Toronto, Canada, so with taxes, $230-$250 should be my max.. ive looked around at the most popular stores locally.. the best brand in Canada seems to be CCM, followed by SuperCycle and Namakura and others such as Arashi.. So im leaning towards gettin a CCM bike, they are renowned for good quality and reliability :D..

However, deciding which bike to get isnt as easy as it seems, especially for a newbie like me.. Almost every bike Ive looked at is different.. What's the difference between T-oversized frame and Y-Frame?? What's the difference between front suspension and dual suspension?? Im debating whether to buy a CCM Tabu Big Hit 21-speed MTB (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442687711&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302209441&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302432155&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302741447&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302741447&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395348027&bmUID=1055474921878) or a CCM X-volt 18-speed MTB (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302741451&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442155401&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395438793&bmUID=1055474812783&assortment=primary) .. Id pay more for the Tabu Big Hit but if I dont need the features for my purpose, I dont want to waste money.. I want to get a bike that meets my needs, I dont want to spend extra money just because a bike looks better or has more features.. Its a waste of money if im not gonna use them!!

Id appreciate any comments and suggestions, thanks!

welcome to the forum...

before I can assist you.. I would like to know what you are going to use this bike for? commuting or running errands? racing? recreation? or furniture(joking!):D ...

Its not just looks, features and components you should look at...

You need fit the bike, and be comfortable with the fit...

Originally posted by MtX
SUP GUYZ,

Im new here :rolleyes: .. I dont know anybody who could assist me in buying a new bike, so I found these forums so Im hoping I can learn some useful things..

First of all, the purpose of the new bike Im planning to buy is to ride casually around local streets, to local malls.. I might go on some hills and valleys for fun, but it wont be for extreme mountain biking in trails and the wilderness..

My budget is around $200.. I live in Toronto, Canada, so with taxes, $230-$250 should be my max.. ive looked around at the most popular stores locally.. the best brand in Canada seems to be CCM, followed by SuperCycle and Namakura and others such as Arashi.. So im leaning towards gettin a CCM bike, they are renowned for good quality and reliability :D..

However, deciding which bike to get isnt as easy as it seems, especially for a newbie like me.. Almost every bike Ive looked at is different.. What's the difference between T-oversized frame and Y-Frame?? What's the difference between front suspension and dual suspension?? Im debating whether to buy a CCM Tabu Big Hit 21-speed MTB (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442687711&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302209441&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302432155&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302741447&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302741447&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395348027&bmUID=1055474921878) or a CCM X-volt 18-speed MTB (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302741451&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442155401&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395438793&bmUID=1055474812783&assortment=primary) .. Id pay more for the Tabu Big Hit but if I dont need the features for my purpose, I dont want to waste money.. I want to get a bike that meets my needs, I dont want to spend extra money just because a bike looks better or has more features.. Its a waste of money if im not gonna use them!!

Id appreciate any comments and suggestions, thanks!

First of all, the purpose of the new bike Im planning to buy is to ride casually around local streets, to local malls.. I might go on some hills and valleys for fun, but it wont be for extreme mountain biking in trails and the wilderness..


However, deciding which bike to get isnt as easy as it seems, especially for a newbie like me.. Almost every bike Ive looked at is different.. What's the difference between T-oversized frame and Y-Frame?? What's the difference between front suspension and dual suspension?? Im debating whether to buy a CCM Tabu Big Hit 21-speed MTB (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442687711&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302209441&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302432155&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374302741447&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302741447&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395348027&bmUID=1055474921878) or a CCM X-volt 18-speed MTB (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302741451&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442155401&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395438793&bmUID=1055474812783&assortment=primary) .. Id pay more for the Tabu Big Hit but if I dont need the features for my purpose, I dont want to waste money.. I want to get a bike that meets my needs, I dont want to spend extra money just because a bike looks better or has more features.. Its a waste of money if im not gonna use them!!

saw this at ebay

here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3611764648&category=7298)

$202.50 (current)

For mixed use on roads and trails, with some utility riding, you should avoid extreme sports oriented designs. Go for a hardtail cross-country style MTB. It will be lighter and more reliable than a full sus. Make sure it has threaded eyelets for fitting a luggage rack and fenders. You dont have to use them, but one day you may need them.
There are other style of bike such as a cyclo-cross, but in your budget, a cx style MTB is what there is in the shops. Between $200 and $600 extra $$ buys a much better bike. If you want to upgrade any components, then start with the tyres. These make a real difference to your ride.

Go to a bike shop, not Canadian Tire. For your needs you want a simple, reliable bike, professional assembly, and knowledgeable support and service after the sale, all included in the price. That's a bike shop, not Canadian Tire.

RichC

hmm but i heard CCM is the best in Canada and Canadian Tire sells almost all CCM bikes!!!

I'll let some of your fellow Canadians tell you about Canadian Tire bikes.

Richc

****, they got bikes at target for only $69 bucks. you shoud go ther.