I'm looking to buy my first new bike in around 18 years. I ride mostly on the road, but take the occasional dirt path or through a wooded area. No hard core mountain trails and no street marathons. So far my research has led me to look at hybrids. Since this is my first new bike, I'm not looking to spend a lot of money. I was hoping to spend under $300 but so far it seams I can't find a quality bike for that little.
I know that the "best bike" is the one that feels most comfortable, but some opinions will help. Here is what i know so far:
I've been to 2 shops and have tested out a Trek 7100 ($330), a Trek 7.3 FX ($530) and a Specialized Globe ($410). I wasn’t impressed with the 7100, specifically with the tall handle bar and style of the shifters. The 7.3 was nice but more than I was hoping to spend, Trek has a 7.2 ($430) but I haven’t had a chance to try that out. I assume by the pricing that the 7.2 and the Globe are pretty comparable. Does anyone have opinions on these bikes or suggestions of other bikes I should try out.
Also, I noticed that the Specialized has wider tires (by nearly 10 mm). Is there any advantage/disadvantage to this? Would the wider tires be better for the occasional wooded path?
- Dan
kamaboko
05-24-07, 09:11 PM
Hi,
I'm in the same boat, or maybe I should say walking the same bike path. To date I've dropped the hybrid bike idea. I see too many used hybrids for sale indicating to me "bad choice" by the other guy. Now that leaves me with a full-on mountain bike or something like the Trek 7.3fx or 7.5fx. I tested a few bikes today at my LBS and am leaning more toward the fx line. The mountain bike was nice and all, but it took a hell of a lot more energy getting up some of the steep streets in my area, whereas the fx easily raced up. But...the fx is not made for bone pounding dirt action. That said, I have to decide where most of my ridding will be. Seriously, I'll be on the street more than the dirt. Now that leaves me with price....I've always said don't go cheap on items you expect to have for a long time. At the same time I'm trying to quantify the the value of each move up the price scale. That's where I'm at now. "How much better was the 7.3 over the 7.5? Was it really a few hundred dollars more?" Ughh...decisions, decisions.
old and new
05-24-07, 09:22 PM
www.jamisbikes.com (http://www.jamisbikes.com) CLICK ON this site, an easy site to navigate. The Coda has an extremely strong following. THe Citizen is nice too, it's aluminum, the Coda's steel. I wouldn't sway you one way or the other nor would I knock Trek or Giant. The Coda pleases me more,it's a fasty geometry,steel too. I would not say that you need a front suspension. The tires on the Coda and others are 32cm, PLENTY rugid for all but the most severe off-road. Gravel roads, trails in the woods,pot-holed city streets are no problem for my old Giant Hybrid, I'm NO mountaineer,I can assure you ! DO click-on the site for ideas. In the final analysis; how the bike rides and appeals is what matters. Not all brands are easy to find in all places so....
old and new
05-24-07, 09:25 PM
OH.. by the way, e-bay may have. In general e-bay has great deals. Hybrids though are a bear to come by. I reckon that folkes end-up likin' them too much to get rid of.
stargazer424
05-25-07, 08:25 PM
I've been checking eBay and craigslist, there are a few things out there. I've heard people caution about buying online. When you buy from a store they usually give you some kind of servicing deal, for tune ups etc. Which sounds good for someone who doesn't know much about tunning bikes. Also I'm guessing they can help teach you a bit about taking care of it yourself.
Meanwhile, I have been to a few more shops tried out a Giant and a Fuji, tried the Trek 7.3 fx and 7.2 fxagain. I talked to one of the shop guys about my needs and the types of bikes I've been looking at. Like you said kamaboko the 7.3 fx isn't for dirt. The guy said it could handle some gravel road, but not much more. That being said, I think that the Specialized Globe might be slighly towards my direction. It has wider tires that would probably be better suited for light dirt/wooded areas. Of course I have to confirm this with the shop that sells the Specialized...but it sounds good in theory...
RonH
05-26-07, 08:02 AM
Give a look at Jamis bikes and Raleigh bikes. :beer:
Paul Barnard
05-26-07, 11:16 AM
Perhaps a flat bar road bike like this one for $350 (delivered to your door) on eBay would fill the bill. I bought one and am pretty pleased with it. I think it is a very good bang-for-the-buck bike. I'm not sure whether some cyclocross tires would fit on it or not.
http://windsorbicycles.com/stratford_big.jpg
old and new
05-26-07, 11:44 AM
Give a look at Jamis bikes and Raleigh bikes. :beer:
Raleighs,the new ones as well are nice. I rode a couple o' test-bikes. I'm impressed. Even though I'm a stubborn steel-headed old fool, I'm gettin' me a newer Raleigh when inclined to obtain a newish aluminum bike. I always forget to recommend them.I rode a carbon Giant,very impressed,a horse of a different color though. I didn't care for the Giant aluminum as much as a Raleigh or even the Trek (all oppinion based on little exp.) The Cannondales..too racy,pricey and stiff they DO kick-ass I'll say. A Felt was OK as well.
Chicagoan81
05-27-07, 08:13 AM
What do you all think about the Trek Urban bikes? I'm looking to start riding to work this summer and looking for something lightweight but durable. Does anyone have any experience with these?
Rosie8
05-27-07, 04:58 PM
The Trek Urban bikes seem kind of pricey. Have you looked at Jamis commuters:
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter2.html
They seem like they might cause you less worry if you wanted to lock them up out on the street.
Oops, as Maxwell Smart used to say, sorry about that. I was looking at the Trek Soho (on the same page as the urbans in my catalog).
stargazer424
05-29-07, 03:25 PM
Trek Urban pricy? The Jamis you listed was 415, The Trek SU100 is $430 ($15 more) and the SU200 is $490. Sorry though, I havent tried one of these out.
I've pretty much settled on the Specialized Globe. Now comes the superficial question...which color..It comes in Silver and Bronze. Both are nice, I think I like the silver more, but the bronze would hide dirt better...
axejeep
05-30-07, 11:23 AM
I have the SU200. It suits me just fine... especially for Chicago's weathered roads.
bbattle
05-31-07, 10:15 AM
Giant makes the FCR, which is similar to the Trek FX.
My wife has a 7.5FX and it's a great bike. We ride a lot of dirt roads in South Alabama and it handles them with no trouble (700c x 32 tires). I think the 7.3 might be the better buy for the money but I'm not complaining about spending the extra for the 7.5.
These bikes can handle dirt trails, just not jumping. If you aren't jumping off rocks or dirt banks and stuff, the bikes will be fine. If you do plan on doing that stuff, you'll want a mtb. for its beefier frame and wider tires.
Another option for the urban rider is a singlespeed/fixed gear bike. I didn't want the aggressive geometry of a track bike so I got a Bianchi San Jose cyclocross bike that has a fixed/free hub. Brakes on the front and rear, fenders and a rear rack makes it great for getting to store or just bumming around town.
exfreewheeler
06-03-07, 12:46 PM
you might want to look at BikesDirect.com
They sell decent bikes way below what you normally pay. They way the technology is today, you might just wanna put in a few dollars more and get something a little better. $350-$400.
Nika Aldrich
06-03-07, 07:06 PM
I've been very happy with my Specialized Sirrus flat-bar road bike. It's got typical road-bike wheels but flat handle bars and a mildly shock absorbing seat post so it's better for the urban commute (more control and more comfortable for on and off curbs and sidewalks, over potholes, etc.). It's not too much - mine was the mid-high end of the Sirrus models ("better" components - whatever that means) and I paid around $400 for it, I believe. I've put several thousand miles on it in the past few years - many of which were with a Burley trailer and another bunch of which with a trail-a-bike. I've had no problems at all and am quite pleased. It sounds like this type of bike is along the lines of what you're looking for.
Nika
Chicagoan81
06-04-07, 06:33 AM
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Just one more question--I will probably be doing city biking as well as decently long rides on the Lake Shore Dr. bike path (12 miles). Would I be better off with a road bike when you factor that in? While my commute to school is now very close, next year it will be more like 12 miles. While I won't ride every day, I'd like to as much as I can.
Stevegn
06-04-07, 09:17 AM
I too am looking at the 7.3 or the 7.5.
Given that my current bike is a 10 speed Motobecane purchased in 1975, (and with many many miles on it), the extra $200 or so will pay off over time (I hope). The salesman said that even though the 7.5 is only about 1 1/2 pounds lighter, due to the wheel configuration, the real difference is even greater. I don't think that he was just trying to steer me to the more expensive bike, because I'm also looking for a bike for my 10 year old son, and he recommended the cheaper of two bikes.
bbattle
06-04-07, 04:31 PM
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Just one more question--I will probably be doing city biking as well as decently long rides on the Lake Shore Dr. bike path (12 miles). Would I be better off with a road bike when you factor that in? While my commute to school is now very close, next year it will be more like 12 miles. While I won't ride every day, I'd like to as much as I can.
All of these bikes would be fine for a 12 mile commute.
Stevegn, if you plan on doing a lot of riding, I'd get the 7.5 over the 7.3.
That 70's Motobecane could be turned into a great singlespeed/fixed gear bike.
Nika Aldrich
06-04-07, 05:15 PM
I'd get the flat bar road bike even for the 12 mile commutes. Road bikes just don't handle as well in urban cities as much (the narrower handlebars and drop-bars provide less manueverability in traffic and avoiding potholes and sewer grates). The flat bar handlebars give much more flexibility and maneuverability, and you sit up higher as well for a better view of the landscape of cars, pedestrians, other bikers, crazy taxis, etc. The 12 miles on the trail on the waterfront would be nicer on the road bike, but not enough to outweigh the benefits of the flat bar road bike for inter urban riding.