PDX Bike Recommendations

[vitalorgans]

Hi. I'm new to this forum and relatively new to cycling in general. Let's say the longest bike ride I've been on is about 25 miles through hilly Pennsylvania. I do admit that I drive way more than I bike, but I'm trying to change that.

I'm going to be moving to Portland in August and I was wondering if I could get some help in picking out a bike that'd be appropriate for the area. I've been browsing around places like Craigslist and eBay, but everything is seeming very overwhelming right now. I don't know the terminology and I don't know Portland's terrain. What's this I hear about fixed-gear bikes? Is there a general consensus on a particular brand or type of bike I should get? Also, I'm on a budget ($400-600 area). So if you could recommend a bike that I could afford AND one that would be like your "dream bike" (i.e. WAAAYYY above my price range), that'd be helpful.

[donnamb]

Well, if you're moving to Portland in August, you should have plenty of opportunity to drive less if that is your goal. :) People in Portland ride all manner of bikes for transportation. Some even have one type of bike for short distances, and another for long distances. I can't really tell you which is the best bike for you, but here are some questions to explore for yourself before you do buy a bike.

- Do you prefer riding in a typical road bike position or would you rather ride more upright?
- Is the weight of the bike important to you at all? How about the wheel size?
- Will you be able to install decent fenders on the bike you're considering? (This is a must in the PNW!)
- Is it possible to put a rear rack or front basket on the bike, or are you content to haul everything you need on your back?
- Do you have any physical issues that would make a professional fitting necessary? (If so, you will need to increase your budget.)
- Do you have any strong preference for a new bike over a used one?
- What kind of bikes have you ridden in the past? What did you like/dislike about them?
- Do you plan to do your own bike maintenance, or are you going to take it to a LBS for that? (Some bikes are easier to repair than others.)

Before you do make the move, you can immerse yourself in the Portland bike scene here (http://bikeportland.org/index.php). The links section has a treasure trove of information.

[vitalorgans]

- Do you prefer riding in a typical road bike position or would you rather ride more upright?
It doesn't matter to me.

- Is the weight of the bike important to you at all? How about the wheel size?
I'd prefer for it to be lighter, but I don't know much about wheel size.

- Will you be able to install decent fenders on the bike you're considering? (This is a must in the PNW!)
I don't even know what bike fenders are.

- Is it possible to put a rear rack or front basket on the bike, or are you content to haul everything you need on your back?
I'd like to be able to use a rear rack.

- Do you have any physical issues that would make a professional fitting necessary? (If so, you will need to increase your budget.)
Not that I can think of.

- Do you have any strong preference for a new bike over a used one?
Not at all.

- What kind of bikes have you ridden in the past? What did you like/dislike about them?
I've only ever ridden mountain bikes.

- Do you plan to do your own bike maintenance, or are you going to take it to a LBS for that? (Some bikes are easier to repair than others.)
I'd like to eventually be able to do my own maintenance once I learn more.

[ollo_ollo]

On your budget, you will get more bang for your buck by going used, probably a lightly used road bike or touring bike can be found. Portland is pretty flat from Downtown East to Gresham and there are bike routes that aren't so bad for traffic(usually just a block or so over from the main arterials). I went to grad school in Portland back in the 80s and rode to school/work on a Raleigh Sports 3spd bike so it is doable even on a limited budget. Even back then, there was a free color coded map that showed the safest bike routes in green. Don

[bensauce]

I would recomend going to the Recyclery or City Bikes once you get into town. They both have really good used bikes and can get you set up right for your budget. You will also be able to test ride, which is pretty important when you buy a bike, want to make sure your comfortable before buying. But I would highly recomend the Recyclery, Aaron is one of the nicest mechanics I know, and just tell him what you need and he can help you find it.

[donnamb]

I second Ben's advice, and would add the Community Cycling Center to that list. Now, if you're all intent on a new bike, 7 Corners is a great shop, and Corey is a good man who sells good bikes.

You can check out the websites of these 4 fine establishments in the links section on BikePortland (http://www.bikeportland.org/).