new biker here needs advice

[mercedesdoc]

Ok guys, Im new here so take it easy on me. I am intrested in buying a bike and have a few questions. First question is that I weigh 240 lbs, So I think I need a mountain bike with good tires and wheels, RIGHT ?
Also I am looking to ride with my young son and follow him around, but would like to start some serious weight loss with this bike. So i think my terrain will be mostly street and black top bike paths. So I was looking at some bike at sports authority and wall-mart. But I think I need to go to a bike shop, So what do you guys recommend in my type of ridding, My budget is about $300.00 But if its less it would be better (lol).

[v1k1ng1001]

I'd go to a bike shop and look at hybrids. You probably want to bump your budget up some too. $300 is on the lower end of things these days.

Other members have been buying hybrids recently so you might want to check in tomorrow and see what they have to say.

[jaxgtr]

You could easily get on a hybrid or road bike at your weight. I am 300 and ride a road bike with 700x23 tire and also a hybrid. Stay aways from the x-mart bike. Visit an LBS and find the right size bike for your height and reach. You might want to scour your local or regional Craig's List as well. I bought my first road bike off Craig's List and saved a bundle. It served it's purpose well until I new what I wanted to get and was ready to buy.

Welcome to the forum and remember to ask questions when you have them. I did a lot of reading on these boards and learned a lot. Quite a few people hear with lots of experience.

[Condorita]

It's also possible you'll find a LBS that'll do non-Xmas layaways. That's how I was going to get mine until we got that Xmas bonus that enabled me to get my bike long before I would have had I gone the layaway route. But go with the LBSs rather than the MallWarts.

[Halthane]

Definitely do not go to a walmart or etc, those bikes aren't worth the money you pay for them. Pay a little extra money and get a bike that fits, works correctly, etc.

The single most important thing in buying a new bike is to make sure it FITS you. Find a shop that will take the time to help you find a bike that will meet your needs, fits well, and that you like. A good shop will take the time, it could actually take a couple of hours if they have a bike to sell you on the spot.

[Cychologist]

I think your best bet for a good $300 bike, especially for your weight, is to get a used bike from your local bicycle shop. Mine does trade-ins, and has some really good bargains this time of year.

Yes, a road bike, hybrid, or mountain bike will do, if well built. (I recommend Trek, they don't make bad bikes.)

[rickyaustin]

New Treks are overpriced. They either raised their prices or reduced the components on nearly everything for 2008.

Go to a local bike shop.

Good luck

[flip18436572]

As I have stated in other similar threads. Find an LBS that treats you right and fits you. They will be the ones that actually care and will work with you. I don't care about brands. I went to a TREK store first because of the name, and I will never go back to that store. I ride Jamis bikes, and it is all because of the owner. A person I had never met, until I talked to him on the phone, and then met him in person. He gets all of my business after visiting multiple stores. He also has business from my friends because of the good word of mouth.

[CastIron]

Consider a used road bike. Used because you'll easily get a $1ooo bike in great condition and road because it will handle 240 lbs just fine and that's where you intend to ride it.

Don't buy a brand, rather, something that suits your needs.

[cyccommute]

Ok guys, Im new here so take it easy on me. I am intrested in buying a bike and have a few questions. First question is that I weigh 240 lbs, So I think I need a mountain bike with good tires and wheels, RIGHT ?
Also I am looking to ride with my young son and follow him around, but would like to start some serious weight loss with this bike. So i think my terrain will be mostly street and black top bike paths. So I was looking at some bike at sports authority and wall-mart. But I think I need to go to a bike shop, So what do you guys recommend in my type of ridding, My budget is about $300.00 But if its less it would be better (lol).

For $300 you are probably looking at a mountain bike, although you might be able to find some road bikes out there if you look hard enough. But at 240, don't worry too much about how delicate the bike is. I ride mountain bikes hard off-road and they'll stand up to the punishment. I also ride road bikes on-road and I wouldn't worry about them either. As long as you stay away from something like this

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/images/08_bike_images/08_XENITH_TEAM.jpg

and stick with something like this

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/images/08_bike_images/08_VENTURA_SPORT.jpg

you'll be fine in road bikes.*

*the first one is a $5100 carbon fiber beauty with boutique wheels and light as a feather weight. You won't break it on the first ride but eventually it's gonna break

The other one is a $500 22 lb bike that you probably couldn't break unless you ran it into a truck;) It has heavier duty wheels and a heavier...but still light...frame.

[RHoude]

Ok guys, Im new here so take it easy on me. I am intrested in buying a bike and have a few questions. First question is that I weigh 240 lbs, So I think I need a mountain bike with good tires and wheels, RIGHT ?
Also I am looking to ride with my young son and follow him around, but would like to start some serious weight loss with this bike. So i think my terrain will be mostly street and black top bike paths. So I was looking at some bike at sports authority and wall-mart. But I think I need to go to a bike shop, So what do you guys recommend in my type of ridding, My budget is about $300.00 But if its less it would be better (lol).

Hi,

Welcome to the forum. I got back on a bike at 295lbs 7 years ago. I second the motion regarding going to a LBS and seeking out a good used hybrid. There might also be a co-op in your area that gives old frames a new life. That can get you a decent machine, provide an opportunity for an up-and-coming bike mechanic to learn the ropes and put some money into the community.

My first bike was a fun road hybrid mounted on Shimano MTB shifting gear and wheels. It was destroyed on I-95 when the bike got rattled out of my bike rack while I was going 65MPH. Luckily, no one got hit or injured. I replaced it immediately with a Cannondale Adventure 400 that now has over 6,000 miles of fun and discovery on it (and 95 lbs less of yours truly).

I wish that you will have as much fun as many of us on this forum have had over the years re-discovering the world behind handlebars.

Cheers,
Ron

[mkadam68]

F.U.D.

Love this. Question the carbon while giving the appearance of neutrality. Then show the (implied) indestructability of aluminum in comparison. Classic.

For $300 you are probably looking at a mountain bike, although you might be able to find some road bikes out there if you look hard enough. If you're not going to ride it off-road, don't buy an off-road bike. Road bikes are much more comfortable, smoother, and easier to ride on the road than Mtn Bikes. Stay away from hybrids. As someone else on here said: "Hybrids are the worst of road and mountain, not the best."

But at 240, don't worry too much about how delicate the bike is.... Correct. Unless it's carbon fiber :rolleyes:

As long as you stay away from something like this...

and stick with something like this...

you'll be fine in road bikes.*

*the first one is a $5100 carbon fiber beauty with boutique wheels and light as a feather weight. You won't break it on the first ride but eventually it's gonna breakTrue enough. I mean, I suppose the aircraft that they build out of carbon fiber and fly for hundreds and thousands of hours, and that face much harsher stress than we could put on a bicycle, and that literally hold pilots/passengers lives in their hands and yet have passed muster with the FAA, will eventually fail too. Funny...we don't see stories of catastrophic airplane dissasters because of failed carbon fiber.

The other one is a $500 22 lb bike that you probably couldn't break unless you ran it into a truck;)Unless you ride it and it occasionally gets a ding (as all bicycles do simply because we use them) which will lead to frame failure eventually, too.

S'funny how that wasn't mentioned.:rolleyes:

For the OP:
I began riding again (after a 12-year layoff) in Aug/2006. I purchased a carbon frame & fork w/Ultegra components. I weighed 318 pounds. Currently, I weigh 255 pounds. My carbon bike has 12,000 miles on it, I have done a dozen centuries or so, I race in criteriums (USAC category #4), I climb 8-mile long hills at 5-6% grades in southern California and turn around and bomb down them at 50mph. My light-weight wheels (Mavic Ksyrium Elites--pictured in the Jamis CF photo), have over 7,000 miles on them. Still going.

Is CF out of your price range? Yep. Did this poster give you accurate info? Nope. FUD. Will my bike & components fail? Yep. Sometime. Does this make CF inferior for big guys? Nope, because all bikes & components fail--steel, titanium (not as quickly as the others:D), aluminum.

Visit an LBS. See if they have a trade-in you could buy. If not, ask them what size you'll need and will they work on one if you buy a used one elsewhere. Search Craig's List. Buy it. Take it to the shop to get checked out. Make sure it fits you. Ride. Have fun. Enjoy.

[10 Wheels]

Ok guys, Im new here so take it easy on me. I am intrested in buying a bike and have a few questions. First question is that I weigh 240 lbs, So I think I need a mountain bike with good tires and wheels, RIGHT ?
Also I am looking to ride with my young son and follow him around, but would like to start some serious weight loss with this bike. So i think my terrain will be mostly street and black top bike paths. So I was looking at some bike at sports authority and wall-mart. But I think I need to go to a bike shop, So what do you guys recommend in my type of ridding, My budget is about $300.00 But if its less it would be better (lol).

Look for a used bike to start with.
I bought a used 83 Nishiki Sport (road Bike) for $15 bucks. Put on two $10 tires and have traveled 600 miles.
I weighted 223 lbs.

[DieselDan]

Just get the terminolgy straight to start. We're cyclists, not bikers. We ride Treks, Cannondales, Surlys, etc, not Harlys, Hondas, and Yamahas.

[CACycling]

Last September at 240 lbs. I got back into cycling after a 30 year hiatus. I picked up a used MTB on Craig's List for $40, installed new tires & grips, lubed, cleaned & tuned it and started riding. I've done a few upgrades in the 800 + miles since then (new saddle & clipless pedals having the most impact) and have dropped 10 lbs. Also picked up a road bike that someone had tossed out and got it back on the road a week or so ago. Love riding the MTB but the road bike is growing on me. Will probably be shopping for a new bike soon and am gaining a much better idea of what works best for me. Starting with a used bike allowed me to get back in for a small investment and begin to see what works for my riding style.

[HandsomeRyan]

All these people recomending finding a good local bike shop (LBS) are giving you great advice! There are lots of bike shops in the city I live in but I'll only shop at about 1/2 of them because I don't like the way the other ones do business. Find a good shop and you'll wind up with a good bike. I highly recomend focusing on hybrid bikes. road bikes are great for distances but you lose an element of comfort, mountain bikes are great off road but have a lot of rolling resistance for pavement. Hybrids are made for riding short to medium distances on paved surfaces (like greenways trails). The right tool for the right job I say.

As for brand loyalty- 90% of bikes are made in the same 3 factories in Asia so my Raleigh is going to be about the same quality as the next guys Trek or Cannondale.

Restated for emphasis- Find a shop that treats you well and you'll end up with a bike that suits you (and then another, and another). :)

[cyccommute]

F.U.D.

Love this. Question the carbon while giving the appearance of neutrality. Then show the (implied) indestructability of aluminum in comparison. Classic.

Let's start with the fact that for $300 bucks you can't even smell a carbon bike so it's a moot point. mercedesdoc may want to go drool on carbon but realistically he can't purchase it.

Carbon frames and carbon parts are more delicate than aluminum parts. Many of them have weight limits that a below 240 lb (hell, some of them are below 160 lb). I'm not saying that aluminum is indestructable...I've broken 2 aluminum bikes...but, from a longevity standpoint, it will last longer than a carbon bike.

If you're not going to ride it off-road, don't buy an off-road bike. Road bikes are much more comfortable, smoother, and easier to ride on the road than Mtn Bikes. Stay away from hybrids. As someone else on here said: "Hybrids are the worst of road and mountain, not the best."

Look at what he wants to spend. $300 won't buy a carbon road bike. Nor will it buy an aluminum, steel, titanium, bamboo or any other material road bike you'd care to name. $300 will buy a mountain bike or even a...shutter...hybrid. I'll agree that hybrids are the worst of both worlds, too.

Additionally, look at what he wants to do with it. He wants to ride with his son and ride for fitness. Just what you need for those bike path rides...a $5000 super bike!

Correct. Unless it's carbon fiber :rolleyes:

Again, not even part of the equation, i.e. it's out of his price range...even used.

True enough. I mean, I suppose the aircraft that they build out of carbon fiber and fly for hundreds and thousands of hours, and that face much harsher stress than we could put on a bicycle, and that literally hold pilots/passengers lives in their hands and yet have passed muster with the FAA, will eventually fail too. Funny...we don't see stories of catastrophic airplane dissasters because of failed carbon fiber.

I guess you kind of missed the story about the American Airlines Flight 587 Airbus 300 out of Kennedy airport? Planes also get regular inspections for defects. When was the last time you looked over your bike? Maybe took some x-rays for cracks? Looked to see where you might have smacked it into something?

Unless you ride it and it occasionally gets a ding (as all bicycles do simply because we use them) which will lead to frame failure eventually, too.

A 'ding' on a metallic bike won't result in a frame failure. Nor will a scratch. Even a dent will probably not result in frame failure, depending on where the dent is. Hell, smooshing a tube in a repair stand will probably not result in frame failure.

The same cannot be said of carbon.

For the OP:
I began riding again (after a 12-year layoff) in Aug/2006. I purchased a carbon frame & fork w/Ultegra components. I weighed 318 pounds. Currently, I weigh 255 pounds. My carbon bike has 12,000 miles on it, I have done a dozen centuries or so, I race in criteriums (USAC category #4), I climb 8-mile long hills at 5-6% grades in southern California and turn around and bomb down them at 50mph. My light-weight wheels (Mavic Ksyrium Elites--pictured in the Jamis CF photo), have over 7,000 miles on them. Still going.

Is CF out of your price range? Yep. Did this poster give you accurate info? Nope. FUD. Will my bike & components fail? Yep. Sometime. Does this make CF inferior for big guys? Nope, because all bikes & components fail--steel, titanium (not as quickly as the others:D), aluminum.

I'm glad you like your carbon bike. I'm glad you like your boutique wheels. Ride them and enjoy. Personally, I have a bike with a carbon fork and I feel itchy about it every time I use the bike. I've had too many parts and frames of nearly every material you list (including carbon) fail to feel comfortable about a relatively new material with what I consider an unproven track record.

But, again, the point is moot since mercedesdoc doesn't want to spend $5000 on a bike.

Visit an LBS. See if they have a trade-in you could buy. If not, ask them what size you'll need and will they work on one if you buy a used one elsewhere. Search Craig's List. Buy it. Take it to the shop to get checked out. Make sure it fits you. Ride. Have fun. Enjoy.

Worst. Advice. Ever. The guy doesn't know anything about bikes. If he did he wouldn't be looking at WallyWorld. I bet he doesn't know what a proper fit for a bike is or how to go about getting it. Used bikes should only be purchased by someone knowledgeable enough to know what to look for, what might be wrong with the bike, how to fix it, and what a fair value for the bike might be. You might be able to get that from a bike shop but I've seldom run across any shop that carries much in the way of 'trade-ins'. It's not like used cars. I have 109 shops listed within 50 miles of me (I've been to nearly all of them;)) and I can think of 2 that carry used bikes...and their prices are over-inflated.

Best to go to a local shop, tell them what you want to do, spend a little more than $300 and get a bike that has a warranty and service behind it.

[wayne pattee]

If a hybrid is all you can afford then get it. It will get you riding. I love mine but I don't do long road trips so its perfect for trips around the city. BEST of both worlds, low rolling resistance but tough enough to hop curbs and maybe a little gravel. If you are riding for to burn calories like I am, then who cares how fast you're going.

[Mobiker50]

I'm not going to claim to have the answers, but here's what I did.

Started at 320 lbs. No aerobic capacity. Cleaned up and tuned up a 12 year old MTB that had three chainrings (sprockets up front) and six cogs in the back. Shifters by....Hasbro, I think ;) Rode it a mile at a time, Katy Trail, then roads. Hurt my butt. Bought a gel seat cover. Rode it some more. Got a bottle cage. Rode it some more. Butt still hurt. Rode it some more. Butt hurt less. Rode it some more. Figured that I liked riding and went to 15 bicycle shops, ending up buying a Gary Fisher Advance MTB that fit me (I tried it and several others out by riding them enough to feel whether they fit my body type), then talked them into swapping the front fork. Still only cost about $400.

I've since bought a road bike with a few carbon bits on it, but that was after putting 2,000 or so miles on the MTB.

So, you can buy a good bike to get started on within your budget. Do the bicycle shop thing first to figure out what fits you (not to mention to scope out where to buy parts, accessories and your first 'big bucks' bike), then hit Craigslist and the like 'til you find something that'll get your knees pumping.

Oh, and if it works for you, it WORKS. Don't listen to anyone trying to sell their own agenda at the expense of your pain. Gel seat covers ain't macho, but I'd have never gotten over the first 100 miles without one!

[wrk101]

I bought a nice Trek MTB off of Craigs List for $100. If you are patient, you should be able to do that well. I bought my wife a Jamis MTB for $18 at the Salvation Army. That takes a lot more luck. Given your budget, I think you are going to end up with a used bike. I would look at Craigs List, and if you are willing to drive a little further, consider Craigs Lists beyond just your local area. With the terrain you mention, I think you should look for a road bike, rather than a mountain bike (MTB).

If you are really patient, the thrift shop/garage sale will be the cheapest option, but will likely require some restoration work. Larger cities seem to have reasonable to good deals on Craigs List almost daily.

[peter2feathers]

I think the original poster had it right, for a first bike. Go for a low to mid-line mountain bike that is fitted properly to you (from LBS, definitely). A properly fitted mtn bike will be more comfortable than a road racer, and the 26" mountain rims are stronger than road components (which are designed for light weight - not durability). Expect a $300 bike to last one or two seasons if you're lucky. You will then be in a position (read: experienced enough) to know what your riding needs are. I am a dedicated commuter who's worked through (trashed) around 10 or more bicycles from brand x to a nice chromoly Marin (recently broke a chain stay! I grocery shop with it and carry heavy loads).

(Bragging time!): As a long term rider who enjoys cycling I've recently decided to commission what will hopefully be my last bike, because it is too expensive replacing bikes every couple of years. I'm going for a titanium rigid Mtn bike with a Rohloff rear hub and Phil Wood BB and front hub. It better last more than a few years for the price! But it should be a sweet, no-maintenance ride.

[dtipton]

If you decide to go with a Mountain Bike, I'd suggest you replace the knobby tires with slicks/street tires since you mentioned you would be riding on paved trails and the street. You'd be surprised what a difference it makes.

[ceiph]

just goto a lbs and get a nice hybrid. your love it, and as its been said, i started riding my road bike at 280, but a hybrid should do well since your in no need of speed yet, and u plan on riding on pavement,

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Suggestions for tires if you wind up on a Mountain Bike for street use.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=IKSCT&buttonAction=ci_IKSCT

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=MICTR&buttonAction=ci_MICTR

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=KEKWE&buttonAction=ci_KEKWE

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=MBHRL&buttonAction=ci_MBHRL

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=SYNWM&buttonAction=ci_SYNWM

If you go the Mountain Bike route, look at the Specialized Hardrock Sport. It's a solid bike and can be had for around $400.00.
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?a=b&minisite=10029&spid=22089&language=US

If you decide to go with a Mountain Bike, I'd suggest you replace the knobby tires with slicks/street tires since you mentioned you would be riding on paved trails and the street. You'd be surprised what a difference it makes.

[BigBlueToe]

Ok guys, Im new here so take it easy on me. I am intrested in buying a bike and have a few questions. First question is that I weigh 240 lbs, So I think I need a mountain bike with good tires and wheels, RIGHT ?
Also I am looking to ride with my young son and follow him around, but would like to start some serious weight loss with this bike. So i think my terrain will be mostly street and black top bike paths. So I was looking at some bike at sports authority and wall-mart. But I think I need to go to a bike shop, So what do you guys recommend in my type of ridding, My budget is about $300.00 But if its less it would be better (lol).

Greetings. Allow me to offer my advice. I think the choice you make when purchasing this "first bike" is crucial. If you get the wrong one you won't enjoy riding it, it will end up sitting unused in your garage, and your bicyling phase will be over. If you get the right bike you may end up liking it so much that it becomes a regular part of your lifestyle.

I strongly advise you not to buy a department store bike from Sports Authority or Walmart, for a host of reasons. They may be shiny, and may seem to offer a ton of value (dual suspension for $150!), there could be some real problems. They're probably really heavy, their components will be of dubious quality and not durable at all, and they won't stand behind their bikes. I've seen lots of these bikes that worked fine when new, but a year later things are broken, they shift really hard (or not at all), the brakes barely work, etc.

If you buy at an actual bike shop the bikes are probably assembled properly, they usually do a one-month tuneup (after things have had a chance to stretch/move a bit), and if you have any serious problems they'll be willing to do what they reasonably can to help so they won't lose you as a customer. And most bike shops won't sell crap because they know in the long run it would hurt their business.

$300 isn't much for a good bike. I'd consider bumping that up to $500. You'll probably end up much more satisfied.

You said your riding will mostly be on the street and paved paths. In that case, a road bike would make the most sense. A good entry-level road bike should be able to handle 240 lbs. I'd stick with steel or aluminum (which will probably be your only choices in that price range.) Being comfortable on your bike will make it more likely that you'll stick with cycling. Some people, especially those new to cycling, don't feel comfortable on the drop handlebars that typically come on road bikes. However, there are plenty of road bikes that have straight handlebars - ask at your local bike shop if you don't think you'd like drops. Don't rule out drops, though. They offer lots of hand positions, and if you have a strong headwind it's nice to be able to drop down. You might consider raising them so that the top bar is level with your saddle - ask your bike shop person to do this - he/she can, though it might involve a different stem than the one that normally comes with the bike.

A mountain bike would be fine too, except that most mountain bikes come with some sort of suspension these days, which isn't necessary for riding on the road and adds weight and cost. However, that doesn't mean a mountain bike won't work fine on the street. I know plenty of people who buy mountain bikes because they like them and think they're cool, and then only ride them on pavement. That's okay if that's what you want. They also come with knobby tires, which aren't that great on pavement. You might want to put street tires on them for the riding you describe. It's a pretty easy switch. (Your bike shop should be willing to do it for you when you buy the bike.)

A hybrid might suit you too. They have upright seating which is comfortable for new riders, and a good hybrid should be plenty strong. For me, a hybrid doesn't do it. I have a mountain bike for off-road, and a road bike for on. But I'm into this, and I spent a lot more than $300 - on each of them. For lots of people a hybrid is an excellent compromise, and the prices seem pretty reasonable. Just make sure you get quality components. My daughter bought a "campus bike" from Trek for $300. It's nice and light and the quality is good (I approved the purchase.) However, if it was me I would have bought the $400 model. Everything was exactly the same, except the derailleurs and brakes were better quality. Those things matter. (Of course, I would have ridden it more in the first month than she will in the first year.)

Another choice might be to find a friend who knows a lot about bicycles and buy something used. An old, rigid (no suspension forks) mountain bike might be just the thing. I bought an old Specialized Rockhopper for my son for about $200. I fixed a couple of things and he ended up with a beautiful, light, strong, 21 speed bike. He can put knobbies on it and pound along dirt roads and singletrack paths, or he can put street tires on it and zip around town, or go for long road rides. He could even load it up and take it on tour if he wanted. I see those come up on Ebay all the time. However, I wouldn't go that route without some knowledge - about what constitutes a "good" bike, and about how to work on bikes. If you know how to do it yourself it could be a real bargain. If you have to take it to a bike shop and have them fix it up, you'd probably be better off buying a new bike from them.

Whatever you end up with, if it's comfortable and makes you happy to ride it, you'll probably end up selling it someday and buying something better, or more suited to the type of riding you decide you like best. If you bought a Walmart bike, forget about getting much money for it. However, a "good" bike holds its value a lot better.

[starkmojo]

I like my hybrid- it was the first serious bike i bought and I still use it to get to the grocery store and run the dog silly. The upright position hurts after 30 miles or so, but until then it is fine, and the upright position is a big plus when I go downtown and play in traffic. My Jamis Coda cost 460$ I believe- about a grand less then my road bike.

Hybrids are good for what they are, don't knock em.