Before you kick me to the curb for asking what's probably been asked a thousand times before:
1. I did try a search but didn't quite turn up what I was looking for.
2. I've done my homework to the best of my ability.
So please be gentle on the newbie. :D
I rode quite a bit in the past (I was madly in love with my 1982 Schwinn LeTour and rode it for over a decade). But outside of an aborted attempt in 2005, I've ridden very little in the past 15 years.
I'm looking to just get back into recreational riding for now, as there is a 32 mile walking/bicycle trail (paved) less then a quarter mile from my house, and I'd really like to get out there and explore it.
I have a budget of right around $500. I've settled on the Hybrid/Fitness/Flat Bar style of bike, as I don't plan to ride long enough distances to need drop bars, and never, ever felt comfortable using the drops on the two previous road bikes I've had.
Here's my short list of bikes I'm considering:
1. Jamis Coda
2. Kona Dew Plus
3. Trek 7.2 FX
4. Giant FCR 3
5. Diamondback Insight 2
6. Specialized Sirrus (a bit over budget, but should probably be included here)
The Jamis tops my list, but the only dealer in my city is a very high-end shop (only a couple of bikes on the floor under $1,000) and I was made to feel like a bother by the owner when he had to come in to fit me for my "budget" Felt 90 in 2005. The next closest Jamis dealer is 150 miles away.
I'd love to hear some opinions on either the bikes listed above, or similar ones if I've missed any brands in the same style and price range.
I've been looking on Craigslist for quite awhile, but these bikes aren't terribly common where I live, and haven't seen any come up after several week of watching.
Thanks in advance!
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Go ride them, see what you like and don't like. What works for one may not work for another. Shops will normally let you take a bike for a spin. I love my Giant and find there bikes to be good values. It is a MTB though.
George
I started with the Trek FX 7300, but I gave that to my son. The more I rode the Trek, the more I didn't like it. After that I bought the Jamis Coda Elite and I like it very much.
gcottay
If you still have the LeTour that might be a fine place of start.
Nodaclu
If you still have the LeTour that might be a fine place of start.
I sure wish I did. It was a very decent ride for its time.
I finally let it go in the mid-90's. I think I'd replaced everything on the bike, short of the frame, at least once. :D
I'm starting to lean toward the Giant, based mostly on the fact that there is a great LBS Giant dealer right near my house who, unlike the Jamis dealer, seems to welcome the recreational and/or returning rider.
There is also a very good Kona dealer nearby, though he specializes in MTB's only and would have to order the Dew/Dew Plus.
Nodaclu
Just came back from riding the Giant FCR 3.
The LBS had a medium frame, and the owner judged me to be somewhere between a medium and a large, so went ahead and took the medium out for a spin.
Supremely comfortable for my body type and balky back. The brakes and shifters were an all-in-one unit, which I didn't care for. Also noticed the rear derailleur was a Shimano Altus, which - if memory serves - is quite a bit downmarket, considering most of the other bikes on my list are running Alivio's or Deore's in the rear.
The comfort level keeps it on my list though, regardless of a few downmarket pieces, and the LBS is right down the street and treated me well. (I make it clear that I'm nothing more then a low-end recreational rider right now, then see if they still want to spend time talking to me.)
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to ride the Trek. The rest will be challenging, as the Jamis dealer doesn't keep many of the lower-end bikes in stock, the Kona and Specialized dealer generally doesn't stock hybrid models (just aren't popular here in sandy, dusty Las Vegas), and I can only find Diamondbacks in the Sporting Goods Stores in my area (not conducive to test rides).
So all of that will be hit and miss.
Hezz
Nodaclu,
the most important thing is too get the frame fit right. Then you can concentrate on getting your seat, handlebar, and pedals dialed in. There has been a lot of improvement in seats in the last 15 years. For some, they can now ride comfortably for the first time. Once you get the right bike then get a good comfortable seat and pedals and grips. I would say that other than frame fit the most important things is your interface points with the bike and the bikes interface with the road (tires). When you get these things all right you are in heaven and the bike is a blast to ride.
10 Wheels
Go ride one of these. Very nice for the money.
http://trailblazersbike.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=4179
Nodaclu
Thanks! I'll keep that one in mind.
I'm digging through the forum, and seeing a number of posts about spokes breaking on the Specialized Sirrus. Is this something I need to be concerned about? Or is it something more along the lines of "isolated" cases, or too much stress from heavier riders? (I'm thinking I should be okay at 6'0" 175lbs.)
I've fallen in love with the looks of the Silver 08 Sirrus, and I'm going to try and find someone in this city that has one I can test ride. But I'd also like to avoid any potential weak spots, problems, or "gotchas" whenever possible.
proethele
I'm in a similar situation as you - returning to riding after a 15-year absence. I bought a 7.2 FX a few weeks ago, and have been very happy with it so far. I come from a mountain biking background and I wanted something with MTB-style geometry, but not "bolt-upright" like a lot of hybrids, the FX is a good compromise. My main adjustment was that the handling on the FX is a bit "twitchier" than I was used to with MTB's, but if your background is road bikes, it might feel more natural to you. I've seen some people recommend stepping up to the 7.3 to get the Alpha Black frame & Bontrager wheels, but I was on a pretty tight budget - in any case, I'm almost twice your weight and haven't had anything break yet...
badgermac
I bought an FCR3 about a week and a half ago to compliment my Hardrock MTB. I've been riding it daily in the AM and LOVE IT. Granted it doesn't have the top quality components, but I can always slowly swap out over time (I'm not a 30-mile-a-day guy right now). I did buy some trekking HB and may put those on in the next couple of weeks, but I'm quite happy.
I did ride the Trek FX series (I'm here in WI so I'm partial to Trek even though they build most frames on bikes in my category overseas) but found the Giant to be more comfortable and I liked the fact (being a big guy) that it had 32s on for wheels plus 32-spoke counts.
Perhaps after some time riding I'll replace the derailleurs. For now I put some bar-ends on and my early morning rides are awesome on this bike. Love my MTB as well but this is just so much more efficient.
I did look at drop-bar roadies, but 2 issues:
1) PRICE
2) I'm a big fella and still am more comfortable with the upgright riding position.
sdginz
I was in a similar situation to you. Also looked at the Trek FX series. For me it was a little too forward sitting.
If you have an REI near you or if your LBS carries them, you should have a look at the Marin line. I wound up with the Kentfield. A little less money than the Trek a little more of a comfortable ride. Has an adjustable stem and lockout shocks. Worth a look.
Nodaclu
Rode two more bikes today...
Trek 7.2FX - just didn't care for it for some reason. It may have been the wider tires - I felt a lot more rolling resistance - and I had a harder time preventing my elbows from locking while riding. I've pretty much crossed it off the list.
Went into a Specialized dealer who had a white 2007 Sirrus Sport marked down to $525. It had a carbon fork and seat stay. I wasn't expecting to feel much of a difference, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that riding the bike resulted in a non-shock bike that actually had some "give" to it.
I don't know if it was specifically related to those pieces, but I found the Sirrus sport to be *way* more stable when turning, even though it was on 28c tires compared to the Giant's 32c. Where the Giant felt overly tall and jittery while cornering (it seems to have a shorter "wheelbase" then the other bikes on my list), the Sirrus Sport just leaned and floated right through as if it were a part of me.
I loved the bike and the ride. The only downside was the fact that the derailleurs were so out of adjustment, that I could barely find a gear combo that would allow me to pedal the bike - combined with a shop owner who was nice enough, but seemed kind of indifferent about making a sale.
Not sure what to do now. I loved the carbon pieces on the Specialized, and it was a helluva deal, but I didn't like the white, and didn't get a great feeling from the dealer.
I liked the Giant a lot too, though the ride was much more harsh in comparison, and the shop owner there was beyond helpful. The obvious answer would be the FCR 2 with the upgraded components that would make it more comparable to the Sirrus Sport, but I can't afford that out of the gate.
I stopped by another Specialized dealer who only deals with MTB's. They were very helpful and were glad to order a Sirrus in for me, and do the Specialized professional fitting as well. I'm tempted to order the plain 2008 Sirrus from them, and add the carbon fork and stay as I can afford it.
There's still a couple bikes on my list I'd like to try, but it's a 60-80 mile round trip to do so. Not sure if it's worthwhile when I've already found two that I'd be quite happy with.
I think at this point I've narrowed it down to:
1. Giant FCR 3
2. Specialized Sirrus
I'd love to hear any additional thoughts you guys may have on those two bikes.
EDIT: I just remembered that the 07 Sirrus Sport had a rather large scratch in the seat stay. My limited experience with Carbon Fiber tells me that this is probably a VBT (Very Bad Thing!). I'm thinking I should let that bike go for now. So in some ways, it's back to the drawing board.
I may try to stomach the Jamis dealer just for the sake of a test ride of the Coda/Coda Sport to help me make a final decision. Much as I loved the Sirrus Sport, $800 is a lot to drop on a recreational bike, when I'm not 100% sure that I'll ride it at least 25-50 miles a week.
(That Kozy's deal is fantastic. Unfortunately it looks like I need a large frame, which they are out of.)
Hezz
Sounds to me like the Sirrus is what you like the best. I think the shifting problem is just a matter of adjustment which you can get dialed in. Sometimes you need to find a different bike shop for service than the one you buy the bike from. If they haven't set up the bike properly I would not trust them for mechanical service. But I would buy the bike the feels the best while riding.
I have both Giant and Specialized bikes. Both these companies offer higher than average quality at the price point you are looking at. Also, carbon fiber forks and seat stays generally give a smoother ride quality than aluminum.
I have a Giant OCR3 it was my first road bike. It it a pretty good bike. THe carbon fork on the Sirrus may make a bigger difference than you think compared to the chromemoly fork on the FCR3. I would opt for the upgrade from the outset if you can.
I see that Kozy's Cyclery is selling the Sirrus sport model for only $603.00 and free shipping!
http://kozy.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=8791
Nodaclu
I may try to stomach the Jamis dealer just for the sake of a test ride of the Coda/Coda Sport to help me make a final decision. Much as I loved the Sirrus Sport, $800 is a lot to drop on a recreational bike, when I'm not 100% sure that I'll ride it at least 25-50 miles a week.
Well, I did go and stomach the Jamis dealer. I found nothing has changed in the last three years. It still has the feel of a place where the recreational rider is NOT welcome. Whether it's true or not is impossible to say, but I've heard and sensed enough to just feel totally uncomfortable in that place.
It's a 60 mile round trip to this shop. Almost two hours with traffic. Had the bike at full retail ($600) and only the owner could approve going any lower. I dealt with him in '05 on my Felt F90, so I already knew what the answer would be. They asked if I'd ever ridden it. I said no - expecting that they would offer to let me ride it. They didn't. Tried to negotiate out the free tune up since there are at least 6 bike shops closer to me. No go.
Only problem is: I fell in love with the bike.
$600 was pretty much the top end of my budget, but I can't give that shop my money. I just can't. I did it in 2005 and regretted it. I absolutely can't bring myself to do it again. But I loved the Coda Sport, and it was in my range.
I did find this today in my search: a leftover 2006 Coda Comp - the next step up from the Sport. At $699, it's a little more then I think a leftover '06 should be, but shipping is free, and it combines the steel frame with a carbon fork - a combo I'd love to have.
I'm just sort of thinking out loud here, and maybe all this consternation will help someone else out someday when they're doing the same sort of search for a bike. If anyone has any thoughts on this 06 Coda Comp I've found, I'd appreciate hearing them!
Nodaclu
Two solid days of reading posts here on BF has me reconsidering a roadie with drops.
I briefly had a Felt F90 in 2005, but my back problems forced me out of it. My back is a lot better now, but another problem with the Felt was that I never got comfortable with the 23c tires. So much thinner then my old 27 x 1 1/4 tires on my old LeTour! Having looked at lots of tire widths lately, I think I'd be okay with 26-28c tire widths.
I've also noticed that it's a few hundred more to get into a drop bar bike with similar component levels to the road-biased hybrids.
I wonder why that is?
Anyway, after going to 6 different bike shops, I'm going to pick a bike from one of the two that treated me well and actually helped me with my decision. Though they can each order several other lines, their primary ones are Giant and Specialized.
Because of my low back issues, I'd definitely want a drop bar bike with as relaxed a geometry as possible. So I'm looking at these bikes right now...
1. Specialized Sequoia - new frame for '08, and I'm absolutely in love with it from a looks standpoint.
2. Giant OCR 2/3 - the 2 is comparable in price to the Sequoia, and the 3 is out there if I get cold feet and decided to invest less money in this little adventure.
I know I sound like a broken record, but any thoughts on the 08 version of the Sequoia, and how is may compare to the OCR 2/3? I'm going to try and get a ride in on each one tomorrow if possible.
Again, this is mostly for pleasure riding on bike trails for now, and possibly some fitness-type riding if I can get into it. I'm into efficiency, but not speed. I want to be able to relax enough on the bike to look around some, and enjoy the process. :)
Ultimately, I can envision rides of 15-25 miles max. I can't see where I'd ever have the desire to do more then that, which is why I was originally focused on the hybrids.
Nodaclu
Final update:
I went to ride a Giant OCR 3 today. Even with the more upright ergonomics, I couldn't stay on the hoods for more then 20 seconds without overwhelming pain in my back and butt, but especially my back - which was a deal-breaker.
So back to the flat bar road bikes.
I couldn't get the price I wanted on the KHS Urban Xtreme, so went back to the shop that had the '07 Specialized Sirrus Sport on clearance for $525. Initially I was concerned about a scratch I saw in the CF seat stay, but upon close inspection today, I saw that it was just a very light surface scratch, and not a show-stopper.
So after another test ride, I'm now the proud owner of a white '07 Specialized Sirrus Sport!
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s94/md_long/07SpecializedSirrusSport.jpg
I couldn't pass it up at $525, especially since Specialized raised the price substantially for '08, without any noticeable upgrades. The '08 version listed at $830, and in my area, probably couldn't have done much better then $799.
I'm a happy camper. The bike has just the right mix of "rigid" and "flex". I feel like a got a great deal, and with the help of BF, I made the best choice for my body limitations and riding goals. Thanks!
~Mike
Hezz
Congradulations Nodaclu,
That really looks like a sweet hybrid. You might want to add some Ergon grips to that flat bar and your hands will thank you. I don't think that you will ever regret paying an extra 100 bucks or so to get a bike that feels right and good. In the end it is a better value because you can use it more often and will be happier.
Nodaclu
Thanks!
I must have been reading your mind. The first thing I did the very next day was pick up a set of these:
http://www.rei.com/product/752277
Absolutely love them. I can easily see being able to ride for a couple hours at a time without major problems.
I like the 28c tires as well. It feels like a very similar width to the 27 x 1-1/4 ones my old LeTour had. (I never got used to the 23c tires on my Felt - just too skinny and fast at the time.)
I'm having a hard time getting used to the higher pressure though. My tires are rated at 115psi. I'm running them at 90 right now, and even that seems hard as a rock. :)
In the end it is a better value because you can use it more often and will be happier.
Truer words have never been spoken. I let my LBS talk me out of the Felt SR91 I wanted back in '05 and into that Felt F90. After a decade away from a drop bar bike (and a heavy, slow one at that), the F90 was just too narrow and too fast. It gave my back trouble, and I just never got comfortable with it.
I sold it, and then proceeded to let another LBS talk me out of a flat bar road bike for a second time, and I ended up with a comfort bike, that turned out to be the least comfortable bike I've ever ridden. :(
This time, I was determined to buy what I knew I wanted, even if it went against the grain, because I want to make sure that this bike gets ridden, instead of collecting dust.
----
The other thing I want to look at is the seat. First I want to see if the seat that's on it is useable. If not, I know the Brooks B17 seems to be amazingly popular, but I'm not sure if that's the right choice for a more recreational rider.
I'd love a short list of seats to consider if anyone has a list handy. :D
Hezz
Nod,
You might be able to run those 28 tires at 80-85 psi if you are not trying to get the last bit of speed or you are not a heavy rider. That will smooth out the ride a little bit more. However, I suspect that you will not find the last word in comfort until you have got the perfect saddle and the handlebar height and distance set perfectly. Specialized actually makes some really good saddles in the 30-50 dollar range. Usually the ones that come on the bikes are not that great. I have a Brooks B17 on one bike and I like that saddle a lot. It was comfortable for me right off without any break in, but then I am 212 pounds.
Specialized also makes some really nice saddles. They have one model called the Sonoma which starts at around 30 dollars and is a really good saddle for the money. It's made in a mens and womens model. I put the womens model on a stationary bike that other members of the family use and was surprised at how comfortable it was for me. It was comfortable enough that I went and bought one for one of my bikes to try out. I haven't ridden that bike yet since it has only been two days since the seat install, but if it doesn't work out on that bike I'll move it to an extra bike I am building for one of my sisters.
In order to get the last bit of comfort you may wish to get an adjustable stem or swap out the existing one for another that is more optimum if you feel that the handlebar height or distance is just not perfectly right. Have fun.