Northeast - Hybrid/Road Bike for NYC

Hi everyone! I am glad I discovered a forum for bikers. Instead of relying on a salesman from a bike shop, I would like to tap the wealth of knowledge from bikers in the NYC area.

Make a long story short, I am looking for recommendations about a replacement. I would like to give you an idea of my biking experience; I had a Dahon Matrix (full size) bike, but it was stripped down to the frame, wheels, and suspension fork. :( Instead of dwelling on the negative, I want to take the opportunity to find a good hybrid/road bike. I must say I am not a fan of a drop down bar, so I am looking for a hybrid bike or a drop down bike that can easily be converted with a straight bar. I would like the used bike to be under $500 dollars. The bike should be light and fast so grandmas and grandpas are not passing me on the West Side. More importantly, the bike should be able to handle the roads in Manhattan because I like to ride down Broadway and other avenues.

I anxiously await your responses. Thank you for your time.

Benny

BJ,
Try NYCBikes.com (http://nycbikes.com/). They're based in Williamsburg & their specialty is well-made, inexpensive bikes that were designed for city riding. Their SimpleCity bike is perfect for commuters & it's cheap at 399.00.

Fortunately, it's pretty easy to get a bike like that these days. Just tell the guys at the shop that you want a "flat-bar road bike" and/or "fast hybrid." Specialized Sirrus is one, not sure of others.

I wouldn't try to convert a road bike to a flat bar, it's not very cost-effective.

another option is to poke around on Craig's list for a decent mountain bike, and just pop on some 1" slicks in place of the fat knobbies. With a good model you get decent speed and you'll never worry about the street conditions.

If you do go with 700c wheels, just get a very good quality kevlar belt tire - Gatorskins, Armadillos, Axel Pros, etc.

Is your old frame beyond fixing up again? That might be just as expensive as buying a good used bike, unless you find the parts cheaply and install yourself.

another option is to poke around on Craig's list for a decent mountain bike, and just pop on some 1" slicks in place of the fat knobbies. With a good model you get decent speed and you'll never worry about the street conditions.

If you do go with 700c wheels, just get a very good quality kevlar belt tire - Gatorskins, Armadillos, Axel Pros, etc.

Is your old frame beyond fixing up again? That might be just as expensive as buying a good used bike, unless you find the parts cheaply and install yourself.
Great minds think alike! Honestly, I thought about the same thing, but I read that mountain bikes are usually heavier than hybrid or roadies. I live on the fifth floor of a walk up so I would like a light bike. Thanks for the suggestion.

The frame, suspension fork, and wheels are in perfect shape, but my stem, handle bar, shifters, and brake system were stolen. I am thinking that the parts alone will cost more than $500 dollars. However, you bring up a very good point so I will check out craigslist for used parts. Any suggestions for websites or bike stores in Manhattan that offer used parts?

Thanks again.

Yeah... I mentioned that I did exactly what you suggested and received suggestions for a Sirrus, but I wasn't too keen on spending close to $750-$1000 for a bike.

BJ,
Try NYCBikes.com (http://nycbikes.com/). They're based in Williamsburg & their specialty is well-made, inexpensive bikes that were designed for city riding. Their SimpleCity bike is perfect for commuters & it's cheap at 399.00.
I really appreciate your suggestion. The bikes offered by NYCBikes.com are exactly what I am looking for. Thanks!

Wow, those are some nice ones at NYCBikes. Maybe some day when I don't need a folder...

I had one of their lower end bikes and I hated it. Got it as a present a few years ago and it cost around $500 - probably weighed about 35lbs and required a monumental amount of effort to keep up with friends riding anything else. Took a quick scroll through their page and didn't spot it, but it was effectively their standard hybrid.

Am much happier commuting on my mid 1980s trek 614.

Fortunately, it's pretty easy to get a bike like that these days. Just tell the guys at the shop that you want a "flat-bar road bike" and/or "fast hybrid." Specialized Sirrus is one, not sure of others.

I wouldn't try to convert a road bike to a flat bar, it's not very cost-effective.

My Sirrus was less than $500 when I bought it at the end of summer. 22 pounds before I added a rack and waterbottles so it's easily carried up the stairs to my third floor apartment.

I hear you on the weight issue - i am fortunate in that my 5th floor apt. has an elevator - last week it was shut down for service- I was able to keep my bike locked in the cellar but still - that really changes things. No way I'm hauling a mtb with rack and panniers up 5 flights! (It was enough work hauling me up!!)

another option - finding an older road bike on CL.

something decent, say, about an early 90s - will get you sti brifters, narrow 700c wheels and a good road position. If you find a nice old bike with down tube shifters at a low price (hard, but not impossible), you can do what I did and toss a mtb bar and shifters on = a really nice hybrid bike that's more quick, light and nimble than any otr hybrid.

Of course this takes money and some hassle, whether you do work yourself or take it to a shop.

If you go that route, Most shops will have a old parts box or two laying around. I'd find a few shops you like and strike up a good relationship, then ask around for what you need.

It sounds like you are leaning towards just buying a bike that's ready to go, which is totally understandable. I'd say keep the old bike and maybe work on it over time - always nice to have a backup/beater/winter/loaner bike!;)

^^

Or just a project...

If you want to bomb down the avenues, old 27" alloy wheels with 36 spokes can't be beat. I've positively abused my old junker 12 speed schwinn and it still keeps on going.

Give drops another chance. You can always add interrupter brake levers on the bar tops. Mattyknacks has the system on his touring bike and I found them to work great.

I had one of their lower end bikes and I hated it. Got it as a present a few years ago and it cost around $500 - probably weighed about 35lbs and required a monumental amount of effort to keep up with friends riding anything else. Took a quick scroll through their page and didn't spot it, but it was effectively their standard hybrid.

Am much happier commuting on my mid 1980s trek 614.


I should note that I don't own a NYCBike. I've been to their shop a couple of times & was impressed by their policy (they fully stand behind their builds) and their approach (function over weight concerns).

My commuters are 2 recycling bin finds. 1 is a mtn frame, 1 is an old road frame. I added new bb's, cranks and pillaged my older bikes for parts and built them up as single speeds.

They're perfect commuters in my opinion. Light, simple & bulletproof. But there is time, $$ (and luck) involved. It's almost as cost effective to buy a complete bike.

I sent you a PM about my bike I was thinking of selling. Almost brand new, just sitting in the corner of my apt, love to see someone take it that will use it.

re: "another option is to poke around on Craig's list for a decent mountain bike, and just pop on some 1" slicks in place of the fat knobbies. With a good model you get decent speed and you'll never worry about the street conditions."

I did just that and you know what? My fastest commuting time was with that bike! Not the hybrid & not the '70s era Schwinn LeTour I fixed up this summer. My fastest time was on that Giant MB with 2" wide slicks.

I put 2" knobbies back on for the winter...the extra weight and rolling resistance took getting used to, of course, but I can just bomb over things i used to ride around or slow down for with the 1" slicks. So I think my speed has stayed the same and my comfort has increased.

Check out the Trek 7200. I have one and love it for rail trail and street riding.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/hybrid/7200/

That Trek looks nice. I have a Schwinn Trailway with the same form-factor. I like it for rides with the family. It was OK commuting with too because of the shifters at my finger tips. However because my commute is 17 miles I needed something faster. I'm still trying to figure out what to use next spring / summer.