Road Cycling - Help! I need a bike!

Okay so I haven't had a bike for a long time. I've been using other people's bikes. I currently work for K2 Sports and we get a really amazing discount on the bikes. I decided this year I'll buy myself one. I want to do some mountain bikings, local dirt trails, and even just ride around to the store or something. Please someone help me figure out what to get! www.k2bikes.com

Remember - it can only be a K2 bike - otherwise I can't afford one.

Also - I'm 5'4... what size do I need?

Thanks SOOO much!

Delyrium,

You really ought to get yourself measured by a K2 dealer. Bikes are sort of like women's clothes sizes: just like a GAP 10 and a Banana Republic 10 are not the same thing, a Cannondale 52 and a Lemond 52 are not the same.

It will really be time well invested!

i'm also 5'4. I looked at the k2 website. being 5'4 means usually, you're almost between sizes. you'd ride either a small or xsm. mostly likely, the small. What's your price range? and k2 doesn't list their prices on their website, so i'm guessing you can get the list prices and the discount. lucky. :p
But, judging by the components for the price, i'd suggest either mach 3 or enemy.
good luck! :)

You need to try a few and see what you like. You also need to
learn what a good fit is so you don't buy a size too small.
Lots of people buy a bike and discover after a couple rides it's
a size too small.

Okay so I haven't had a bike for a long time. I've been using other people's bikes. I currently work for K2 Sports and we get a really amazing discount on the bikes. I decided this year I'll buy myself one. I want to do some mountain bikings, local dirt trails, and even just ride around to the store or something. Please someone help me figure out what to get! www.k2bikes.com

Remember - it can only be a K2 bike - otherwise I can't afford one.

Also - I'm 5'4... what size do I need?

Thanks SOOO much!

Hello Delyrium,
I was about 34 when I picked up cycling. I bought a Raleigh Hybrid. The position of hybrid is different than a road bike because you are sitting up more erect. It has been a great starter bike for tooling around town, tow paths and riding 25-30 mile rides.

Being 5'2" I bought a small frame. In fact, if you are interested, I can email you info on it. The bike has Shimano parts and is in excellent condition. I am selling it for $200.

Interesting that some people are suggesting road bikes for someone who says she wants to do mountain biking. :)

I personally would suggest the Zed lineup... specifically the Zed 3.0. If you have a little more cash to blow then the Zed 4.0 is pretty nice and has parts you won't need to upgrade for quite some time. For sizing, you'll want to try out the bikes first-hand. As others have mentioned, you're probably going to be looking at the small. Note that
the Zed may come with a stem that's too long for you. Inquire about changing/swapping out the stem. You may need one with a shorter length and/or higher rise to get you to the proper reach. Another thing you should expect to change out is the saddle. Everyone's butt is different and so not all saddles work equally well for everyone. If you're lucky then the stock saddle will fit perectly. If not then you usually won't know until you've put in about a hundred miles on it. Remember that your butt needs to get used to riding too. Also, since you're a woman, the saddle profile will more than likely be off as it was designed more for the male anatomy. You will also need to make sure you get the preload and damping adjusted properly on the front shock. All of this should be done properly assuming you get someone to do a professional fitting.

The Zed will be adequate for anything from light trails to full-blown twisty singletrack. While it's not dual-suspension and you can't just simply point and bomb down everything in sight, having to pick your lines does in the long run make you a better rider. I always suggest newbies go to a hardtail before jumping up to full-suspension. As a matter of fact, many people just stick with hardtails. It's a different kind of riding and equally as fun as full-suspension at a cheaper price. A hardtail will also be better if you spend some fair amount of time on pavement. I always feel silly riding my Oz on pavement. BTW, since you work for K2, you might want to pop a bug in their ear and let them know that some of us K2 riders really would like to see a successor/return of the Oz frame. ;)