Commuting - Help a noobie out. Looking for an entry-level/budget bike.

Looks like this will be the correct section for what I'm looking for. I know in the end the thing that determines which bike is better is personal preference but I just need a few people to point me in the right direction.

I'm 5'9 and I'm looking for a more efficient bike than my current bike which is some random Schwinn bike. I'll mainly be riding on the road on the bike paths. It doesn't snow here but there is an occasional rain.

It would also be nice to have a nice lightweight frame. A place for a water bottle would be nice but I don't really need other stuff because I'll usually have a backpack on.

Muchos gracias!

You'll get a million opinions from your post. The best way is to go in to your local bike shops and ride bikes that are within your budget. Get the one that fits the best and has the most desired options. Peruse the forum here. Lots of great info. This type of post get created probably once per day.

What type of bike should I be looking at? Road? Cyclocross? Singlespeed?

This is a great starter bike: http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/09_coda_spec.html

What type of bike should I be looking at? Road? Cyclocross? Singlespeed?

You need to give more detailed info. How far? Do you have hills? If so, how much grade? Ride in all conditions or just nice weather? Carry a load or travel light? Do any off roading or strickly street? Flat bars or drops? Lots of variables.

This is why it's best to go to your local stores. Tell them what you're wanting to do and they can easily setup you up on something that'll work well.

I recommend the Forge CTS 1000 (http://www.target.com/Forge-1000-Road-Racing-Bike/dp/B000LWFG9C). Buy it and take it to your bike store to have them assemble and adjust it. You'll have a fully functional ride for $400. Yes, I own one. I also own a Jamis Coda, which was recommended earlier. That's also a good bike, but the Forge is cheaper and lighter.

You'll get a million opinions from your post. The best way is to go in to your local bike shops and ride bikes that are within your budget. Get the one that fits the best and has the most desired options. Peruse the forum here. Lots of great info. This type of post get created probably once per day.

There are also already a lot of opinions posted in response to this same basic question in several other threads, as well as the "Advice to new commuters" sticky.

You need to give more detailed info. How far? Do you have hills? If so, how much grade? Ride in all conditions or just nice weather? Carry a load or travel light? Do any off roading or strickly street? Flat bars or drops? Lots of variables.

This is why it's best to go to your local stores. Tell them what you're wanting to do and they can easily setup you up on something that'll work well.

It'll be about 4 miles a day (shut up) and no it'll just be flat road. I'll ride in all conditions (but it doesn't snow here) and I'm not going to be bringing anything that won't fit in a backpack. And I guess I want drop bars.

It'll be about 4 miles a day (shut up) and no it'll just be flat road. I'll ride in all conditions (but it doesn't snow here) and I'm not going to be bringing anything that won't fit in a backpack. And I guess I want drop bars.

4 miles is a good start. Gotta start somewhere. After you get use to doing it (and the weather turns nice) you can find alternate routes that give you more mileage.

I'd suggest a decent road bike then. If you have an REI, I'd suggest checking them out. They have their 20% off deal going now and they have an awesome return plan. If you don't like the bike or it doesn't fit, simply bring it back. No questions asked.

Maybe something like this. Has rack/fender mounts as well. http://www.rei.com/product/784357

Thanks. Will the people at REI not be as experienced at those folks at a LBS?

Do keep in mind that the 20% discount at REI applies only to Novara bikes (REI's house brand). They're good bikes, just don't go in expecting a discount on that Raleigh.

There are many perfectly completely satifactory Schwinns for commuting four miles round trip or even farther. Which one do you have?

Do keep in mind that the 20% discount at REI applies only to Novara bikes (REI's house brand). They're good bikes, just don't go in expecting a discount on that Raleigh.

wow, I didn't know that. Checked the site and that's completely correct. Novara makes some decent bikes though. With that price and discount, plus their return policy, you can't beat it.

Thanks. Will the people at REI not be as experienced at those folks at a LBS?

Depends. I've seen some that were quite experienced. Certified and have been doing it for years. Other's not so much. Best bet is to talk to their mechanic and ask questions about the bike to see if they sound like they have a clue.

I only suggested them because of the price and return ability if you don't like the bike. If this isn't as much of a concern, check out your local bike shops. Might be a good idea anyways just to get an idea of what's out there and prices that things are going for.

What type of bike should I be looking at? Road? Cyclocross? Singlespeed?

No shocks. Other than that it's all good. I'd avoid single speed for a first bike unless you ride in very flat areas (like a city center -- "downtown").

Fit fit fit. Bikes are far from one size fits all.

Looks like this will be the correct section for what I'm looking for. I know in the end the thing that determines which bike is better is personal preference but I just need a few people to point me in the right direction.

I'm 5'9 and I'm looking for a more efficient bike than my current bike which is some random Schwinn bike. I'll mainly be riding on the road on the bike paths. It doesn't snow here but there is an occasional rain.

It would also be nice to have a nice lightweight frame. A place for a water bottle would be nice but I don't really need other stuff because I'll usually have a backpack on.

Muchos gracias!

I'm going to point you in the direction of your local bike shop. You need to be able to sit on a bike and have someone who has experience get you set up. It's silly to tell a specific brand and model when you may not have a dealer in your region. The one thing that will point you to one bike over another (besides fit) is MONEY.

Depends. I've seen some that were quite experienced. Certified and have been doing it for years. Other's not so much. Best bet is to talk to their mechanic and ask questions about the bike to see if they sound like they have a clue.

I only suggested them because of the price and return ability if you don't like the bike. If this isn't as much of a concern, check out your local bike shops. Might be a good idea anyways just to get an idea of what's out there and prices that things are going for.

I bet that if he goes to both a couple of times he'll be able to decipher which salesmen knows what he's talking about and which salesmen is just trying to push the highest margin product.

I've had bad salesmen at my LBS and I've had worse salesmen at Scheels. (We don't have REI).

If you get lucky a mechanic will come out and talk to you. The mechanics usually know what they're talking about.

If your commute is only four miles and you're looking for something with drops that's lighter than what you ride now, why not try a mid-80's chro-moly road bike off of craigslist for cheap? Maybe at a garage sale. You say that you don't need much more than a bottle cage. Heck, if it doesn't have braze-ons for that, you could buy a cage that clamps onto the handlebars.

That's really going "budget," I know, but it could be a fantastic deal if it suits your purpose. The most expensive bike in my stable costs forty bucks. Average is about twenty bucks. My grocery-getter was free.

There are many perfectly completely satifactory Schwinns for commuting four miles round trip or even farther. Which one do you have?

+1. Tell us what model you have and what you don't like about it.

I have a Schwinn Sierra GS that does not fit me at all and it's a pain in the butt to ride compared to my friend's road bike.

4 miles? Flat? Get a fixie, and if you don't like how a fixie rides, just use the single speed side. You can have whatever bars you want.

Starting out I would get a low cost bike unless you know that you want to spend a thousand dollars at the local bike shop.

I wouldn't recommend buying a used bike because you can't tell if someone has already put 10,000 miles on it.

I have one of the lower priced road bikes at BikesDirect.com, it now has over 1,000 miles on it with no problems.

Some people on this forum like to make fun of Walmart bikes, but many people that own one love them.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm

http://www.walmart.com/browse/Bikes-Scooters-Skates/_/N-3y4gZ1z0hbmrZaq90Zaqce/Ne-aqda?catNavId=133073&tab_value=36_All&ic=36_0&ref=125871.184192+500734.4293906723&search_sort=5&selected_items=+

Dont buy a walmart bike. Bikesdirect.com has a sale on Windsor Wellington 1.0 $299 and its way better quality than anything from walmart or anything in its price range. I dont think you can fit fenders on it for rain but you can attach the ugly clip on ones for the occasional shower.

When looking for an inexpensive bike I always steer clear of STI shifting bikes. They will likely be more expensive for a low quality shifter or some other such unreliable thing. The Wllington has stem shifters! cant really fail.

Thats my 2 cents. Lots of good suggestions so far though!

Cyclocross, by many miles. There's at least one REI bike in this list.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=368115

trek portland - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/portland/portland/

cannondale cross xr7 - http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8XR7C.html

Brodie Ronin '09 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2009/bikes/ronin.php
Brodie Ronin '08 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2008/2008_bikes/ronin.php

rocky mountain solo cxd - http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+SOLO_CXD.html?BIKE=606#2

kona sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/08_sutra_w.htm
Kona Sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/09_sutra_en.cfm
Kona Dew Drop - http://www.konaworld.com/09_dewdrop_en.cfm

Orbea Diem Drop Disc (2009) - http://www.orbea.com/en-gb/productos/bicicletas/Pages/bicicletas.aspx (see road bikes > fitness > diem drop disc)

focus cross disc - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyclocrossbikes/cyclocross_bikes_cross_disc.php
focus mares disc 2009 - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyclocrossbikes/cyclocross_bikes_mares_disc.php

Devinci Caribou2 (2009) - http://www.devinci.com/11628_an.html

Raleigh USA Sojourn (2009) - http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/sojourn/
Rei Novara buzz road bike (2009) - http://www.rei.com/product/779985

rotwild rs1cx - http://www.rotwild.de/en/ (street bikes section)

Fixie Inc. Pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/bikes/cyclocross/pure-blood
fixie inc. pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/2008/download/pureblood.html

Salsa la Cruz - http://www.salsacycles.com/laCruzComp08.html
Salsa Fargo - http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html

Opus Sentiero - http://opusbike.com/site_route.php?lang=en (see 2009 bikes > road > cyclocross)

Genesis Croix de Fer - http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/croix_de_fer

BikesDirect Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw - http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw.htm

Baron bicycles - http://baronbicycles.com/spec.htm

I have a Windsor Wellington 1.0 road bike from BikesDirect.com.

It has the braze-ons or screw holes that let you attach fenders to them.

I haven't bought fenders yet, but I live in Seattle so I am planning on it.

http://www.rei.com/category/4500787

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/wellington1_IX.htm