Commuting - New Bike for NewBike

Hi folks,

I'm buying a new bike to replace the one I accidentally abandoned a few years ago. "Commuting" isn't exactly what I do, but it's the closest category I found on the forum. I intend to ride to workout, not to work--4-5 miles each way, five, six days a week, with occassional longer fitness and fun rides. I'll be riding mostly on road, but I want something I can take on dirt roads (my driveway is a long, uphill, dirt private road; one of my favorite places to ride is on the gravel "carriage trails" at a nearby national park) and not-too-technical trails. My last bike was a Jamis Diablo, a mountain bike with no suspension; I liked it fine.

I tried out some bikes yesterday. I guess thinking that I was an "old" guy (I'm 40) the young woman at the bike shop decided I needed a "comfort bike". Tried one--a Raleigh--and hated it. Then tried a couple of Gary Fisher Mountain bikes. Liked 'em well enough, though all but one had really knobby tires that wouldn't work well for me. Minor problem. So now you know what feels good to me--basic mountain frame, front suspension.

I could easily have bought a Fisher Wahoo (lousy pedals, lousy saddle, but otherwise pretty solid, I thought) but they didn't have my size (more on this in a moment). Besides, I didn't like the shop, or anyway, the person who was assisting me. So I didn't buy, and I thought I'd sieze the opportunity to try to educate myself just a little. It's been ten years since I bought a bike, and a lot has changed.

So: any recommendations for someone like me, who likes the ATB feel, wants to bike mostly on roads but also on nontechnical trails? I'd like to keep it in the $500 range, though I could go a little higher. How much do I need to spend to suit my needs?

Thanks,
Jim

i can't give you much advice except that you shouldn't expect to find a new mountain bike selling with wide road tires/slicks already on it, but that's what you probably want. Seems you should ask the shop you go to whether they'll let you trade the tires out on your new bike and offer to pay the difference if the slicks are more expensive.

That's what I did, well, that's what the cool bike shop did for me. They suggested a mountain bike and then since I said I would be using it to go to work they changed the tires to road tires without me even asking since I didn't know such a thing existed.

Marin and Cannondale both make a ATB style bike with slicks from the factory... really cool bike for varied riding, though not particularly adept at either terrain.

Trek makes bikes they classify as City/Bike path such as the one at this link http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7300fx.jsp
Not sure if it is exactly what you are looking for but I would suggest checking around to other bike shops that may carry different lines as they may have one that is right for you.

Since you liked the fisher so much ... try a fisher hybrid also. I have a Tiberon, but the Nirvana & Utopia have better equipment ... and come in close to your price. I like mine alot. It has 700c wheels ... much better for cruising the pavement. And, it handles dirt and gravel (small rocks) on fairly even paths just fine. It has 38c tires with some tread so it goes fine on a couple dirt short cuts I ride here in Chicago. I like it better than my mountain bike ... because it sails on the streets and handles just about the toughest trails I want. I am 43 and back into biking after 20 years ... and frankly I'm not interested in jumping anything more than the occasional small curb.

By all means get to a shop that you like. Maybe even the same one with a different sales person. I had mixed feelings about my sales experience, but the shop was recommended highly ... and now that they see I actually ride the bike ... they are fabulous. Bike shop culture (here at least) is definitely way low key sales ... they almost don't care at all ... and you have to ask a ton of questions because they don't volunteer much info. But .. when you ask and are into it, they are a wealth of info.

Good Luck!

Trek makes bikes they classify as City/Bike path such as the one at this link http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7300fx.jsp
Not sure if it is exactly what you are looking for but I would suggest checking around to other bike shops that may carry different lines as they may have one that is right for you.


That Trek looks exactly like my Merida Freeway 9300, (270 UK Pounds= >/< $500, tho'I've seen them online cheaper).The 9300 is the "starter semi-serious" model and they get quite a bit more expensive. I've got the 700c wheels and city semi-slicks, about 2/3 the width of a MTB tyre. It's pretty good. It has a long, wheelbase and actually gets so stable down very steep hills that you've got gyroscopic inertia up to about 30 degrees lean, which is re-assuring. Also, the brakes are good. I assume the Trek'll be a bit better, cos the components seem more expensive. A road-based hybrid is the way to go, especially if you've got the clearance to substitue proper off-road wheels for the weekend. My entire bike is 36lbs :eek: but after getting over the shock of it, I figured this means it'll last and last.

I commute on your old bike. 1987 Jamis Diablo.

It was my first mt. bike. I like it just fine for commuting. I ride some singletrack on my commute if I want to.
I was commuting on a 1984 Rockhopper. Switching to the diablo took 15 minutes out of my ride.
I say get yourself something YOU like. It doesn't have to be new.

I have also commuted on my Specialized Epic. (way overkill, but sexy)
I used to commute on a full suspension Rockhopper FSR too.