Hybrid Bicycles - Thoughts on this bike, does it suck?

Scott Sportster P55 - http://www.rei.com/product/780967

It obviously doesn't hold up to what most of you all ride, but I am just looking for something that I can ride around the neighborhood and a few flat trails with my 7 year old daughter.

Disk brakes? I just recently found out these exist on bicycles.

I can get this 2009 model for $350 with a discount I have. Any thoughts? Alternatives? Thanks in advance....

scott makes a nice bike....

Bike looks decent and at the price you can get it at, why not give it a try? You will never know until you ride it. By the way, what is this discount you are referring to?

By the way, what is this discount you are referring to?

There was a different bike (a Marin) that I ordered during their pre-Christmas clearance sale - which had 20% off bikes. The next day they contacted me to tell me there was no stock on the size I ordered. The Clearance sale was over so they gave me a 20% off code to use on another bike. So this bike would be $439 - 20% - $351.

Thanks for your input.

i ride a $320 piece of crap hybrid and a 20 year old MTB I hybridified, so not all of us ride nice bikes.

I was all for that bike until I saw the suspension forks. Blech.

How about this http://www.rei.com/product/774424 instead?

That Novara seems like a lot more bike for a little more money, but yeah...I'd rock that Scott for 350. Like Luddite, I'm no fan of suspension forks but if you like 'em then go for it. I've got an alivio rd on a Trek 820 I'm getting cleaned up to flip and it does alright. For what you've described that bike should be fine.

Scott Sportster P55 - http://www.rei.com/product/780967

It obviously doesn't hold up to what most of you all ride, but I am just looking for something that I can ride around the neighborhood and a few flat trails with my 7 year old daughter.

Disk brakes? I just recently found out these exist on bicycles.

I can get this 2009 model for $350 with a discount I have. Any thoughts? Alternatives? Thanks in advance....

For the type of riding you are describing the bike sounds perfect and at that price I personally wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Components aren't the best but they do work and will serve you for many years.

As far as suspension forks, that is a personal preference. 50mm is not much of suspension and forks in this price range are rarely plush enough to be a hindrance on the road.

make sure you pay attention to sizing, as one is only available in xs and the other xl.

Either would make a great all-arounder.

The Scott looks like a decent bike for the price. You can always swap the suspension fork for a rigid fairly cheaply,but really for what you describe it might not be a bad thing to have.

BTW,as you're buying it from REI,if it turns out you really don't like it,you can always return it.

My only gripe on the Scott is the "Wellgo" pedals. Well - they should go right in the trash. This is common throughout the bike industry - you get crap pedals as you are supposed to have good pedals you like already. At least that's the marketing hype used to disclaim your broken Wellgo. So get some decent pedals to go with the bike.

Thanks for all your input. I definitely appreciate it. One of the local REI's has the Scott in my size and I rode it today. It felt good so I think I will pick it up tomorrow when I have my rack. It seemed like a decent bike (for what I need it for), but as Panthers007 said above, the pedals did seem weak. And small'ish. What would be good replacement pedals?

I would imagine all REI bikes are decent bikes. I doubt you need disc brakes though. You should ride a bunch of bikes before making any decisions. REI used to have a cool test ride policy so go have fun!

The stock pedals are small and weak but for banging around the neighborhood with your daughter should be fine. The thing about pedals is everyone has a favorite and depending on the level that you decide to cycle will determine if flat pedals or clipless or a combination pedal will be best for you down the road. An O.K. pair of flat pedals can cost you 10% of what you are paying for the bike and a combination pedal can cost 20-25% of what the bike costs I wouldn't rush in right away. Take your time, try it out and see how cycling is for you.

I like pedals that support my entire foot, not just the inside 3/4 of it's width. You don't need an expensive pedal or bike to achieve simple comfort

For $350... why not? The front suspension is great if you will be riding on some rough stuff.

Thanks for all your input. I definitely appreciate it. One of the local REI's has the Scott in my size and I rode it today. It felt good so I think I will pick it up tomorrow when I have my rack. It seemed like a decent bike (for what I need it for), but as Panthers007 said above, the pedals did seem weak. And small'ish. What would be good replacement pedals?

The Scott is a good choice. People don't generally need the front suspension but don't worry too much about it.

Nothing wrong with (good) disk brakes. The other bike is OK but the Scott has a wider gear range (I'd stick with the Scott).

The pedals will work (until they break). If REI will give some consideration for better pedals, replace them. But, if not, you can wait.

disc brakes would have been good today - racked up 26 miles in the snow on an old school rigid MTB today. fortunately I didn't really need to stop much - but if I did - discs would have been good!

It seemed like a decent bike (for what I need it for), but as Panthers007 said above, the pedals did seem weak. And small'ish. What would be good replacement pedals?

I personally ride with MKS GR-9 pedals. They need toe-clips, so I'm an anachronism to todays "clipless" pedals. Here's a link - the GR-9 being a ways down the page:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/pedals.html

Regardless of you choice, one thing many people overlook: Most pedals need to be overhauled before you put 'em on the bike and ride with them. They tend to come over-tight with little, if any, grease. So use SEARCH on how to overhaul pedals. Pedal overhaul is a dying art unfortunately. Seems most people just get cheap pedals and ride them until they can't take it anymore. Then they throw them out and buy more pedals that just need an overhaul to make them a pleasure to ride. I see this all the time. So do hunt for instruction.

I'd tell you how, but it's late and I haven't made a Cut & Paste on this - YET.

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I Lied! I DID make a Copy & Paste for MKS. Also works on most pedals that have loose ball-bearings and cost under $100ish. I found the Park Tool site and BicycleTutor do not address this subject - so you have my permission to Copy & Paste this to your HD and hand it out freely:
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The problem with them is you didn't open them up and clean them and grease them. A pedal-overhaul is needed before you put most new pedals - especially with loose bearings - on the bike and use them.

I hear this complaint all the time regards MKS pedals. And it's NOT your fault. Overhauling pedals is a dying art. One I'm trying to resurrect. Here's what you do:

Working over a bowl, and the pedals removed from the bike, gently pry off the dustcaps at the end of the axles.

Now take a Y-Wrench socket-wrench and, while holding the flat where you screw it into the crank-arm with a box-wrench or pedal-wrench, remove the locknut under the dustcap. Then remove the cone under that. The bearings will pour out - into the bowl if you remembered.

Gather all the balls - 1/8th inch - and let them soak in a solvent such as charcoal-lighter fluid. Don't smoke - yet.

Now clean the insides of the pedal, the cone, the locknut, etc. with a rag soaked in the solvent. Allow to dry/evaporate completely.

Apply good-quality grease to the races where the balls ride. And begin the slow, tedious process of placing the balls back into the races - starting on the side closest to the crank-arm. Needle-Nose Pliers, or tweezers, work well. Then insert the axle to hold the bearings in place and repeat placing the balls on the other race - furthest from the cranks.

Screw the cone down slowly to hold the bearings in place. This will take several, or more, attempts your first time out. You want them to have no play back & forth - but you don't want them tight (like they are now before you began). Then replace the lockring and torque it down firmly. As I said - this will take a few tries to get it so there is no play, or tightness. It requires finesse. The second time you overhaul a pedal is much easier. It's an art.

Now you should understand the principal and the goal. Go for it! Congratulations! You will be a true artisan of a dying art!

Happy 40th Anniversary - all those who remember Woodstock!

Scott Sportster P55 - http://www.rei.com/product/780967

It obviously doesn't hold up to what most of you all ride, but I am just looking for something that I can ride around the neighborhood and a few flat trails with my 7 year old daughter.

Disk brakes? I just recently found out these exist on bicycles.

I can get this 2009 model for $350 with a discount I have. Any thoughts? Alternatives? Thanks in advance....

For some, you can't get a decent bike for less than a couple grand.

Nice bike! Scott is a cool brand. Ed Scott invented the aluminum ski pole, btw!

Are the pedals really only 3/4 the width of an average person's foot? I've bought bikes in that price range, my Cannondale for example, and always found the stock pedals serviceable. I may have even purchased Wellgo pedals as replacements. In some cases, I've swapped out pedals, but eventually ended up using the stock ones on another bike. Don't throw away perfectly good bike parts, that's nuts. Use 'em up. Earn your upgrades by riding the cheap stuff into the ground, and that takes lots of miles, cheap stuff works fine, it doesn't fall apart quickly. Overhauling new pedals sounds like maybe unnecessary, but I don't know and I will never find out, because I will probably never overhaul a pedal, certainly not a brand new one! My pedal of choice, Time ATAC wears out on the cleat interface after several years of hard miles in all weather, but the bearings, never serviced, never showed any signs of wear.

Pedal recommendation = Kona Jack**** (watch the vB4 eat that). Came stock on my '06 Smoke.

ETA: **** is the word "this" arranged in a different order. ;)

someone gave me a pair of GR9s but they didn't support my whole foot and consequently my feet would tilt and wrap around the outside of the pedal. I much prefer the pedal to be a tiny bit wider than my actual shoes because narrower doesn't even make sense