Commuting - My first bike purchase (on a low budget) as an adult... need some help!

Hey everyone,

I stumbled upon this great forum while I was researching bikes. I used to ride my bike all the time as a teenager, but I am now 27 and without a bike. I live in Chicago (no car) and would like to get a bike that will just get me around town (to the gym, grocery store, possibly to work). My budget is between $200 and $300.

I have been looking at some, and thought I'd see if I could get some of your opinions on them.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1073964_-1_1503000_20000_1503003

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Volare-700c-Flat-Mens/dp/B000Y2PIIS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1267722695&sr=8-5

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3258985&cp=3077568.3077627.3703467&parentPage=family

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3443183&cp=3077568.3077627.3703467&parentPage=family

Thanks!

Performance's site is blocked here at work, so I can't speak to whatever bike you linked to from there. I do, though, happen to have a previous incarnation of the Schwinn hybrid bikes you're looking at, the Trail Way hybrid. I've had it for about a year now and have put well over 2,000 miles on it, most of them commuting miles. Some thoughts:

About the bikes themselves:

*How tall are you? The Schwinn hybrids are attempts at a one-size-fits-all bikes, and the resulting frame does not always fit all. I'm 6'1", but have pretty short legs (30" inseam on pants), and I have the seat on my bike raised all the way to the minimum insertion point. It's about right for me, but even then I wish I could raise the seat a little more perhaps. The frame geometry and size of the hybrids you linked to seem almost identical to mine, so it's something to consider, epsecially if your legs are any longer than mine.

*The components drive train components are entry-level Shimano (i.e., bottom of the line), but have served me well. They're comparable to what I remember seeing on some of the cheapest Trek models last year (e.g., Shimano Tourney derailleur), so in that respect they're servicable and durable (or at least have been for me).

*You might not want a suspension fork. They're not all they're cracked up to be, especially if you're just riding on city streets or well-groomed and/or paved trails. I'd avoid the suspension forks, especially on these bikes, as they're cheap ones that can't be locked out.

*Wheels are a weak point in these bikes. Granted, I'm very solidly in the Clydesdale category, but others I've talked to have also had issues with the low-spoke count wheels on the cheap Schwinns. In that respect I'd lean towards the Schwinn Merge 700c, because, if the picture is accurate, it looks like it has 36 spoke wheels instead of 24.

More general thoughts:

*I understand the impulse to buy new, but many here, myself included given my experience, would counsel you to think seriously about Craigslist. You're in Chicago, so there should be lots of stuff available on CL. If you're looking for a hybrid-type bike, you could expand your search to include a decent mountain bike and just putting slick tires for commuting on instead of nobbies.

Other possibilities:

-used bikes from an actual local bike shop or perhaps a used bike sale by an outfit that rents bikes for tourist use, etc.
-a bike co-op that refurbishes donated/abandoned bikes and sells to the community at a low cost. You may be able to get something that way.

Good luck with the bike search and I'd definitely recommend bike commuting to you if you're really considering it.

Let me throw a completely different option in the ring here. I don't know how people feel about Bikes Direct bikes in this wing of BikeForums.net but you might look at something like these single speed bikes:

http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/clockwork.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/messenger_x.htm
http://bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm

More general thoughts:

*I understand the impulse to buy new, but many here, myself included given my experience, would counsel you to think seriously about Craigslist. You're in Chicago, so there should be lots of stuff available on CL.

^^^this

I was in exactly the same boat as you a few months ago. I kept looking at new bikes, but not sure what style I wanted. I ended up buying a very nice Centurion Ironman for $200 on Craigslist.

Having ridden and upgraded that bike for a few months, I have learned a few things. I want a more relaxed, touring geometry, I want bigger tires, I want lugs for a rack. I want a triple chainring, not a double. I want to add fenders.

Now that I know more what I want, I can either sell this bike for exactly what I paid, or keep it as a backup. If I'd bought new, I would be hit with big depreciation or faced with keeping an expensive backup.

So, do yourself a favor, buy the first $200 bike you see on CL that suits your fancy, and get riding. You've got a long way to go before you know what you really need, and this will be the best money you spend to figure it out.

Performance's site is blocked here at work....

I wonder why :D It's not like some employees were spending too much time browsing bike stuff :D

Yeah, often buying a used one will yield you a better quality bike than a cheap, new bike. I'd start looking for a used Trek, Jamis or something like that.

Adam

^^^this

I was in exactly the same boat as you a few months ago. I kept looking at new bikes, but not sure what style I wanted. I ended up buying a very nice Centurion Ironman for $200 on Craigslist.

Having ridden and upgraded that bike for a few months, I have learned a few things. I want a more relaxed, touring geometry, I want bigger tires, I want lugs for a rack. I want a triple chainring, not a double. I want to add fenders.

Now that I know more what I want, I can either sell this bike for exactly what I paid, or keep it as a backup. If I'd bought new, I would be hit with big depreciation or faced with keeping an expensive backup.

So, do yourself a favor, buy the first $200 bike you see on CL that suits your fancy, and get riding. You've got a long way to go before you know what you really need, and this will be the best money you spend to figure it out.


This is a good idea too. Finding a beater so to speak and having a bike shop fine tune it for you can work to your advantage. If you are mechanically inclined at all and have time to ask questions around the forums then I'm sure you could do most of it yourself.

One other thing - There's no such thing as a low budget bike. I know, I know, you can get cheap bikes all day long. What happens is you innocently buy a doodad for the bike. It is a slippery slope, my friend, and once you start down the path there is no return. Soon you'll want better brakes. Maybe you don't like those friction shifters, brifters may be more to your liking. Don't have a Chris King headset? Sure would be nice, eh? What the heck, stick one in your cart and buy it. Phil Wood makes some killer hubs, and those Mavic rims sure are tempting. Besides, the rims are only $65 each, what's the harm?

Before long, your cheap bike is revealed as merely a template to which you hang more and more expensive bicycle jewelry. Don't ask me how I know this.

The plus side is that you really do end up with a nice bicycle but sort of on the lay away plan. Plus, you can transfer over all (most) of that jewelry to a frame you like better in the future. Just keep the old components so that you can sell your cheap bike again.

I wonder why :D It's not like some employees were spending too much time browsing bike stuff :D

:lol: Don't tell anyone! ;)

Funny thing is, though, Nashbar's not blocked, or any other online retailer - just Performance. And I never even looked at Performance's site. Must be part of a generic shopping sites list added to our company's web filters.

And BF isn't blocked. And I waste WAY more time on this site than any other...

I'm in agreement with many of the others here. Craigslist and BikesDirect are some of your best options on a budget like the one you have. However, the very best place I have found to get very good quality used, and sometimes new, bicycle components are at "swap meets" sponsored by bicycle clubs. You will find quality goods from enthusiasts that know bicycles and equipment at 20-50 percent of what you would pay for new equipment at retail prices. And, alot of the times people are just wanting to get rid of things that are still in great condition and they just give it away.

I attended a "swap meet" like this recently. I could have put together a very nice bicycle for $300 that I would have paid $600-$800 on Craigslist, and easily $1000-$1300 if everything was new. Example - A set of Mavic Open Pro wheels (front and back) with 32 spokes, ultegra hubs, that couldn't have had more than 500 miles (based on the barely worn braking surface and the buttery smooth hubs) for a mere $80! You would expect to pay $300-$400 for something like this new and easily $150-$250 on Craigslist. The people at these events aren't there to make money. They want get rid of the stuff and really help someone out that is excited about cycling.

My only concern about buying used off of CL is that I honestly don't know much about bikes at all, and wouldn't be able to spot the problems up front to know if I was getting a good deal or not.

And if I walk into a bike shop, will I really be able to get anything decent for the same price as what I'd pay for new?

My only concern about buying used off of CL is that I honestly don't know much about bikes at all, and wouldn't be able to spot the problems up front to know if I was getting a good deal or not.

And if I walk into a bike shop, will I really be able to get anything decent for the same price as what I'd pay for new?
If you don't know much about bikes do you know what size you'll need? If not, stop by a bike shop and ask them what size you'll need in the style you want (mtn bike size does not equal road bike size does not equal hybrid size). Or ask a cycling friend to help you determine what size you'll need.

If you'll supply some info about yourself (height, torso size, inseam, etc.) we can offer some suggestions about frame size.

Sure no problem!

I am about 5'10" and weigh about 210lbs. So I am kind of a bigger guy if that makes any difference. Torso is about 32" I believe.

I have been looking at some, and thought I'd see if I could get some of your opinions on them.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1073964_-1_1503000_20000_1503003

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Volare-700c-Flat-Mens/dp/B000Y2PIIS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1267722695&sr=8-5

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3258985&cp=3077568.3077627.3703467&parentPage=family

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3443183&cp=3077568.3077627.3703467&parentPage=family
Dont' know much about buying bikes from Amazon. I thought they sold books and music. :eek:
My experience with the Sports Authority is that the guy who is selling bikes today was selling treadmills yesterday and has golf club duty tomorrow. He's not really informed about the bikes.
Performance is a big box bike store. The people who work there ride bikes (usually) and they can do warranty repairs and adjustments.

Unless you have unusually long or short legs then a 53-54cm frame is what you'll need. If the bike has inch dimensions then I'd guess a 16"-17" frame, I think. All my bikes have been road or CX bikes and the frames have been measured in cm. Maybe someone else can offer a better idea of inch frame size.

http://workingbikes.org/sales

This may be a good option for you in Chicago, too, if you're not too comfortable entering the Craigslist arena. I'm sure this coop is probably like the place where I've volunteered a few times around here, i.e., the bikes sold are given a thorough checkup and tune-up before going on the selling block. And your purchase will help to support a worthwhile cause. Plus, the people at the coop who are doing the selling will be able to steer you in the right direction in terms of size, etc.

If you're interested, volunteering at a place like this can be a good way to get some hands on experience with bike repairs, too, see things taken apart and how the components work. It has been for me. Reminds me... I need to start volunteering there again... I've been a slacker lately.

Or this:

http://www.uptownbikes.com/bikes-services


We also carry a limited selection of used bicycles available February to April, or until supply lasts.

I'm in nearly the exact same place as the Molson2010. A year older and a different city but I'm looking for the same things in a bike and have a similar budget.

I've considered purchasing second hand off craigslist as well but am concerned that I don't know enough about bikes to spot problems or, assuming there are no problems with the perspective bikes, differentiate between bike A and bike B. I'm a member of a couple other hobbyist message boards and know that they can become time consuming affairs so I'm concerned about spending a ton of time learning about bikes... I'd rather get a slightly lesser bike and spend that time riding once spring arrives.

I heard about Forge Bikes, saw their mountain bikes have gotten great reviews for their price point at mtbr.com and am interested in their hybrid bikes. I've read that they're made in the same factory as Giant bikes (possibly owned by Giant) and can offer bikes with components that are much better than similar price bikes due to their busienss model (they bypass LBSs, instead selling through Targets website, and drop ship partially assembled bikes directly to customers). It was said there that the components used in the mountain bikes would cost 2x the cost of a Forge bike if purchased individually. But I haven't found as much discussion of their non-mountain offerings so I was hoping some could comment on the quality of the components in the bikes listed below (I understand there is an aversion to buying a bike from a big box store... feel free to bash it based on your knowledge of its components and/or your direct experience with Forge but please resist the temptation to bash simply because they are sold through Target).

Forge M Street (http://www.forgebikes.com/mstreetbkroad.asp)

Forge Vero (http://www.forgebikes.com/vero.asp)

I found some comments on Forge component quality located in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?497687-Which-of-these-bikes-would-better-suit-my-needs&highlight=forge+vero) but was hoping for some more input as sometimes on hobbyist forums I find that there are people who aren't satisfied with anything less than the best so I wasn't sure if the components (a) really were bad or (b) they were good in comparison to 90% of the bikes on the road but simply not up to "Bike Forum approved" standards.

In Chicago, you've got a lot of good resources and good places to find something. Depending on where you are at in the city, there are a few good bike co-ops that might have a used bike that would work in your price range:

South Side: Blackstone Bikes http://www.experimentalstation.org/blackstone
Near NW: Ciclo Urbano http://www.ciclourbanochicago.com (http://www.ciclourbanochicago.com/)
Far North: The Recyclery http://www.therecyclery.org/

Working Bikes is an ok option too, but can be a little more of a challenge. There are other good bike shops around where you might be able to pick something up at a good price (Irv's in Pilsen comes to mind), I'd just recommend you check these places out first as they are non-profits who put their money back into kids' programs and other good community stuff. At Ciclo Urbano and the Recyclery at least (not sure about Blackstone) they're also good resources for open shops and classes and whatnot to learn to work on your new bike if you so desire. Good luck!

WOW! here is one of the best deals on a pretty good touring frame that would be a great commuter.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_173291_-1_201511_10000_201512

It's $99.99 and take another 20% off until 10 pm Eastern time tonight. $80? Are you kidding! If you start with that frame, you can go a long ways with another $200 on used parts.

In Chicago, you've got a lot of good resources and good places to find something. Depending on where you are at in the city, there are a few good bike co-ops that might have a used bike that would work in your price range:

South Side: Blackstone Bikes http://www.experimentalstation.org/blackstone
Near NW: Ciclo Urbano http://www.ciclourbanochicago.com (http://www.ciclourbanochicago.com/)
Far North: The Recyclery http://www.therecyclery.org/

Working Bikes is an ok option too, but can be a little more of a challenge.

threecarjam, thanks for the additional bike coop suggestions. I just posted what came up as the first hit that came up in a quick Google search to point coops out as an option. I am by no means an expert on bike coops in Chicago, of which, no doubt, there are many.

General point being to the OP, bike coops seem like they it might be a good option in your case. I tried to point them out because they're not something I was generally even aware of when I bought my new bike last year, but they are a great resource! Had I known more about them last year, I would have definitely scoped them out a bit more. I would have cruised Craigslist more, too...

I would advise you to go somewhere like Ciclo Urbana. Which is the shop arm of West Town Bikes in Chicago. They will have used bikes that easily fit in your price range. They will be much better than you could buy new at the price.

http://www.ciclourbanochicago.com/

I know this because I volunteer there once a week. They have some real nice bikes in the 200 to 300 range.

Does anyone know of any bike shops in Philly similar to the Chicago ones mentioned where a quality used bike can be purchased?

Also, any thoughts on the Windsor Stratford (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/stratford.htm) or Motobecane Elite FS (http://bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/motobecane_elitefs_IX2.htm) from BD? I've spent the last few hours doing some research here on Bike Forums and saw a few recommendations for them.

Are there any bicycle co-ops near you? I know here in Boise, the Boise Bike Project sells re-built used bikes for well under $300.

I don't know of and bike co-ops in Philly. I've found a few stores near me that sell used bikes but I'm not sure if they're co-ops.

:D It's not like some employees were spending too much time browsing bike stuff :D



it is the browsing bike forums that they should be worried about :)

Does anyone know of any bike shops in Philly similar to the Chicago ones mentioned where a quality used bike can be purchased?

I found http://www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/bikechurch/index.html using http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

The Philly Bike Church! Glad to see it's still around, has been since I think the late 1990's. If you're in West Philly or nearby (or can get there easily) that's definitely a good place to go.

My only point about Working Bikes in Chicago is that a lot of the bikes there are in need of some work - you can get a good deal, but if you're digging around there you might end up buried under a huge pile of rusty Schwinns and wonder what you are doing with your life. If you buy a bike there, I'd definitely scoot over to West Town/Ciclo Urbano to use their tools and knowledge to give it a good going over.

it is the browsing bike forums that they should be worried about :)

True that, but the forums are low bandwidth, which is what they really tend to monitor here where I am... :innocent:

I found http://www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/bikechurch/index.html using http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Thanks! I'll check out the Bike Church. My cousin also alerted my to a bike co-op not far from there called Firehouse that I plan on checking out.

I've also been looking at used bikes on eBay and CL. Any thoughts on this Jamis Dakota? (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Jamis-Dakota-Competition-ATB-Mountain-Bike-18_W0QQitemZ290407980386QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMountain_Bikes?hash=item439daa1d62) If I got it I think I'd want to replace the tires with something slicker but the rims sound wide and I'm not sure this is do-able. Also, might be slightly heavier than ideal but I think I could live with that.

So I've been looking on CL and found one guy who has a Trek 3900 (2009) and is practically like new. He originally wanted $350 for it but I might be able to talk him down to $260. What are your thoughts on this bike?