Commuting - Help me choose?

Okay, so, my knowledge of bikes/brands is extremely minimal. I've been riding my roommates folding bike for a few months now and I'm extremely interested in getting a decent quality bike for myself (the non-folding kind). I live in Brooklyn, so the area is pretty flat and I don't foresee myself encountering any challenging hills. I'm 20 years old, just got a job as a dog walker and it involves biking from block to block and neighborhood to neighborhood. Speed is not necessary important to me. The bikes I've been looking at are aesthetically pleasing, in my opinion, but I can't tell much about them beyond that. My limit as far as price goes is $500.

Opinions of these bikes, whether they're a good value for the price, which should be avoided, etc.

Felt Cafe 3 W (http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2011/Cafe/Cafe-Series/Café%203%20W.aspx)

Felt Cafe 7 W (http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2011/Cafe/Cafe-Series/Café%207%20W.aspx)

Schwinn cruiser (http://www.schwinnbikes.com/bikes/cruisers/cream-3-spd-9638)

Nirve Wilshire (http://www.nirve.com/womens.asp?cat=commuting)

Raleigh Classic Roadster (http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/steel-hybrid/classic-roadster-11/)

Thanks everyone!

Based on what can be seen, I'd choose Cafe 3 W from Felt. CroMo fork makes it comfortable, Alu frame is lighter then all of the rest of the offerings, and it has IGH 3 speed rear hub that saves you hassle of maintenance in a big way, it has a kickstand and fenders, encased chain. It all helps for it to be a quick, no fuss ride in the town. If you are going to ride on more hilly terrain, you could take 7 W, but to me it has significant drawbacks for someone as you who is not used to doing her own maintenance - having a derailer means shifting system is much more delicate, exposed chain means you could get dirty from it pretty easily, and lack of fenders is the biggest concern for the city. They not only help when it is raining, their primary role is to keep road grime and dust off you and off the bike. So, in my opinion, fenders are essential for city riding.

As for the rest of the bikes, Schwinn, Nirve and Raleigh - they all scream cheap in the material used for the frame, and forks seem to be hi-ten steel, which isn't too good. Comfort wise, primarily. If they cost similar to Felt bikes, Felt wins hands down because of the thoughtful design of the frame, and of the fork, and practical value of the bike usage - keep it simple and reliable. You wont' break any speed records with any of these, but 3 W gives the most for the least money - for your intended purpose. Only thing it is going to need is to get the tires a regular pump up at least once a week, also lube the chain once a week, get a good u-lock if you're going to let it outside - and you're set to go. Don't forget other things like light set, gloves, helmet. Have fun!

Here is a link to a great site that has numerous listings of bikes for those with a budget. It has a couple in your price range and even you don't decide to purchase one of the bikes listed, its still a great resource of information on biking.

http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/

http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/p/budget-options.html

In response to what you have listed. I would say definitely the Felt 3W as well. It's stylish and you said you wouldn't be worried about hills, so a three speed would be plenty. It also already has fenders so you don't have to buy those. I would use the money that you save and buy a rack, so you can carry all the stuff you need for your job around on the back of your bike. Take the bike for a test ride if you're still unsure.

Based on the design of the frames the two Felts would be the strongest. Curved frames are more subject to impact damage, and Nirve has a very poor design with the top tube as thin as a rear stay.

Of the two Felts, the 3W is a fixed gear job and the other has gears. If you want a bike that is easier to pedal in all road conditions get the geared Felt 7W.

Both Felts are very nice looking bikes by the way made by a company that makes better bikes then the other other brands you listed.

I've seen on this forum that people same aluminum doesn't offer a very smooth ride. Is this true?

I've seen on this forum that people same aluminum doesn't offer a very smooth ride. Is this true?Aluminum is a harder metal than steel (or carbon), so it's more prone to transmitting vibration and other sensations from the road. I've also found that aluminum bikes are prone to disturbing "creaking" sounds.

That said, most differences between metals can be nullified with changes to tubing shape, gauge and thickness, so there's ways to handle it. A lot of aluminum bikes also come with seat post shocks to absorb the vibration. A friend who went from aluminum with seatpost shock to a hard frame steel bike found the steel bike to be the harsher ride.

In the end, it's all bike specific. The properties of the material have more impact on the designer than the rider.

I've seen on this forum that people same aluminum doesn't offer a very smooth ride. Is this true?

For the kind of riding you will be doing it won't really matter. Most people ride aluminum bikes these days anyway. And I've never heard aluminum making "creaking" sounds, must be some other components doing that. You can always put on fatter tires for more comfortable ride. I also think the Felt bikes are better choice.

I was looking at a new commuter bike as well, actually just wishing for one. Are Raleighs not recommended at all or just the particular model?

Thanks everyone. I think I'm either going with the cafe 3 or this gary fisher bike (http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/simple-city-3-stepthru).

Any opinions on that one. It's made out of aluminum as well.

The Gary Fisher bike has puncture resistant tires with reflective sidewals. It doesn't look like the Felt bike has puncture resistant tires. Although, for the difference in price you can put better tires on the Felt as well. I think at this point it comes to aesthetics really: which one looks better to you.

They both have some something I don't like: coaster brake, but that may not matter to you for casual cruising. So when I look again at the bikes you've listed, the Schwinn actually may be a better value IMHO: it has caliper brakes and comes with a rack too.

Aluminum can have a compliant ride. It depends on the bike design and intended ride. My Schwinn Super Sport DBX is both stiff and compliant. Aluminum can have both characteristics for a sweet and quality ride. So don't worry about the material; just ride the bike!

Thanks everyone. I think I'm either going with the cafe 3 or this gary fisher bike (http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/simple-city-3-stepthru).

Any opinions on that one. It's made out of aluminum as well.

Again, look at the frame design, the Gary Fisher frame won't be as strong as the Felts.

Based on the design of the frames the two Felts would be the strongest. Curved frames are more subject to impact damage, and Nirve has a very poor design with the top tube as thin as a rear stay.


Actually that is a pretty common design for mixte frames. What you don't see is that it has two tubes on the top. OTOH I know nothing about nirve bikes, but the components seem cheap/no name.

The felt does seem like the best deal for you.

Actually that is a pretty common design for mixte frames. What you don't see is that it has two tubes on the top. OTOH I know nothing about nirve bikes, but the components seem cheap/no name.

The felt does seem like the best deal for you.

That may be a common design for mixte frames but the design does not allow for strength either in pedaling efficency due to poor top tube support or the curved design which allows even a mild impact that wouldn't even harm a regular triangle frame to fold the frame at the curve. I've seen those curved designed bikes damaged in LBS's after hitting stuff that shouldn't have done more then bend a wheel, and frame builders will tell you that a curved design is not a strong design.

But I too feel the Felts are the of the best bikes she listed.

My advice to you is a little different from the others. Since you're new to biking and your knowledge of brands is limited then I first recommend that you visit all the convenient bike shops and test ride everything in your price range. Before I bought my current bike I went to a half dozen shops and test rode lots of bikes at length to really get a sense of each bike's handling and personality. I learned a lot about what was comfortable for my body. The specs and the good testimonials about bikes from online shoppers and friends don't mean much if you yourself don't enjoy the bike. I absolutely loved the bike that I rode 5 years ago but as I've ridden longer and my riding habits have changed I have say that what I now enjoy in a bike has changed. Listen also. You can't really overestimate the value of a good bike shop. My local bike shop or LBS is wonderful. I'd buy a bike from them before I'd buy from another shop that carried a 'preferred' brand. Why? Because when I walk in they're consistently helpful and friendly and they carry enough high quality brands. They want me to have a long time happy riding experience. And if you ride a lot and you need a quick repair you want a convenient shop with staff that are responsive and friendly. Honestly I think the quality of bikes at particular price points is very similar, one bike with a small advantage in this area and another bike with a small advantage in another. Buy from the convenient shop with strong customer service. Best to you!

DC makes a great point. Go and ride lots of bikes. Ride bikes out of your price range even though you might get spoiled by them a bit find out what you like and get the bike that seems the most like that out of what you can afford. Sometimes riding a much nier bike helps you pick out the less expensive bike that seems much higher quality (subjective or not) than the other contenders.

I'll also 2nd how I don't like the coaster brakes, but maybe it would be fine on one of those bikes. The only coaster brake bike I really have been ok with is my Bianchi folder. everything else I feel like there isn't enough stopping power and it feels awkward. Maybe it would work great for you but its worth mentioning. Alot of those bikes are really sweet looking rides.

That may be a common design for mixte frames but the design does not allow for strength either in pedaling efficency due to poor top tube support or the curved design which allows even a mild impact that wouldn't even harm a regular triangle frame to fold the frame at the curve. I've seen those curved designed bikes damaged in LBS's after hitting stuff that shouldn't have done more then bend a wheel, and frame builders will tell you that a curved design is not a strong design.

But I too feel the Felts are the of the best bikes she listed.

Sorry, I was speaking more of the tubing diameter, not the curve. I can see how the curve would weakening the design.

Probably way over your budget, but I really like the SOMA mixte frames

http://www.somafab.com/bv_Vaune_drmcycle.jpg

Of the two Felts, the 3W is a fixed gear job and the other has gears. If you want a bike that is easier to pedal in all road conditions get the geared Felt 7W.

Both Felts are very nice looking bikes by the way made by a company that makes better bikes then the other other brands you listed.

Did you read the links at all? Straight from the manufacturers page:

"Drivetrain: 3-sp Shimano Revo twist shift Nexus internal gear hub"

The Gary Fisher bike has puncture resistant tires with reflective sidewals. It doesn't look like the Felt bike has puncture resistant tires. Although, for the difference in price you can put better tires on the Felt as well. I think at this point it comes to aesthetics really: which one looks better to you.

They both have some something I don't like: coaster brake, but that may not matter to you for casual cruising. So when I look again at the bikes you've listed, the Schwinn actually may be a better value IMHO: it has caliper brakes and comes with a rack too.

Not for you, and not for me, as we both like to ride fast, in heavy traffic. However, for someone's who is only starting with biking, and needs the minimum maintenance bike that will be reliable, for moderate speeds and flat terrain, coaster brake is a much better choice then other kind of brakes.

Thanks for the great advice everyone! I think I'm going to do what a few of you suggested, and test ride the ones I'm most interested in.

An unrelated question (and possibly a silly one at that)...when riding in stop and go traffic on a bike where you can't reach the ground, what do you do when stopped to balance on the bike? Is there some kind of "resting" position or something?

Did you read the links at all? Straight from the manufacturers page:

"Drivetrain: 3-sp Shimano Revo twist shift Nexus internal gear hub"

No, I did not read the sites, my time frame was extremely short at the time so I just clicked and looked at the pics fast.

An unrelated question (and possibly a silly one at that)...when riding in stop and go traffic on a bike where you can't reach the ground, what do you do when stopped to balance on the bike? Is there some kind of "resting" position or something?

Why can't you reach the ground? If the bike is sized properly you should be able to reach the ground with your ball of your foot forward without having to get off the seat. There is a balance act called the track stand, where you hold the crank in the horizontal position with your dominate foot forward with the handlebars at about 45 degrees and out of the seat, then while applying slight pressure on the forward foot and the crank you hold still using the brakes to keep you from moving. This is a very difficult thing to practice, practice on grass in case...and you will...fall. It's easier to track stand going up a grade then on flat level surface, and it's nearly impossible going downhill but I've had some limited success by using the brakes to stop the forward motion. But that's when I was younger, the older I got the more difficult it became to do a track stand. It will take at least a month of practice to get it half way decent.

Thanks for the great advice everyone! I think I'm going to do what a few of you suggested, and test ride the ones I'm most interested in.

An unrelated question (and possibly a silly one at that)...when riding in stop and go traffic on a bike where you can't reach the ground, what do you do when stopped to balance on the bike? Is there some kind of "resting" position or something?

Not a silly question at all. Just slip off your seat. If you're riding a step-through there'll be no problem w/frame clearance. If you're riding a top tube frame you should be able to stand flat-footed straddling the bike w/about 1-1.5 inches of clearance. Then adjust your seat height until you can put one foot(on the ball) on the ground while shifting slightly off center towards whatever foot you're placing on the ground. After a while you'll be able to stay on the seat and put one foot on the curb maintaining the bike in a semi-upright position. Just a matter of practice. Then there's filtering...someone else will comment on that technique I'm sure.

Btw, the 3 sp Felt looks to my eye to be the highest quality of the ones you posted. Try Craigslist for a Raleigh Sport and you may turn up a classic English 3 sp for about half the money. It's the bike made from the early 20th century until the mid-1970s that all the bikes you've posted are trying to emulate. Here's a web page: www.sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html I just did a quick search and found one on my local Craigslist here in Nashville. There ought to be plenty in Brooklyn. Anyway, enjoy your choice and all your commuting. It's addicting. As anyone here will tell you. :)