Hybrid Bicycles - $600 Bike for City use

Hi,
I'm a new member to the site though have been reading for a couple weeks about bikes. Unfortunately the more I read the more confused I get.

I'm looking to get my first bike in 15 years. I want a bike that will be easy to handle in the city but might be able to take an occasional trail. Mostly city but the roads here are really bad. I'm looking mainly at 8 speed bikes, just cause I think that would be easier in traffic.

I'm 5'11 - 155

The bikes I'm looking at in no order are:

Giant Rapid 3
GT Traffic 2.0
Trek FX 7.2
Jamis Commuter 2
Jamis Commuter 3
Jamis Coda
Jamis Alegro
Motobecane Cafe Express 8
Boardman Hybrid Race
Pinnacle Neon One

Any ideas of other bikes or advice would be appreciated. I just want to enjoy it on the weekends to explore the area.

Thanks

If the roads are "really bad" as in there are potholes and uneven asphalt pothole patching everywhere, then you probably want either a cyclocross bike, or a hybrid bike with front suspension and wider tires.

Of all the bikes you listed, the Jamis Allegro X-line of bikes (Allegro 1x, 2x or 3x) would be best suited for such rough conditions.

Try test riding some bikes to narrow down the field.
See what feels good and comfy.

Take a look at this ... no tax & free shipping :thumb:
Shimano Nexus, 8 Speed Cafe Bike Cafe Express 8 $449
Lightweight Aluminum, Flat Bar Road bike = Speed+Comfort

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_express8.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/ex8_images/ex8slvmen_600.jpg

Thanks for the responses. Yeah I'm in Astoria NY, and the last few winters have put a beating on the roads. Potholes everywhere and patching also. I was hoping to get from what I was reading as the faster 700c wheels, but if thats not a good idea, I will start looking into wider tires.

Do you think a bike with 24 speed will be easy to deal with in traffic? I was looking at the:
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/allegro/11_allegro1_spec.html

Going to go to a store Friday, I went to a store a few weeks ago and was completely ignored so I left.

I'd go for this one: http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/allegro/11_allegro1x_spec.html

700C wheels, but has a suspension fork for dealing with all the potholes and rough pothole repair patches.

Plus the 1X has better shifters (rapid fire) than the plain 1 (sloppy grip twist shifters) you linked to.

Looks great, thanks for the advice!
Do you think 24 speeds is too much for tooling around town? I thought an speed would be nice, I was even reading that some you can change gears at a standstill, I thought that would be great for when I'm stuck at a traffic light.

it depends on where you live and the terrain.. around town i never touch my front derailer and only use 4-5 gears on rear

and i just downshift before i get to a stop. i do the same thing in my car so it's already second nature to me

Tried out a bunch of bikes yesterday and LongIslandTom you nailed it. 700c wheels and front suspension is what felt the best. Unfortunately only 1 of the 3 stores had bikes that even fit these requirements. The 2 that I liked were the 2010 Marin San Rafael and San Anselmo. I have not been able to find the Jamis Allegro 1X.

So the bikes I am looking to try are the 2011 Marin San Rafael, San Anselmo, Jamis Allegro 1X, Scott Sportster 55, Trek Kaitai.

I was just wondering what people thought of those bikes and if there were other bikes that should be on this list to test ride.

Thanks

I like the Marin San Anselmo. It's got the nicest shifters of the bunch.

Just remember whichever bike you choose, it's the bike fit and riding feel that should be your most important deciding factors. (Gotta make sure you got the right frame size and its riding characteristics suits you).

Be careful with Marin. i bought a San Anselmo, the rear wheel had about 30 percent of the spokes right, all the other were loose, the wheel quickly failed. Marin and Big Wheel Bikes did nothing to rectify the situation until i posted my problems on-line, and made them very aware. Only then they replaced the wheel with a substandard wheel, which I had to again replace again (i went elsewhere and bought it) now with no problems. Stay away from Marin and Big Wheel Bikes too!!!

You should be able to find the Jamis Allegro 1X at one of these places:

Al's Cycle Solutions (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=33624035)
693 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(212) 247-3300

Bicycle Repairman (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=23512402)
4021-A 35th Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 706-0450

Bicycles Plus @ 2nd Ave (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=23512404)
1690 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10128
(212) 722-2201

Bicycle Heaven (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=23512400)
348 East 62nd Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 230-1919

Spokesman Cycles (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=34320202)
49-04 Vernon Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 433-0450

Bicycle Renaissance (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=23512401)
430 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 724-2350

Innovation Bike Shop LLC (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=28928073)
105 West 106 Street
New York, NY 10025
(212) 678-7130

Master Bicycle Shop (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=36857056)
265 West 72nd Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 580-2355

Chelsea Bicycles Corp (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=23512413)
130 W. 26th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 727-7278

C & M Cycles (http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/viewLocation.php?lid=28928070)
141 E. 17th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-6788

Thanks EsoxLucius, I'll definitely be calling up some places this weekend. I know for sure Bicycle Repairman doesn't have it.

Any thoughts one buying in a local shop over an online store? I am leaning towards getting the bike from Bicycle Repairman cause they offer 3 years of repairs and tuneups for free and also so I don't run into the problems that daibutsu had.

Looking at the 2010 and 2011 San Anselmo I don't see any differences.

Getting closer...

thanks for all the help

Just a thought... Without Local Bike Stores (LBS) you'd have no one to fix your bike. I always go to the LBS: like the old poster said: Would you bring your eggs to a diner for them to cook for you? Maybe a little more expensive but the value is far higher...

The issues I had with Marin, began at Marin, eventho I still bought thru. a LBS. The LBS in my case didn't/couldn't fix the problem (of course I go elsewhere). The problem was Marin. Nevertheless it's good to buy thru a LBS, just find a good one.

I've been using a cheap ol' Jamis Citizen 1 (aftermarket fenders, pinhead skewers, rack) for daily commuting from Jackson Heights to Manhattan - I'm a big fan of Al and his team over at Al's Cycle Solutions - they're over on 10th and 47th.

Buy Local, the after sale support is important.....

There's plenty to choose from. As for the roads ? There are plenty of potholes and frost heave bumps, where I live and I've never had a problem with 700c x 35 tires even at 80 psi. My road bike has 700c x 23 at 120 psi and I haven't had problems with that either. 700c x 35 shouldn't get stuck in a storm sewer grate ( I haven't tried it around here ).

Remember that no wheel or tire is totally bulletproof when it comes to potholes and you do have to avoid them if possible. I've got a very nice out of round mountain bike rim sitting in my basement that came off of #2 son's mountain bike so a fat tire won't save you there either.

If I were you I'd go with a front suspension bike. I've got an older Trek 7100, it's a compact triple ( 21 speed ) and it doesn't matter whether you are on the hills or on the flats having the extra gears makes life a lot easier, especially when riding into a headwind. When you're riding into a headwind, there are never enough gears. Unless you ride where it's totally flat with no wind, 100% of the time and having big gaps in gear ratios is something you can live with, then go with the triple with the 8 speed cassette.


Always downshift before you stop and buy local.

Agreed - buy from a local shop that you feel comfortable discussing your needs with....test ride...and buy a bike you'll enjoy riding right now. As time goes on, you'll get a much stronger sense of what your riding style is and what kind of bike you like.

Looks like local it is. I was starting to look into used bikes off craigslist/ebay but it seems I should stick with the store that I really like.

Have not been able to get to a store and its been freezing temps in the area so wouldn't be fun to test ride. Anyway thinking about adding the Giant Roam 1 to the short list of bikes to try. People seem really to like the Roam 1 and have read Giant gives more bang for the buck. Is that true? I spoke to a guy in a store who was really biased against Marin. Any feelings for or against Marin bikes? The ones I test rode I really liked.

Current list:
Marin San Rafael
Marin San Anselmo
Jamis Allegro 1X
Scott Sportster 55
Trek Kaitai
Giant Roam 1

I have been using an Allegro 3x since March 2008. So far no major problems and handles about 60km each day of riding back and forth to work.

If you can get an old Marin, you're probably alright. New not-so-good. Check it out especially the wheels!!!

Local bike stores are letting me down, none of them have the bikes I'm looking for and most of them don't have any hybrid front shock bikes or dual sport bikes as trek refers to them. I even went to Al's Cycle Solutions that MarcusW mentioned an hour ago and they also had nothing that fit what I was looking for. Since I made a trip over there, I tried out the closest thing which was Jamis Exile 1 2010 (http://www.mtb29er.com/2010-jamis-bike-exile-1-29er-bike.html) that they recommended. They said they would switch out the tires to hybrid tires and they were charging $699 I think. It felt pretty good but I really want to try out:
Jamis Allegro 1X
Scott Sportster 55
Trek Kaitai
Giant Roam 1

Any ideas or recommendations? Also any thoughts on the exile 1 2010?
Consistently shops tell me that those kind of bikes don't sell...

Might start looking in NJ or Long Island

I really like my Kaitai........ It does it all, and very good. It is fast and smooth on the road, and it handles the trails with ease. I suggest taking one for a test ride.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/deerslayer1961/IMG_3002.jpg

I ended up ordering a GT Transeo 2.0 disc. After going to and calling a bunch of stores, they really didn't have many or any front suspension bikes. It was a little more than I wanted to spend and I didn't even get to test it out. It just seemed like a good deal based on the components.

http://www.gtbicycles.com/bikes/urban/sport/2011-transeo-2-0-disc-blue

Should have it by the end of the week, I can't wait!

I ended up ordering a GT Transeo 2.0 disc. After going to and calling a bunch of stores, they really didn't have many or any front suspension bikes. It was a little more than I wanted to spend and I didn't even get to test it out. It just seemed like a good deal based on the components.

http://www.gtbicycles.com/bikes/urban/sport/2011-transeo-2-0-disc-blue

Should have it by the end of the week, I can't wait!

Looks good. I used to ride a GT Avalanche (very similar to the Transeo but with 26-inch MTB wheels) and the front suspension does come in handy for dealing with badly decayed urban infrastructure.

As long as you got a pair of kevlar-lined puncture-resistant slick (smooth) tires and you will be all set to tackle the rough pavement stretches in Astoria. :thumb: Good for riding the riverside paths on Roosevelt Island too (nice views of Manhattan).

LongIslandTom, can you tell me a little more about the paths on Roosevelt Island? I live a few blocks from the bridge that connects to it.

Also are you familiar with Mineola Bikes? That's where I'm getting the bike from for $675. They were real nice on the phone and I got them to come down on the price and they went even lower than the price match I was trying for.

I've never been to Mineola Bikes, but as long as they offer you services like free tuneups for the first couple years, it would be a place that tries to do right for you. Three of the past five bikes I bought were from Bicycle Planet in Syosset (which is like 10 miles further east on Jericho Turnpike from Mineola Bikes) and they aren't cheap.

Anyway, Roosevelt Island does offer some pretty nice views. Just cross the bridge via the pedestrian walk on the north side of the bridge, and once across, descend to the street level via the motor vehicle helix ramp to the left. Once you are on the street level, head east or west and ride the bike path, which almost encircles the entire island. The only part of the island that you would have to ride on roads shared with cars are on the southern end, around the Goldwater-Coler hospital. The park at the southern tip of the island (landscaped around the ruins of an old hospital) is currently closed for renovation so there isn't much to see there. The nice views are the northern end. Have fun!

Unfortunately I read on their site that they only offer 1 year of free tuneups, I wonder how difficult it is tune a bike up on your own. The store by my place that I really like charges $65 a tune up, I think. I feel like that would be better spent on tools as long as it isn't really tough.

sh00k, thanks for the pm heads up on twin bicycles in maspeth queens, I can't pm you back cause I need 50 posts to pm. I wish I gave them a call before I ordered sounds like they have really good prices.

Off topic, the more I have been reading about bike locks the more I am starting to think I should have got a cheap used ugly bike. Any recommendations on locks? I am leaning towards
Kryptonite Evo Mini-7 W/Brkt 3.25 X 7-Inch with 4-feet Flex Lock

http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Mini-7-Brkt-7-Inch-4-feet/dp/B004C94T84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304632858&sr=8-1

And possibly a secondary lock