Fifty Plus (50+) - Im taking my sweet time on my bike purchase

I'll try to give the short version. New cyclist and in the market to buy my first bike. My lbs did everything he could to sell me on a Trek 1.1 or higher road bike. I told him I needed to think about it. Any way when at home I researched hybrids and read everthing I could about them. I have to say everthing I read tells me hybrid is the way to go for me all around. The lbs asked me what I was going to use the bike for.
Im just sitting here feeling like he was trying to upsell me to buy way more bike then this guy needs. Opinions ? Or am I nuts ? :)

That can happen and its a sad thing when it does. Biking is a great sport for tons of different reasons. The LBS should have really determined what you wanted and then given you a few options. I like the ideas of Hybrids because they can be used in a broad variety of ways. I personally like riding dirt trails. Fat tires work well for my likes and size. Congrats on reading and researching what bike is best for you.

Something else you might check are bike clubs in your area. They can be hard to find, but look for riders hanging out at coffee shops in the mornings. That is usually a good place where people start or finish rides. Google and other web searches work well-kind of. You can also look for other Bike shops and bulletin boards at LBS. Of course this forum is a good source of info, hopefully you have found some help here.

Enjoy the search and post pictures once you get going. This is a good bunch to hang with.

Thanks !

What did you tell the guy about the riding you will do? The 1.1 is their bottom of the line road bike, and you might have said something that pointed him toward the bikes with the drop bars. They also might have had a lot of customers buy hybrids to start, and come back in less than a year asking if they take trade-ins to buy a drop bar road bike.

It depends on the kind of riding you want to do. If you want to ride for fitness, a hybrid will do. If you want to join a club or ride in cycling charity events, a hybrid will still do, but most riders are on road bikes. If your on a hybrid, you have to work a little harder to keep up with a rider on a road bike.

You should take your time finding the right bike. You haven't mentioned what kind of riding you're interested in doing. That'll determine whether a road bike or hybrid might be where you should be looking. Some hybrids are basically flat bar roadbikes. I have to say, I do love my hybrid. Though I will be getting a roadbike also, I find my hybrid excellent for all kinds of riding.

I'm doubting your "upsell" theory given that there are probably many hybrids that cost more than the Trek 1.1. As others have said, what you should get depends on what type of riding you will be doing. If I had to make do with just one bike (shudder) it would be my cyclocross bike.

Enjoy the hunt! I hope you are in a city, or close to a city with lots of bike stores.
Go in and talk to them all. Here what they have to say. Don't believe everything you hear.
Most of all, test ride lots of bikes!
You might see a bike you like, but not in your size. Ask if they can get one in that fits you. This is for a test ride, not a commitment to buy. Or, if they have a Whatsit 7.5 that is your size but you want a Whatsit 7.4, test ride the 7.5 and make a commitment on a 7.4, unseen.

Enjoy the hunt.
Test ride lots of bikes.
Don't feel rushed to decide.
OH YA, did I say enjoy the hunt?

I agree that a lot of people buy hybrids and soon trade up. I went in a different direction. Back in '07 I bought a Cannondale H500 hybrid. I looked at it the other day and realized that the only original parts on it at present are the frame and the seatpost. I've slowly converted it to a wonderful light touring bike with drop bars, rear rack and handlebar bag. I've comfortably done 50 milers in the mountains of Vermont on it.

Its for fitness, commuting, short rides. I see myself doing what others have done to their hybrids. The 1.1 I feel is just a little too much bike for me for what Im going to be doing. On a side note, even the lbs was telling me to go higher then the 1.1 because of the componants. In researching the 1.1 it seems like thats all the reviews Ive read say the same thing. Interesting to me most reviews on the hybrid say its a great bike just as it is. I know the typical mind set is to buy the best you can get so you will avoid having to upgrade. Dont get me wrong, the 1.1 would be an awesome bike for me but for what im going to be using it for a hybrid Im sure would suit me better.

The purpose of your first bike is to teach you what you want and need in your second bike.

My first bike was a hybrid. Among the dozens of things mine taught me was that I really wanted a road bike. (I now have four of them.)

Buy the hybrid and let it teach you.

Buy what YOU want. Unlike wives, you can legally own more than one bike at a time, so you can always get more.

I would think the best sales approach for the bike shop is, consult with you about your needs. Make a couple suggestions, then be happy to sell you anything you want. They can always sell more bikes to you later!

The purpose of your first bike is to teach you what you want and need in your second bike.

My first bike was a hybrid. Among the dozens of things mine taught me was that I really wanted a road bike. (I now have four of them.)

Buy the hybrid and let it teach you.

+1. If you haven't been riding much you might not have a good idea what bike will suit you best. My first bike after I could afford something good was a mountain bike. I was hanging out with a mountain biker and thought it was what I wanted. It was great, but I soon came to realize that road riding was what I most wanted to do, with occasional mountain bike rides. In hindsight I should have bought the road bike first.

Now I have a whole stable of bikes and my road bike is still my favorite. Nothing is quite as fun to ride. I'm 60, for what that's worth.

I bought a hybrid first, then realized I wanted to ride the roads with other people. Bought a Trek 2.1 a little over a year after the hybrid.

+1 on what TSL and others here have already said: only you know what you want, and you don't know yet! The only thing I'd bet money on is you will end up buying more bikes later as long as you keep riding! I started out with an older hardtail mountain bike for commuting. I've bought a BUNCH of bikes since then, mostly road bikes, and yet always find myself going back to the comfort and utility of my old MTB for most commuting and casual around town running. In recording my rides on bikejournal, I've noticed just how skewed my day by day choices have been, and now I'm making some adjustments in what I'm going to keep around in the garage!
Good luck, happy hunting, and ride LOTS of bikes. There are quite a few variables in ride quality from bike to bike, no matter how similar they may appear at first.

I don't now how much the trek costs, but one strategy would be to buy cheap on Craigs List, and ride around on that chew bike until you decide what you want. You'll have to know your approximate size, but you may know that from the LBS that is trying to sell you the trek.

I really appreciate all the tips and info you have all given me. Thanks

Lots of us here have Upgraded to road bike with drop bars but it does not really matter what that first bike is. I was on MTB's for 16 years but even I eventually went over to the dark side and bought a Road bike.--Then another and another.

This is your first bike and you don't know what you want so look as that first bike as a testing station. MTB-Hybrid-Comfort-Road bike---Won't matter what you get as it will only tell you what your second bike will be. MY LBS gave me the best tip- Buy cheap but don't buy Crap. I bought a Giant SCR3 for £400. 5 years later sold it to a mate for £200-- but on E-Bay they are going for £350.

Now if you know bikes- then Craigs List or E-Bay could be a place to look but I would recomend your LBS (Local Bike Shop). Problem is finding the LBS that is going to suit you so start looking. Like bikes- they come in all varieties and qualities.

Good Luck

I think, your thread title of taking your own sweet time, is very wise.

Naturally, there are many well intentioned suggestions her, all from kind people who have gone through similar choices.

So, to offer another

My brother, nudging 60, has bought a Jamis Bossa Nova. CycloCross Frame, nice and light, sturdy for commuting, sporty enough position but not extreme to be torture.

I very much like the look of it.

Bro has turned his 20 mile commute from 2 hrs to 1.10!

The Trek FX series are really nice hybrids, with the 7.5 and above really more like flat bar road bikes. The FX7.3 is very popular and reasonably priced. This spring I bought a Cannondale Quick4 hybrid as I started biking, similar to the FX. I like the bike a lot. I ended up getting a road bike last month but I ride both. I use the Quick around town and on the dirt roads and the MUPs. I haul birding equipment with it. The road bike is for long road rides on the pavement when I really want to move.

Im now 73 and I have bought 5 "last" bikes now. The first one was a Univega touring, because it had a triple. Then with my sons riding mountain bikes, and wanting me to ride with them I bought a Rockhopper. Then because of the fact they looked logical, came the Tailwind. So being sold on bents, came the Rans Stratus. Last month to share and get my wife to ride with me, my 5th a Terratrike Cruiser.

I bought my first bike in over 30 years, a Giant Cypress DX hybrid just over 2 tears ago. Nearly 6000 miles later I am still satisfied with my purchase and ride with a big smile on my face.
Buy whatever bike you want and ride it.

beer.... just don't let the noise stop you from getting that first bike.

I too got a hybrid as my first bike. wasn't absolutely sure whether I would really ride it and didn't want to invest too much into it. 8000 miles commuting later and having replaced nearly everything on the hybrid at least once I have added a new bike to the garage. By then I really knew what I wanted and did a lot of research before I picked up the second bike but after all that riding on the hybrid I really learned a lot. I do not regret going with the hybrid as it got me into this in the first place. Lots of great advice above.

good luck! and let us know what you ended up doing.

I might have rushed my selection in some members eyes here, but I'm happy. nuf said

Put 120 miles on a $250 hybrid, 5 miles a day, then 10. Rode a few good bikes at a LBS and was amazed at the difference.
I returned to riding for my health, and the fun. Got the FX7.5 and couldn't be happier, it's lighter, faster, smoother, and much better balanced. I'm amazed how fast and smooth the shifting is.

Good luck with your search.

The only problem with taking a lot of time looking for your first bike is that you are losing a lot of riding time. I spent very little time in selecting a new Secteur and have enjoyed every minute on it. You certainly need to find a bike you will be happy with, but the really important thing is to start riding.

Enjoy the hunt! I hope you are in a city, or close to a city with lots of bike stores.
Go in and talk to them all. Here what they have to say. Don't believe everything you hear.
Most of all, test ride lots of bikes!
You might see a bike you like, but not in your size. Ask if they can get one in that fits you. This is for a test ride, not a commitment to buy. Or, if they have a Whatsit 7.5 that is your size but you want a Whatsit 7.4, test ride the 7.5 and make a commitment on a 7.4, unseen.

Enjoy the hunt.
Test ride lots of bikes.
Don't feel rushed to decide.
OH YA, did I say enjoy the hunt?

When you find a bike during one of your test rides that matches the info found during your research that your body likes you will have found your new bike.

I think that I would go with the advice to start on a hybrid, but make sure that you get one which is of decent quality, and is a good fit. Most anything that you can get from an LBS will be of good enough quality for a first bike, and the LBS should help you with fit.

If you start going on longer rides, you will quickly learn to appreciate a road bike, but a hybrid is good for going short distances and hopping around town.

After reading up and testing bikes I went ahead and got a 7.2 fx. I couldnt be happier. Its going to be perfect for me. As others have said its my first bike in many years and now I just need to ride, ride, ride. In my travels I got to meet with 4 of my local shops and got a feel for which one gave me the most positive vibe as far as future visits. Im typically an impulse buyer so Im proud Ive gotten wiser. Thanks for all the tips all of you.

You are now Doomed---New wardrobe within 6 months due to weight loss and that will include the Lycra- and I hope you are not married as if you are- the wife will not be seeing much of you. Then there are the accessories for the bike- Get the wedge for under the saddle for the puncture repair items and a pump to keep on the frame all the time--Then comes the computer and heart rate monitor and the various upgrades that will be required.

Can see the next posting from you being about Butt Ache and the hot foot.

Ride and enjoy--Well done.

Good bike. Already has all the holes you'll need for racks and other stuff. If you get tired of your hands being in one position, check out bar ends.

Congrats, good choice for a first bike. Enjoy your riding!

The purpose of your first bike is to teach you what you want and need in your second bike.

My first bike was a hybrid. Among the dozens of things mine taught me was that I really wanted a road bike. (I now have four of them.)

Buy the hybrid and let it teach you.

No, that's the purpose of friends with nice bikes willing to share/ mentor.