Living Car Free - May will mark 4 years with out a car!

That being said I'm finally in a position to purchase the style bike I've always wanted. I've been stuck riding the 26inch 18Spd mountain bike my Dad got me when I was 13, it's heavy tired and constantly in need of repairs. (I unfortunately had to make the choice of selling my 2010 GT Outpost)

I'm looking for everyone's suggestion on a new bike, preferably a road bike. I've set my budget at around $750(flexible)

I have a few bikes in mind particularily the following

1.) Jamis Ventura Sport $599 (http://www.sportchek.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=12472918&cp=3733354.3767828.3767829.3758109)

2.) GT Series 5.0 Road Bike $599 (http://www.sportchek.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=12473303&cp=3733354.3767828.3767829.3758109)

3.) Giant Defy 5 - $700 (http://www.bicycling.com/node/59212)

4.) Orbea Aqua T23 - $799 (http://www.bicycling.com/node/59262) This particular model may be difficult to find in my city. I may have to order it

And Finally,

5.) Trek 1.1 -$730 (http://www.bicycling.com/node/59267)

As you can see the price line varies from $599-$799 which is okay. But as we all know expensive isn't always better. Does anyone have experience with these particular brands? I've owned a GT (mountain bike) and loved its quality I've had the chance to ride a Jamis and enjoyed it but the rest are somewhat foreign but seem to fit the bill with their specs.


Notes:

I won't require the bike for groceries (I live across the street from the market) Nor for transport to and from a job (I have a public transit pass with my college) I will however require it for daily riding in the spring/summer/fall. Possibly riding it to school when the need arises. Mostly it's for pleasure and exercise purposes as well as general transportation around the city.

Also I'm a "bigger" rider, at 5'11 and 185lbs, I know that can make a big difference on these bikes.

I can't offer you any information on which bike to purchase; I just want to say congratulations on being car free for 4 years! An awesome accomplishment! How hard was it to adjust to living without a car?

Congrats on the years of being car free! Trying to be car lite, it's inspiring to hear other folks doing well car free.

I have a Jamis Xenith and feel it is excellent quality for the price, a great value. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Jamis bike. Multiple friends of mine have Giants and are extremely happy with them, two of them ride the Defy. Looking at the Giant catalog and their pricing, they seem like really great bang for your buck all across their entire line. Also from stories, their warranty service appears to be very good.

Never rode any of those. Nothing in my stable is that new. But congratulations on the 4 years car free.

My only advice is that if the Orbea Aqua is the only one you can't get locally, drop it from your list. Good relations with your local LBS can be a valuable plus to your selection of bike. And if you get stuck between two bikes at two dealers, go with the bike at the dealer you like better.

I made it 8 years in my single, no family days. I really loved the simplicity of it and the savings on insurance, maintenance and gas. Now that I have a kid and a wife (who isn't really much of a cyclist) and live in a rural area it's not practical. I sort of miss the lifestyle a bit, not that I would give up the one I have now for anything but car free times were good times.

Congrats on your achievement.

I don't have much about selecting a bike, they all look like very nice bikes but I would test ride as many of them as you can before buying one.

I can't offer you any information on which bike to purchase; I just want to say congratulations on being car free for 4 years! An awesome accomplishment! How hard was it to adjust to living without a car?

it's really been more of adapting my life to fit I'm still rather young so I never got the car life burned in to deep. I specifically chose my apartment for its proximity to the things I need. I'm literally across the street from the super market. I'm a 4km Bike ride to school and about the same from the city center. If I need to bring items home I take the bus (rarely I take the taxi). It's been extremely difficult at times (holidays and what not) but the savings alone are incredible. So far about $9500. It's just so much easier to service a bike then pay to fix a car.

it's really been more of adapting my life to fit I'm still rather young so I never got the car life burned in to deep. I specifically chose my apartment for its proximity to the things I need. I'm literally across the street from the super market. I'm a 4km Bike ride to school and about the same from the city center. If I need to bring items home I take the bus (rarely I take the taxi). It's been extremely difficult at times (holidays and what not) but the savings alone are incredible. So far about $9500. It's just so much easier to service a bike then pay to fix a car.

Yes, even rather major repairs for bike are generally cheaper than most basic car repairs and with a little practice you can do a good amount of it yourself. Short of a cracked frame most bike repairs can be done in a shop for less than $200, significantly less than that most of the time.

Looks like you are into faster bikes. Do you carry stuff on your bikes? Make sure they support racks and also fenders if you need them.

Myself I am in love with 'cross/touring bikes at the moment.

They usually seem to cost a bit more. I paid $850 for my Bianchi Volpe in 2006 and am still riding it (although over time, everything gets replaced...)

If I was buying a new bike, I would probably wait a few weeks. The 2012 models will be on sale, and the 2013s will be coming out.

Congrats on the 4 years! Sept. 23rd will be 8 for me (although some may say I'm only "car-lite", since my extended family still has cars; I'm in one or another vehicle about 2x/year. But I have repeatedly proven I can tote groceries on my MTB -- a week's worth or more if I hook up the trailer, and there are 7 of us right now!).

Because the kids wanted to go along, and the heatwave here hadn't broken yet, I didn't want to make the trip to the next town over on bikes (3 days ago). We took the bus, did our business, had an AWESOME lunch at a local diner, and bussed back home. Today, we wanted a little indulgence, so we jumped on the bikes and rode to it.

I have a SHORT list of cars to pick from...if I were to hit the lottery, and had to take the kids to some private school. But since I BARELY play, it's unlikely -- so I will happily pedal year-round, to wherever I need to go. I'm not sure my legs would forgive me for not giving them a daily spinout, either!

Looks like you are into faster bikes. Do you carry stuff on your bikes? Make sure they support racks and also fenders if you need them.

Myself I am in love with 'cross/touring bikes at the moment.

They usually seem to cost a bit more. I paid $850 for my Bianchi Volpe in 2006 and am still riding it (although over time, everything gets replaced...)

I rarely have to carry anything that doesn't it into my backpack so racks and what not aren't an issue. That being said it is something I will be taking into consideration for future usage :)


If I was buying a new bike, I would probably wait a few weeks. The 2012 models will be on sale, and the 2013s will be coming out.
That's the plan I'll be grabbing one once the sales hit the stores!