bravestarr

I am looking at buying a new bike, most to get some exercise on and ride with my stepson. I used to ride quite often but heart surgery and life got in the way over the past few years and now I want to get back into it.

I am a big guy (6'0 300lbs) so obviously I gotta be a careful with what I get and I don't have much money ie $200. I obviously don't want a walmart bike but found a Nishiki Pueblo or a Schwinn GTX3 for $200 at my local Dicks and since they actually service bikes is the reason I am leaning towards it.

I don't need it to last forever just a season or two until I lose some weight and get some money saved up for a Diamondback Insight (it's what I had before surgery and loved it, but I was also 50lbs lighter at the time) I am wondering if either the Schwinn or Nishiki will be able to support me and hopefully last a little while.


Thanks

TrojanHorse

The standard advice around here is to locate a used hard tail / no suspension fork mountain bike from the 90s and ride that. $200 can get you a pretty decent used bike but doesn't get you much brand new, unfortunately.

bravestarr

That was my initial plan since that is what I did before to lose weight but trying to find a used no suspension bike is a lot harder than I remember since they either have suspension or they are so worn out that I would be spending more to get it in shape to ride

squirtdad

take a look at this thread https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdale...xperiment.html

$200 dollars new does not get you a lot of bike.

The Insight 1 is $450 at dicks right now

If you give an idea of your location people tend to help a bit on seeing whats out there on craigslist

dr_lha

What sort of riding are you planning on doing, and and what sort of surfaces?

I'd also recommend going the "90s steel MTB with no suspension" route, if I were you. Buying a cheap new bike gets you what you pay for: a cheap bike. You'll likely end up regretting it. I would not be buying a new $200 bike.

What area are you in?

bravestarr

I live in Colorado, specifically the Denver area. I plan on only riding on concrete / asphalt with the occasional gravel. I know I am not gonna get something great of $200 but I want to at least last me a year so I can lose some weight and save some money for an Insight

bo31210

Go on craigslist denver. There are a ton of good options there

Clyde1820

On Craigslist, in the Denver area there are several Specialized Stumpjumper bikes for sale right now: click for search.

Such as: this one (for $200, rigid fork); or, in the Colorado Springs area, this one (for $60, suspension fork).

Specialized made the Stumpjumper and Rock Hopper bikes, back in the 1990's. Certainly strong enough for 300lbs, on pavement and occasional rougher stuff. If you can find one with a rigid fork, or a suspension-fork variant cheaply enough to swap out with a decent rigid fork, you ought to easily be able to stay under the $200 limit. Anything in the $100 area would allow you to get the wheels trued, find a more-suitable stem/bar/seat and still probably stay under the $200 limit.

One way to go.

bravestarr

Found a nice '91 rigid Rockhopper for $75, may be a little bigger than I am used to (22"). I will keep an eye out for the Stumpjumper or Rockhoppers


Thanks

MBR2000

I know a guy who bought a department store bike for approx $200 with all kinds of whiz-bang features, like 21 speeds and front suspension. Every part on it is cheesy, and it rides like a pig and shifts even worse.

Don't know how much my 94 Trek MTB is worth, but it's 5X better than the department store bike.

Gotta be some good used bikes out there, for sale by owner or in bike stores.