Your opinions on this bike for me, please
 

Hi all!
Sorry, I'm sure you get tons of threads like these. Basically I'm looking at a 250$ bike to start off with. I'm a 5'7 female and I weigh about 262. I'm looking at a Schwinn Solitaire Hybrid bike (walmart page found here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/700C-Women...-Bike/13398141). It has generally good reviews which is good.
It's said that the max weight for the bike is 275, and someone claims to be like 310 and riding it great under their reviews, but that could be anyone just saying that, and I'm nervous about being so close to the max weight for it. I have a morbid fear of trying to ride a bike and breaking it due to my weight and feeling so embarassed.
What do you guys think? The worse surface I plan to ride on is gravel. Safe for me to ride? Other suggestions? 250$ is my max price for a bike... it's not much, I know.

I'd appreciate your expertise.

The spoke copunt is too Low.
They will break if you are over 140 lbs.

Go used. Call this guy.

http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/2904061587.html

Or

http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/2904046023.html

Best one:
http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/2903822913.html

Very Nice price
http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/2893160040.html

Ewok

When I was looking to buy a couple months ago, I actually rode that bike around in the store and it was awful. You'll be happier and more confident on something like what 10 Wheels is linking you. Take your time. As exciting as it was for me to start riding again, I got wayward sidetracked with all the options....AND the sizing...sizing be the absolute most important. My best advise is to define what you want to do on your bike, then shop only in that category and only go look at the ones that you know are your perfect size. I also eventually dumped the idea of being insistent on a womens frame over a mens, because it was just too narrow of a field on my craigslist hunt, and Im perfectly well capable of hiking my leg up.

I wanted mine to commute as well as an auto replacement for errands including the grocery store. Ive now put only $20 i gas in my 4 runner in 2 months.

I ended up with a flat bar, disc brake, Motobecane Cafe Latte (Mens and Im a female) that came with all the extra goodies already on my wishlist like rear rack, panniers, ergo grips, trunk bag, fenders, dual sided pedals..and I paid total price of the goodies alone if I bought them new. Used is definitely the way to go to get a better bike for less money.

I used the sizing guide here:

http://www.ebicycles.com/bicycle-too...izer/road-bike

and it was dead on perfect, even though it is for road bike, and I was shopping for a flat bar hybrid. Be sure to click the what is this? next to leg length and do it proper.

Ok thanks, I will avoid that one then. Thanks for the linkups 10wheels but I'm not looking for a mountain bike. Maybe I was just too big for the bike, but I've had major issues trying to ride one on the street. I'm nervous about anything involving Craigslist but I guess I can start looking there. Do people sell their used bikes here by location?


Edit: Also, how many spokes should I be looking for in a bike at my size?

Even if you are not looking for a mountain bike they are good bikes to start with. If you don't like the knobby tires you can swap them out for "slick" tires. They tend to be good, sturdy bikes with a comfortable riding position. That Globe is more of a hybrid and is a nice bike.

Craig's list is much better than Wally world for bikes. I'd feel much more confident buying a 10 year old beat up bike from Craig's list than a same price new bike from Wally world or any other similar store. At least if it needs fixing, it can be fixed.

I just feel uncomfortable as a female dealing in Craigslist, had a friend have an unfortunate incident that way. I do like that globe a lot, I just can't afford it. I have a barely used mountain bike in my garage that I just remembered about when I was letting my dog outside and saw it there. It's nothing fancy, just a Pacific but it's a steel frame and (I think) 34 spokes. I fit the frame, the tires are 26x 2.1. I'm thinking I can get hybrid tires and get a thicker inner tube, the ones on it are flat. Try to ride out that for awhile and when I'm ready and have the money get a better quality bike. Thoughts?

Tysm for all the help so far. I know it can be annoying to answer stupid questions from a newbie :)

Well, for the price of a few tubes vs a new bike, I think you know the answer.

Even if it's not perfect for you, it will get you going at least and allow you to save up for a bike you really want

Take a male friend with you... Preferably a Clydesdale, not a skinny roadie :)

Online
 

maybe try bike nashbar or performance they have bikes that are real ( vs wally world) and very affordable! They have some nice upright handlebar cruisers! just google nashbar or performance bicycle! good luck enjoy !

ya, there is a $356 bike reduced to $199...that leaves some money for shipping ( if it is not free)

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Catalog...1#ReviewHeader

Do this ... just START riding ... don't overthink this. You'll overthink yourself into inactivity.

Go get tires and tubes, get them mounted up and spend St. Paddy's Day outdoors on your bike :)

Thanks :) Already ordered thick slick mountain tires that should hold with 90 psi and new tubes. I have spring break after this coming week, hopefully I'll be out riding it if I can get my bike set up! My goal is to build up some stamina over break so I can commute 15 miles to my college. I figure gambling 100$ is better than gambling 250$ for a bike that will hold me up.

Thanks for the advice, hopefully this will hold me for at least 6 months.

Excellent! :D

I started riding my Trek 1.2 (aluminum frame, carbon fork) when I was right around 300 ... I'm down 20 pounds (which sounds great but should be MUCH more), and the bike is holding up fine :)

like I said ... just start ... you'll do great :)

Good plan! Let us know how the riding goes! Be sure to lube up that chain and that the brakes work fine. :)

Ewok, that's probably the best choice you could make, just make sure all the components (especially the brakes) are in good working order. Build up your stamina at a comfortable pace and use the time to find a bike to upgrade to later on. One advantage to shopping at a bike store vs. a big box retailer is that the local bike stores will let you test ride their bikes and they should be able to give you knowledgeable advice on seat height, what type of bike would work best for you, and what frame size (based on your height) you'll need.

I started out commuting on my old college bike, a run of the mill mountain bike. Rode it for two years, during which time I researched the different bike types (hybrid, comfort, city, cross, etc.). By the time I decided to upgrade to a more serious commuting bike, I was able to walk into the bike stores and have some good discussions with the various salespeople about the bike types, how the bike would be used, and what the best bike for the local terrain was. I also had a much better idea of what bikes were the best value for the money, and in the end I was able to make a far smarter and better purchase decision by riding my old mountain bike first.

Welcome Ewok - some great advice here. It is so easy to get overwhelmed when starting out. You spent your $ very wisely on your old bike.

Keep 'em rolling ;)