First Post-noobie ?'s (sorta long)
06-30-06, 03:00 PM
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First Post-noobie ?'s (sorta long)
Hello Everyone,
I was recently in a car accident in which my vehicle was totaled and I suffered a broken arm and wrist. I will be in a cast for another few weeks so I am taking this time to research bikes.
I live in Coppell, TX and would like to start commuting to work. I am a very healthy and active 26 year old. My commute to work is 6.88 miles(mapquest) each way. The commute is 6 miles on a two lane(each-side) semi-busy road with no sidewalks and the rest is a highway overpass that puts me at work.
From lurking on this board the past few days I have found some bikes that seem suitable. I would like to spend under $500- the lower the better. I would like to hear opinions on the following bikes:
Marin: Kentfield, Larkspur, Belvedere, San Rafael, Muirwoods, Novato
Trek: SU 100 and 200
Kona: Smoke
Gary Fisher: Nirvana
The reason I listed more Marins is that I have a $200 gift card at REI which will really help the cost. The only bike I've owned was a Trek 820, but sold it when I graduated college.
A few questions: what are the advantages of having fenders?, advantages of saddle bags vs. rack? what tires are best for commuting?, brakes?
Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and time.
I was recently in a car accident in which my vehicle was totaled and I suffered a broken arm and wrist. I will be in a cast for another few weeks so I am taking this time to research bikes.
I live in Coppell, TX and would like to start commuting to work. I am a very healthy and active 26 year old. My commute to work is 6.88 miles(mapquest) each way. The commute is 6 miles on a two lane(each-side) semi-busy road with no sidewalks and the rest is a highway overpass that puts me at work.
From lurking on this board the past few days I have found some bikes that seem suitable. I would like to spend under $500- the lower the better. I would like to hear opinions on the following bikes:
Marin: Kentfield, Larkspur, Belvedere, San Rafael, Muirwoods, Novato
Trek: SU 100 and 200
Kona: Smoke
Gary Fisher: Nirvana
The reason I listed more Marins is that I have a $200 gift card at REI which will really help the cost. The only bike I've owned was a Trek 820, but sold it when I graduated college.
A few questions: what are the advantages of having fenders?, advantages of saddle bags vs. rack? what tires are best for commuting?, brakes?
Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and time.
06-30-06, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by chason
You need fenders, unless you want to show up to work in muddy clothes.
$200 at REI is pretty nice but I'd say that you could also figure on spending that money on accessories/clothes/etc. That way you can test ride any bike you want and choose the one that feels best, without the nagging in the back of you head that says "Buy the Novara/Marin"
REI could be your destination for a rack/bag/lights/pump/helmet etc if you settle on a Trek/Kona/Etc.
