need bike suggestions
05-08-08, 05:41 PM
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need bike suggestions
Hello everyone this is my first post and new to biking. I'm looking to purchase a bike that will used for commuting around 10 miles aday, as well as some light off road riding. The two bikes that interest me are the trek 4300 and the trek 7200 any feed back on which of these 2 models would fit my needs? I'm also
6'4 so i think id most likely need 22.5 frame.. my budget 500.00
6'4 so i think id most likely need 22.5 frame.. my budget 500.00
05-08-08, 07:07 PM
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Well, IMO, I would go with the 4300. Front suspension on a commuter bike is, quite frankly, oxymoronic. You might be better served shopping for a rigid mtb. More efficient on pavement, forces you to pay attention in the dirt.
05-08-08, 07:28 PM
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Depending on how the roads are and how heavy you are, a front suspension makes sense.
If you're not racing or trying to beat your personal best everyday, a front suspension helps smooth out the ride and allows you to plow through really rough pavement in a straight line so you don't have to be swerving all over the place. Esp. for someone starting out, it's a lot more lenient on mistakes.
That said, I would also go with the 4300. It's more of a mountain bike than the 7200. You can put semi-slick tires on it with knobs on the sides so a) it's easier riding on the road and b) you still get some traction when you go offroad.
If you're not racing or trying to beat your personal best everyday, a front suspension helps smooth out the ride and allows you to plow through really rough pavement in a straight line so you don't have to be swerving all over the place. Esp. for someone starting out, it's a lot more lenient on mistakes.
That said, I would also go with the 4300. It's more of a mountain bike than the 7200. You can put semi-slick tires on it with knobs on the sides so a) it's easier riding on the road and b) you still get some traction when you go offroad.
Last edited by slvoid; 05-08-08 at 07:34 PM.
05-08-08, 07:39 PM
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If you live in an area where it rains, I highly recommend you get a bike that can accept fenders even if you don't plan on riding in the rain. You may end up changing your mind. A rack will be good for carrying stuff too. Most of the bikes in that price range are hybrid bikes (a cross between a road and mountain bike), and they should be able to handle light off-road riding. Check out tire clearance (maximum width tire that can fit) on the bikes you like because a wider tire will be more comfortable and handle better off-road. I don't think suspension on a road bike is worthwhile either.
Check out the Marin Urban line of bikes. Since you're tall, a 29er would probably suit you well. REI is having a sale right now, and they stock Marin bikes, so you should hit one up if you have a store nearby. The Muirwoods 29er will fall under the $500 mark if you can get it on sale.
Check out the Marin Urban line of bikes. Since you're tall, a 29er would probably suit you well. REI is having a sale right now, and they stock Marin bikes, so you should hit one up if you have a store nearby. The Muirwoods 29er will fall under the $500 mark if you can get it on sale.
