PortlandGal

Hello Everyone,

The time in my life has finally come to get a bike and start commuting on two wheels. I went to a few shops with a bike savvy friend yesterday to get my toes wet, but could really use additional input! =)


Current commute: Just a few miles
Later: I'd like to be able to go a few more when I next move.
Climate: Portland, Oregon
Budget: I can't afford a nice $1000 road bike right now, but I could handle spending $400-600ish.


Yesterday I test-rode some hybrids, not-quite-hybrids, and a road bike. I left with the feeling that a road bike might be a smart long-term match, but I can't really be sure as I haven't really been riding since.... well... grade school... and a good new road bike costs more than I can comfortably spend right now.

I'm thinking about buying used or other newbie bike because I probably won't know for several months (and season changes), what kind of biking I'll be doing long term, and I could either upgrade parts or bikes come next, say, Spring. I'm looking at a few options at the moment, and I'd love some outside input, as I know little:

1- New "commuter" bikes- All just under $400, and I think they're equipped with fenders and accessories (I'm planning to go look at these this week):
- Raleigh Detour 4.5
- Jamis Commuter 2
- Marin Kentfield

2- Used, tuned-up, 90 day warranty:
- Cyclocross Bianchi (around $500) (told was small frame)

3- Used, I don't know the details about it yet, but there's a 7 day warranty.
- Cannondale (small frame)

Also, I don't "know" brand names of frames and/or parts, so if anyone can point me in the right direction, that would be great.

ratell

If you decide to go with the new "commuter" bike check out Citybikes www.citybikes.coop their KHS Urban Xpress special is less than $400. They also have used bikes. A couple weeks ago Bike Gallery had a Kona Smoke on sale for $350.00. If I were buying a new bike right now I think those would be the two I'd be comparing.

lshobo

Welcome. I think the commuter bikes at that level would be pretty much the same across the board. I have no personal experience with any of these, however; it would definitely be best to try out all of them and go for the one that feels best to you. If you are of the sporting type, meaning you have a feeling that you might use it for more than just commuting, you might consider the cyclocross bike. It's a bit sportier, should be able to take fenders and a rack, and it can play in the dirt some .

A good, used mid-90s to early 00 mountain bike could also serve you well - something with a rigid fork maybe. Some high-pressure street tires and you're set. Could easily get by for under $200. Anyway, good luck.

tjspiel

Is the Bianchi a "Volpe" by any chance? If it's in good shape, $500 isn't bad with a warranty. I think they're around $800 new. You mentioned it was a small frame. Was the bike shop thinking it was too small?

A cyclocross bike is another type of road bike and since you said that after your test rides you were leaning toward a road bike, I'd be tempted by this one. If I were limited to a single bike for year round commuting, I'd choose a cyclocross bike. They can accommodate a wider variety of tires than a typical road bike and they're built a bit tougher. The downside is that they're on the heavy side for road bikes, but a bike like the Volpe probably be still be lighter than most hybrids. The Volpe is also steel if I remember right which has nice ride qualities.

I think hybrids or commuter bikes make sense when you prefer an upright riding style and the cushier ride you get from wider tires. The downside is that you're not going to get where you're going as fast as you would on other types of bikes. If your commute is only a few miles, a couple of mph isn't going to make much difference anyway.

The bottom line is try few bikes and get the one that you think will keep you commuting week in and week out.

PortlandGal

Thanks for the advise. I did end up taking a peek at CityBikes yesterday, but didn't get to ride anything as they were about to close. It's funny, the employee I spoke with said they never have sales. *shrug* But, she did say sometimes they discount ones that were used for, say, a week and then returned.

...I haven't test rode their souped up KHS Urban Xpress, but am interested in giving that and their Jamis Coda a spin.

PortlandGal

Thanks for the advise. I'm keeping my eyes open for a good cyclocross (among other models) and will keep the rigid-fork mountain bike suggestion in mind.

PortlandGal

I don't know what model the Bianchi is (I'm going to have to call when I get off work today to see if they still have it so I can do a test ride). I like that it's a small frame, because I'm a small 5'4 person. =)

I don't think I like upright riding much... it seems to put too much pressure on my lower back muscles; there's something about how a more forward-leaning bike style (like the road bike) that makes my back feel better and my body feel more connected to the bike. ...at least that's my current thoughts from some test rides over the past few days.

zeppinger

I had basically the same dilema when i bought my first bike in a very long time about a year ago to start comuting with. I had no idea that i would become addicted to it as bad/good as i am now and in hindsight i think my bike choice was the right one. I didnt really feel super comfortable riding a drop bar road bike becasue i had not been on a bike in so long and they were out of my 400-500 dollar spending limit anyways... I decided on a hybrid but wanted to get one that was leaning towards the road bike end of the spectrum rather than the mountain bike end. I ended up with my Giant FRC3 and am very happy. It was 420 and i got fenders and a rack added on for little extra. the fram is exactly the same as the much more expensive ORC3 and the bike wieghs only 23 pounds, pretty light for a hybrid. It come with 700c 32 wide wheels which is not a lot bigger than you would find on a lot of road bikes. I figured if i started riding a lot and liked it i could always upgrade the bike as thing start to wear out. So no i have had it for a year and while nothing has gone wrong with it at all, i cant wait for somthing to break so i have a good excuse to start messign with it! I think that the KHS is also a good choice but i liked the giant a bit better, better components and the shifters felt a lot better on the giant. Good luck!

invisiblehand

Sounds like good advice to me. Ask if it can fit standard fenders on the bike. Most shops will install it for you if you purchase a set. The nice thing about a cyclocross bike is that if you decide to go further distances, you will find that many are quite servicable road/light-touring bikes as well. If it is a Volpe, it is an excellent all-rounder in my opinion.

Good luck.

PortlandGal

Okay, so I opted to check out some new bikes yesterday (Jamis Coda WSD and Raleigh Detour? 4.5?) rather than test the Bianchi (longgg bus ride for just the one bike to test). I think the Bianchi is an older steel framed Axis which is pretty different from the current Axis models.

The Jamis and Raleigh were pretty nice. I wonder how I'll ever decide on a bike...

Banzai

Hybrid bikes can be "outgrown" very quickly if you start putting in more miles and you really enjoy cycling. They're marketed to newbies, and people who are afraid of "road bikes".

Which is bollocks. The only "road bikes" you should be afraid of, as a newbie, are those set up for racing. Interesting now that I think about it that the proliferation of racing configured road bikes as the only thing most shops sell has created the market for the "hybrid".

Meh. A cyclocross or touring bike is your best bet for comfortably navigating thousands of "utility" miles, and doing it at a speed that you'll be satisfied with. You probably won't ever "outgrow" a cx or touring bike...its geometry and component choice should carry you for as long as you want.

I made the mistake of starting with a hybrid "road" bike. It sits in my garage...even more modifications than made sense couldn't make it what it needed to be after I became a better cyclist. I need to sell it to someone who will ride it...but I feel emotionally attached, even though I don't want to ride it anymore.

PortlandGal

Thanks everyone for your input. The commuter bikes were too upright, I'm not a big fan of the type of shifters (Bar-in? at the end of the curved handlebars) on the Bianchi, and the cannondale was too big. I tried some hybrid-ish bikes that were alright and hopped on a lower-end road bike or two that were pretty nice.

As time goes on and I test more bikes, (and find that most used bikes are too big for little me), I'm getting more and more interested in a road bike or something darn close to it. I need to haul groceries and other stuff, travel around Portland (OR) [sure, it's sunny sometimes, but it rains a lot, especially August-May], and I might like to get into it from an exercise standpoint... though "racing" sounds a little intimidating/dangerous. I want to sit with a relaxed forward posture, something not upright (hurts the back), but not so far forward that it's a stretch or forces a racer's hunched back posture.

Also, I need to be able to get it up almost two floors of stairs to my apartment every day (and down the stairs in the morning) with my bike and a bag of stuff... so the bike can't be as heavy as many mountain bikes are. If it's really tough to lug out the door in the morning, I'm less likely to stick with it long enough to make it a habit... and I want to make it a habit.

As most bike shops don't have many used bikes in my size, and the mid-range hybrids haven't quite gotten me hooked, I think I might have to up my budget to closer to $1000 to get a decent new road bike or cyclocross bike. However, I'd love to find an used road bike that fits well and has a little character to it. There are several places that can build used bikes to custom specs from the frames, but I feel like I won't know what I need until I ride it.

So far, I've managed to avoid an impulse purchase, but bikes are always on my mind. To and from work I stare at all the bikes I see, trying to get a better idea of exactly what I want... feels rather silly sometimes, but that's okay.

I ramble about bikes, but should go to bed now. =)

BengeBoy 

If you're willing to go up to that $1,000 budget your options suddenly increase, a lot. From what you've said in your posts I think some of the advice you've gotten to consider a cyclocross bike is good advice. They'll take racks and fenders; are lighter than a mountain bike; and with smooth street tires they'll be speedier than a "commuter."

I was in your fair city a few months ago and saw one of these at Veloce Bicycles....I think it was just over $1,000. Nice bike.

https://www.masibikes.com/cycles/speciale_cx.php

Other options would include Surly Crosscheck complete; Bianchi Volpe; Redline Conquest. And of course used is a great option if you can find the right bike..

Have fun!

znomit

If it was me I'd get a Volpe but I don't think a newbie should be dropping 1000 on a bike unless they are sure what they want.
Pick up a cheap second hand bike and ride it for a few months. You'll learn a lot about what works for you.

PortlandGal

I'm so excited! I'm getting a (great deal on a) Fuji touring bike; I plan to go get it after work tomorrow. Smooth ride, gears, breaks, etc. It's lightly used by the owner of the shop, who's about my height and giving me about 30% off what it would cost new. And, it was the smoothest ride I've tried!

Javan

I have two comfort bikes (GT & Diamondback) that I bought for less than $200 each. They were both the cheap way of re-introducing myself into the biking life. Someday I intend to get a road bike, but not until I can dedicate the time to ride it. Anyway, both of these bike have been changed slightly and fit the commuter role very well:
-road-type saddle
-campus clipless pedals
-bar ends
-GT has the Topeak trunk rack

For me, they work great and after 3 years, they are holding up nicely....

Torrilin

Glad you found a bike that suits It looks very pretty and like it will handle carrying things well.

BengeBoy 

great choice - don't forget that by fall you're probably going to want to put fenders on that to be ready to ride in the rain...

envane

That thing is dope as ****.

lil brown bat

By letting go of the need to make a perfect decision. You're not a commuter now, and it sounds like you're not riding a bike now, so why would you think you can choose the perfect bike for you, no matter how much advice you get from the interwebs? There are many, many, many bikes that will be plenty good enough for what you want to do, and you've got to get some miles under the wheels before you'll know what features of a bike would make it a better bike for you and for your commute.

J.C. Koto

You should love that bike! Now you just need to start planning on doing some touring as well!

PortlandGal

I got my bike! She's beautiful and I love her! =) We went for our first ride last night and it was great. =)

Thanks everyone for your input!!!