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New Bicyclist / Bike buying help

Old 05-11-06, 03:24 PM
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New Bicyclist / Bike buying help

Hi All. I am a 35 year old about to buy his first bike as an adult. My gf has a Trek alpha 4900 and I was looking today at a Trek Navigator 100. Does anyone own one of these? I plan to do about 80% just riding on the paved streets of my neighborhood and about 20% on hard packed dirt or in the woods on trails (at least for the first year or so).

If anyone has suggestions on whether my bike of choice is a good one, please let me know. Thanks!
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Old 05-11-06, 05:35 PM
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Don't know enough about you to say if that is a good choice. To me the Navigator is an old fat dude kinda bike (I'm pushing 47 and no offense to any of my 50+ buds who might resemble that remark).

Tell us more about your physical condition, long term riding goals, riding experience, etc. Pics of your GF can't hurt either. (that was a joke, dude, welcome to BF!)
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Old 05-11-06, 05:38 PM
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The navigator looks pretty good.

I've never really like seat post suspension, different strokes...

Anyways, the important thing is to get the proper frame size for your body.

Have fun.
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Old 05-11-06, 07:03 PM
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The Navigator is listed on the Trek Canada website as a "comfort" bike, which means it is aimed at fairly leisurely riding. If you are athletic you may find it too stodgy. If you look at the website pictures you'll see that the 4900 is set up so that the handlebars are the same height as the seat, while the navigator is set up with the handlbars higher. That puts you on the Navigator in a very upright riding position that is great for visibility and stability, but not great for kicking it up a notch. You can exert more power if you are leaning forward over the pedals. Also the upright position is not very aerodynamically efficient. So your GF has a more aggressive, sporty bike than the one you are considering.
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Old 05-11-06, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Don't know enough about you to say if that is a good choice. To me the Navigator is an old fat dude kinda bike (I'm pushing 47 and no offense to any of my 50+ buds who might resemble that remark).

Tell us more about your physical condition, long term riding goals, riding experience, etc. Pics of your GF can't hurt either. (that was a joke, dude, welcome to BF!)
Yeah, if you go ride with your gf on her 4900, people are going to think you are her dad, riding that Navigator. A mountain bike is a better idea, in my opinion. The 4900, 4500, or 4300 Trek would all be good compromises, as would many other bikes. I mention these because they sell them with a stem with a lot of rise, so you end up being pretty upright, similar to that navigator but not nearly as much.
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Old 05-12-06, 06:22 AM
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Thanks for the input..In response to the questions, I'm in average shape. I have some weight to lose (about 30 pounds) and my goal with bicycling is mainly to just have fun.I think I will do a lot of riding on neighborhood roads, but take the bike into the woods from time to time and also on some bike trails, dirt, gravel, etc. I have basically no experience and haven't ridden since I was a kid. I was actually looking at a 7000 hybrid, because I thought they were 1/2 mountain bike, 1/2 'normal, but the salesman at the store said that a comfort bike would be the way to go with me. I guess in a nutshell I want the best bike for all purpose riding, and am sure I will also do some light mountain biking here and there.
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Old 05-12-06, 09:12 AM
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(Revised)
If you get a mountain (or comfort) bike and you’re mostly going to ride on pavement and fairly smooth packed trails, you should look for a bike with no suspension (a “rigid” bike) or front suspension only (a “hardtail”). Suspension is really only necessary for rough trails; and on smooth ground it just slows you down and adds an irritating bounce to your ride.

Mountain bikes usually have 26” wheels with fat, “knobby” (heavily treaded) tires, but in your case you should ask the LBS to replace them with skinnier, smoother (“slick”) tires, because knobbies are really slow and make a whiny noise on pavement.

A hybrid would be OK unless you really get into riding challenging trails, or you ride up and down curbs a lot. Hybrids usually have slightly larger wheels (700 cm), and slightly skinner tires that ride a bit faster and smoother on the road than the 26” wheel, but they still perform fine on packed trails. However those larger wheels are not as rugged as 26" wheels if you're riding over obstacles

Last edited by cooker; 05-12-06 at 09:18 AM.
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Old 05-12-06, 10:18 AM
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Thanks a lot. I appreciate the help. I have decided to go with a mountain bike instead, most likely a 4500. I think I will test one out this afternoon, and bring it home if I like it. I'm really excited!
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