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is this a good beginners bike?

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is this a good beginners bike?

Old 11-14-08, 11:38 PM
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is this a good beginners bike?

https://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0869.jpg

found a listing for that on craigslist, selling for $150. description says its a trek 720 multitrack. i don't know anything about bikes and i haven't really biked since i was a kid. i'm just looking for one to getting around the city and school. thanks
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Old 11-14-08, 11:52 PM
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I have a Trek 800 I picked up from a friend that couldn't sell it at their garage sale. If the 720 rides as well it should work fine. In fact because it looks like it has road tires it might work even better on the street. Clean it, oil it and you should do fine.
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Old 11-15-08, 01:27 AM
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The older Trek 720s were pretty good hybrids. The even older 720s were great touring bikes, but this is not one of the touring bikes. I don't know your area, but $150 seems kind of high for this type of 720. I would guess about $100 max. for around my area.

But, this one would be a good choice for the type of riding you want to do. If the bike is your size and is in good condition, I'd try to talk the seller down a bit and buy it. I don't like the saddle cover, those things always seem to hurt, even though they are marketed to help resolve the pain.
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Old 11-15-08, 02:07 AM
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I'd probably pay say... 80$ at most for it. Mainly because I can just go to the local co-op and put together one like it from used parts at about the same price...
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Old 11-15-08, 02:39 AM
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I wouldn't pay $150 for that.
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Old 11-15-08, 12:31 PM
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As a first bike- ANY bike is good enough- providing it fits. The reason I say that is that you have to get used to cycling- the body has to get attuned to riding and fitness has to be found.

It does not matter what bike you get at first as all the first bike will do-----Is tell you what your second bike will be.
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Old 11-15-08, 03:13 PM
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Six months ago I would have said Stepfam was wrong. Three months ago I would have said his comments had some merit. Today I would say I agree. You need a first bike to let you know what kind of rider you want to be and only then can you decide what bike you “need”. Plus the first bike always makes a good workhorse for errands and short coffee and pie rides.
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Old 11-15-08, 09:34 PM
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That is a nice general purpose bike. You should adjust the seat height so you can just put you heel on the pedal with straight leg at the bottom of the stroke. Then you will have the righy knee bend when pedaling with the front of your foot. The seat will be more comfortable without that padded cover. A rack at the back would be a useful addition so you can carry things. The price is OK but there would be no harm in trying to haggle it down.
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Old 11-15-08, 10:07 PM
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Looks like a rather small frame as well. You don't say how tall you are, but you'd definitely need to see if it fits.
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Old 11-15-08, 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikewer
Looks like a rather small frame as well. You don't say how tall you are, but you'd definitely need to see if it fits.
That's what I think too. If you are taller than about 5'4", that bike is too small for you.

Bike fit affects your comfort, efficiency and performance every single minute that you're on the bike. People worry more about things like shifters and derailleurs but you actually shift way less than 1% of your riding time. Compared to fit, nothing else even comes close in importance.
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