pgffp

I haven't had a bike to speak of for sometime. I have made the command decision to get back into cycling. Geez, where do I start? I am looking for a bike good for the streets and for some light off roading (packed down paths, etc.) What can you say about Cannondale, Trek, and Specialized? What other brands are out there? Looking to spend $500 to $1000. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Jim K.

canflyboy

Your LBS will direct you in the right direction. You're starting at a good spot - knowing what you want from a bike. From there, go to several bike shops, tell them your goal and budget and most will fit you with a suitable bike. Every manufacturer has a bike in this range as they are some of the hottest sellers in the market. Find a shop that will let you test drive your bike (where a helmet) and see which is most comfortable.

Good Luck

tacomadm18

Could look at a Jamis,,, they have some nice performance Hybrids,,,,,,,,,,,,,

glen

Pat

Well, there is quite a bit of competition in the bike market. Also manufactures only make the frame. They buy all the components which are made by relatively few companies. Often, two bikes made by two different companies at the same price point will have very similar components. Cannondale, Trek and Specialized all make some superb bicycles. But bikes are like shoes. Quality is almost immaterial. What your feet care most about is do they fit and do they suit the purpose you are going to use them for. A pair of clodhoppers works great in a barnyard but not so well at a formal occasion.

So you need to decide what kind of bike suits your kind of riding best (comfort, racing, performance, hybrid and so on) and get one that fits you. A LBS can help you. Also when you come up with a short list of candidates, go with the one that feels best to you and the one you most like the looks of. Having a bike that you think looks really good is a good thing. It makes you feel good every time you look at it. That might make you ride more.

scrapser

I was in your situation back in 2000. I ended up buying a Cannondale T800 for just over $1K at a LBS. It rides pretty stiff so I added a shock absorbing seatpost. The bike looks like a road bike with stronger frame and wheels. Back then it was thought of as a hybrid of sorts.

Today Cannondale markets it as the T2 for a little bit more money but it's basically the same bike. There's also a higher end version called the T1. I'm pleased with mine so far.

1fluffhead

Take a look at the masi speciale cx. Not sure what style bike you want, but this is a pretty good do everything bike.

Zephyr11

First decide what kind of bike you want. For the usage described, you could probably go hardtail mountain, cyclocross, or hybrid. Then it's time to test ride bikes. At that price point, most bikes are going to be spec'ed with similar components. An $800 Specialized won't have vastly better components than an $800 C'dale, and vice versa. They will, however, have slightly different geometry. So it comes down to fit and feel. Which bike fits you the best? Which bike has the best feel to it? After test riding a few, you'll find that some will feel better than others.

breakaway9

One other thing to consider is keeping an open mind while shopping... Don't get your heart set on a certain brand/model. I have found a few GREAT deals on bikes that the LBS is clearing out due to the fact that they are last year's models. You can often find a bike several steps up from where you are looking for nearly the same price if you are not concerned with having this years bike. For instance this spring I picked up my Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 for around $750 ($1,400 retail, the 09's are $1,600) because it was last years model. So it can pay to shop around a bit before deciding...

geo8rge

get back into cycling - I suggest a folding bike because they are easy to transport and store. And sell on ebay if you don't like it. Xooter.com Swift might interest you.