Help! Need a recommendation
 

So I'm getting ready to buy a new bike. I don't want a full-on mountain bike, nor a strictly city/road bike. I'd like something in between that I will mainly be using in the city but would like to have the ability to take it on a trail or rougher terrain as well. A good Hybrid? I live in San Francisco, so there are a good many streets and hills, but also there are also the woods and mountain headlands across the bridge. Admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about bikes, but I have been comparing prices here and there. Can someone recommend a good bike that I can get for somewhere between $300 and $400? thanks

PS: how about a good lock as well?

Well, look at hardtail MTB bikes. In the mountain biking thread there is a post called the 500 dollar mtb thread. CHeck that, theres a lot of useless stuff there but theres good info if you sort through it. Look at the specialized hardrock stuff. For road, buy a set of slicks to put on it

I would suggest the Trek 7300fx. You can find it for $370 at most LBS. Good bike for the money. Ive been looking at the bike, but I think Im going to go with the Specialized Sirrus.

We all have adgendas, whether we admit them or not. Keep this in mind when asking anyone to recommend a bike for YOU. Then, go to a reputable shop in your area, and ride everything that catches your eye in your price range. Ride a few suggested by shop employees, a few by BF members, a few by friends. Narrow the list by selecting which bikes 1. Feel the best under you (fit, fit, fit) and 2. are the most fun to ride. Ride them again. Go home. Ask yourself again- what are you trying to get in this bike purchase? Do your favorite candidates meet this objective? Narrow list, ride again.

Compare value- are you paying big money for components you don't need (suspension, tricky frame) or are you getting a bike you'll never outgrow?

My point is- Buy the bike you want and need, not the bike that someone else thinks is cool right now. There are so many different kinds of specialties in biking that a blind- "what is a good bike for me" question is one that can never be answered by anyone but you.

I don't mean to be a jerk- but- do your homework- only you can tell what makes you happy. my 2 cents.

cyclocross

redline
cannondale
kona
ridley
salsa
voodoo

fast, strong, versatile, great handling.

It's too late for me but you can save yourself. ..I had similar questions long ago. Bike shops seemed to want to give me either a full suspension MTB with big knobbies (lousy rolling resistance on the roads), or a racing roadie with razor thin tires (don't even think about cutting across the park), or an upright comfort bike with a huge butt-holder of a seat (ring that bell and wave). I've been building my own bikes ever since, and currently own a dozen or so of various types. BUt if someone had steered me to a cyclocross bike back then, it would probably be my only bike today (and I'd be off on some other hobby).

Look at Giant Sedona.

Check out the Fisher Dual Sports, if you have a dealer nearby:

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bik...t&bike=Zebrano

They've got 700C wheels ... a little bigger for some road speed. Some tread, perfect for a well groomed path. Your choice on whether to get the model with or without a cheap front suspension. Depends on how rough a ride you expect, I'd say.

There are lots of bikes made in the general hybrid class which will do well on both roads and light trails. Since you are talking some real hills in SF, maybe think about keeping the bike as light as you can for a good climbing response.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

You might go to REI and look at this model
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...HP_CYCLING_TOC

nice novara, but, um ...