Jaymes

If you don't want to read through the whole thread, skip to post 15

I go to school at UWF out in Pensacola. I've got myself an apartment three miles off campus, and plan on biking back and forth to school every day, and maybe a few places around town. Being where I am, its a little hilly (or a lot, depending on the place), and from one someone at a LBS told me, its better to have no front suspension so I can sprint up hills easier. I'm also considering maybe having something that has a cargo space, but I'll also have a car so I wouldn't be using it for groceries, and I carry my bookbag with me wherever I go.

As far as terrain goes, its mostly pavement and sidewalks. Sometimes grass and dirt, but I wouldn't be going down any trails that require a mountain bike. It'll be outside all of the time, and sometimes in the rain, so that's also something to consider.

I've looked at Trek's Urban line, and also at Giant a little bit. There's a dealer in Pensacola that sells Raleigh and Kona brands, so that's also an option, although I would like to get it while I'm still in Jacksonville to use it a little bit.

My price cap is $500, and I would like to stay below it if possible, although I'll consider bikes a little over it if its worth it. I've done a little reading around here and really the only thing I gathered (besides to go to a LBS and get fitted) is that disk brakes are over all better, especially in wet weather, but cost more. I know when it rains, or rained, my brakes on my current bike (a Magna) squeeked and slipped a little. Was never that bad and I wasn't ever in any danger, but if I'm going to be on the road often then I don't want to have a problem. I also would like a bright bike if possible, again since I'll be on the road, sometimes at night, and I want to stay as visible as possible.

Anyway, I appreciate any help you guys have to offer. Its definitely cool to see a dedicated and diverse bike forum like this!

snafu21

The 'suspension stops you sprinting up hills' statement is from a person who doesn't know that most front suspension forks can be locked rigid for tarmac use. Don't buy a used bike from that person. :-) Don't buy a new bike from them, either.

If it's goin' to be outside all the time, an alloy frame might help. But you're going to get corrosion. Get a cover.

Jaymes

I just may look into getting a cover. And I noticed that some front suspension bikes looked like they had a lock of some kind, but I didn't really think much of it. I'll consider those as well, but I want to avoid mountain bikes because I already have one, and would rather have thinner tires.

And it wasn't that it stops me from sprinting up hills. According to her, it just takes away power so it would be harder to spring up hill. I should have been clearer.

mustang1

But it's not 100% lockout on the suspension fork.. you still get a little play. Whether it's enough to affect OP's ride, i do not know. But i sure prefer a rigid form.

Wrt keeping bike out in rain sometimes, I've kept my aluminum bike out in the rain, and snow, for days at a time. At work, it's kept in a garage that is quite damp. The only thing I do regularly is clean and lube the chain and components. The frame is fine. It's just Al, weather shouldn't affect it. However I read about this other thing that happens to AL frames but cant remember what it's called. In any case, it doesn't bother me. I've had my bike for 4 years and the frame has zero problems due to weather conditions.

Dodgensince74

take a look at the Giant Escape's, they are a new mid year model for them. I test rode a Escape-2 yesterday and it rode nice, they an msrp of $410

referee54

I just sold my Raleigh and was looking at a new Raleigh, but I just purchased a Giant Rapid 3. IT is a little more expensive than $500, but I really enjoy it as it is lighter than my older Raleigh. While it is a fitness bike, I commute to and from the school at which I teach, and I also use it to ride recreationally, as well. No suspension front fork.

nsousa817

I'm in the same boat and looking at Diamondback Menona vs Marin San Anselmo.

Jaymes

I was looking at the Giant Seek 2. But I think I might look at some used bikes, since I have a little bit of an idea of what to look for. I figure for the price I spend on a new one, I can get a good used bike and also get a road bike to keep here in Jacksonville so I can ride with my buddies.

But does anyone have any experience wit h the Seek series?

lyncch00

Hi, I too live in Pensacola so I know what you're talking about. I researched bicycles on this forum, and in shops, for half a year before buying one. I'm slow and thorough. Learning about bikes was half the fun. I've been to all the bike shops in P'cola. I liked Trek but they didn't have many models on hand. Giant was nice and they carried Bianchi. The Khona guy was pleasant and had lots of raleight but was limited with the Kona brand. Some of the raleigh hybrids were very cool. Cyclesports has the largest selection in the area. Here is a link to their website https://www.cyclesportsbicycles.com/ It will show you what brands they do carry. I purchased a schwynn 7 speed hybrid for about 300. It was entry level, steel, rode nice, and did what I wanted it to do. It got stolen from my yard several months later. Several months later I purchased a drop bar touring bike that is over your budget. I like it very much. Take a look at cyclesport. They have many brands and are quite friendly. You might want to look at the specialized crosstrail and crosstrail sport, https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...nuItemId=12188. Its within your budget. The sport has the suspension lockout. I believe the instore prices are better than the list at the mfgrs website. I thought the crosstrail (entry level) rode great! Nice wide tires for comfort. It might even handle some of the trails around UWF. In any respect a dirt path will not be an issue. I went there every week end for months trying out several bikes everytime I went there. They are happy to let you ride around the neighborhood. Any bike shop will let you test ride. One other thing from your post concerns me. Pensacola is mega humid. I've heard if you leave a lawn mower in the yard covered, it will rust quicker because it never dries out. I don't personally know. Aluminum would be the way to go if its outside all the time. I might pass on disk brakes in that scenarion. DO BUY A LOCK. I got a large kryptonite lock that I use to lock the wheel and frame to something solid along with a cable for added security. One last word. Trak also sells gary fisher bikes. The kaitai might be up your alley, but, nothing in stock to look at. https://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/kaitai Do let us know what you get.

Charbon

Why not just get a road bike again?

Terrapin2388

I have had my Giant Seek 3 (2009 version of current Seek 2) for about a year and it still rides like new. This is a very solid bike, stopping power is amazing, shifts smooth enough, and can be outfitted with anything (fenders, racks, etc). I use mine to commute to and from school (University of Maryland), take weekend rides (longest ride has been about 40 miles), and have even taken it on some MTB trails. I cannot attest to its ability to withstand the elements as I keep mine in my apt, also for security reasons. With proper maintenance I'm sure it would be fine. I definitely suggest replacing the tires. The stock Maxxis tires roll great and are very sticky in the corners but gets flats constantly. I replaced mine with a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Supremes (amazing).

My initial choice was between the Seek 3, Trek Fx 7.3 and Specialized Crosstrail Sport. At this price point, I feel the Seek was the best bang for the buck and I have yet to regret my decision. Hope this helped.

no1mad 

The cheapest route would be to just put some slicker tires on what you currently have.

Most suspension forks now offer lock-out, but there is still a tiny bit of play, and it adds weight. Take a couple of models for a spin- maybe you'll like it, or decide that you can make do without. Your call either way.

Your definition of "hilly" probably different than mine. Don't know what kind of elevation change you see where you live, as I've never been to FL.

Check out the Kona Worldbike. It's a 3spd IGH, less cleaning/maintenance.

Or, perhaps the best scenario is to look for a used folder (bicycle that folds). That way you can take it inside with you at your apartment or store it in the trunk of your car. Minimizes the exposure to the elements, thus reducing the PM service intervals.

Jaymes

Hey, thanks for the advice guys. I've kind of put this on the back burner for a little bit, since I won't need a bike at this very moment. However, I'm slowly learning different things, and I think I may be comfortable enough to buy a used bike, but a new one may just be a good idea because I have to start in the learning process.

To answer no1mad, while that may be true about it being the cheapest route, I have a Magna, so department store brand bike. And while it has served me well, I feel that I should probably get something better. That and the gear shifter is kind of broken, as in it won't lock into any gear. I'm not sure how to fix this, but I'll probably keep it as a beater to hit up some trails with.

I am glad to hear that the Seek 2 is a good bike. Something I will take into consideration, but I'll definitely look at some other stuff too. I realize that hilly is different depending on where you're from, but my point is is that it's kind of unusual for Florida. Some of the hills are a little steep. And I'm not really considering a road bike because I don't want speed, just stability. However, as I've mentioned, I may get a road bike to keep in Jacksonville.

Again, thanks for the advice guys! I'm going to look around and see what I can find and will definitely let you all know what I end up getting.

century0fakers

Jaymes, I have an old Giant Rincon mountain bike with slick tires 26 x 1.6 inches and a front suspension fork. I locked the fork as best I could and zip up the big hills around my house no problem. Don't overthink this too much especially if you aren't going on a 40 mile ride.

Good luck!

Jaymes

So I went to a LBS today just to see what kind of deal they could get me on either a Felt X-City (which I posted another thread about) or a Giant Seek. The guy gave me a price of $650 for a Seek 0, which is listed on Giant's website as $1200. It's an '09 they're trying to clear out. I tried said bike out before (its at a different location of the same store) and it felt good.

Is this a good deal? To me it seems like a great one and would fit my purposes very well. My only concern would be that the frame is a size M, and I think I'm a size L. I'm around 5'10 or 11". But he said we could raise the seat post up if need be. I'll call the other store tomorrow and see if Giant has any more they're clearing out in a size L, and if I can get it at the same price.

AdelaaR

Don't be fooled by an advertised suggested retail price by the manufacturer as they obviously allways suggest a price that is high enough to still give enormeous discounts on.
650 isn't a bad price, but I wouldn't pay any more for that either.
It has disc brakes, which are heavy and expensive ... yet almost unneeded in any normal biking situation, as your tyres will drift anyway when your rim stops.
It has 8 speeds ... which means there are high intervals between those speeds, making ascending long climbs difficult.
It all depends on what you like and what you want to be doing with it, ofcourse.
Inform yourself and shop around untill you are sure you have found what you were looking for

Wanderer

Do not settle for any bike that is the wrong size ----- if you need larger, wait for it...... It's not a good deal if it doesn't fit.

Jaymes

Well like I said, I'll call tomorrow to see if they can get one in a larger frame. I'm not exactly sure what size I need to be honest, but I'm guessing its a large.

I didn't realize that it ONLY had 8 gears. Going from 24 on the Seek 2 down to 8 on the Seek 0 seems kind of screwy.

Terrapin2388

That sounds like a great deal, being that there aren't too many difference between the 09 and 10 models. My lbs sells the Seek 1 (lower model) for about $700. However, I'm 5-8 and ride a Large frame comfortably. I just suggest riding both sizes, hopefully they have a large!

meanwhile

You're assuming an awful lot of the suspension fork on a $500 bike...

meanwhile

I'd be very surprised if any bike maker's L frames are aimed at 5-10 males.

meanwhile

Discs aren't heavy anymore, and Tektro make decent cheap ones now... Ok, this bike has Shimano hydraulics. They'll be fine.

The reason to have discs is that they still work well - very - when your bike's rims are wet with heavy rain. This can make a huge difference in braking performance. (Although specialist rain pads like Salmon Koolstops work well too.)

This is nonsense. The intervals are larger, but there are good reasons why more expensive gear systems let you jump several gears at once! The most important thing about the gear system is that it is an internal hub - these need much less maintenance than normal systems. They're especially good for riding in the rain or snow.

Alfine hubs are expensive components; an Alfine powered bike at $650 from a major maker is a good deal if you like the bike.

Downsides -

- Alfine hubs are exceptionally maintenance free, but if they do go wrong need a super-expert mechanic

- You should check to see if you are comfortable maintaining hydraulic brakes. It's probably simple and easy on this bike, but you should never ride a bike if you can't fix the brakes yourself.

Other comment: I wouldn't buy a hybrid that couldn't take at least 35mm tyres. Probably 40mm tyres *and* fenders for a winter bike. If this matters to you, check the specs.

Jaymes

There's no snow in Florida, so I don't need to worry about a "winter bike" unless there's something else I'm missing.

Thank you for the information everyone. It would be appreciated if you suggest other things to look