greentree

What would be the best bet? I am a mom with little ones and want to start biking. I would love to do trails but also go shopping, hit up cafes. My question to you is what should I get? I am on a budget and would love to find used on CL but I am short, 5'1", and I am having a hard time finding good bikes for a good price and my size. Any advice is appreciated!

Stun

I would start by going to a local bike shop. Most local bike shops will do a free bike fit consultation and let you test ride a bike or two so that you know what you like. They might even have a late-model bike that is within your budget. What is your budget by the way?

I don't think the size will be a major issue...I often see XS bikes for sale on online auction sites and your local bike shop should have your size.

If you are wanting to use the bike off road and on some trails there are a lot of different "hybrid" bikes that you could try. But ultimately, I wouldn't buy a bike without riding a few different kinds to know what you like. Good luck!

TheGMan

I'm new to the sport so certainly not as knowledgeable as most others on here, but I think that actually helps me with your question. I got a solid $200 hybrid on CL that will have decent resale value if I were to want to upgrade later. It also is good enough for me that I will not lose interest because the bike weighs 100 lbs and shifts like crap. If you ride for a while and then decide you want to stay with it, you have a bike that you can use for a while and save money to a bike that is suited to your needs.

I have not seen decent bikes at an LBS that are less than $200 and I would want to minimize my investment until I know I will get good use out of it. Where are you located? There are dozens of bikes in my area that would fit your needs in this price range.

Little Darwin

Depending on your proportions you may not need as small a bike as you think. I am a 6' male, and a friend is a 5' 2" female, and she can ride my Giant Sedona, (size large) just fine. She does adjust the seat about an inch lower than I do, but she really likes the way the bike feels.

Don't make the mistake that many do. You should NOT be able to keep your feet flat on the ground while in the saddle (unless you are on an Electra, or another bike designed differently than most). If you ride a bike where you can rest your feet on the ground, you end up riding with your knees bent far too much for comfort or efficiency.

Pay no attention in used ads what sizes a bike will fit... they are usually guesses from someone who rode the bike for 3 rides, and haven't had a lot of experience with other bikes.

It may take a while for you to get accustomed to riding a bike where you have to get out of the saddle when you come to a stop, but it is well worth the effort to learn how to smoothly mount and dismount a properly sized bicycle. I ride with people that keep the saddle lower than ideal, but I suggest they raise the saddle a tiny bit once in a while, and they usually like the difference.

My advice is to consider avoiding shock absorbers, since they add little benefit to the ride, and when it comes time for you to move the bike around, they are a lot heavier, especially for someone your size (based on my friend's complaints). My preference for gravel and crushed stone rail trails is a Trek 7.? FX or similar bikes from other manufacturers. Depending on your weight, you can definitely run lower than the maximum tire pressure (but not too low), and end up with a pretty cushy ride... you can experiment to see what pressure you prefer.

practical

I think you can find a good used bike on CL or other places. I think your concern is knowing what a good bike is. Based on your description, you probably want to get a flatbar. You will want a rack on the rear or front that you can carry things on. I recommend you get a rack with a spring top as it will be much more convenient and practical than a simple rack. If you find you're doing a lot of errands with it, then think about collapsible panniers. Now what's a "good" bike? Here is what I figure. Any bike you get on CL should be about half to two-thirds the cost of a new bike of the same make and model (or less). If you feel you can spend $200, then investigate bikes in the $300-$500 range. (If you can spend more, then adjust.) Go to local bike shops and see what kind of bikes are available in the $300 to $500 range. This will give you a hands-on sense of the bike. Find out more by using the internet. Identify a handful of bikes that you like then go back on CL looking for those bikes. Hopefully you'll find one available at a nice price.

Stun

Yes. But ride some bikes first. Really. Can't tell you how many people I know that got a good deal on a bike and snatched it up and then hated it because it does not fit right...(even if it is the "right size"). There is a lot that goes into bike fit that can make or break the experience.

AlmostTrick

You don't need anything fancy ($$$) to get started and do what you want to do. This is why I suggest you look on CL for a Ladies Cruiser with wide 26 inch wheels. These bikes are inexpensive, plentiful, and easy to ride. (single speed coaster brake just like you had as a kid) Easily will adjust to your size too.

greentree

Wow! Ok, now I need to understand what "fit" exactly means then. I am about 120 lbs (can't believe I am typing all this personal info out!) so I always thought it was about making sure I can touch the ground. I have some reading to do!
My budget is $300, is that reasonable?

Stun

Yes. You can do a lot with $300. Like others have said you could easily expect to get a used bike in good condition that was around $500 new for that price. My wife got a specialized Myka Sport for like $200 (including shipping) online (after test riding several bikes of course ).

I am a good example of fit issues: just over 5'8", wingspan of almost 6'0" and inseam of 27". It is what some call a "monkey build". So I could use a Large size frame in terms of reach, but I could not even stand over the cross bar of such a bike...Everyone has a different build so finding the right bike can be tricky. Generally women's specific bikes are built for longer lower body and shorter upper body compared to men's bikes. Many of them give more stand-over clearance and put you in a more upright position too...

Another thing to remember is that if you plan to do very casual riding over short distances, some of the more "fine tuning" bike fit issues matter less than if you are regularly doing 100 mile rides...

Little Darwin

Agree with Stun. You will need to figure out what works best for you, and get a bike that you can ride comfortably. In my area, it is amazing how many bikes I see for sale that are the smallest model made, and I wonder if the bike is being sold because the rider just couldn't get comfortable pedaling when their knees were so close to their chin.

For $300 in most parts of the country you will be able to get a good bike, better in some than others depending on the used market. In looking for bikes, many brands have good offerings, just avoid the bikes from the department stores to get a better bike. Check the brands sold by your local shops (within 30 miles or so) to determine the brands that are most likely to be available used in your area. Some of those names would be Trek, Giant, Specialized and several others.

For your weight, I just found a calculator that said you should inflate 32 mm tires to about 72 PSI (assuming a bike weight of 25 pounds) if you were about 40 pounds heavier (like an "average" guy) you would need to inflate to 109 PSI. These are obviously based on someone's formula that may or may not be valid, but it does demonstrate that you can get away with lower pressure at lighter weights, which could provide a nice ride. At your weight, definitely stay away from maximum pressure on most tires. If you were my weight you would have to always be at the maximum pressure.

practical

I agree with Stun's explanation of size and how it can be different depending on how the body length is proportioned. Here are two rule-of-thumb tests for size: 1. For leg length, stand over the bike flat-footed. You want the top tube to be just short of the crotch. For reach, place your elbow at the front of the saddle and reach toward the handlebar. The tips of your fingers should reach the stem. Seat heights are very adjustable so don't judge size by where the seat is. The saddle can often be moved about an inch or so forward so there is not much to adjust the length. So do some research for good bikes under $500 and you'll find a pretty good selection.

dynaryder

You didn't say where you were located. Check and see if there are any co-ops/bike kitchens near you. For a newb on a budget,they can be the best place to find a good used bike.