Hi from El Monte, CA (626) - NEED HELP!!
 

Hello everyone,

My name is Sergio and I am in the Southern California area, the San Gabriel Valley area to be more exact, and I need help in finding a bike shop to fit my budget. I currently own a mountain bike that I bought for about $60 just to see if I could be consistent w/ a cycling program. Since I have succeeded in doing so, I now wish to purchase a road bike. Today I visited Bike-Rite in El Monte and Temple City Bicycle Shop. At Bike-Rite the cheapest bike was $700, and the Temple City Bicycle Shop was closed, but what I could see from the window, prices tags hovered around the $1000+ range. So in closing, I was wondering if anyone can refer me to a shop in the local area that would carry a decent road bike for mainly recreational use in the $200-$300 range. Thank you.

If you are really commited to cycling then spend the money and get a good bike. The components are better and they hold up better. Years ago I "bit the bullet" and bought a decent road bike, a Trek 1000 aluminum. I've ridden that for 13 years with nothing more than routine servicing (cleaning, packing bearings, cleaning and re-lubing the derailuers, etc.) Due to some health issues (numb hands) I just switched to a recumbent. Best ride I ever had. I did have some "sticker shock" though. I'm glad I spent the money, it was worth every penny. Perhaps if you search around and are really mechanically inclined you could locate a decent used bike and refurbish it. Just a thought.

'bent Brian

Look in the Yellow Pages and find a dealer that carries FUJI brand bikes. Of all the low budget bikes, Fuji offers a decent bike.

L8R

definitely check out Performance then.. the Fuji's are pretty good bikes, and at a good price

jeff

Thanks for the responses everyone.
SipperPhoto: Are you talking about Performance Bicycle Shop on Warner in Fountain Valley?

Sergio,
Check out the local shops first. We enjoy some great ones in socal so no need to hit the chains. Support the shop owners and they will support you!

Incycle in san dimas is great. Bud's in Claremont, Velo Pasadena, Helen's in Arcadia, Bicycle John's in Burbank

Good luck and continued cycling. Join a club around your area too. There are alot of great rides around the area

They are all over.. I know there is also one in Irvine on Jamboree and the 5....

I think I bought my wife's MTB at the Performance in FV...

jeff

Well I just finished calling 11 different bike shops in the area including Velo, Helens, Performance, Temple City Bike, Pasadena Cyclery, Bud's in Claremont, and Bicycle John's in search of either a Fuji or Trek cycle.

With Fuji I didn't have much luck. I was looking for either the League, Ace, or Finest models and only Performance Cycles in Fountain Valley had the Finest for $429 and the Finest AL for $489. The League or Ace models weren't carried by their stores.

With Trek I didn't have much luck either. I was either looking at a 1000 or 1000C. Helen's in Arcadia and Pasadena Cyclery both had the 1000 for $519 and the 1000C for $599.

My question is which would you recommend more for a beginner from either the Fuji Finest, Finest AL, or Trek 1000? Also do you know any stores that might carry the Fuji League or Ace models? So I can get pricing on those also. Thanks.

Sergio

Sergio,
Are you dead set on getting a Fuji?
Also if you are open to getting a used bike, tell us your size and maybe I know someone that can sell you a great bike for cheap. The good thing about racing is that alot of people switch bikes often and alot of times for no other reason than to have something new.

Also, if you want, PM me and I can give you info on the stores to visit and get a good deal. It might not be FUJI specifically but if you're open, you can get a great bike for the $

Just some options for you to think about

Sergio: I don't think that many of the members were in full understaning of your financial state. Your best bet to get a really low price in a bike is to check out every thrift shop you can find and flea markets. Also cruz the yard sales on the weekends till you spot bikes. These are the sources of really cheap bikes though they are usually old models but possibly sevicable. Good luck and when your finances improve follow the advice of these members.

I bought a Trek 820 - a steel framed Trek three years ago for an incredible price of under $160. It was brand new. I really got a kick out of buying it in that it was a 1999 model. Something about the idea of having bikes with a model year is almost ludicrous to me. Just another silly marketing ploy to get people to buy a new bike. The same bike with a slightly different paint job was on display as the 2001 model at the time and the price tag was up around $400.
So play their game, Sergio and look for an earlier model year bike and you will find a heck of a deal.
Now why did I buy a steel frame bike. Three reasons. I am overweight - not a lot but I am a truck driver and sitting for days and days has had a less than complimentary effect on my tummy. Yeah some guys are turned on by big bellys but I am not one of them. So I needed a bike that I could bash about with. I carried that bike for the last three years with me on the back of the truck. You can not imagine the crap that I have gotten on that bike from road spray while it was stored on the back of the truck. I would have really been pissed if that had been a really good bike but with a steel frame bike like that that I had bought at such a low price, I was not upset.
BTW, does any body know of a simple cover that can withstand 75 mph wind gusts that can be used to cover a bike when mounted on the back of the cab like mine was?
So basically, Sergio, what I am saying is there are relatively good bikes out there that can be bought at cheaper prices if you are willing to buy "last years" model. And this seems to apply to all the bike lines.
:rolleyes: Oh and yes I did ride the bike a lot during the three years that I had it on the truck. I got some really strange stares from the other truckers when I left the truck stops to go on a ride. Exercise is such a foreign concept to many of these drivers. I would leave the truck at the truckstop and ride into town for shopping and to get a decent meal that did not involve something deep fat fried or smothered in **********?

Hi Sergio,
I would go to the bike shops just to get fit into a frame size, then check want ads to maximize value on 2 or 3 hundred. You can get a lot used for that much. But for new all you'll get is department store junk.