Carrijer

Hello All!

I am a brand new commuter bicyclist in Seattle and i need some help finding a good bike to fit my needs. My commute is only about 3 miles but does have a good amount of hills. I stand 5'7" tall and am interested in finding a good road bike, hybrid, or even a good MTB for under $400 total. I have heard good things about putting new tires on solid 90s MTBs but know nothing about them so I was wondering if anyone knows of any good MTBs or road bikes on craigslist? Any help or advice would be kindly welcomed!

Thanks!

busygizmo

I'd probably suggest hitting a couple of bike shops that sell used bikes like Recycled Cycles in the U-district or Aaron's in West Seattle. they would likely help you with fit and suggestions.

Craigslist will probably get you better prices but you have know your size which you can get from a bike shop visit.

Any of the bikes mentioned will get you 3 miles easily, as long as it fits you reasonably well. The next question would be are you looking to ride more for fun or fitness and if so what kind of riding would you do.

Older and less expensive mountain bikes tend to be heavy, a road bike would probably be less comfortable so a cross bike/hybrid is probably the most logical choice unless you plan to do more riding on the road or dirt in which case buy the bike that works best for that.

Leave money for a helmet and at the very least a very bright blinking tail light, a good headlamp if you plan to ride after dark.

ShortLegCyclist

Buying a used bike off Craigslist or eBay does require some bike assessment and repair skills so I would avoid that route if you are just starting out.

For lots of hills and a 3 mile commute I would lean towards a hybrid because the gearing will generally be a lot more hill friendly than a road bike, at the sacrifice of high end speed.

At that price point, you might also consider taking the train or BoltBus down to Portland -- 72 bike shops within city limits and you don't pay any sales tax there, and at a $400 price point and 9.5% tax in Seattle, that can make a big difference.

Down there, River City Bikes and their outlet store, Bike Gallery, Universal Cycles and Western Bike Works are my personal favorites for great prices and selection, but there is also a bike co-op where you can get reliably restored used bikes without the Craigslist risk.

Seattle also has some bike co-ops, like BikeWorks, The Bikery and The Bike Shack that might be worth looking in to.

Aaron's Bike Repair as mentioned by busygizmo is also top notch but his focus is definitely not on sales, it's on service.

Recycled Cycles has two locations and neither one has very much selection in the way of used bikes, but they also do a lot of rentals and either now or soon should be selling off their rental fleet in preparation for end of season.

Whatever you do, please don't be tempted to get a big box store bike, not even from Dick's or Sports Authority. Keeping one of those working will end up costing you more than a better bike to start would.

ngateguy

I use my steel framed MTB with street tires for my commute. Having a front shock helps deal with the street conditions you will find here in Seattle. I agree with checking out Recycled Cycles, they have 2 stores now iine on Boat St in the U District ans another on 35th in Fremont. Craiglist works also but beware of poorly maintained bikes and the possibility that it is stolen.

kickstart

Angle lake cycle in Seatac has a huge selection of used bikes at reasonable prices.