Fgiene

These are some great forums, but also a little initially overwhelming. I hope this is the right place for this.

I think I want some kind of road bike, but don't know where to even start. I'm a college student in Southern California. Still live at home and planning on living in the city for a while (likely transferring to UCI or Fullerton, so I'll be staying in Orange County). What I want is a bike that I can get around on. It's not the gas prices at all, I don't drive a ton, which I think makes it easier to just almost completely switch over a bike to get to school and work. I want something healthy to do that I enjoy. I always loved riding a bike as a kid, I also hate driving. I think we're programmed to think that in high school the only people that ride a bike are ones who are too poor or too young to drive so if you want to be cool you don't do it. Now that I'm done with that junk, a light light bulb just kind of flashed on that reminded me riding a bike is still an option.

A friend of mine just bought a mountain bike and we're talking about planning all these bike trips (I personally don't want to mountain bike). Rides to the beach, rides to this one sports bar all the way down in Dana Point that we like to go to sometimes, riding to Anaheim to some Angels day games, etc. So now I'm stuck with this mountain bike I got when I was 12. It's 26"/full-sized/whatever I think, but it's seen better days and even though all the great memories make it hard for me to say this but, "it's not the greatest bike"...and even I can see that.

I only work a few hours a week and I also have virtually no expenses so I got money to spend, but I am trying to save some money too soooo... I'm really looking at this like I'm buying a car, a TV, a computer, or something I'll be using for a very very long time. I don't want to spend too much, I don't think I want to spring for that premium type top of the line stuff that always costs a lot extra. I'm no expert either, maybe someday far in the future I'll be standing in a bike shop worrying about all the components thinking about spending $1000 or something, but not right now.

I really do want a good bike that even a serious biker would deem at least passable. Something standard off the production line type thing, but with quality and with a lot of bang for my buck. I know I should probably try the bikes out first and all that to make sure its comfortable, but right now I don't even know what to look for. Should I just go to a bike store and ask the guys there? I really have no idea. As far as my price range, I was thinking if I could get a good road bike for about $300-400 that would be perfect, but if its really worth it to go around $600-700 or something I might do that too.

I really don't know... I don't know anything or where to start. I am really planning on eventually riding my bike very thoroughly and getting in shape to do so, but I'm not getting really hardcore or anything... so yeah, just looking for a really good bang for my buck....

mazdaspeed

Sounds like you could use a sturdy hybrid type road bike

RT

Go scout a couple of local bike shops. Check out their rigs, different styles, types. Ride one of each at each place, don't make any hasty decisions. You will also get a feeling for the level of service you are comfortable with - after all, cycling is addicting, and these folks will likely be seeing you again and again. Some may have free classes that might expose you to nuances of the bike and basic maintenance. Without doing this, you may not be exposed to the bike/shop you never knew existed.

formula4

I'm biased. But I would say you should go with a Scott.



The above pic is a Scott Speedster S10. Sexy, isn't it? I believe it runs around $1000 or so.(www.scottusa.com)

For $600ish though, and a slight downgrade in components (you will not notice much if you are new to this anyway) you get the basic components that any "serious" rider would want on a bike with the Speedster S4 and S5 models. In case you get into the craze and wish to start racing, these framesets are very light for aluminum and you could upgrade in the future if you wish.

Slackerprince

This would be good.
Handles like a mountain bike, but is fast like a road bike.
I have the Comp and love it!
I have a road bike, too, but for your needs, these flatbar bikes have great versatility. They have mounts for racks if you want to do that too.

Here is the link:

https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32215

Good luck and study hard.


Slackerprince

EatMyA**

Read and REad some more. Get some knowledge, more than you need. Its your only weapon but it is a powerful one because:

1. going to the LBS without knowledge, at best its 50/50 they are gonna have your best interest in mind and actually give you the proper service. I am being generous I think the odds are quite slimmer though.

2. Buying online does not let you ride/test the bike, and requires a bit of mechanical work. Bicycles by mails have to be assembled, spokes retensioned, shifters and brakes re-adjusted after a couple weeks. and most likely the chain will be a couple links too long. Easy adjustments but can seem overwhelming to the new cyclist. And having the LBS do the whole job right is out of the question. IT will cost some $$ cutting down the bargain of shopping online. And dont be fooled that a complete tune up will only cost you $30. Having a friend that can do these things would help and make this a no brainer.

3. You could just not sweat it and go with whats more convenient, because its your first real bike and chances are It probably will not fit "right".

patentcad

Do NOT buy a bike online. Find a good local bike shop (that's what LBS stands for) and get some advice. Go to a few shops in fact, pick one you like. Get some opinions from people you can talk to in person. Take your time.

Hybrids are pretty lame if you're going to do any appreciable road mileage. Think traditional road bicycle. Get some feedback, then come back here and post more questions.

JonnyV

And listen to Pcad. ALWAYS listen to Pcad

Patriot

The choices are almost unlimitted.

kwrides

If you aren't sure what you want to do with it and want to do everyting with one bike, I would suggest looking at cyclocross bikes. Cyclocross bikes are used frequently by commuters. They have slightly more comfortable geometry than most road bikes, but you could easily do charity rides, centuries, etc on them with skinny tires. They also allow you to use wider tires for touring, riding a bit off-road, etc. They have everything ready for fenders and/or a rack, so you can carry groceries, your school books, etc, and stay fairly dry/muck free.

I have a nice road bike and a singlespeed (sold the MTB a few years back), and just bought a cheap cyclocross bike for commuting. I'm not saying this is the perfect solution, but it gets you a "do everything" bike that has road-ish geometry, rather than a hybrid which has more mountain-bike-ish geometry.

Oh, and absolutely-positively, go to the LBS and do some test rides before you buy. Find someone who honestly wants to help you find out the style, geometry, etc that you like before you buy. If you can't find that person, leave. Find a different shop. Sometimes it takes a few shops before you find the right relationship, but it will pay off BIG TIME as far as being happy with what you buy. And don't buy the first thing you see that fits your budget . Figure out what you like first and you will be happy long term.

mcpowley

Hey man! I'm a total beginner too, I went down to fullerton bicycle co a week ago and picked up a Giant OCR2. I also go to UCR, and am currently there for summer school. Hit me up!

sithi

Hey, I got to UCI right now and live out in Laguna Niguel. Ironically, I just rode out to Dana Point harbor with my girlfriend yesterday. Definitely a fun ride

We both just got into cycling about a month ago, and shopped all around the Irvine/Laguna Niguel area for a good bike shop. We ended up at Sand Canyon Cyclery in Irvine right down the street from yogurtland and IVC. The owner is a really great guy, and made me feel really comfortable when buying. I didn't find service like that from any of the other 6 shops I browsed. Make sure you talk to Jim if you check out the shop. People already stressed going shopping and finding a shop that suits your needs- and that's probably the most important thing after establishing a budget.

I wanted to start out in the $500 budget too, but soon realized that it was better to step it up a little. The higher you can go, the better in the long run. We ended up picking out a Felt Z90, and a FW40 for $630 a piece because we bought them together. Good luck!

Fgiene

I go to IVC and I didn't even know there was a bike shop over there.

I'll be sure to check it out. The Z90 might be a possibility.

rjs0702

trek 1000. It is cheap, from 400-700 dollars depending on if its new or used. Sturdy frame and you can get a lot of miles out of it.

Fgiene

i went to a couple bike shops, read a little more online... and while ive learned a little bit, ive become even more confused at the same time. i really just need that first bike, I think around $500 give or take is a good idea. I don't want to invest that much not knowing what to look for but I also dont want to find out I should have bought something better. Just to show you how much i know about bikes all i noticed was colors and the seats and the handlebars. i couldnt tell the difference between a $350 bike and a $1500 bike by looking at them.... one of the stores to i went to literally had only trek road bikes and 2 lemonde zurichs, so im kinda wondering with all thats out there if im limiting myself by going to the wrong store.

im getting impatient, but i dont want to buy anything ill regret. i talked to somebody at one of teh stores, he was nice but i kinda felt like i was just getting the information by the book and nothing that really objectively helped me choose.

mazdaspeed

You have said you want to ride your bike
- To the beach
- To the bar
- To get in shape

What I would avoid if I were you

- Singlespeeds
- Fixies
- Road bikes with drops and really small 700c tires (23 or whatever)
- Mountain bikes

What I'd look for at the store

- Hybrid bikes, they look kinda like a road bike but they have flat handlebars and a little bit wider tires

If you get a road bike, it's a bit of an ordeal. You won't want to take it on rough roads following your friend on his mountain bike, and it won't be particularly comfortable to beat around on for you as a beginner. I believe road bikes have a little bit of a learning curve since they're so fast, and don't really work well anywhere but roads. On the other hand, they're fun and rewarding to ride, and if you're serious about cycling, you'll want one eventually.

I disagree about not buying a bike online but with a huge qualifier, that is, you need to have a clear idea what you want first. Test ride certain kinds of bikes at the store. Ride a road bike, a hybrid, a mountain bike, a cruiser, or whatever and see what you think you'll want to live with. Remember what style of bike you liked best and roughly what size fits you, then come online again and ask what is a good deal for that style of bike. Who knows, maybe a mountain bike with road slicks is what you want. You'll never be sure until you try.

stapfam

+1
Only thing to remember is that when checking out bikes- Go for fit. If it feels right and rides right- go for it. Don't take the "Special Discount but only come in this size" if it doesn't fit.

tmass

I like Trek too:

A hybrid or road: In Trek the FX line of Hybrids is good or for road the 1 series is a good starter. I would call around to different bike shops once you get your size and maybe you can catch a last years model on closeout.

Fgiene

Hey guys. I checked out a couple other stores today. I checked out a $650 Allez at one store and a $675 Felt at the other. At the store with the Allez the guy said it was the cheapest road bike, then it went up to about $1000. At the other store the guy said that if I wanted an entry level road bike that Felt was what he would suggest. It said 2.1 on it, but I think that's probably referring to something else because I don't see any 2.1 on their website. Both felt very comfortable and nearly identical to me.

What would I notice between a $600-700 bike and a bike closer to $1000. And is there anything I should know before choosing one of those two I mentioned.

If I were to go higher I think a Trek 1 series at about $800 is the absolute highest I'd go. I'd like to stay closer to $500 if anything I think. Thanks for the advice. I'm getting excited, I can't wait until I actually buy it.

mazdaspeed

Both the felt and allez are nice bikes. As for more expensive bikes, if you can't tell the difference between them, buy the cheapest one (assuming it's a quality bike, and the allez is).

Beaker

Did you ride any yet? That's a real help. Also, have you included money for other stuff in your budget -- helmet, water bottles/cages, floor pump, repair kit etc.?

cooker

I think it's a bit of a myth that you can buy just the right bike, right off the bat. If you do start ridng all the time your style and riding position and expectations may be very different a year from now than they are today. So one option would be to get a cheap second hand bike, and ride that for a while until you have a better idea of what you want.

If you are planning to ride for utility, get a bike that has eyelets for a rear rack (since backpacks are sweaty) and maybe fenders (although perhaps it doesn't rain much where you are). Since I commute in a city notorious for bike theft, I've always used cheap, second hand bikes, but they're solid and reliable. Right now I have a 1984 vintage Trek tour bike and a 1990s era rigid mountain bike. So one option for you is to get a good quality used bike from eBay, Craig's list or a second hand store and ride that for the moment.

At the same time, $600 to $800 is pretty cheap for your main vehicle, and if you do ride it all the time, it will pay for itself pretty quickly.

otismedina

Go used. Buying a new bike at that price point isn't going to get you much at all. Find a used roadbike, something that will be perfectly serviceable, yet not beyond your budget. You'd be amazed what kind of deals you can find just by watching craigslist. Keep your eyes out peeled, and you're bound to find something. Plus, with an older bike, you're less likely to be afraid of theft or damage, as the bicycle has already seen some wear and use.

My 2 cents.

Fgiene

that makes a lot of sense. if im looking on craigslist, with nobody to help me out or without being able to test, what size should i be looking for to narrow down my search? 57-60 cm? I'm 6'1.5" with long legs (and arms) for my height. im kinda apeish