BikeHealth

I like to get out and walking can sometimes be boring so I figured I'd try cycling. But I don't really know where to start. I haven't ridden a real bicycle in a long time. I have an old BMX bike but I don't have a street bike. I live in Southern California so I thought it might be fun to ride near the ocean as well.

Anyway, I'm a 20 year old guy who knows nothing about the bike brands, types of bikes, etc... Where should I start? I just want a comfortable bike to ride around the streets on. Also, what about clothing? I noticed that many bicyclists wear like a spandex looking uniform while they ride. Why is this? Is it necessary for just casual riding?

Thanks a lot.

hendrick81

Cannondale caad9.....................

pdedes

go to a reputable Local Bike Shop. ask some questions. get some answers.

ggg300

Go to a bike shop. Look around, ask questions about bike size. Find your size.

Go to cragslist or other find a cheap road bike for under 400 bucks. Look for an older steel bike like https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1172528067.html this...

Go back to the LBS get it tuned up.

Go ride.

If you like it, ride some more. If you still like it, get some bibs and a jersey. Ride some more. If you ride longer and go further, get some pedals and shoes. Ride some more. Ride a bit more after that. If you still like it, come back and post a question about a new bike.

Randochap

+2

Spend some time looking around VeloWeb. Probably the Touring and Commuting sections would fit your needs. Also check out the Bike Fit page so you will at least be armed with some information on what size bike you are looking for.

hocker

You don't need spandex. You can get mtn bike shorts with a chamois that are fine. There are way too many great bikes to list here, so like the other poster said, go to a shop and look around and ask questions. Bring what you learned back here and ask more questions. You could rent a bike, take it up some hills, get a buddy to go with you, check out some scenery and then assess whether you want to invest in this sport or not. Good luck!

Val23708

welcome.

cycling garments, while not necessary, make riding much more comfortable, as there is less air resistance (means you go faster), less chafing, higher breathability and ventalation (so you arnt so damp. cotton clothing is the worst in this category), and often offer higher visibility (so you dont get hit by cars or other cyclists)

mrvrsick

Just added a bit to it

mrvrsick

So we know your age, what about height, weight, and general fitness level?

BikeHealth

Alright thanks for the advice. I'm 5'11" and 170lbs. I'm pretty fit. I've been going to the gym steadily 3-5 days per week for almost 2 years. At the beginning I only weighed 147 so I gained some good muscle. At the gym for a while I rode the stationary bike to the point where I would ride for an hour and 20 minutes at a training heart rate the entire time. I haven't rode the bike in a while so cardiovascularly, my health probably isn't as good as it was but it doesn't take me long to train back up.

RoboChrist

Most people new to the hobby will start by buying some cycling magazines to get an idea of the costs, the hardware, technique etc. The next step after reading through a few magazines is to ignore what you just read and then go to your local bike store and get sized for a CAAD9-5, then while your waiting a few months for it to arrive you can research the shoes, clothing etc. ...teehee

BikeHealth

My dad has One of these that he bought at Target and never used from like 10 years ago. Do you think I could just jump on that and ride it around a bit to see if I even like cycling or is it a bad idea to ride that on the street?

Rustyoldbikes

If you will be buying just ONE bike, the most value for your dollar is a mountain bike in the $500 range. Great for riding off-road and on trails, but with light, slick tires, a good bike for getting around the neighborhood. Many experience bike messengers prefer mountain bikes with slick tires to road bikes because they are tougher and more reliable on the broken, torn-up streets of the typical American city.

Goodwill stores and Salvation Army stores often have bikes for sale at a bargain price. A bike that sold for $800 back in 1985 will show up there for $30...take an experienced friend with you if you decide to look at older bikes.

The best clothes for riding a bike are what ever clothes you happen to be wearing. Lots of folks ride to the beach with a swimming suit and flip-flop sandals, hikers ride up into the hills with blue jeans, flannel shirts and hiking boots. The people you see wearing "special" clothes to ride a bike are pretending to be "pro" cyclists...dressing like a "pro" makes them happy and gives normal folks something to chuckle about. Wear whatever you want....just get a bike and ride it every day.

dcvelo

I liked to get out when I was a 20 year old guy too!

It didn't have much to do with bicycles back then though.....

dcvelo

That's right, the only reason anyone ever wears spandex is to pretend their a pro. Pro's don't wear it because it actually works well if you're going more than few miles. It's all about style, you see.

Let's see, how much saddle to handlebar drop should I have?