JessicaM23

Hello there!

I signed up for a 25 mile bike ride in October, and need a bike! I have not been on a bike in over 10 years!

I found this bike https://www.amazon.com/gp/Product/B00...A1W6FFIBXHB164 and although it is cheap, it is really the only one I can find in my price range.

Is this a good bike for a beginner to work their way up to 25 miles? I am 5'2" so the 16" frame should work just fine.

Some opinions on the bike and advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

Jessica

10 Wheels

The link doesn't work.

JessicaM23

Oops, here is another one for the same bike https://www.roadbikeoutlet.com/vilano...mpaign=product

achoo

25 miles would probably be the better part of two hours, right?

How much experience do you have on bicycles? If it isn't much, don't buy one online. You're much too likely to get one you don't like for some reason - bad fit, rides "funny", or something similar. Your best bet is to find a good bike shop. You'll spend a bit more, but you won't wind up with a white elephant. There's a lot more to fit than just frame size.

And FWIW, "comfort" style bikes like that tend to be anything but when rides start getting longer and longer. After you get used to being on a bike, that big cushy saddle starts rubbing your butt raw after a while as the "comfy" padding moves around creating friction, and the handlebars only offer one hand position - all of them uncomfortable. It seems the path from "comfort"/hybrid bike -> road bike is one many wind up following.

That being said, the most important thing is you have to get a bike YOU want to ride and CAN ride.

digibud

NO. That would not be a great bike. You would end up with all your weight on your butt. You'll need some time to get used to riding...at least most folks do. Very few people can just hop on a bike and ride for twenty miles. A good "cross" type bike might be a good choice to start with but as the other poster said, it would be best to go to a good bike store and get fitted well. That's critical. And if you are going to start to ride seriously then let them know that and get a decent mtn bike or cross bike or even a good entry level road bike. But not a "comfort" bike.

MikeyBoyAz

rent a bike! then rent another. give each one a few miles (more than 5) and find out what you don't like. Make sure you are fitted properly on all of them... 25 miles takes me about 80 minutes... perhaps two hours if you stop often. 12.5 mph is extremely slow.

iheartbenben

If you want a road bike, get a road bike.

If you want a hybrid, get a hybrid.

If you want flat bars, get flat bars.

If you want to ride, get what inspires you to do so.

j-law

A cyclocross bike will be outside of her budget.

Go to a bike shop like the other posters said, because if you buy a bike that is a piece of junk, you won't ride it much and it will turn into a $200 garage ornament. Unfortunately, you won't be able to get a bike at a bike shop unless you increase your budget a bit.

Seriously, you can do a 25 mile ride on any bike. If you can't increase your budget, I would look around for a friend with a bike that you can borrow.

ThinLine

No, save up a few dollars and get a Specialized Dolce with at least Sora/Tiagra components. Should be sub $1000.00

halfspeed

Hi Jessica. Welcome to the forum. Your first 25 mile bike ride can be a challenge, but any bike that fits reasonably well should be able to get you to the end.

Bikes from a bike shop will be the most reliable and a good shop can help you get the right size and help you with maintenance and accessories. That said, they're going to be out of your budget. Lots of people have sticker shock at their first exposure to bike shop prices, but bear in mind that many of us spend more on shoes than you plan to spend on a whole bike.

My suggestion is to ask around a bit and check with friends to find someone who knows bikes and can help you navigate the world of used bikes to find something that isn't too beat up and fits your budget.

DPV

For the limited budget you have, I would suggest renting a bike on the day, plus a couple of times in the run up so you can train. I'm not sure what kind of prices rentals are in your area, but a couple of hours here would cost ~$60 so you could have 3 practice sessions plus a bike on the day and still have change. Plus, the rental shop should be able to fit you reasonably well.

If you're worried about cycling 25 miles, then you've clearly not shown any interest in biking before- buying a bike for one event would just be a waste if you're not someone who will ride it. CL is full of brand new bikes that were ridden for one event and then never used again.

If you enjoy the event ride, them you'll have a better idea of what you liked-disliked and can make an informed decision on which bike you'd like to save up for.

Verbose

Some of your smaller non-chain bike shops also sell used bikes as well. Also, at your height (guessing 5'2 is below average?) you might be able to find one that they haven't been able to sell as easily, and thus get a better deal.

bubbagrannygear

According to the recommendation on the link a 14" bike is the right size for someone 5'2"

I don't see why that bike isn't a reasonble choice since many people who are not hard core cyclist prefer to sit up, which is how that bike is designed. Your experience with it will be greatly influenced by getting the right size and having it properly set up. There are numerous sites on the internet that can give pointers about seat hight and the position of the stem/handlebars etc. My guess is there will be some assembly required so if you don't know what an allen wrench is and you don't have any freinds that are into cycling or mechanically inclined you might want to reconsider buying throgh the internet.

When you do get a bike, ride it a a mile or two each day during the week or several times a week, and then one day on the weekend do a longer ride - say 4 or 5 miles to start. Keep riding a mile or two during the week and the next weekend extend your long ride by 2 miles. Keep this pattern and extend your long ride by a couple of miles each weekend until your long rides are between 15 and 20. At that point, my guess is you will be able to do 25 when the day arrives. (also when your long ride hits 10 to 12 miles you might want to add another mile to some of the short weekday rides)

I don't know what kind of shape you are in, so if these distances are too much to start, cut them down to what's appropriate for you. The main idea is to ride some rather comfortable distance regularly, and ride a longer effort on the weekend, gradually increasing the length of your long weekend ride. Just don't try and increase too fast. I suggest limiting your total weekly increase to no more than 10% of the previous week.

Good luck!

njkayaker

+1.

Yes, she should check out some local bike stores (LBS's) first.

The bike she gets from Amazon/internet is likely going to need some sort of assembly. (Which she'd probably have to pay an LBS to do.)

+1.

If she has no real interest in riding normally, borrowing a bike is the way to go.

achoo

How can anyone say that if you don't know things like inseam length, torso length, and reach?

halfspeed

These things aren't so critical on a bike intended for easy short rides.

Triode

My first ride I rode 19 miles on a borrowed bike. My left outer back calf/thigh burned for about the last six miles.

However, I have been running fifteen or twenty miles or so a week for years.

A week later, I did 21 miles, same problem not quite as bad, but for say 7 miles. A day after that, bought a Trek 7.3 FX.

First two days did 50 Plus miles rested a day, did 34 miles - there goes that leg again.

Yesterday 21 miles, today 31 miles - there goes that leg - a little less and not so bad each time.

All of this is in the last three weeks or so

But I am in pretty good shape from running, know how to breathe and know how to pace myself.

If you've been a couch potato - and try to do a 25 mile ride without any training you are likely to injure yourself - and on a bike, that is likely to be worse than a running injury. Bikes today don't handle like the bikes I had as a teenager.

You _can_ do it. But you need to not delay, get out there and start pedaling

JessicaM23

Thank you so much for all the replies! I ended up finding a great deal on a used 2005 Dolce Specialized bike on craigslist. I have been on it a few times and am very glad I ended up with a road bike! Now, I just have to work up to 25 miles! I do plan on continuing to ride. I really enjoy it so far, and it is something I can do with my son :-)

tagaproject6

This is the point Ride safe!

joe_5700

Congrats on the bike. You have to post a picture of your new bike against a white garage door or it didn't happen!

Like others have said, slowly increase your distances on your weekend rides. Once you can ride 25 miles non stop solo, it will be much, much easier in a group.

njkayaker

You'll have to get rid of the Dolce!! It's going to want to do more than 25 miles!

While it depends on your level of conditioning, etc., for most people, 25 miles by Oct would be an easy target.

There's a reasonable chance that 50 (or more) would be a reasonable target by then.

Good luck.

JessicaM23

Here she is! I don't have a garage so hopefully this will suffice ;-)

halfspeed

Nice bike. Now ride it!

Juan Foote

Juzt curious, but what motivated you to sign up for a 25 mile bicycle ride when you are appearing to have had no previous interest in it?

tagaproject6

Nice bike! I wish many happy miles on it!

Now you get the token "Flip it!"