need help picking the right bike!

[RedMocking]

I've really been thinking about investing in a "nice" bike. Chasing my dog around the yard in the 10 speed Dad gave me has been fun.... but if I am gonna get on the nearby paved trail more.... I want something better. I have been looking at very different styles of hybrid bikes.... Giant Roam 1 ( http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/....w/9055/48952/) Which I am leaning more toward because it is more manuverable and "fun" to ride, faster, and cooler looking.... however it is more rigid that I am used to (and talked briefly with the dealer about maybe putting a suspension seatpost on it to help with this some....the other bike I have ridden so far is the Raleigh Venture 3.0 (http://www.raleighusa.com/archive/20...venture-30-11/) which it really comfortable!... I looked at the men's model because I am not big on sitting strait up. But it turns like a box. I don't know what I want or need.... something in between! (looking at some of the oter posts on this forum, maybe I should check out some of the Trek Hybrids) I want to go good on the trail but also hope to take it on some of the dirt paths and not absorb all the bumps myself.

[jsdavis]

Did you have the suspension on the Giant Roam locked up? There should be a knob to change the stiffness. The suspension should make the ride a bit squishy at least up front.

I don't have suspension and a lot of the time riding over rough roads, I just lift myself up a bit and let the bike bounce and let my knees take up the movement.

You are likely to see a lot of posts about Treks, Specialized, and Giant because they are the three largest bicycle manufacturers.

I think even if you go with a Trek DS or Neko, the ride won't be drastically different from the Giant Roam. Perhaps let some of the air out of the tires. Maybe you can get the bike shop to trade you tires for something like 700x42 or 700x45 to soften things up a bit more.

[RedMocking]

I played with them locked and unlocked on the pavement and in the grass.... a lot of it I know is me getting more acclimated to riding properly... I am giving my bum too much pressure... the guy I talked to also said it would help to adjust the tire pressure. I've never ridden a road bike... which I think is why this frame appeals to me so much... it looks more rugged... I am planning to ride daily atleast 5 miles, but once or twice a week more like 20ish miles. A few years ago I was commuting to work 8 miles on a cheap mountain bike... this was ok in VA and I was standing most of the time to pick up speed... but I am on flat land in FL now... and really confused about what I need

[jsdavis]

If you haven't ridden a bicycle in a long time, your bum will hurt for a couple weeks or even a month where those two pointy bones are. Eventually the pain does go away. It's also possible that the saddle is not right for you. YOu can get wider or narrower saddles and you might be able to trade for something of equal value when you purchase your bike.

For rough roads, I think the best solution is just to stand a bit and let the bike bounce. I've only spent about 10 minutes on a road bike before and it was pretty rough but that thing was also set up for competitive racing so that might be part of it.

I ride this about almost daily 4 to 8 miles each way depending on my job assignment: http://www.marinbikes.com/2009_html/...?serialnum=886

Back to the two bikes you posted earlier, the Raligh is what's called a comfort bike. The 26" tires and the bars way above the seat kinda give it away. It's more for a soft and slow ride than for speed. The Raligh Misceo bikes are more comparable to the Giant Roam.

[Condorita]

Only you can decide what's best for you. Go look at bikes. Test ride the ones you like the looks of. Make your decision based on that, not what some random, anonymous person on a message board says.

[RedMocking]

I road the Trek Neko today and LOVED it! I have no complaints what-so-ever about how it felt or handled.... however they only have the SL in stock... and I am wondering if the upgrades are really worth the extra $200?? I tried some of the other bikes and really appreciated the disc brakes and smooth shifting. Any input on if there is a very similar ride for cheaper or if I should just suck it up and have a more durable/better package.

[SuperDave]

I road the Trek Neko today and LOVED it! I have no complaints what-so-ever about how it felt or handled.... however they only have the SL in stock... and I am wondering if the upgrades are really worth the extra $200?? I tried some of the other bikes and really appreciated the disc brakes and smooth shifting. Any input on if there is a very similar ride for cheaper or if I should just suck it up and have a more durable/better package.

From a technical standpoint, yes, the upgrades provide value "worth" the extra cash. Is the cheaper bike worthy? Yes, that's true too. Both will last equally-long and work just as well if you take care of them properly. Me? I'd spend the money, but that's only because I'm an over-the-top anal tinkerer, and I'd probably spend aftermarket money on the upgrades later.

Now, refer back to Condorita's words, and buy what moves you. At this price, and with the homework you've obviously already done, you're going to get appropriate value for your money. Buy the right frame size - that's the one imperative with a bike, and the Trek is only available in three sizes so it's all the more important with that model - and be aware that there's a vast range of tweaks on a given bike to fit it properly, and an even vaster range of aftermarket parts which will focus the bike even closer to your actual needs. As you define them, down the road.

Buy what moves you.

[a1penguin]

Looking at the specs of both bikes, I think the price upgrade is fair. You get better components and 9 speeds. The more speeds you have (given the same cassette range) means each gear change is smaller change in gear ratio. You can also lock the fork on the SL. The locked fork is helpful for more efficient riding on smooth roads where r you don't really need the suspension. Both models have components that should last a long time. I would recommend the higher model if you plan on putting LOTS of miles on the bike or ride in more harsh off-road conditions. The store should be able to order the model you want.