Originally Posted by
buzzman
You wrote more about the bike and not enough about what kind of riding you anticipate doing so it's hard for me to make a recommendation. I'm a used bike guy unless I'm going custom frame- I see no sense in anyone with sound mechanical skills buying new unless they have the money or lack the time/resources to search for and or do an overhaul of a used bike. Or they get an amazing deal on a bike. (which I did on one of my commuting bikes)
I also didn't catch in the conversation where you live. How long is your commute? Will you do things like grocery shop on this bike? Will you commute in rain, snow, ice...? Will you use it for longer transport- to visit friends 20+ miles away? Do you want to go off for a tour? Do you like occasionally getting some hard fast rides in?
How old are your kids? Will you be transporting them on a bike? To school? In a trailer? Riding with them?
I think the answers you're getting from people are good but I think they're basing it on which bike they like and guessing on the details.
Kids are 12, 6, 4 and 2. Three of them are riding already, two will be riding to school again with me again starting in January. My daughter will be back in the trailer I have. My wife has a bike I bought her that she is happy with and attached to.
I live in Brownsville, TX. There isn't a large bicycle community here - and there isn't a lot of quality bikes in the used category available within probably 100 miles. I will be using the bike for my own purposes - but my wife will continue to use the van for grocery shopping, etc. while we are down here. When we move to Colorado next year, we intend to become much less vehicle dependent. It comes with the territory of having four children. There is no rain here, no snow and ice is a 1/64th of a day possibility some time in February at best. I only have to commute about 6 miles round trip between my home, work and school. I do, however, like to go on 100 mile rides on the weekends. I intend to use the bike I purchase to do charity riding, potentially some offroading (if I buy a MB) and or club rides (I'm still good friends with all the club riders because of the writing I do, and my love for the sport). Yes, I've been known to ride hard and lead a pace line (when I had my CAAD9).
My problem with hybrid bikes, and used bikes is that I typically don't grow attached to them. I'm not riding because I have to, I'm riding for the love of riding. So if I have no passion for the steed under me, I tend to find excuses not to ride. That is why my selection is very specific. I will probably never have the $45k in the bank I would need to survive unemployed for half a year, that's not in the cards anytime soon for me. What I do have is a solid career track, a dedication to my family and a desire to enjoy my life (and theirs). It's why I want to be back on a bike - not to make some old, beat-up bike "usable" again. I don't have that kind of time, ultimately, nor am I a dedicated wrench. I want something that is going to put up with my mileage, without fail. I have really been thinking the Ogre too - it seems like it would last me at least the rest of my lifetime with proper maintenance.