perryw

I've been trying to lose weight by running (have gotten myself down to 240lbs, 6'4"), but shin splints have been plaguing me the past couple months, so I've decided to try cycling, but I haven't ridden a bike since I was in high school.. I've been doing some reading around, trying to get an idea of how to get started, and have ended up just confusing myself even more. I need some help getting myself oriented.

I decided to go to a bike shop that's less than a mile my my apartment door. Can walk home if I need to drop the bike off or something. Pretty convenient. I drove over, hoping that I get someone to help me through the buying process. I walk up to the counter to an say to the employee that's just standing there, "I'm thinking about buying a bicycle."

He says, "Well, look around, we have a lot."

I'm a little confused at that point. They have every type of bike there and I am rather clueless. I say, "Well, I want something to get a little exercise on, ride the roads around here" He kinda cuts me off, "Any of them can be exercised on, just gotta get out there and do it, take a look around."

I walk over towards one rack, see some with knobby tires and straight handlebars, figure they're mountain bikes. Then some with straight handlebars and a little skinnier tires. Then on another rack I see the, don't know the vernacular exactly, racing bikes. I glance around at some more bikes, then back to the employee. He's just kinda staring off in to space. I walk out in frustration. It really was that simple, I was in the store for probably 2 minutes and left. I usually hate being bothered by sales folk, but really rate when they ignore me when I ask for help. I certainly hope this isn't what I should expect as a newbie trying to buy a bike? Should I try back? Find a different store?

So, where do I begin? I just want to ride the suburban roads around where I live.. we have some "multiuse" paved asphalt trails. Since I don't know if I'll like cycling, $500 is the absolute most I'd want to spend on a bike, $400 would be better, especially since I don't know what else I'll have to buy.

(If you read this far, sorry for being so long winded!)

c_m_shooter

I would say a road based hybrid. That will be a flat bar bike with 700c wheels and skinny tires. If you plan to stick with it, I would recomend getting a road bike with drop bars for the comfort on longer rides, but they are going to be about a grand. Do you plan on commuting with it? If so something that will take a rack and fenders would be good. At your height you are going to need the biggest frame available, probably 62cm in road bike sizing.

perryw

Oh, thank you!

This store seems to carry a lot of the Specialized brand. Would something like the Sirrus be an example of a road based hybrid?

62cm, is that the top tube length? The Sirrus goes up to 60cm in that measurement, so probably too little? I measured my inseam (book spine..) to be 32 inches, though I'm not sure I did that measurement right (something I had hoped the guy in the shop would have offered to help with!)

No commuting, at least that's not in my plans.

c_m_shooter

62cm would be the seat tube length of a traditionally sized road bike. Most now are "compact frames" wich use a shorter seat tube to make them fit more of a range of people. The Sirrus is a good example, it may be a little small for you, but it may work out great. Fit is kind of a personal thing, you just have to ride a few to see what you like. The problem is, it's hard to know what you like until you have a couple thousand miles of riding behind you. If you haven't ridden in awhile you are going to find the bars seem a little low at first, (especially when you move the seat up to the proper height) give it a little time.

That Sirrus will push your budget a little, but gives you an idea of what to look for. Remember you will need about $100 in accessories with it. A helmet, pump, multitool, tire levers, spare tube and patch kit along with somewhere to stash them on the bike.

perryw

Gotcha! I know of another shop that's a little further away that I may visit in the morning. It looks like they sell Trek, Giant, and Cannondale. FX 7.2, FCR 3 (on sale), and Adventure 5 (not a good example, maybe) may be in my price range. The front of their website says, "Novices welcome," so maybe they'll be more willing to help me out.

Will bikes in this price range come with clipless pedals -- will I have to buy shoes too?

Understood on the fit. I was hoping that this place would let me try a bike, but, sigh... I can tell that there will be a lot of stuff to get going, it's rather intimidating

Thanks for putting up with me

c_m_shooter

No, if you want clipless you have to buy your own pedals and shoes. That will start up a whole new set of problems. I would say ride with whatever comes on it first and see wich way you want to go from there. Entry level bikes will have either generic flat pedals or toe clips. If they have toe clips ride on the bottoms of the pedals during your test ride, and if/when you do start to use them, leave them loose for awhile until you get the hang of flipping the pedal with your toe to get in and out of them. If the toe clips piss you off they are easily removable.

Boyd Reynolds

I see that nobody has said this yet, so I will. Don't buy a bike from that shop! You are likely to want quite a bit of advice, attention, and service to go along with your new bike, and that place isn't going to give you what you need. Every major brand has bikes that will work for you in your price range, so you don't need to be tied to the Specialized dealer or whatever. My advice is to choose the shop, then let them guide you to the right bike.

$400 is pretty thin for a bike that will make you happy. Tell the salesperson right up front what your budget is, and ask about old stock and used trade-ins.

Good luck and welcome!

That other shop sounds like a worthwhile trip.
On clipless, yes, if you get clipless pedals you will need shoes for them. I wouldn't, if I were you; pedals and shoes could take a big chunk of your budget. That's an easy upgrade for later.

perryw

Yea, I'd kinda decided not to give them my money about the time I was starting my car to drive away. Pretty disappointing since they're so close. And even moreso since I see that the guy I talked to is one of head dudes, according to their website. I guess I should just be happy I didn't give them any money, huh?

I wanted to make sure that I would NOT be getting clipless pedals because of the cost of shoes.

I've thought about asking about used bikes. I'd certainly feel more comfortable going used from a shop vs. a random craigslist seller. The budget is slim because I don't want to get too deep in to the money only to find out that I don't like cycling. If a couple hundred more would make a huge difference, then I may be persuaded...

heckler

cheap bikes have platform pedals, good bikes come with no pedals at all!, so you have no need to worry about shoes for the time being...however due to the stiff soles of cycling shoes they can useful even with toeclips, if you ever wish to go that way.

since you are feeling out the activity it may be worth it to craigslist something used, but it looks a little sparse in your area for the sizes you would be looking at. the default pick is a trek fx, or just get a mtb and roadify it.

BigPete74

I just bought a bike today and I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't REALLY ridden a bike since my high school days. Most of the shops I went to were really nice and very helpful. My suggestion is if a shop doesn't want to help you then just walk away.

That said I'm of the opinion that a road bike (the racing looking ones) aren't the best for beginners. I say this mostly because those bikes are only good at one thing and that's riding on smooth surfaces. At the very least a hybrid is a little more beefy and while you won't be riding single track on one, they are a bit better for everyday type riding and getting around.

For my purposes I went with a mountain bike. I figured I could always swap out the tires to "roadify it" as heckler stated. And I always have the option of going on light trails and doing the off road thing.

Find a GOOD bike shop and talk to the people. Tell them what you want to do with the bike and they can help you along.

MikeR

Try going to the shop again when someone else is working there. Maybe you will get more help. If the next person does not seem very helpful then try another Local Bike Shop (LBS). Being close is not the most important thing with an LBS. You can always put a rack on the car and haul your bike to the a shop.

Look for a LBS person who is not snobby with beginners, seems helpful and stresses the right fitting bike for you and your riding style.

MikeR

Besides a good LBS, a good Bicycle Club is invaluable. With both, look for ones that are friendly to beginners and are not just for racers.

The right bike club will have rides for beginners. That's a ride length of 10 miles or less at speeds of about 10 mph or less. The leader of rides for beginners is usually someone who loves giving cycling advice to new people.

The club in my area has many beginner rides. At every one of them are a couple experienced cyclists that love helping beginners. I've seen them make shop recomendations, go on test rides, even go to bike shops with the new rider. You usually don't have to be a member to go to the beginner rides and some of our rides have a group breakfast or lunch after the ride that non riders also attend.

homebody146

have a trek fx7.3....cost $419 when I bought it (sept 2006 for a 2007 model) at a GREAT lbs....good all around bike......agree with Boyd Reynolds, though, find a shop that works WITH you and you'll be served well.

perryw

I just got back from visiting a second shop, a little further from home. The sales guy was much friendlier. He showed me the hybrids and fitness bikes, and explained some things to me. I decided that the fitness bikes looked best. The Trek 7.2 FX was in my price range, so I rode it around the parking lot a couple times. It felt ok, but I don't know what feeling bad is either (though, I could already feel that I'll want some closer fitting shorts to keep things in place!). He told me to plan to spend about 25% of my budget on accessories..

He offered, but didn't seem enthusiastic about, looking around for a Giant FCR3 in their inventory. I wasn't real sure what to feel for, so I didn't ask for him to do that.

This particular shop does have a monthly "evening cruise" that's 15 - 20 miles.

BigPete74

What do you mean he wasn't enthusiastic? That's absurd. I visited a bike shop here that had 4 levels (they were split, but still). The mountain bikes were at the top and the shop was one level down from the entrance. The salesperson I had at this store was happy to let me test ride 4 bikes which required him to use a ladder and extender to get down. He then brought them to the shop for adjustments and air.

All the shops I've visited had computerized inventory and some kind of tracking system. I told the guy what I wanted and what I wanted to spend. He went to the computer and got all the bikes that fit my criteria and we went over them.

I didn't know what to feel for either but some bikes just felt better than others. My advice is to ride as many bikes as you can stomach and you'll learn what you like and don't like soon enough.

Seriously man, you are about to drop a decent chunk of change on a bicycle. You want something you will enjoy otherwise you won't use it. If a shop can't at least fake that they want to help you then just go to the next one. These people aren't enthusiastic about SELLING you something... imagine how enthusiastic they will be when it comes time to HELP you with something.

perryw

"Well, I'd have to look it up in our inventory and see if we have it, then go up stairs and find it..." Made it seem like a big deal. Maybe he sensed that my credit card wasn't jumping out of my pocket?

Another sales person was out there showing off a $2500 road bike and they were going back & forth with the customer about the size of it.. I couldn't always tell if he was talking to me. I guess those bigger dollar signs distracted him (never know, I may be back next year dropping that kind of money..). And they're having a big sale this weekend - I heard a third sales person comment about how busy they'd been already.

It probably wasn't as bad as I'm making it out.. This guy was infinitely more patient than the one last night. Maybe I'll go back later and ask for the Giant FCR 3?

BigPete74

Sure, I would go back and ask about it. I don't know what you experienced but if you think it's because they had been busy or maybe the guy was on an "off" day, go back and give them another chance. The sales guys are people too and they can't be perfect all the time.

I will say that I noticed a little bit better service if it was the 2nd or 3rd time I walked in to the store. Maybe they thought I was more serious about a bike since I came back. Who knows? Just don't accept piss poor service because that is what you will be stuck with after the purchase.

perryw

I went back and they had sold out of the 7.2 FX and my salesman had gone home. I asked about the FCR 3, and just for giggles, the 7.3 FX. The salesman was a smooth talker and got me to ride on the 7.3 FX, and that was all she wrote. Got a couple water bottles, helmet, and baggy shorts, and I was on my way. We forgot to get gloves, so I'll need to go back, and probably a tire pump, too, huh?

I've already been out for a 5.8 mile ride.. I think I enjoyed it Changing the front gear from 2 to 1 felt a little weird, like it wasn't always engaging. I'm sure it was something I was doing wrong and just need to figure out.

Here's a picture I snapped with my phone before I wheeled her in to the apartment for the first time.

txvintage

Congrats on the new steed! The world is yours, 1 mile at a time.

homebody146

most lbs also have free adjustments after 30 or 60 or 90 days and mine had a 12 month free adjustment as well.....just 'cause you bought the bike doesn't mean they should forget you....;-)

perryw

Yea, my salesman told me they'd do a free 30 day adjustment, and I'll take them up on that. The salesman told me to sign up for their maintenance class so I can learn how to fix a flat and put a chain back on and basic stuff like that... I'll probably do that - $15 for an hour class.

They're running 15% off this weekend on tools (and pumps and other stuff).. anything a "must have" for a newbie?

txvintage

I'm one of those guys who believes a floor pump is a must have. Maybe not an immediate need but a major plus on quality of life. Tires will deflate over time and a floor pump is so much easier than a frame pump to get to high pressure.

A frame pump or CO2, seat bag, a patch kit with levers, and possibly a spare tube are must haves, right after the brain bucket. Two water bottles and cages are a good idea too, especially if you live inany kind of heat and/or humidity.

perryw

I sweat like most [strike]big guys[/strike] clydesdales, so water sources were a must! Got a way of keeping my brain from falling out too. Floor pump or frame pump, I need some way of getting air in the tires. Will definitely go back for that.

I actually had a little flat repair kit / seat bag in my hands and the salesman steered me away from getting it. Maybe he thought it was a bad kit? Or bad bag? Shrug. I felt bad leaving w/o a way to fix a flat. I think I'll get an iBikepak, so that should hold flat repair goodies.

Let me add, you guys have been most helpful. Thank you!

txvintage

Well, if you are only getting one for the time being, get a really good frame pump. Dragging a floor pump around while you ride would be the suck!

Boyd Reynolds

Hey, congrats! When you come back from the first test ride and know that this is the bike for you, it really is the bike for you.

Yes, take the basic mechanics class. it'll pay for itself with the first flat.

Yes, buy a floor pump. You should check your tires at least once a week, even if you didn't ride. I check mine each time I take my bike outside, and I'm sure many others here do, too.

The front derailleur doesn't shift as smoothly as the rear, even on really expensive bikes. You'll get used to it.

I suggest trying to get 100 miles or more in before that 30 day service. Your gears are going to go completely out of tune in the next 100 miles or so from the cables seating or stretching, and you will want those changes to be over when they readjust your shifting system and brakes so that they won't have to adjust them again later.

Your ass is likely to hurt for a while. Don't worry, it will toughen up soon.

again, congratulations!