what bike should i get?
 

Hey everyone, I need some help.

I am a newbie commuter and need your help in selecting my new bike. I got an old used bike and things broke the first time i commuted 20 miles to school. So now i am looking for a new bike around $200 preferably less. I am looking for a road bike that's light and durable. I am 6 ft tall and 135 lbs. And i commute a total of 20 miles 4 days a week. What should i get? Can you send me links of the online places selling them? Thank you.

1. Drop bar road bike
2. Under $200
3. New

Pick 2.

The blue one

I know where this is going

for 200bucks get something used. a steel road bike from the 80s with a steal frame won't fall apart. look in the ads in the paper, thrif stores, cragislist, ect. this is really your best bet and learn how to turn up a bike and take care of it.

http://bicycletutor.com/

if you want new you gotta spend more. you can get a target/walmart bike for 200bucks but they will break and fall apart, and are so heavy. entry level bikes are from 700-1k, sometimes you can get last years modle for 500 dollars. and remember entry level means functional but not the best performance. ask your parents for more money, get a job, you will be saving money by not driving, it will last for years and years if well maintained and its good for your health.

Also, ebay. Look for auctions near you so you can do local pickup. Don't bid until there's under 5 minutes left, stay away from auctions w/incomplete descriptions or bad photos etc.

a) 6' 135lbs? Wow you're a skinny dude!!!
b) there is no such thing as a new quality road bike for under $200.
c) Buy a good quality used bike. I know you might be hesitant about a used bike because of your previous experience, but realize that you may have made a mistake and bought *cheap* rather than *inexpensive* if you get my drift.

As other's said, check out CraigsList and buy QUALITY. Remember that if you want help, the folks here are great and we may be able to help you if you post a few links to bikes that could interest you, we'll be able to tell you what's good and what to avoid.

And in NYC, a "steal" frame is exactly what you can expect to get! :roflmao:

Any co-op's in your area?

Spend the $200 fixing up your old bike. In a year's time, you'll have a better idea of what you need and will be able to buy a new bike sensibly.

Richard

OK what do you think about this bike?

OK can you recommend stuff for a $300 budget then guys?

This is one of my bikes. It's closer to 400, but it's a good ride. You can also look into Bikes Direct; they've got a few road bikes for less than $400.

Not much to choose from in your price ranges, but they do exist:

Denali at Target for $200

Windsor at BikesDirect for $300

Both will require a bike mech friend or approx $50 in labor at a bike shop.

I got my Pinarello at City Bikes for $400 Perhaps there are enough hippies in your area to support a bike coop. If so, go shop there.

Where's the "cheap commuters" thread I saw here a few months ago? And why isn't the original poster reading the responses?

This is your only chance. Just fix up your old bike for $200:thumb:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/bik/

Stay away from the Denali; it's a mountain bike with drop bars. If you live in NYC, you're far better off using CL.

This is a decent deal if you got short legs.

Add a pair of pedals and swap out the seat, and you're golden!

For some reason, NY CL freeks me out. Hearing about bike theft rate there makes me think 33% of CL bikes are hot...

Probably unaware of the search function or doesn't know where it is.

HINT: Use the search just below the bike forums banner at the top. You'll get more results if you pick the 'All'...

I've never heard of this brand, but the price is right:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/935971259.html

Araya 23" -- $100
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/937942676.html


Raleigh -- not sure of the model -- $125
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/937144754.html

This is a nice bike, although it might be too big for a 6' rider:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/930172676.html
could be a steal, depending upon how cheap you can get it for

Trek hybrid (looks fairly recent) -- $90
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/938020958.html -- this feels stolen to me

you get the idea. There are plenty of CL bikes in that price range in sizes that might work for a 6' rider--you never know how any given bike will fit until you try it out.

I'd take a minute to go to a bike shop and get fitted on a road bike and a hybrid/mtb--preferably on an old road bike if you can find a shop that has used bikes, as the geometry has changed. Then you'll have a general idea, at least.

After that, watch CL until you find something you like. You can figure out what the good brands are of the older road bikes pretty quickly by wading through the ebay/craigslist stickies and assorted postings in the C&V forum.