Hi all,

I'm a total newbie to bikes and this forum. So, hi! I'd like to start biking more and have to give the one I borrowed back this week. So my first step is to buy a new bike. I saw this ad on craigslist, and I like that she lives around the corner from me and I could grab it today if I test ride it and it feels good.

I want to use the bike for commuting to work in Chicago on city roads and on the bike path, and as a primary mode of getting around. The idea is to get some exercise and save a few bucks. I hear this is the right type of bike, but I'd like to know thoughts on the make and value. I'm 5'6" so also wondering if the frame is the right size.

What do you think of the bike? The basics are...
- $250
- Gary Fisher
- 2006
- Ridden for 1 year, recently tuned up
- Color: Metallic Blue and Metallic Warm Silver
- Frameset: 20" Silver Series aluminum hybrid, RST CT Free C6 | 50mm travel
- Saddle: Bontrager Webspring Comfort w/3M reflective cover
- Seatpost: Alloy suspension

Here is a picture. She says in the picture it's a man's bike but hers is a ladies'. Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Go take it for a test ride before someone buys it out from under you.

Posting a photo of a bike that is not the model for sale is totally useless.

You'll probably want to replace the suspension seatpost with a rigid one. The suspension ones feel comfy when you're sitting on the bike in the store, but once you start logging miles they waste some pedaling efficiency. My wife's bike has one, but she logs less than 50 miles per year.

I don't really understand suspension forks. Plenty of those types of bikes around, though, so some clearly don't mind them. I think you can get better value, but in Chicago anything that's a decent value gets snapped up pretty quickly. Can you get the person you borrowed a bike from (or anyone else you know who knows a little about bikes) to help you with the purchase? If you are going to use it as a primary way of getting around, you'll probably also want fenders and racks - that will add at least $60 or so to whatever you pay for the bike itself.

We are lucky in Chicago to have three (at least) bike co-ops, spread around the city. All of them sell reconditioned used bikes, and have good programs both for everyday cyclists (open shops, lots of classes on how to keep your bike up and running, or at least cheap repairs) as well as youth programs in their respective neighborhoods. The Recyclery in Rogers Park and Blackstone Bikes in Woodlawn/Hyde Park both sell bikes on Saturdays, and West Town Bikes in Humboldt Park has its own retail storefront, Ciclo Urbano, which is open Tuesday - Sunday and generally has lots of bikes for sale, frequently all outfitted for city commuting and daily transportation. If you are not too far away from one of those, I'd recommend going there and seeing what they've got, as they are also great resources for you to keep whatever bike you buy in good shape.

You did not mention how far you intend to commute.
If you are doing 2 miles of less and few hills almost anything should get you by if it is in good working order. For much further than that out to 10 miles ofr so an unsprung Mt. bike with road tires should do the trick. For much more distance a sport or touring type road bike is nice.
Considering your location I would avoid anything too flashy and getting a decent lock or you may as well hang a free sign on it and leave it on a street corner.

10 Wheels, I test-rode the bike, and it is super comfy Here is a picture of the actual bike i took there...



I like it a lot better than the one I'm borrowing, and it feels like the one I test-rode that I liked. I like that the handlebars are higher than the seat so I don't have to hunch over, but it is still sturdy and sporty feeling. The seat is MUCH more comfortable (I think it's for a man). Also, she said she could do it for $200. It is quite heavy, but I don't imagine needing to carry it up more than 8 stairs.

Ira B, I will be riding ~9 miles each way (from Rogers Park to the Loop), and both at work and at home I will store the bike in the building. I also entertain notions of using it to become more of a "biking person", so I don't rely on running as my only cardio.

Tundra_Man, Thanks for the advice on changing the seat! I will look into that.

threecarjam, since you are in Chicago too, is there a place you would recommend going for outfitting the bike with things like racks? Also I took a look at the Recyclery website (which is right by me), and the bikes start at $400, it seems, which is a little out of my price range I'm glad to know about it though!

If you're ever going to ride in the rain(or snow) install full fenders. They will keep you and your drivetrain much cleaner. As Tundra said,ditch the seatpost,and I'd also swap the saddle. A cushy saddle is going to cause you to sink in and will be uncomfortable on 9mi rides. Might want to also swap the tires. I think GF's came with Bontrager Hardcases like Trek's;not a fan of these tires. Puncture protection is minimal,and the tread pattern is perfect for holding onto little stones and bits of glass. Get some quality commuter tires;there's a thread about these right now,or you can look at the reviews in the latest issue of _Bicycle Times_ on the newsstand.

And obviously get some lights and a proper U lock w/cable for your wheels. If the seatpost has a quick release,swap it for a bolt-on.

Interesting. I'm a mtb to hybrid convert and still getting used to some of the differences including the rigid aluminum fork. Some of the roads and paths I ride are pretty torn up and bumpy. I feel some serious vibration if I don't pick my path carefully. In fact, I just got some Ergon GC2 grips to help absorb just a bit of the road noise. But when I had my hardtail mtb I was protected from all this by the suspension fork which was also great for potholes and jumping curbs.

I think so much depends on the commute. If you have a <5 mile commute and don't care about a little extra exercise then they can be pretty sweet. If you have a 20miles roundtrip commute efficiency suddenly becomes a lot more important... just like people who get rich suddenly have an opinion on the captial gains tax.

Nice analogy with the capital gains tax I didn't realize the hybrid requires more work? Why is that? Maybe if I look up what the "Fork" is that will be more clear. I ended up buying the bike but it looks like I have a pretty long to-do list. Thanks for all the help!

I'm a newbie too... But my vote for your todo list is to RIDE it. As you ride, you'll figure out which things are most important to change and which aren't.

A 20 inch frame is probably too big for 5'6. I think you need a 17 inch at most.

Otherwise I think the bike is fine. I would change a few things after purchase, but that's true of just about any bike.

You could call the Recyclery and see if they have any racks, fenders or assorted other things around the shop. If not, Roberts Cycle is your closest LBS, on Clark just north of Morse. I haven't been there, only ridden by it, but it seems to be pretty well regarded. I like to send people to Smart Bike Parts on Armitage in Logan Square, because they're helpful and will give you a good deal, but that's probably a bit out of the way for you. You can always stop at a place like Performance or REI, which aren't too far out of your way home from work, but I like to have a shop that's close to home that I can depend on. I also usually have extra racks sitting around, and can almost always be convinced to part with one in exchange for a six pack of decent beer.

Make sure you get a good solid lock, and also at least a cable to lock your other wheel with. Spend some cash, a good lock is cheaper than a new bike. A multi-tool, patch kit and small pump, and the knowledge of how to use them are good things to have, though here in the city many just use the CTA as their flat tire/mechanical issue bailout option, and there's nothing wrong with that. A good set of lights too, the days are going to get shorter pretty soon, please don't be that mysterious bike ninja who sneaks up on people walking their dogs on the lakefront path and scares the hell out of them. I like the Blackburn Flea lights, because I can charge them at work with a USB port - but I have many, many backup lights just in case.

Yep. I've had to get rid of three bikes and swapped the fork on a forth because the alloy forks blew up my carpel tunnel. I really would like to know the rational behind alloy over steel. Weight difference can't be that big.

It sounds like a good bike for you, then. You like it, it's comfortable, feels stable, but also feels sporty. That's a lot of pluses - some folks only tolerate their bike - and you aren't going to get a very light weight one for $200. There are better bikes to be had (a road bike with drop bars might be nice in the windy city) but if you're considering getting into cycling, you want a bike to lean on, figure out what you like and don't, etc. And if you wind up not liking the sport, you haven't put your life savings into it.

I chose my road bike because it "spoke to me" on a test ride, and a year later I still love it. Sounds like you like this bike. You should probably get it before someone else does.

FYI, we can't see the photo you posted. But if it winds up becoming your bike, you can shoot and post another one.