Hello all,
I am new to biking and would like to ask for your opinion. I have been looking in the bike shops and the cost is a bit daunting. However I found this one on craigslist and I was wondering if a mountain bike would be ok for commuting to work (3miles) and just riding around town. If i go to a shop ill be looking a bottom of the line hybrid, the cheapest of which seems to be $350-450 before tax.

https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/bik/4843827316.html

If it fits, put some smooth road tires on it and you'll be fine.

The first and most important thing about bike commuting is that it's easy as riding a bike, so get out there and try it. You can read a lot of stuff on the Internet and research yourself into a corner trying to figure out exactly the right bike and equipment and strategy, but all that is icing on the cake. You will very quickly figure out what you like or not and what you need to do.

This was a very inexpensive bike to begin with (~$230 new in 2004, about as cheap as they come from a bike store). It's from a good brand, so you can at least be sure it was built well and will work. It will have all the holes you need to mount racks or fenders if you want them. Inexpensive mountain bikes like this make decent commuters, they are comfortable and tough and you can always find a low or high enough gear. It's not going to be light or fast.

Get some lights.

Right now is an excellent time to shop for deals on 2014 closeout bikes. If you can find an REI or a Performance Bike in your area they won't lead you wrong and they tend to be less expensive than say Trek or Specialized.

If you come to realize how wonderful cycling is, you'll see that a good bike is worth the money. But starting out with an inexpensive bike is fine. It should fit well, though. Badly fitting bikes make the experience bad, and you might not come to realize how wonderful cycling is.

In fact, you could even save money in the long run if you end up using your bike a lot.

Thank you so much for the reply you are right! I have been reading myself in circles... I spent a day at work reading about bike locks...

Trust me, if i could i would love to spend the money on a great bike! I'd love to build my own in fact.

I have no problem with frugality. I often take it too far. Save up your dough, and you can build yourself the ultimate machine, eventually.

Are you close to the size that the current owner mentions********** If so, it would be worth a closer look. Fit is everything.

It's a good price for a first bike. Getting rid of the knobbies and a front and rear light should be figured in initial expense, along wit a way to carry stuff. You can use a rack, a basket or a bookbag--just have something.

The primary function of a first bike is to teach you what you need in a bike!!!

And when you're ready to buy a new bike, don't get rid of this one. You'll learn the joy of owning more than one.

Honestly, if you're new to biking, I would go to a local bike shop (LBS). Not because the bike you posted is bike, but because of FIT. A poorly fitting bike will be a downright miserable experience and you'll quit on biking as it removes the fun

I've been cycling a lot of year and I moved to Germany and had a bike fit a by a standard sales person and just a subtle change in stem length made all of the difference.

Now, I live in the UK, but stateside, this is probably a $300 bike at a local bike shop and it's quite solid and they'll perfectly fit it for you

Escape 3 (2015) | Official Giant bikes UK website | United Kingdom

Just my two cents/€/£.

edit: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...3/14810/75681/

US version. Tell them you'll $300 or $350 with a lock, helmet and lights

It's ok for a 3 mile commute. Any bike will be good for such a short ride. Make sure the bike fits you good and is comfortable. No need to go crazy and spend too much money. You can always upgrade in the future to something different.

Will they actually do that?

At a LBS, every transaction is negotiable.

The last two bikes I bought at a LBS (one in Frankfurt, Germany and one in Texas), I selected the gear and fit the bike and said, I'll take it all for XXX which was usually 20% off the total and they we're cool with it.

However, I'm usually a relaxed customer and develop a discussion with the people in the shop and make it clear that I'll be a repeat customer as well.

I assume they see it as an investment. Drop a few lines like, "I check out used bikes on CL but the fit wasn't so well, thus I came here."

Also, a good tune up at a shop for that CL bike will run between 20 and 100 USD.

Go with a new bike, you don't need a rim/tire failure from a 10 year old worn rim/tire. (Especially, if you're new to riding.)

Personally I would think that would be about a $100 bike, but perhaps the seller would negotiate.
The MTB is probably fine for a 3 mile commute, and I'd bet that 90% of the MTBs never see any more off-road than cutting across a lawn every once in a while.

Yes. A few sellers on Craigslist tune their bikes before selling, but a lot of the bargain basement bikes will need a few adjustments.

A bike is easy enough to maintain, and anybody can learn to do it. But, have a shop do a basic maintenance on it and it will cost you a bit (bringing the cost closer to a shop cost for a new bike).

Or find a good neighbor who is willing to give you a few tips.
An "investment" can mean many things. Investment in life. Investment in saving fuel, etc.
Most bikes depreciate quickly, especially if bought new.

I meant that the purchaser should convince the LBS that they'll come back for all tune-up and accessories and they'll discount the bike in return for an "investment" in future returns (i.e. additional money spent.)

With that in mind, perhaps the shop should give the bike away free...
And expect a decade of service calls.

Nonetheless, many of the Craigslist Specials are not ready to ride, even those that claim that they are, so if you have to pay for service, count that as part of the cost.

When I came into the bike world I did not understand the significance of locking up my bike. I thought a shoe string-- oops, I mean cable lock was sufficient. Fortunately I did not have to have my bike stolen to realize I needed to learn more about locking up bikes. Its not like slapping on a lock and walking off. There is a lot more to it than that.

I live in Nashville. I don't think it is known for bike theft but just yesterday I saw my first stolen bike. It was just a lonely front wheel all by it self. The rest of the bike had walked off without it. Of course the front wheel was the only thing that was locked, and locked with one of those cable locks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTA3JsZWiec

I did find his videos, i liked them a lot! i had thought of everything he said except locking the seat down.

Not really sure what point you're trying to make that's related to the OP?

Are we undertaking a philosophical discussion?

I can agree with about everything on here. Up here where I'm at now is the time to buy a bicycle. It's cold, and to most people riding a bike is the farthest thing form their minds- so all the LBS's are quiet and lonely waiting for spring. Of course in SoCai that might not apply. I'd try several bike shops as well. Many may have remnant bikes- a a year or few old but new and marked down substantially. You'll still get the full warranty and all the perks the LBS offers. A couple weeks ago, I bought a new 2012 that was $699 new but $435 on clearance.

If a shop has a nice used bike you like, go ahead and dicker. I did, and wound up with an unused nifty titanium job for the price of a new middle grade hybrid. You won't get a manufacturer's warranty, but you should get all or most of the perks of buying a new one- like accessory discounts and a free service after a year. Just find out what they offer on new bikes first!

When someone comes onto this forum and says they want advice about biking 5 days a week, year round, 30 mile round trip, with a laptop and textbooks, in Minneapolis, I think all the usual advice we give about fit, equipment, planning, etc. is appropriate. But when someone in a small town like Santa Barbara starts with a 3-mile goal and a link to an inexpensive used ladies' MTB (very comfortable and adjustable and utilitarian), I think the odds are high that she'll be fine with the bike's fit once the saddle is adjusted, and the tires will be fine, and she will be fine with a cheap cable lock or a U-lock from Wal-Mart, and a backpack with a patch kit.

Oh! If you are buying the used bike don't forget to ask the seller if they have and will toss in a lock and helmet and other accessories. Sometimes people don't want this stuff any more or they have redundants.

Welcome to the forums! Not a bad bike, but I bet you could find a bit better going to a bike co-op. You can use anything with 2 wheels for a 3 miles commute. Reading and researching is fun and all, but really you have to start riding to find out what you really like/don't like and need vs just want vs what you thought you needed is just unnecessary weight. Personally, all I think you need is a good floor pump, a frame pump, an extra tube, a patch kit, tire levers (instead of trying to repair a flatted tube on the ride, just replace and patch it later), a lock or two and decent lights. For 3 miles, you can carry all of that on your bike (mount the frame pump, the rest put into a small bag beneath the saddle), or a backpack/messenger bag. And remember to check your tire pressure every couple of days. No need to over complicate things.

A quick and dirty rundown of accessories and estimated cost

Floor pump: $40 (you can cut this in half if you get something from Wal Mart, but I like a quality floor pump)
Frame pump: $15-20 (maybe as low as $10)
Extra tube: $10
Tire levers and Patch Kit: maybe $5, but probably less
Locks: $50 (you can probably easily get away with spending less at Wal Mart, and that much on just a solid ULock )
Lights: $50 (again, you can easily spend more or less)
Optional: Helmet - $40 (I say optional, bc if my commute was only 3 miles I sure wouldn't worry about a helmet. That is up to you, though)

You don't have to spend money on things like fenders or racks and panniers at this stage. As I said, a 3 mile commute or hopping around town isn't going to make carrying a backpack or messenger bag a hassle. I also wouldn't worry too much about replacing the tires yet. It would make the ride nicer to have slicks, but if you are strapped for cash, I would focus on accumulating what I had listed out first, as not having those things can cut a ride short real quick. Also, practice changing a flat at home before you have to in real life

I have the ToPeak Joe Blow pro floor pump. I love it