Flyguy88

Hello All,
I am 26 years old and barely know how to ride a bike (don't judge TOO much, I got my pilot's license at 17, drivers license at 18, and am now and am now conquering the last frontier of bike riding! Doing things a bit backwards.) It is safe to say I know NOTHING about bikes, but want to learn.

I live less than 2 miles from the Neuse River Trail in Raleigh, NC which is paved and minimal terrain. I want to get a basic bike to take out and ride several miles a day. For now, all of my riding will be here, but I would like the option in the future to possibly go mountain biking.

My budget currently is on the low end of around $150-200. A friend offered me a used Trek 1200 Series Racing/Road bike in good condition for $250. I know this is solely a bike for paved areas, but can someone tell me if this is a good deal?

I am considering a Walmart bike (taboo I know) but for a starter bike to ride paved trails can someone suggest "decent" bike to go with? I am 5'8" and around 125lbs.

If someone has other suggestions for a starter bike in my rice range please let me know. I DO plan to visit a local bike shop for possible used bikes as well.

StephenH

It might help to realize that a cheap "mountain" bike isn't intended for-mountain bike riding, really. Although being 125 lbs will help a lot on that.
Most of us started at some point on a cheapo bike and after a while discovered why you shouldn't ride a cheapo bike.
Target might be a notch above Walmart, but if you buy a bike either place and actually ride it much, figure you'll be buying a better nicer one after a while, anyway. So it's not like you're stuck with what you buy now for 20 years or something.

obed7

right now you are talking about riding paved trails....by the time you get comfortable with riding and decide you actually want to tackle some actual mountain biking, you will likely want another bike anyway.
Also take into consideration that a MTB in that price range is not really an MTB anyway and would suck actually using it for that purpose.
You would most likely benefit from a road bike or fitness/hybrid bike for the type of riding you are talking about.

fietsbob

A Used Bike depends on its relative worth in its Condition , and the area that it is offered for sale in ..

More Moneyed and bike riding popular places the Used Bike Market is higher priced than a 1 horse town in the middle of the cornfields .

at about that $150 cost, are the Bicycle shaped objects , that are made around using the cheapest parts Possible .. all chosen to keep it profitable though selling at that price.
Big-box store bikes often take that route.

If the seller of that bike is Truly a Friend, the 2 of you can take the Bike into a Bike Shop and there someone will see it , assess it's condition,

and give an estimate of the costs to repair things that may need Prompt attention to be fully functional and safe to take off on.

ColaJacket

If it is in good shape, and has the Sora STI shifters, then that is a fair deal. Providing that nothing needs immediate replacement. Tell your friend, that you'll do it, as long as he'll help you with the maintenance, and if anything fails due to wearing out in the first month or so, he either replaces it or takes the bike back and gives you your money back. If he hasn't let you test ride it, do that first. At 5'8", you'll probably need a bike between 54cm and 58cm, depending upon your inseam. You'll have to see if it fits you before you buy it. Your friend should know the basic fitting on a bike, especially the height of the seat, and how far forward it should be.

The bike will be much better than a wally world bike.

There are several bike shops of Falls of Neuse Road.

Trek Raleigh (Durant near Falls of Neuse)
Performance Bike (Falls of Neuse & Spring Valley)
All Star Bikes (Falls of Neuse & Millbrook)

I've road tested bikes at each place. The Trek place will help you find a Trek that will fit, and you should be able to use that information to see if your friend's bike is about right for you.

That trail is a paved trail. A bike that would do well on that trail, is probably not a good choice for MTB and vice versa.

If your friend's bike fits, and you buy it, realize that you may only want to keep it for a year or two, but that in riding it, you'll find out what you want in your next bike. And if/when you sell it, you should be able to get close to what you paid for it.

Don't forget that you'll need accessories:

Safety Needs: Helmet, Gloves, Tire Fix Kit, Water bottle/cages, Pump(s)
Comfort Needs: Bike Shorts.
Comfort Wants: Jersey, socks
Peformance Wants: Clipless Shoes/Pedals, Cycling Computer (but your average smart phone can do what you want in the beginning with free apps like Strava, MapMyRide, etc.)

GH

TenSpeedV2

If this fits, and you could swing it, pretty good deal on a great bike.

Trek 7.2 FX - Like New

notgrowingup

If you buy a wal-mart bike and find out it isn't for you, you won't be able to sell it for much. On the other hand, if you invest in a nicer bike and want to sale, you will recoup more of your money. Also, something to think about it...cheaper bikes from wal-mart tend to be heavier and more difficult to ride. So if you get one of these and decide biking isn't for you, it could be that you aren't using good equipment. So, I say invest if you can afford it. In the end, the most important thing is conquering that last frontier :-)

*This is from my experience...I have a Schwinn Cruiser Hybrid ($200 from Target) collecting dust in my apt because I don't enjoy riding it.

CliffordK

The road bikes are great for on the road, paved paths, and even some well groomed gravel paths.

Also consider cyclocross bikes for moderate off-road.

Many MTBs (or MTB-like bikes) spend a lot of time on paved roads. It all depends on your goals. Good for a few miles. Beasty for longer rides.

It depends. If you pay $200 for a Walmart bike, you may be able to resell it for $100 if well maintained.
On the other hand, say you go to a bike shop and buy a $1000 bike. In a few years, you'll have troubles selling it for $500.
So, it has a higher resale value, but you've taken a $500 loss on it.

On the other hand, say you buy a nice used bike for $500, and let someone else take that initial depreciation, you might be able to resell it for the same price you paid.

And, if you don't mind doing some maintenance, there are lots of good deals on bikes with a few broken or missing parts, but otherwise very sound bikes. If you keep the maintenance within reason, you may even be able to turn a profit on those.

Panza

For 150$, Craigslist will serve you better than most Walmart bikes. : )

nightvision

Surprisingly Target you can get a decent bike that you can maybe fit your need. Forge Mens Sawback 5xx 17" Mountain Bike - Red : Target