prasad.ct

Hi all,
Am new around here.
After my childhood and school days of frequent cycling(biking), I now have a situation wherein I need to bike daily for 3 miles (1-way), and the occasional 11-mile trip (2-way trip is 22 miles) to the grocers on the weekend.

On Connecticut roads, USA (Ellington & surroundings).
We live in a community with quite an up-gradient for half a mile.
No off-roading or mountain-biking plans.
(Am neither athletic nor muscular ! )

Can you please suggest something within 300 or 350 $ ?
Thinking of ordering online (Dick's or Schwinn's etc.) and getting assembled at the store - Walmarts or Dick's.
Would need less/easy maintenance hassle.

Forgot to mention : it's been 25 years since I biked regularly !
Hence my need to avoid maintenance hassles !
Am 5'6", and weigh just 132 pounds.

Any suggestion is very helpful.

Thank you.

-
Prasad.

capnjonny 

If there is a bike co-op that you can get to go there first. At the Bike Exchange we have a container full of good quality bikes we have reconditioned for sale to raise money to fund our mission of fixing donated bikes and giving them to the needy. Going there you should get good advise, a great bike for a reasonable price that is better than a department store bike and will be supporting a good cause.

thumpism

There's probably a retail bike shop near you. I'd suggest browsing there and let the staff know your experience and interest. A good shop (and you should be able to tell if you've ever done much shopping for anything) will be able to advise you on a bike to fit your budget and the gear you'll need to make your commute a safe and pleasurable experience. Regarding bike brands, you'll probably find the bikes vary much less than the shops that sell them. "Buy the shop, not the bike," is advice you'll get from more than one person. Good luck, and welcome back to the sport!

VegasTriker

If it is back on a bike after 25 years, you will probably find the 22 mile trip somewhat daunting, especially if you intend to carry groceries 11 miles back. That would require a bike with a rack and some panniers to carry stuff in. It's certainly doable. I do it frequently on a somewhat shorter circuit.

Your price range doesn't get you much more than midway into the entry level bikes. There's a lot of fancy looking bikes that are really BSOs (bicycle shaped objects) among the cheaper ones. Look for the lightest one you can find and avoid bikes with suspension. You are not going off road and even if you were, bikes in the low end price range have nearly useless suspension. It's a great selling point for the retailer but you have to push that extra weight around for as long as you own the bike. Get something with road tires, not the knobby off-road MTB tires. It makes the ride smoother and a bit faster. Also, avoid any bike that comes in only one frame size. One size is a joke in clothing and even worse when it comes to bikes. A bike that fits your proportions will be more comfortable and easier to ride. You will pay a little more at a bike shop but a competent shop will put it together correctly. You may even find a bike shop with a used bike that will be better quality than a new one.

cmc4130

Retrospec Mantra 7 $359.99

https://www.retrospecbicycles.com/products/mantra-7

https://www.amazon.com/Retrospec-Bic...ct_top?ie=UTF8

Barabaika

You can check this store in Bloomfield. They have $300 bikes.
There are also Schwinn dealers in Manchester.

However, you'd better buy a commuter bike with fenders and a rack. Then you also need some bags for the rack. You don't want to use a backpack while commuting.
That store sells the Jamis Commuter 1.
It's pretty decent and simple.
Your size is 19" or 21".
Jamis Commuter 1 - Bloomfield Bicycle Shop Bike Cellar Simsbury CT

Here is a full page about the bike:
commuter1

ironwood

There is a commuter forum, maybe the moderator can move the thread there.

ironwood

You might be better off with a used bike. A bike from Wallmart will probably need maintenence, so you may as well learn some basic maintenence any .

CrankyOne

You will likely find yourself disappointed with whatever you come up with.

The low-maintenance part calls for an internal gear hub which is generally more expensive than more affordable external derailleurs that require a lot more maintenance. Outside of the US you'd be able to find a used 3 or 7 speed omafiets or opafiets that would work quite well for all of your needs but in the US these are more difficult to find and so more expensive. A new one would be $1k or more. You'll likely have to settle for a used hybrid which won't work as well for you. Even then your budget will likely push you to cheaper ones that will likely be less comfortable to ride than better ones.

Be careful of your expectations for your price range.

Whatever you do I'd start with your shorter commute for a few weeks before tackling the grocery run.

tclune

Except for weighing a lot more than you do, my cycling story is very similar to yours: When I retired, I got a bike after 30 years of not riding and I use it to commute to my retirement job about three miles away; I go grocery shopping and to the recycling center with it; and I ride about 20 miles round-trip to church most Sundays as well as taking various day trips and occasional overnight camping trips around Pioneer Valley and the Berkshire foothills (I live in Northampton, MA).
I got a Trek 520 touring bike, which is almost perfect for my needs. I added dual Wald folding baskets to the rear rack and a steel front rack (when you ride with a lot of groceries or recycleables, the bike rides much more smoothly if the load is spread out somewhat between front and back.) The tires are 700x32, which are about as narrow as I would want to go -- typical road bike widths are fast but jarring. I don't much care about speed, but comfort matters to me. I replaced the Bontrager tires, which got flats with depressing regularity. I replaced them with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, which have never gotten a flat at all, even after thousands of miles and a few years. I have added fenders, which are very important in wet conditions (not just when it's raining -- wet roads after a rain will leave your back a dirty wet mess, too.) I have a large handlebar bag that holds my rain cape, lights, lock and chain, repair kit (you'll need one, whether you want one or not), and net for the front rack. I added a kick stand to the bike, which makes loading and unloading the bike a lot easier. I have a helmet with a rear-view mirror and a selection of cheap glasses from Amazon -- clear for overcast days and evenings, yellow for foggy days, blue sunglasses for most sunny days, and "oil-slick" shades for extremely bright days. They set me back about $3 a pair including shipping, and they have served me well for the last couple of years. I have sun sleeves and a neck shade for sunny days when I'm going on a long ride. I only carry one water bottle when I tour, but I also take along a gallon jug for refills. I wear padded riding gloves when I go on longer rides, which keeps my hands from cramping up.
My bike is very heavy by modern standards, but it doesn't matter unless you want to go fast. The weight makes the bike a workhorse -- I think of it as my pick-up truck, not a sports car. If that's what you are looking for, you can't beat a touring bike.
Now for the bad news -- it cost about $1500 by the time it was all set up. If you have any hopes of staying within your budget, you'll have to buy used, preferably from someone who is more interested in getting the bike out of their garage than getting its market value. Buying used requires a fair amount of knowledge. If you have a friend who is an experienced cyclist, you may want to explain what you want to do with the bike and have him/her accompany you when you go shopping for the bike. Don't be in a hurry to buy. With luck, you may be able to get something more or less suited to your needs and well suited to your frame. Good luck.

Super_Sport

Check out your LBS. A good one will work with you, MAYBE even do a quick Craigslist search for you to see if there's anything available in the community. Don't be discouraged by pricing but remember that a "proper" commuter setup will probably cost a little more than your current budget. For now, buy something that can handle the hill, certainly buy something that fits properly and get out and ride.

ironwood

If you lived closer to Boston, I could show you how to get a bike for nothing or almost nothing. For a couple of years I rode a bike made up of found components; the total cost was $0. I still have it but have upgraded it so it is a little more costly. Yard sales will start after Labor Day and you might find something there. You'd be amazed at the bikes people throw out.

wphamilton

These are basically incompatible requirements.

You can find a low-maintenance bike in that price range which will work for the 3-mile trip, but it won't do that well for the 11-mile trip. Since it's been 25 years for you and I assume that you're not in top cycling condition.

You can also find bikes in that price range which will work fine for both purposes, but you will need to learn some proficiency in bike maintenance to make them work. Basic proficiency would be changing tires, replacing chains, lubrication, adjusting derailleurs and brakes. Not that difficult if you dive into it, but to avoid those chores you'll need something like internal gears, possibly belt-drive, bullet proof wheels, maybe a bike purpose-designed for minimal maintenance. The cost goes up in a hurry for those bikes.

Better to find a decent bike with at least entry-level components, which won't break down as often, and resign yourself to doing a little maintenance now and again.

TenSpeedV2

Easy to ride
Low maintenance
Low cost

Pick 2.

MRT2

I would suggest the Giant Escape City. Retails for $540, comes with fenders and rack. No $300 retail bike will cut it as a commuter, IMO.

jefnvk

I'd personally start at a local shop that sells used. You'll get something that has been looked over, tuned up, and may come with a short warranty. The one by me regularly has serviceable bikes that will suit your needs in that price range.

Anything older off CL is likely going to require you to do basic overhaul/tune on your own. It can be done, but it takes some learning and some special tools.

MRT2

Maybe less?

jefnvk

Less as in less than his price range? The one regularly stop in at has anything from $150-600 or so, and occasionally much nicer, just all depending on what has recently been traded in. If you're going the used route, you just can't be too picky, gotta grab whatever pops up that suits requirements and fits

CrankyOne

Might be worth checking Bicycle Belle if you are anywhere in the vicinity.

pdlamb

+1 to all the above.


A good bike shop will sell you a bike that will last you for years with minimal (not zero, sorry!) maintenance. The good bike shop will make sure your bike is fit for your purpose, and the bike fits you. They'll probably let you bring it back in after 1-3 months to adjust cables, brakes, etc. They'll show you how to fix a flat tire, how to use quick releases correctly, and how to perform the normal maintenance tasks (most require an hour or two every month). They can even give you information on nearby bike clubs!

Barabaika

They will most likely offer to service your new $300 bike for $100 plus the price of consumables.

That's why it's better to get a simple commuter bike with an installed rack and fenders. These components can cost quite a lot, and installation is not easy if they are not made specifically for a bike.

A 7-speed system usually is the cheapest to maintain. A mega-range freewheel costs $11. That's almost nothing if you need to change it. https://www.niagaracycle.com/categor...reewheel-14-34
A 7-8 speed can cost as little as $6. That's also nothing. https://www.niagaracycle.com/categor...2-x-3-32-brown

An 8-speed will cost $100 more and it uses a cassette. It's also cheap to maintain for a commuter's perspective.

About the Jamis Commuter https://www.rethinkingthedream.com/82...bike-and-gear/

VegasTriker

The second paragraph indicated the OP has "quite an up-gradient" for half a mile" for the route chosen. None of us knows exactly what that means except for the OP. It may be one that is a challenge for a beginner rider but not at all for someone who rides regularly. The reason modern multi-speed bikes came about and became so popular is that they gave you more choices in gearing so you could usually find a gear that is comfortable for the terrain. Once you get beyond 7 speeds in the rear cluster and have at least two chainrings you start to get a decent number of gears to choose from. I have only one bike that doesn't have at least 24 choices and that is an old Nishiki Olympic 12 speed that I found for a friend and he returned it to me when he moved away. It is hard to believe that I thought having just 10 speeds was a fantastic improvement over my 3 speed English racer It was a step up back then but by today's standards is really not. And no, it shouldn't cost the manufacturer $$$ to go from 7 to 8 speeds for the rear cluster and add a front derailleur and second chainring on an entry level bike with entry level components. It does require having frame spacing wide enough to accommodate the extra gear at the rear. I've owned both internal hub gearing (SRAM Dual Drive and Schlumpf Mountain Drives) and standard drives with up to 30 speeds and really don't find standard gearing any more difficult to maintain. If you have a failure in an internal gear setup you are often SOL finding someone to repair it. I know, I've been there. I can find all of the parts for my 3X10 gears at any decent bike shop but not for the SRAM or Schlumpf drives.

Wanderer

I agree with MRT2, and suggest the same thing - but you need more money! You might find a 2017 sharply reduced!

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/bi...cape-city-2018

Barabaika

How much is a chain for your 3x10 setup? Is it more expensive than a regular $7 8-speed chain?
Can your rear 10-speed wheel bring enough cash to a thief if stolen?
Is your bike 3-5 times more expensive than the desired $300-350 range?

Your Nishiki Olympic 12 has only 6 speeds really. The 52t chain ring is of no value to a regular commuter.

Phil_gretz

^Good recommendation. Here in DC, there was a Craigslist seller who had a rental fleet of well maintained Escapes going for $200 a pop. Had a co-worker buy one for his Dad's visits, and as an extra bike. I went over it and it needed only a new chain and minor front rim truing. Otherwise A-Okay. Deals are out there.