SteveSatch

I'll be 39 this month and I'm looking for a bike to keep in shape. I've lost a decent amount of weight the last few years but my achilles has made jogging (my favorite cardio) impossible. I'm starting to get worried about putting the weight back on. I really hate cardio equipment. I need to actually do somethig. I think a bike would be low impact enough for my foot. I'd be riding in the suburbs, on the road, maybe a couple hard packed dirt paths, probably three days a week. I doubt I'm looking at long bike trips, 45 minutes each time just to stay in shape. I have zero bike experience outside of being a kid. I figure I have $400 to spend on a bike. Any tips or bike suggestions would be awesome.

chipcom 

You'd probably be very happy with a hybrid, though I would try to get one with a solid fork, rather than a MTB or comfort type suspension fork. For what you want and what you want to spend, I highly recommend the Trek 7200FX (7.2FX I believe it is called for this year's model). In fact, if you look around for used bikes, you might find a 7300FX or 7500FX in your price range. These have a bit better components, but IMHO the 7200FX will serve you just fine.

MichaelW

The sportier style of flat bar bike as mentioned above are ideal for general fitness and Just Riding Along. They make good commuter and light touring bikes.
Most major brands make this style of bike. Do make sure that you get the correct size and that the bike has threaded eyelets for a luggage rack and fenders (missing on some models), these will expand the possible uses of your bike at no extra cost.
Find yourself a good local bike shop (LBS) where they can advise you on fit, check the assembly and provide service and backup.

huhenio

My personal experience is .... I have a 600 dollar hybrid that is not seeing much action in lieu of my single speed - lightER - bike

I vote for a light single speed, no gears to fiddle with, "thin" 32 inch tires. If he really gets into riding he can jump up from that model without hating his "begginer bike".

The sigle gears are not expensive nor difficult to change. It will take you like 3 months or more to want a "faster" or "heavier" gear to pedal with.

A Specialized Langster? The price is right, is light, is not that bad looking, and it will hold pretty well.
A Bianchi San Jose? - Same as above.
A Surly? Single speed cross frame - real capable setup for fatter tires, etc.

Why one speed? Unless you live in a really hilly area, you only need one. Specially if it is for kicking around. Many experienced riders, owners of multiple bikes with multiple gears, enjoy the simplicity of riding occasionally with only one gear.

edp773

I would suggest a Giant FCR 4 to fit your needs and budget. This bike lists for $440, but you should be able to get a good deal on a 2005 model this time of year.

Hear is a link to the manufacturers website:
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030...2005&range=197

LSPR_MTU

Just a comment. Good decision on the biking route. Although I'm only 23, I too have been a running fanatic for about 8 years. I ran the Chicago marathon about 4 years ago, and a combination of knee problems and shin splints have kept me from getting back into it. Since I couldn't manage more than a couple miles at a time, I bought a bike as an alternative form of exercise. After about 6 months of riding regularly, I've slowly started to run again. I'm up to about 3.5 miles now with no signs of pain.

I've become a huge believer in cross-training. Give it about a year of biking, and maybe your injuries will work themselves out. Biking is great, really fun, but running is just awesome; something about the stillness and peace of just you and the road.

I hope to once again get my mileage up and focus on running, but I will definitely keep my biking up as well. Good luck!

thebankman

I had my heel ripped off and my tibia fractured a few months ago. I looked to biking as a low impact physical therapy solution, it's been great so far. I grew up on mountain bikes but always hated the dropped flat bars which put pressure on my palms (plus my poor posture and riding position at the time). My bike is a Specialized Crossroads, it has flat bars, everything is ergonomics all the way and it's a "comfort bike." That's probably the bike you'll want for just getting back into bicycling and enjoying your fitness rides. After a month I'm getting serious about bicycling as fitness and commuting and may convert to dropped road bars, but I'd recommend flat bars to start. All the "big" bike companies make comfort/hybrid/city bikes that are almost all identical, but I liked the Body Geometry parts on the Specialized, it had a paint job that I could be proud of, and my first real bike was a Specialized.

One thing to note is that my knees have experienced a bit of pain since starting to ride longer distances (plus I live in San Francisco, on a big hill), but I find biking to be as low impact as you're going to get. Recumbent bikes are easier on your body, but I don't find them practical or fun.

Best of luck!
Alan

Portis

Welcome to the forums.

As you may have noticed, you are getting all sorts of different advice. That is mainly because so many members on here do so many different things with their bikes. Everyone has different interests and therefore different bikes.

My advice is to go a bike shop and ride some bikes. Cycling is an entire culture of it's own and the local bike shop is where it all starts. If you are in a good shop they will be very accomodating and let you ride lots of different bikes. IF you aren't getting that vibe after the first 15 minutes, than switch shops until you find one that does.

My general advice is to start with a mountain bike. Why? Well, i ride both road and mountain bikes and the mountain bike is the most versatile. If you decide you want to do a little off roading than you have the right bike. It is also perfectly suited to riding on the street.

A hybrid, comfort or road bike is less flexible in this regard. I have a couple Trek 4300 mountain bikes that i started fitness riding on a couple years ago. I have put over 6000 miles on one of them and around 5000 on the other.

The retail is around $350 for the non-disc brake model. Every manufacturer has good bikes in this price range, so go ride some. In my opinion, running is boring. There simply aren't enough gadgets involved. Cycling on the other hand will lend you many, many days of wasted time on the internet dreaming of things you shouldn't buy but eventually end up buying.

SteveSatch

Thanks for all the suggestions. I get paid at the end of the month. My LBS seems to carry Trek mostly by looking at their webpage. They list MSRP. Is that what I can expect top pay? They are '06 models. When did '06 models come out? If not too long ago they might have some '05 left : )

FarHorizon

Buy a Kona Dew - for what you want and at your price, you'll NEVER find a better value!