Utter Newbie looking for advice!
 

Hi everyone this is my first post on this forum and I'm looking for a bike to ride around the suburbs of Connecticut.

My area is hilly and I'll be driving the bike almost exclusively on paved roads.


My purpose of buying a bike is to get in shape. I'm 22 years old, 5'10'' and weigh about 215 lbs. The only bikes I've ever had were used bikes the first I got for free (it had no hand brakes you braked by pedaling backwards- is there a special name for that?)

The second I bought used it was lightweight and had a hand brake it was very nice.

I am going to use the bike just to ride around my neighborhood for exercise.

The important things to me are that it is cheap but decent quality. I'd say my budget is about $175-200 for a bike and I have no problems buying a used bike.

Thanks!

You actually sound like perfect candidate for a flat bar road bike such as a Specialized Sirrus, Jamis Coda, or Trek 7000 series. Your budget is low for a new one, but a search on your most local Craglist page or maybe a used bike from a shop might get you there. I sold my Sirrus for $200 about a year ago, and it was in sweet shape.

coaster brake.


you'll have to get used then. check craigslist.

I agree with above. Look for a used flat handlebar (like on mountain bikes, not the curly drop bars you see on road bikes) road bike on craigslist. You should get a lot of enjoyment out of something like that for a while and you'll learn over time what you like and what you don't like. It's a really nice middle ground place to start riding. I would suggest finding a frame that lets you sit in a relaxed position with your back at about a 45 degree bend at your waist but will let you keep your back straight, not hunched. If you find something with wider tires like 28-35mm range you will be able to pedal over grass and hard packed dirt and potholes/crappy sidewalks which comes in handy when just tooling around the neighborhood.

dont buy a bike from a department store unless you plan rarely riding. they fall apart fast and are heavy. for the price of one you can buy a nice used bike that will last forever if you take care of it.

I agree with everything said so far. I'll add that if you're fairly proficient at repairing bikes, installing components, etc., then by all means buy used. Be patient and look for the right bike on craigslist. I don't know much about bikes except how to ride them, and I didn't feel comfortable buying used. I went into my LBS a couple of months ago with a $200 budget, took one look, fainted, recovered, and upped my budget to precisely what I paid for my Trek 7100, which has now shot up to $439. Good luck.

I am in much the same situation as the original poster as far as needing to get in shape, except I would also like to eventually get into racing and would like to go on long trips or even commute to work part time (25 miles one way). I enjoyed riding dirtbikes, but I now have kids and it is a bit dangerous, so I am also looking for a new hobby.

I have been doing some reading and in my very limited knowledge I am thinking that maybe a Trek 1.2 would be a nice beginner's bike for this. I would like to keep the total price (bike, helmet, shoes, etc) under 1,000.

Is the Trek 1.2 a good starter bike for the purposes I have mentioned? As far as ability is concerned, is there room for growth in that bike? Any other suggestions? I appreciate any feedback as I am positive I have overlooked several things.

:thumb:

The 1.2 is a perfectly adequate starter road bike. It will be a while until you can justify getting something better. If you have a Jamis dealer near you, check out the Ventura Sport.

I have a Trek and Jamis dealer relatively close, I will have to go check out the 1.2 and the Ventura Sport. Thanks for the recommendation. :D

I just visted my local dealer and I think I found a different bike that would be better suited for me. It was a Giant OCR1. Do you guys have any advice about Giant?

Giant is one of the biggest bike companies, nothing wrong with them.

The 2008 Trek 820 has an MSRP of $330, and an LBS near me shows a price for them of $270; so if you could scrape up another $100 or so, you could have a new bike...with a warranty.

The best bike for most folks who have NOT be riding much is a mountain bike. The fat tires and geometry of a mountain bike make them the most stable and comfortable type of bike for a new rider. Their heavy duty components and wheels make them the most reliable and cheapest bike to own.

Many bike shops take in bikes on "trade" and so have used mountain bikes for sale. Salvation Army stores, Goodwill stores, and yard sales are also a good source of VERY cheap bikes. If you don't know much about bikes, take a more experienced friend with you to the Goodwill store. A $50 Wal-Mart bike can look VERY much like a $500 Trek or Specialized bike, both of which cost $25 at Goodwill.