only embarrassing if you don't have the legs to fill 'em.

Hey Paul, I'm right down the road from you in North Aurora. When and where is this ride?

Make sure you keep us in the spotlight as to your progress , and the ride itself (before and after.)

I just may join you - flat bars and all.

Almost every piece of advice you have received has been good. Your price range isn’t that far off if you visit a few LBS and look for something on sale. Getting two bikes can help lower the price a few bucks. Even check some of the local sponsored bike clubs to see if people have a bike to sell as they upgrade.

When you test ride at you bike shop remember this. If you haven’t been riding a bike many of the comfort bikes will be more comfortable and can prove to be more comfortable even if you ride them 10 or 15 miles. They don’t have the problem of the flat bar because the weight isn’t on your hands. But there is a trade off. If you ride beyond that 15-25 mile range you will notice your seat isn’t as comfortable as you thought. And comfort bikes do not like hills at all.

None of that means you can’t ride 100 miles on a hybrid or a comfort bike, people do. You can ride a Mountain Bike 100 miles, people do. But long distances are best done on a road bike even if it is a more relaxed one some call a touring bike.

In the end the choice is up to you. But I will caution you about one thing. Once bitten by the cycling bug don’t assume that you will be able to walk away from the training you plan on doing and putting your bike away to only come out a few times a month. The closeness between you and your son can only be increased when you ride together. Riding bike together can be an act of co-operation. Far more than running two cyclists can be better than one.

I suggest a 20" wheel folding bike. Downtube.com or dahon.com, maybe xooter.com swift. They are easier to transport(to your even), and when you are not using them, they are easy to store. there is a folding bike section of the forum, read various posts for pros cons. Folding is a feature you pay for, so you will get less of something else for the same money.

Wow, I am overwhelmed and delighted by the advice. The more the merrier so pile it on!

Wanderer, the dates will be announced in about a month, but it is the JDRF Ride for the Cure. My Sis-in_Law is doing the Montana one this weekend. I'm shooting for Asheville which will be next summer. I will post again when I know the date.

THANK YOU,
Paul

Hi again,

Since I posted I received some great answers to my questions. Some of you recommended I look for a good used bike and others said don't do it. If I do buy a used bike...

1. Where should I look? Local Ebay or Craiglist, newspaper, bike club, other?
2. I assume I can still go to a LBS and get a seat that fits me or other adjustments as long as the height is ok. Correct?
3. If a bike is 2 years old, what % of retail would I normally expect to pay?
4. What is the best place or way to establish if a bike is worthy of purchasing?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Paul

I've had luck on CL but it can take time too find a good deal. I did find a 2006 OCR2 in near perfect shape for $500 (new it would be about $800). IMO quality road bikes do not seem to drop much in price with age. 10-20 % saving on CL seems more common on bikes less then 5 years old. Good stuff is good stuff. Having a LBS that you feel good about and you can go to for advice can be worth extra $$.

+1 on going to an LBS for your first bike. You will pay a little more but if you have a good LBS then you can be certain the bike will fit and will function well. You might find the perfect bike on CL for a lot less but on the other hand you might be throwing your money away.

lots of good stuff your getting here.

go to as many bike shops as possible and feel them out. your not just buying a bike from that shop, you should be buying service and some level of continued support. getting an average on advice between shops will help determine if somebody is more interested in selling you the right bike or just selling a bike. Sometimes they want to move what they have on the floor more than anything else. not always, but it can happen.

The thing with a used bike is this. If you know what you are looking for and at, then its fine. If not, then you can get burned.

Also, try out as many saddle options as possible, both when you buy and possibly later. as your miles climb you may find that a gell unit that felt so nice at ten miles is moving around to much and chaffing, as well as soaking up energy on your leg movement. Drop bars look really uncomfortable but they are nice for a long ride. if you get a flat bar bar ends can really help.

It seems like the quest for the perfect saddle never ends. What looks comfortable at first ends up being a killer as the miles add up. Thats another reason to develop a LBS relationship. A good shop will let you try a saddle for a month and trade it in for something else if it doesn't work for you.

Paul,
I have been looking for a bike for my 13 yr old son and found a good one at Performance Bikes. Its a Fuji road bike and they are selling them for $499. Really nice bike for the money. Its a Fuji Newest, check it out at Fujis website or Performance.

https://www.fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=411

I agree and like the Fuji's. However, I think it would be a good idea to possibly get a used bike. Get to know people in a bicycle club and they can help you. The bike shops are really good and will help you and your son get fitted properly. A good bicycling friend can help too. Possibly someone else that is going to make the ride.

Also, you mentioned that you didn't think that you would become bicyclists. I think that if you build up to riding the 100 miles you may just love it. The people on this forum do. It would be a great hobby for your son and could help him control his weight throughout his life and fight the diabetes. It is great for fitness and most of all its fun! Best of luck training.

Thanks everyone.

Big Chainring- Thanks for the suggestion. Would this qualify as a decent bike for training and riding the 100 miles?

WFromm- You may may be right. We love to do things together and I do work out a lot so who knows. I would love to find a couple of good used bikes since I am buying 2 and initially they're for the Ride for the Cure only. As several people point out we may deide to ride more or to the JDRF ride again.

Thanks,
Paul

Yes, and they are more than decent. I test rode one and it was a really nice bike. Very light, sporty ride. Much better than the 20 yr old road bike I am riding.

I agree with this advice, I would stick with the name brands, and don't be shy about asking advice at your LBS. Oh, by the way, you will get addicted to riding, trust me. I started riding for fitness earlier this year and have done 1000 miles since.

Paul, there are a lot of runners who also ride. Runners make good riders. I think the most important thing about your immediate goal for you and your son is that this training brings you closer and that in the course of your training, you continue to ask questions.

Theirs a lot of really great advice you've already received. For 100 miles a drop bar bike will be your savior. Alot of people around here aren't a fan of bikes direct because they have sketchy business practices (like buying old 70s bike brands using them as there own) but there bikes are great deals for the money and their service is great. BUT first time buyers should not buy bikes online unless you already know your CORRECT bike size.

For $500 you can get this bike which has more of a road bike feel as the seat is higher then the handle bars and has a steel frame which absorbs the bumps in the road better then aluminum. https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm

Or for $100 more you can get a touring bike from them with a steel frame but has more of a relaxed position with the seat at the same height as the handle bars. https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

To sum it up for about 500 your looking at the used market or sale market. With bikes direct you'll have to put your bike together yourself but you can always pay your LBS to build it up for you and check if everything is alright.

As long as it holds air in the tires KICK that thing get your monies worth Bike shops can have some good deals on used bikes . Got myself a 1992 INNOVA all terrain fitness for $ 75.00 best bike I have owned fits me great helped me through a broken back ...