ctyler

+1

Retro Grouch 

That's what I think too.

Shop for a bike shop first. There's bigger differences among bike shops than there is among bike brands. When you find the one that has the people that you feel most comfortable with - that's it. Buy a brand that they carry and support and you'll never go wrong.

If you think that you'll ever need service or advice or accessories who do you want to talk with? If you ever have a warranty issue, who do you want working for you?

cyccommute 

Probably below color

You are working at two different purposes. A road bike makes road works best on the road while a mountain bike works best on trails. You can use one on the other but the results are seldom desirable. A mountain bike does far better on the road than a road bike does on the mountains, however.

If you are new to either aspects of bicycling and want to expand your horizons and abilities, buying a bike that will do both will quickly lead you to exceed the abilities of the bike in either area.

If I could only own one bike, I'd take a hard tail mountain bike over just about anything else. Yes, they are slightly heavier than road bikes, although not too much heavier than a cross bike. They are slower on the road but more off-road capable. If you get one of sufficient quality to have a lock-out on the fork (most mountain bikes have than feature now), you don't have to deal with fork bob while riding on hard surfaces. I would make sure it has a suspension fork rather than go rigid. A suspension fork is more then just a luxury for off-road riding. Because the fork has give, it improve control tremendously for off-road riding.

When choosing a bike you should look at price first. Pick a price range you are comfortable with and then start looking.

Second, you should look at components. Get components as high up the quality scale as possible.

Third, you should look at fit. Once you have decided on a price range and a component range, try different bikes to see which ones fit the best. There is only a little variation in the different brands...much smaller than many people think...for a given price range. Try a bunch of different brands of bikes to see which one you like.

Fourth, pick a color you like

Fifth, and finally, look at the name on the downtube. By this point, that name is probably not too important

goagain

I'm a newbie, but I thought for road (not racing or very long rides) and light trails, a hybrid was the type for those kinds of riding (casual). ???
I'm also looking at Cypress and Sedona, both the cromo and the aluminum models. Leaning toward the cromo without the suspension fork.

cyccommute 

The problem with hybrids is that you quickly outgrow their capabilities on- or off-road. If you never want to progress, i.e. ride harder trails or faster on the road, a hybrid might be a good choice. But if you find that you want to progress to a higher level of skill, fitness or enjoyment, a bike that is more specialized towards what you want to do is a better choice.

ace587

Purely subjective.

johnj2803

I have been lurking there too. I really cannot tell what the difference is between a hybrid and a cyclocross... are cyclocross more of a road hybrid? and hybrids are more of a mountain bike hybrid?

This makes a lot of sense. What use is a particular brand of bike if you don't have support in your local area!? thanks! will keep this in mind.



I am leaning towards this rationale.

I am not even sure what starting price range I will be comfortable with but I am sure I want to keep it below $400 (even $300)

I am all new at this and I am not really too much well versed with components yet. That is why i lurk i this forum But there is too much info

I keep on seeing SRAM shifters and Shimano gears in big box bikes and I see them in this forum too so I am not sure if they qualify for quality... I think these are the "more" important parts of the bike. am i right?


Yes this makes a lot of sense for me now. But do you think hybrids/cyclocross bikes make for good beginners bike just to make you try to make you have a feel fo what riding better suits you?


Thanks guys!

fietsbob

shop the dealer, not the bike brand name on the frame,
which one is near your house?
brands have sales territories.
so 2 shops across the street from each other
wont have the same brand of bike.

the components are part of the price point,
they are all made under contract by big manufacturing factorys in Asia,
except for like the Trek OLCV carbon fiber Pro-level race bikes
at several Kilo-dollars. way up there..

cyccommute 

A hybrid



A cyclocross bike



They are similar but with subtle differences. The cross bike has road style shifters and brake levers. It's a 'road' bike that is meant to be raced on a specific kind of course with specific rules. The bike is built to specification set forth by a (rather stodgy) international racing governing body.

The hybrid could be considered to be a flat bar version of the road bike or a skinny tire version of a mountain bike. It has roots in both world but there are limitations. It's frame isn't designed for the kinds of forces you'd find on anything above a modest off-road trail. It doesn't have the wide tires that a mountain bike does to give you grip and float over a variety of terrain. This one is more road oriented. It has thinner tires so it would be even more limited.

'Comfort bikes' are a variety of hybrid that is more like a mountain bike in that they use wider tires and suspension but the suspension is often rudimentary. Comfort bikes also tend to be inexpensive so they are heavier and aimed at a very different market than off-road riders. Think Grandma and Grandpa carrying them on the RV

If you are new to cycling and don't know where to start, a shop is your best bet. There is a myth that people shouldn't have more bicycle then they can handle. There is no such thing as too much bicycle. You are the motor so the bicycle will perform to the best of your abilities.

There is such a thing as too little of a bicycle. If you buy too low in price, you'll quickly find that the bike is holding you back, not vice versa. If you spend too little on the bike and you quickly reach it's limits, you'll have to upgrade and/or buy another bike. Paying twice for something is rarely economical

$400 is entry level on a mountain bike. You'll get a hardtail bike with an okay suspension outfitted with lower end Shimano or Sram. It'll be dragging the 30 lb limit and may be pushing the 40 lb limit. It will work as a mountain bike but the weight will limit your abilities. Add discs and you'll add $100 to the price. I don't think that the extra hundred buys much.

If you jump up to around $700...a Specialized Rockhopper for example...you'll lose around 5 lbs and you'll get higher end components. The shock will be better, the parts will be lighter and the bike will be more off-road worth because the shock works better and the bike isn't as anchorish.

In road bikes, $650 is entry level. Something like the Jamis Ventura Sport is a very good deal for a low end road bike. The bike is world class light...by 1991 standards...at 22 lb. It's a pig compared to a carbon fiber wonder bike but those begin at close to $2000

If you go to $1000 on a road bike, you get something nicer again. You probably won't lose much weight (1 to 2 lbs), however.


It depends on what you want to do. For dabbling in road biking, the Jamis Hybrid or a Trek FX, etc. would probably serve you well. They are a little more road bikey. It would probably go fast enough for easy to moderate road group rides.

However if you want to do mountain biking, they are actually more difficult to ride off-road then a mountain bike. Riding rigid bikes requires more skill than riding a suspended bike. You have to finesse the trail more and can't bash through stuff as easily. Front suspension makes control easier and dual suspension makes everything easier. But don't go trying to buy a dually for $400. You'd be wasting $400

johnj2803

@ cyccommute thanks! very informative!

roadiespinner

+1 for the one that fits. If it doesn't fit you won't enjoy riding it.

Twister1

Had giant diamondback Fugi (more) many Treks and by far the best bang for the bucks value is Diamondback. If u don't hv disposable $$$$ then Diamondback is worth looking

JanMM

Zombie Thread Alert! Prior to the preceding post, this thread had been asleep for four years. Just so you know.

Eric3.0

I think they're all good bikes and they all share the parts like shifters, wheels and such that are made by third party companies like SRAM.... The only thing 'brand built' is IMO the frame. So IMO I'd go with the brand that feels wicked nice and rides the way you want. So test them all......Spesh, Giant, Treck...whatever....buy the one that fits the best on you... Don't fret on name brand or looks....Fit and comfort is where to buy a bike.

RussB

+1 for Zombie Thread Alert!

Eric3.0

Yeah...Diamondback if on a budget... I have two....strong built and they just work... I still ride my Insight and my Response Sport. Diamondback has that boxstore image, because they try to bring quality bikes to ordinary riders.... Gotta look beyond that.... Diamondback makes the full range.... 400.00 to 10,000.00

Eric3.0

Ah ****.... I hate that.

Wanderer

Everybody tells new people to search for their info - and when they do, the zombie complaining starts.

They found an interest, and want pursue it - nothing wrong with reviving old threads.

JanMM

Nothing wrong, true.
It's polite to let people know that they may have jumped into a conversation with someone who hasn't been around for a long time.
Some old threads are full of useful info and others not so much.

fietsbob

they all come on the same ship from Taipei,. just different shipping containers to truck to a different warehouse.

Stucky

As a Specialized owner, I have to say: They all make nice bikes. Get the one that appeals most to you, in terms of fit and finish; color scheme, etc. They're all of comparable quality.

And +1 for what Cyccommute said re: hybrids!

And who keeps resurrecting these old threads?!