Hello
Been lurking a while just taking everything in. I will be ready to buy a bike with a vacation payout I will be receiving in a couple weeks. I will need everything and will be looking to spend 400-600 in the Grand Rapids, MI(for those that know the LBS). I mainly want to get into biking for fitness(30-60minutes), and may commute to work(5 miles), and lazy rides around the neighborhood.

The help I need is what kinds of bikes should I be looking at, hybrids?(brands and models). What accessories are necessary? Basically looking for a budget breakdown on how I should spend my money.

Thanks for the help
Matt

Cheers Matt, welcome to Bike Forums. General Cycling Discussion might be better place for your question, so I'm moving the thread (from Introductions).

--Juha, a Forum Mod

Shop for a bike shop first. Visit the bike stores near your home until you find the one with the people who seem to ask the "right" questions and who you like conversing with.

There's more differences among bike shops than there is among bike brands. Who do you want to rely on for guidence about accessories and the like? If you have an warranty issue, who do you want working for you? How about local knowledge of good places to ride and maybe groups to ride with?

Thanks for the advice. I did plan to go to each bike shop to get a feel for each one. Am I right to be looking for a hybrid bike?

Any recommendations for a helmet?

IMO any hybrid is a bike that's good at nothing. For the riding you want to do ask about a "city bike" that has fenders and/or an internal 7 or 8 speed hub for a super easy bike to care for.

As far as a helmet goes I like the Bell Citi model since it looks "normal" and not like a space man with fins at the back of your head. The "citi" fits well so it's easy to wear.

I have a Yellow Citi helmet that I wear when I ride........
https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Helmet-Ye...1&sr=8-1-spell

Went to two bike shops today, two more to go. The bike shop I liked better had two models I was interested in, Specialiazed Sirrus Sport and Giant Escape City. I appreciate both bike equally. The Sirrus looks a lot sportier and aggressive and the Escape looks a lot more comfortable. The second bike shop carried the Trek 7.2fx, which looks like it compares to the Sirrus.

Any big difference among these three bikes, any of them comparably better?

as what everyone said go window shopping for a bike first. go to different bike shops. ride around and see what you like, but you can't always tell from the first ride.

for helmet I say the same. try what fits right, feels comfortable and what you think looks nice.

Are you planning on getting panniers too?

I went to the last of the LBSs, and wasn't as impressed with the bikes/people. I think I've narrowed it down to the sirrus sport or the 7.2. They are both about the same price, I like the bike shop that sells the sirrus better, but not much. With everything about equal is there a big difference between the sirrus sport and the 7.2?

I want to buy this weekend and want to know if there is anything I should factor besides color.

Thanks.

(____asdfghjkl, probably not panniers or a rack to begin with)

For the major brands, bicycle models at similar prices points are going to be close in quality. (Specialized, Trek, Giant are good brands.)

I'm assuming you are talking about them.

Sirrus Sport

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...8&menuItemId=0 $710

Trek 7.2fx

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ss/fx/7_2_fx/# $549

Giant Escape City

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...11/6963/43123/ $540


Some differences between the two

The Trek has lower gearing (better for steep hills) and wider tires (more comfortable on rougher roads).

The Specialized has a some-what nicer rear derailler. (The specialized list price is a bit higher so that might be expected.)
The Sport comes with a carbon fork (which might be a bit more confortable than the steel fork on the trek).

The Escape City is similar to the Trek but it comes with a rack ($40) and fenders ($30) (which you would appreciate if you plan on riding in wet conditions).

============

You should carry a pump, spare tube (or two) and tire levers (and know how to replace them).

I've tried both, and own the Sirrus Sport. I personally found the Sirrus Sport to be more agile and fun to ride. Better looking too. The Sirrus Sport is very close to a flat bar road bike.

The downside is that the Sirrus gets a bit twitchy if you add a rack and load it down with panniers. It's fine if I use a backpack, but panniers are out. If you plan on doing the whole rack thing, go with the Trek.

I thought I was all set on the Sirrus Sport, but I went to the LBS that sold treks one last time. That is where the problem arised. They had a 2011 Jamis Coda Sport marked down to $575. https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...codasport.html

I gave it a test ride, and it felt very smooth, but I felt a little more hunched over, which was a little uncomfortable. Is this riding position something I would get used to? If so I might be sold on the Coda Sport. Thanks.

No comments on my decision? I start a new job tomorrow and I'm losing sleep about what bike to buy, not my new job. Any input would be appreciated, and a good night's sleep would be very helpful before my first day of work tomorrow. Thanks.

Matt

Depends on WHY you felt hunched over. You might be able to raise the stem a little, or raise the saddle. But if you feel hunched over because the frame is a little small, that's different.

It's really hard to advise you without more information.

The size was 21", and with the Sirrus I was a Large, which I believe is comparable. The sales person said the Coda Sport is a little more road bike style, which I why I was hunched over.

Now see, that's exactly why finding the right LBS is so important.

Buying a new bike is in some ways like buying shoes. You tend to rely on the salesperson to help you choose the right size. When you're dealing with current year's models that's not usually a problem because they'll have, or be able to get, any of the sizes. Close out stock is a little different because there might be only the one. They have to find a customer that fits the bike or at least make the customer think that it fits.

Here is where the rubber meets the road. Some bike shop folks will tell you anything to sell the old stock. That probably will benefit the shop more than it benefits you. Some really will tell you what's in your personal best interest. So your answer depends upon your evaluation of the sales person.

A year from now you won't remember how you spent the money you saved by buying a close out but you'll still have the bike. Make sure that it's a comfortable bike for you to ride.

Thanks Ciao_bella for the awesome information. I haven't had a chance to stop in at Alger Cyclery yet, I will have to do that before I buy. The people at Village Bike shop have been awesome both times I stopped in, that is why I was leaning towards the Sirrus. I wasn't really impressed either time I stopped in at Kentwood Cycling and that is where the Coda Sport is. I think it would make me happier to give my business to Village Bike shop regardless of the deal I could get on the Coda. Just some more to think about. Thanks again for the info.

Matt

I tried to send a private message, but my post count is too low. So I guess anyone can answer this, even though it is somewhat Grand Rapids specific. I will be purchasing a new bike mainly for fitness and some commuting, so I will be riding on the roads and some trails. The concern I have is with how skinny the Coda Sport's wheels/tires are. Will they be ok on the crappy Michigan roads? Or should I go with something like the Trek 7.2fx because it has wider wheels/tires? Also what kind of condition are the local trails in? Could the Coda Spoer handle those?

Thanks
Matt

28s are fine for Michigan roads.

How about on some of the trails?

how much you spend puts you in a price point
combine all the stuff and the bike frame and fork and the will all be similar component choices .
'bike' is a combination
better frame , lesser component is usually advisable,
as the components get replaced as they wear.

What riding are you wanting to do? is typically question 1.

athletic, performance, posture is a different setup
than a more upright casual riding one.

I have 28 wide tires and go all over the trails, paved ones that is. 28's are too narrow for gravel trails, but most of the trails in the area are paved.

I also can't use private messaging due to my newness on here.

Thanks for all the help on the bike decision. Went with the Coda Sport, went on a short ride around the neighborhood, felt great. Now I need to start accessorizing.

Since I'm an Amazon Prime member I prefer to shop there. Would these fenders fit?
https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Fu.../dp/B003Q05BBY

What is the difference between these water bottle cages?
Modula: https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Modula-...6269194&sr=8-4
Modula EX: https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Modula-...ref=pd_ys_iyr3

Thanks
Matt

Define "gravel trails". I think that 28mm road bike tires are perfect for crushed limestone trails. I'll agree that they aren't very much fun on bigger loose gravel.

Retro, I was thinking along the lines of chunky gravel. As for crushed limestone, yeah, I agree 28's are fine.