What Bike?
 

Hey all,
I am in the market for a new bike. I know nothing of bikes.

The purpose of the bike would be for getting in shape, shedding some pounds. I plan on riding 4-6 times/week in the morning anywhere from 30-60 minutes on the road.

I am 6 ft tall weigh 215. My wife says I have a budget of $200-$400, but could probably spend a little more.

Any suggestions of what type of bike I should guy?

Go to a LBS (local bike store) and try riding different bikes. You'll probably prefer one over another. Buy that one. Ride it a lot. Repeat in a couple years. :D

This is a lot like asking strangers the question, "I want a wife, which one should I pick?" Both are highly personal selections. If you live in an area where there are a variety of bike shops, visit more than one. You are going to find some that cater to avid road cyclists where they carry mostly expensive bikes, way more than your stated budget. Considering the type of shop that caters more to recreational riders and families. You might be lucky to find one that has a selection of used bikes and one in stock that fits you.

At that price point, you are probably looking for a hybrid, since the component groups tend to put road bikes above that range.

Each manufacturer has a variety of options, so you should go check out a few shops for three things:

1) Their recommendations.
2) A test ride.
3) To check out the level of customer service at the shop.

To give you some idea of what is available near your price range, check out the Trek FX line. The 7.0 FX or Trek 7.1 FX are close to your budget..

The Giant Cypress leans more toward the "comfort bike" spectrum of Hybrids, but would also be a good choice.

I would personally avoid shocks, especially on entry level bikes like what you will be exploring,. but you should decide based on what will keep you in the saddle.

Will you be cycling on flat terrain or do you have some challenging hills to climb?

Also:

In which state do you reside?

There are a few hills, I wouldn't call them challenging though. I live California. Beaumont, CA.

Thank you this really does give me something to go with!

I didn't pick my wife, she picked me :)

Your best deals are going to be online. With your budget, you'd get more bang for your buck by going online.

The best online distributor is Peformance, because not only do you get a reduced price, you also don't have to assemble the bike. You simply pick the bike up at a brick & mortar "Performance" bike shop. After a short test ride, if you don't approve, you get a refund. If you do approve, you get to ride into the sunset! :)

* Nashbar and Bikesdirect are great online distributors too! It's just that you don't get the test ride, and you are stuck with the assembly. If there's a problem, you may get stuck with the shipping costs, as well.

Peformance has several bikes that I'd recommend:

The Fuji Absolute 2.3 - The Fuji Absolute 2.1 - The Diamondback Insight - The Scattante Single Speed, only if you can handle the hills (they'd better be some really small hills, though)

www.performancebike.com

These are mostly "City Bikes" and "Fitness Bikes"

Call customer service for sizing suggestions...

but if you are a complete Noob you are still better off shopping in person .


Shipped in a box, Mail order bikes have to be put together ... you already good at that?

I think that you're in the wrong market. Shop for a bike shop first.

Audition the bike shops in your area. When you find one with a shop person with whom you can identify and who asks the "right" questions - that's it. Once you know which shop you like, find a style of bike that meets your needs at a price that meets your budget and you'll never go wrong.