Need Advice on Buying a Hybrid
#1
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Need Advice on Buying a Hybrid
Hi all!
So I'm in the market for a Hybrid bike, and I pretty much know little to none about bikes (other than riding them). I want the bike to ride around towns, 5 mile radius probably, doing so about 2-3 times a week. And to go on some bike trails as well once a week. That being said I'm going to be a casual rider. I'd like to spend about $200, at max. I know thats a low number, but I'm going to be a casual rider and I feel like I will not get use out of a more expensive bike.
With the information I have provided, can you guys (and girls) help me out?
Thanks
So I'm in the market for a Hybrid bike, and I pretty much know little to none about bikes (other than riding them). I want the bike to ride around towns, 5 mile radius probably, doing so about 2-3 times a week. And to go on some bike trails as well once a week. That being said I'm going to be a casual rider. I'd like to spend about $200, at max. I know thats a low number, but I'm going to be a casual rider and I feel like I will not get use out of a more expensive bike.
With the information I have provided, can you guys (and girls) help me out?
Thanks
#2
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The two things you are going to get told are:
FIT first. Make sure you get fitted properly. THe next thing the divinely wise sages on this board will say is stay away from X-mart bikes and hit a real bike shop or try the CL/used market.
They may also tell you to raise your budget just a bit for quality.
I ride a $450 Trek 7.2 2007 for utility/around town. I ride a $450 Fuji Newest 3.0 2008 (close-out special) for distance. I bought the Fuji at a Performance bike shop, which with your budget would be my recommendation, and the Trek from my local Trek dealer.
FIT first. Make sure you get fitted properly. THe next thing the divinely wise sages on this board will say is stay away from X-mart bikes and hit a real bike shop or try the CL/used market.
They may also tell you to raise your budget just a bit for quality.
I ride a $450 Trek 7.2 2007 for utility/around town. I ride a $450 Fuji Newest 3.0 2008 (close-out special) for distance. I bought the Fuji at a Performance bike shop, which with your budget would be my recommendation, and the Trek from my local Trek dealer.
#3
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Well, I just picked up a Schwinn Tourist hybrid bike at Target on sale for $234 (regularly $249) and I am very pleased with it. You might want to take a look at it if the Target near you has one.
.
#5
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i bought a Diamondback Insight One back in December....and love it. Very Light weight and easy to use. Got it at Amazon for $349. Dicks sporting goods store had it for $399.
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The Fuji Newest 2.0 mentioned above is on sale right now at Performance for $499 for the 2009 model. And the 2009 3.0 is $349.
If I were in the market for a hybrid, I would seriously consider one of those. I was in the Performance store today and saw a 2.0 as I walked in the door. It seemed quite nice.
EDITED: I had the 2.0 and 3.0 backward. Fixed.
If I were in the market for a hybrid, I would seriously consider one of those. I was in the Performance store today and saw a 2.0 as I walked in the door. It seemed quite nice.
EDITED: I had the 2.0 and 3.0 backward. Fixed.
Last edited by waynesworld; 04-08-10 at 09:42 PM.
#7
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I say the following as someone who has several years of experience working at a bike shop as both salesperson and as a wrench. (Full disclosure, currently working at a Trek dealer)
Spending a bit more on the front end will save you a lot of time, money, hassle, frustration, disappointment, and problems later on.
LBSs regularly see bike from Target, WalMart, Toys R Us, etc that are less than a month old and in dire need of repair because they were never set up properly before being sold. A basic tune-up at my shop runs about $60. Even after being tuned by a very experienced mechanic, it still won't run great because the parts are of such poor quality that things don't (can't) move into place properly.
So now you've saved $150 versus a quality bike then spent $60 to get it sort of working right, have little to no warranty, probably still need the wheels straightened and new brake pads so that you can stop in the rain...
I hope you see my point. If you're stuck at $200 for your price point, I would say search the used market for a decent quality bike rather than spend $200 on "new"
Spending a bit more on the front end will save you a lot of time, money, hassle, frustration, disappointment, and problems later on.
LBSs regularly see bike from Target, WalMart, Toys R Us, etc that are less than a month old and in dire need of repair because they were never set up properly before being sold. A basic tune-up at my shop runs about $60. Even after being tuned by a very experienced mechanic, it still won't run great because the parts are of such poor quality that things don't (can't) move into place properly.
So now you've saved $150 versus a quality bike then spent $60 to get it sort of working right, have little to no warranty, probably still need the wheels straightened and new brake pads so that you can stop in the rain...
I hope you see my point. If you're stuck at $200 for your price point, I would say search the used market for a decent quality bike rather than spend $200 on "new"
#8
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I say the following as someone who has several years of experience working at a bike shop as both salesperson and as a wrench. (Full disclosure, currently working at a Trek dealer)
Spending a bit more on the front end will save you a lot of time, money, hassle, frustration, disappointment, and problems later on.
LBSs regularly see bike from Target, WalMart, Toys R Us, etc that are less than a month old and in dire need of repair because they were never set up properly before being sold. A basic tune-up at my shop runs about $60. Even after being tuned by a very experienced mechanic, it still won't run great because the parts are of such poor quality that things don't (can't) move into place properly.
So now you've saved $150 versus a quality bike then spent $60 to get it sort of working right, have little to no warranty, probably still need the wheels straightened and new brake pads so that you can stop in the rain...
I hope you see my point. If you're stuck at $200 for your price point, I would say search the used market for a decent quality bike rather than spend $200 on "new"
Spending a bit more on the front end will save you a lot of time, money, hassle, frustration, disappointment, and problems later on.
LBSs regularly see bike from Target, WalMart, Toys R Us, etc that are less than a month old and in dire need of repair because they were never set up properly before being sold. A basic tune-up at my shop runs about $60. Even after being tuned by a very experienced mechanic, it still won't run great because the parts are of such poor quality that things don't (can't) move into place properly.
So now you've saved $150 versus a quality bike then spent $60 to get it sort of working right, have little to no warranty, probably still need the wheels straightened and new brake pads so that you can stop in the rain...
I hope you see my point. If you're stuck at $200 for your price point, I would say search the used market for a decent quality bike rather than spend $200 on "new"
#9
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If I decided on that budget I would look for a good quality used bike that fit me. There are a ton of them around and you can get a lot of bike for the money with a used bike.
#10
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Find your local craigslist, search it and see if you cant find used. I see good deals on there all the time. You could buy a $200 bike from Target and its going to need a $60 tune up, in which case you would be better off spending a little more at a bike shop to begin with.
Also, before you know it if you buy a nicer bike, your 5 miles will become 10, then 10 will become 15...etc.
Remember that even a used good bike may need a tuneup. Sometimes you might be better off buying a brand new bike from the bike shop. That way, you know the history of the bike
Also, before you know it if you buy a nicer bike, your 5 miles will become 10, then 10 will become 15...etc.
Remember that even a used good bike may need a tuneup. Sometimes you might be better off buying a brand new bike from the bike shop. That way, you know the history of the bike
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Yeah I see everyone's point. And very much appreciated.
It goes back to "you get what you pay for."
My reasoning for not wanting to spend a lot of money is pure use out of the bike. I will be a novice rider, using it a couple days out of the week. Winter season will be totally out (I live in PA). So if I did spend more money, and it doesn't get a ton of use, I'd feel like the extra money spent would be for nothing. Also at the same time, I don't want to buy a piece of garbage bike. Catch 22?
It goes back to "you get what you pay for."
My reasoning for not wanting to spend a lot of money is pure use out of the bike. I will be a novice rider, using it a couple days out of the week. Winter season will be totally out (I live in PA). So if I did spend more money, and it doesn't get a ton of use, I'd feel like the extra money spent would be for nothing. Also at the same time, I don't want to buy a piece of garbage bike. Catch 22?
#12
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One thing to bear in mind - is that if you do buy a more expensive bike but don't get on with it, you'll still be able to sell it on as used on ebay etc.