Goldilocks

I have a Specialized "Street Stomper" from 1985 and I'm ready for a new bike. I'm looking for one which, like my old Specialized, I can love over the course of 25 -30 years. I'm willing to pay (but not overpay) for quality and durability.

I use my bike for commuting and errands, including grocery shopping, in rainy Seattle. This entails gravel and dirt pathways and earthquake-buckled sidewalks, as well as paved streets and bike paths. But I also want to be able to take the bike on recreational rides in the country, logging roads and sometimes trails. Everywhere I go seems to have a lot of hills. I've decided I'm looking for a hybrid because I'm sure I don't want a mountain bike, but I don't want a skinny-tire road bike either. Speed is not a top priority. Safety, especially on dark rainy nights is a high priority.

I will keep the bike sheltered from the rain, but outside in the damp. I'm not too worried about theft. I want something that is extremely well built and does not need a lot of fussy maintenance. And I want to love riding it.

I really don't want to go above $2,000 for this dream bike, and would like to get away for a lot less. I don't mind buying something second hand. I might even prefer that. Right now, I know next to nothing about the relative quality and reliability of the different bike and component manufacturers.

So--does anybody have a good recommendation for me? At least, which hybrids should I focus on when I go to the bike shop?

Thanks so much.

--Deborah

snafu21

Disk brakes and alloy rust proof frame for rainy Seattle, 24 gears and light weight for the hills. Logging roads and trails? 26" wheels used to give a wider choice of tires, but 700c wheels now have 'cross tires'. Some say 26" wheels are tougher. I don't know. Off tarmac, front suspension is nice but adds weight. 'Lightweight' puts the price up.

fadi

Cannondale Tesoro Traveller Classic

bjjoondo 

I think you might like one of the versions of the "Specialized Ariel" Hybrid. We ended up buying "MTB's" but in hindsight, we'd have been better off with something like the Ariel or CrossTrail hybrids. LOL, as that's what we've done by "converting" our MTB's to road/touring hybrids. YMMV.

agfa100

I will also recommend the Specialized Ariel, I have the men's model the CrossTrail that I switch back and forth between slick road tires 700 x 35 and a cross style tire in a 700 x 45. It's not the lightest bike out their but it works great on any road paved, dirt, or gravel so find someone that has it in stock and try it out.
Good luck
agfa100

tromper

- Before dropping a couple grand on an uber bike, you may want to get an idea what you like & what fits you. Maybe either rent a couple different ones (montlake still rents), borrow 'em or even buy a cheapie off Craigslist to try the basic idea out.

Far as disc brake vs. rim brake, steel vs. aluminum etc those are pretty much ongoing arguments. I live in Seattle (OK Shoreline by about a block since you're local) & run steel bikes with rim brakes. The arguments are out there to peruse, I can give you a brief rundown & prob a couple links if you PM me & want 'em.

If you're determined to spend a chunk of change like that without checking mess'n round with trying a bunch of different bikes, I'd recommend checking out free range cycle in fremont & rodriguez (R&E cycles) on Brooklyn (rodcycle.com) They both will try their best to fit ya with something that will do what ya want. This is a big deal since it's tough to say what way to go with data you've given. If you're 5'2" for instance you really don't want a fat tired 700c bike, if you're 6'4" & all leg, it'd definitely be on the list to check 'em out. Beyond that if you do go the route of finding what you like, there are a lot of good builders who will customize everything to your wallet, & your aesthetics. I keep eying up Waterford bikes, but they run a bit more than I want to spend, & I'm not sure I could leave one locked outside in good conscience since bikes disappear all the time around here.
Hope that's helpful.
Tromper/Seattle (more or less)

Goldilocks

Thanks to agfa, bjjoondo, snafu21, fadi and especially tromper. Tromper-- I'm definitely going to visit Free Range and R&E. Gregg's is nudging me toward the Gary Fisher Montare or Mendota. My initial conclusion is that, assuming I would not destroy them over a couple decades of light trail riding (e.g. John Wayne trail, Lake Sammamish trail and all that deep pea gravel) it's probably worth it for me to spend the money for a lighter weight bike because I can more easily get it up and down the flights of stairs where I work -- and so can lock it inside. The Fuji Absolute 1.0 looked like a possibility, but maybe more like a fast road bike and less like a mountain bike than I want. I'm interested in the Marin Pt. Reyes, but so far can't find one in either Seattle or Portland. I plan to check out the lightweight Cannondale Quicks and Cannondale Bad Boys at REI today, assuming they have one that fits me. My idea is to narrow my search to 3 or 4 good possibilities and then test ride each one thoroughly. I'm also watching Craigslist pretty closely, but so far nothing seems just right.

I'm 5'4" or so and, though not terribly fat, weigh more than I'd like. With determination, that situation will change. I'm 56 years old, so I'm planning this bike to be my last bike purchase -- until I maybe have to go to a step-through when I'm around 85.

The reason I'm so focused on dream bike is that I've been commuting by bike for the last year (not very far, though) and also doing recreational rides and errands, and I'm finding I just LOVE it, even though my current bike is pretty bad. I feel much free-er on the bike than in a car, more in control and more able to take advantage of serendipity. And it's a lot faster and I can carry more than walking. I figure if I love my bike as well as loving biking, then I'll do even more of it. I have some savings, and a good bike seems like a very good investment. But I definitely don't want to pay more than I have to or buy more bike than I will use or enjoy.

snafu21

The problem with dream bikes is that they get stolen. And $2000 is a lot to spend on a bike in any case.

Whatever you get, it won't last a couple of decades without maintenance. Most of the transmission will need replacing at least once a year if you ride daily, and oft-ridden bike frames can die of fatigue over time. Seeing the beast as a long-term investment may thus not be wise, better to view it as a depreciating asset which will need replacing at some point. Having said that my last MTB I kept for 14 years. The guy I sold it to five years ago is still riding it.

If you have to carry this beast upstairs, why not hop over to the Folding forum on here and ask? It's another option for you to consider. A third of your budget will snag you a lightweight 24 gear 25 lb beauty.

Goldilocks

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice. The most consistent advice was: ride the bikes! But what do you do if, even in a bike-friendly city like Seattle, you can find very few bikes that fit you? As I went from bike shop to bike shop it became clear to me that I would be able to test ride very few, if any, of the bikes I had in mind. The shops kept nudging me toward bikes that were not the kind I was looking for. They had plenty bikes I was interested in, but they were all too big for me. "No, we don't have that model in a smaller size, and don't plan to get it," was what I heard a lot. So, when REI told me that the bike that looked best to me from its description, the Marin Pt. Reyes, was on deep discount, existed in what looks like my size in Boulder, and could be shipped, I thought about tromper's suggestion that I might rent a bike I was interested in, or buy a cheapo or two off Craigslist to try. Considering this, I decided to order the Pt. Reyes. If I like it, I get a $900 bike for $650 (with the shipping). If I decide the bike isn't right, I'm out the $100 for shipping. But I looked at the "Muirwoods" which is a heavier version of the Pt. Reyes, and my strong hunch is that I will like the Pt. Reyes a lot, so I'm taking the risk. I really wanted to seriously test ride about three different bikes, but I had not realized how difficult it would be to find bikes to test ride! Again -- thanks for everybody's advice.

snafu21

There ya go, You have $1350 change, and a really nice bike. Got locks yet?

Wanderer

You will like that bike !!! Marin makes nice stuff!

I must say - I'm a little surpised that REI doesn't do intra store shipping for free.

agfa100

That Marin looks nice, have fun with it.... I am a little taller so I would have gone with the 29er
agfa100