fmajor

Hello.

I moved to Los Angeles a week back and will be going to school at UCLA. I am planning on buying a bike to commute to school and maybe for longer rides over the weekend. My budget is around $400 and I'm looking at hybrids.

Till now I have done some online window-shopping and looked at Trek 7000, Trek 7100, 700c Schwinn Avenue and the Novara Buzz V Bike. From the lot I am inclined towards the Novara, though I don't know much about the brand or the bike. Which one of the lot would you recommend? Are there any other bikes which I should consider?

As I am new to LA I don't know much about the bike shops. So suggestions to where to purchase from are also welcome.

Cheers and thanks,
Rohit

common man

trek 7.1 fx is exactly $400. fx series have excellent geometry. excellent warranty & resaleability. double walled rims. 35mm slick tires that are fast but wide enough to absorb some bumps & vibrations. shimano components that just plain work.

i paid 430 for my trek 7.2 fx. if you can swing it, go for the 7.2 fx. slightly better components, frame, and best bang for buck.

xoxoxoxoLive

Read the post, low end budget Hybrid..Awesome Bike for the price, https://www.performancebike.com/bikes//Product_10052_10551_1079590_-1___?PID=3641099&cm_mmc=CJ-_-2617611-_-3641099-_-NEW+-+America's+Best+Selection+At+PerformanceBike.com+ Enjoy Richard

xoxoxoxoLive

Welcome to the best forum on the web! Richard

teicher

You might consider the Giant Escape 2 model. I have an older Giant Transend model and really like it, it's perfect for commuting and riding around doing whatever.

khutch

Novara is the REI house brand; they are made by someone else to REI's specifications. I don't own one, people who do say they are good bikes. The ones I have seen at the local REI appear to be well made. So I would not be afraid to buy a Novara. REI can be a reasonable facsimile of a good bike shop too although your mileage may vary. I live in suburban Chicago, not LA, and the REI near me has a helpful, well informed staff in the bicycle department. REI gives you a 10% (I think) "dividend" on your purchases for the last year every spring. So their prices are effectively a little lower than they seem to be when you are looking at them in the store. On the other hand your other choices and the suggestions offered here are good too. I've bought a fair amount of stuff from REI after discovering them just a mile or so from where I work but I've always ended up buying my bikes from my local bike shop for one reason or another. Consider all your choices and if REI/Novara still seems the best to you I think you can buy from them with confidence.

Ken